Biggest Summer Yet: Building Skills, Fueling Futures.

​This summer, 45 Oakland youth were given the opportunity to choose from a variety of hands-on internships that built confidence, skills, and purpose. Through mentorship and real-world projects, our interns discovered new pathways for their futures and left the program with more than just experience, but with vision.

Thalia at Caltrans

Thalia, an intern with the Environmental Department at Caltrans, described her summer as her first real glimpse into professional life. From stepping into an office to sharpening her skills through Friday workshops, she reflected on the lessons, challenges, and encouragement that made her internship unforgettable. She even gave us a peek into what a typical week looked like as a working intern.

Twice a week, Thalia spent full 8–9 hour days (sometimes even longer) at the Caltrans office. Unlike what she expected, she wasn’t just shadowing others. Instead, she was trusted with her own assignments and given the chance to sit in on meetings, gaining independence and confidence with each experience.

For Thalia, what started as just another summer opportunity turned into a transformative experience filled with growth, encouragement, and real-world lessons. 

Click Here to read her full story and discover how her internship shaped her skills, confidence, and future direction.

Intern Success Stories

Beyond Thalia’s story, many of our interns had powerful moments of growth this summer. Their reflections highlight how mentorship and encouragement shaped their experiences in unique ways.

One intern shared how meaningful it was to receive guidance and support during their experience:

“I felt really excited when someone on the team took the time to teach me a new skill. It meant a lot to me because it showed they cared about helping me grow and trusted me enough to share their knowledge. Knowing they were willing to invest their time in me made me proud and more motivated to keep learning and contributing.”

California Transit Intern, 2025

Mentorship doesn’t just teach young people “how things are supposed to be done.” It also says, “I believe in you and what you can do.” And if you think back to your own first job or internship, you might remember how powerful it felt when someone trusted you with real responsibility. That kind of belief can flip a switch, helping an intern see their own skills more clearly and giving them the confidence to imagine a brighter future ahead.

Encouragement also showed up in the classroom, where one intern discovered the impact of helping a student make real progress:

“One thing that made me proud was my 3rd-grade student who was learning their basic multiplication. She was a beginner as she had to draw out circles and dots for problems that were just a little complicated. This took up a lot of the time as she had to draw them out, count them, and then finally, she came up with an answer. However, after teaching her a new way, she became better and better at it. Before, she could only do about 10 flashcards in the deck; now, she can do almost half of it. She was overjoyed about it and I was proud of her too."

- Path to Math Intern, 2025

Moments like this remind us that growth is not limited to job sites or offices. It can happen anywhere young people are trusted to guide, teach, and celebrate progress with others.

And if you think back, you might remember how meaningful it felt the first time you helped someone else succeed. That is why our internships go beyond paychecks. They unlock passion, build confidence, and open doors to future careers.

Every story is a spark that not only lights the way toward brighter futures but also strengthens the community we share.

What We Heard From Our Interns

Numbers don’t capture every moment of growth, but they do give us a glimpse into how powerful this summer was for our students. After completing Career Bridge, here’s what they shared:

• 92% said their experience helped them grow in confidence and gain clarity about their future career and education goals.

  
  

• 85% said mentorship played an important role in their growth.

  
  

• 100% said they would recommend the program to a friend.

This summer also revealed the ripple effect of Catalyst’s work:

• 26% of interns had participated in a previous year.

  
  

• 35% were referred by students who had participated before.

  
  

The results reflect a simple truth: when students are surrounded by mentors, structure, and encouragement, they flourish. Our program provided the framework, but it was the students’ dedication that turned it into a success. And when our interns repeat the program or refer their peers, it says more than any statistic could. It shows they believe this opportunity is valuable and want others to experience it too.

What Made It Work

Our interns’ success didn’t happen by chance, it was made possible through intentional support and opportunities designed to help them thrive:

• Mentorship with local professionals gave interns the chance to learn directly from those working in the field, offering guidance, encouragement, and real-world insight.

  
  

• Workplace Skills Workshops are practical skills workshops to help interns grow in confidence, professionalism, and career readiness.

  
  

• Career exploration and workplace experience allowed interns to choose the program that matched their interests. Having the freedom to follow the path they believed they’d excel in.

  
  

Together, these elements created an environment where interns could grow, take risks, and begin to see themselves as capable individuals with meaningful career paths ahead.

Why It Matters

Walking into an office surrounded by professionals and being trusted with real-world tasks gave interns a boost in self-confidence and strengthened their belief in what they’re capable of achieving.

This experience is just the beginning of their journey. Our hope is that one day they’ll look back and see their internship as the gateway that opened doors to the future they’ve built.

Donor/Community Appreciation

This internship program was only possible because of supporters like you. Your partnership helps equip Oakland youth with the tools they need to thrive in school, work, and life.

The summer of 2025 may have ended, but the skills and confidence our interns gained will serve as a catalyst towards a brighter future and better opportunities, both in their careers and personal lives.

As a grassroots organization, over 90% of our support comes from community members like you who believe in investing in the futures of youth. Your generosity fuels our mission to inspire hope, cultivate belonging, and build confidence while expanding pathways for Oakland youth. Join us today and be part of their story.

GIVE VOLUNTEER READ MORE