Valley STEM Internship
About the Organization
Milwaukee's Menomonee River Valley was once the homeland of Native American tribes, including the Potawatomi. As the city developed into the Machine Shop of the World in the 1800s and 1900s, the Menomonee River Valley was its engine with hundreds of companies and thousands of jobs. Unsustainable growth damaged the land, but strong partnerships united through Menomonee Valley Partners have brought it back to life with sustainable businesses, some of the largest entertainment destinations in Wisconsin, and acres of green space and parks.
Menomonee Valley Partners, Inc. (MVP) is a Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since it was founded in 1999, MVP has served as the lead agency in the redevelopment of Milwaukee’s Menomonee River Valley. MVP plays a key role in the public-private collaboration to redevelop a revitalized and sustainable Menomonee River Valley for the benefit of the entire community. The organization serves as a convener and coordinator by engaging stakeholders, articulating a vision, leveraging funding, and aligning partners to accomplish shared goals.
About the Youth Program
During the seven-week paid internship, interns (high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who live in the City of Milwaukee) rotate between engineering firms, architectural firms, and/or manufacturing companies in the Menomonee River Valley. Interns are connected to professionals and mentors, introducing them to a broad range of careers in targeted industries and highlighting many possible career pathways. Youth job shadows many professionals, including going to work sites, sitting in on meetings, and doing any special projects that may be assigned. Every Friday, interns are with MVP staff, who take interns on field trips to meet people in City departments and do other volunteer work.
