Our mission to empower talent to build stronger communities cannot be achieved alone. It takes a village to craft opportunities and build the tomorrow we envision for future generations. That is why we collaborate with local organizations who are just as passionate about providing you with ample internship opportunities.
As a part of the enFocus internship, you will be paired with project sponsors and gain valuable professional experiences to shape next-steps of your vocational journey. During the 8-week, full-time summer internship, you will gain hands-on experience bolstering your skills and resume while also supporting local economic development through organizational sponsorship. The enFocus internship experience is unique and provides an opportunity for you to explore your professional interests.
But the enFocus internship program is not the only internship opportunity in the South Bend-Elkhart region. Throughout the region, you have access to a variety of internship opportunities available through local healthcare systems, manufactures, educational institutions, and other organizations dedicated to change. The South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership and the Center for Civic Innovation at Notre Dame are two examples of dedicated programs committed to providing internship opportunities that are both meaningful to young professionals and the employers that hire them. So where do you start in your internship search?
Don’t fear! We know exactly where to look.
One organization that has been making strides to bring opportunities to young professionals is the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership. The South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership is a collaboration of the economic development partners from 47 smart connected communities in northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. The South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership focuses on a long-term systemic approach to advance the region’s economy by aligning the efforts of various stakeholders and organizations across the region.
In order to advance our region’s long-term and strategic growth, they attract and retain exceptional talent. The Regional Internship Program, formerly known as LIFT Internships, allows you to apply to multiple employers through one application. Students can review the job description database of employers, fill out their application, and select up to five employers to apply to at once. As a Regional Internship Program intern, you will gain 300+ hours of paid work experience over the course of your internship. You will receive a high-quality experience and your employer will gain benefits from hosting you as an intern. Many of their current internship offerings are in STEM related fields.
You can be a part of the Regional Internship Program and design your internship opportunity to be just as rewarding personally as it is professionally. Interns like Paul Geiger speak to the rewards of the program. Paul elaborates that you not only make a difference in the organization you match with, but you also have the opportunity to connect with other interns through social events. In the past, they have attended events like the Plymouth Motor Speedway race and concert, South Bend Cubs games, and private tours of the Studebaker National Museum. Additional professional development opportunities provided in the past include resume and LinkedIn guidance, and professional headshots. Their partnership with Intern Summer Connect also provides professional development opportunities like community engagement panels and a financial literacy workshop. The comprehensive experience hopes to make the most of your time as an intern and help you form connections for an unforgettable summer.
Alicia Einfalt, Regional Internship Manager, elaborates on the South Bend-Elkhart region's efforts in offering robust resources for students and interns over the summer months. She shares, “the Regional Internship Program provides students with a unique, holistic experience that introduces them to the hometown feeling of the South Bend-Elkhart region. Our interns are able to get valuable professional experience with one of our phenomenal partners, while also experiencing the area as a local with their peers.”
Another collaborative partner that has helped cultivate young professionals in our community is the Center for Civic Innovation (CCI) at the University of Notre Dame. The CCI Internship program hires interns each summer to work both in South Bend and Elkhart, Indiana. The interns work on projects directly through the CCI and can gain experience in Data-Informed Decision Support, Health and Well-being, Safe and Affordable Housing, Urban Environmental Sustainability and Resilience, STEM+, and Broader Impacts.
The connections they have with existing community partners, new community members with project ideas, civic connections with city officials, and industry partners provide an array of experiences an intern can receive based on their professional interests. Like enFocus, the Regional Internship program, and other intern employers in the region, they participate in the South Bend Regional Chamber Intern Summer Connect program to enhance the professional development they provide to their interns. CCI also provides training in leadership, project management, design thinking, and other topics interns might find relevant as they enter the workforce.
Unlike the Regional Internship program and enFocus, CCI internships are also open to interested high school students. College and high school interns come together over the course of their 8-week internship and work 30 hours a week on their projects. Early decision applications for internship applications are due January 8, 2024.
At enFocus, we hope you find the right internship experience for you! Whether it is our own internship program, or that of our local partners, we know that you can gain the skills and knowledge you need in the South Bend-Elkhart region. You will experience the unique opportunity to live, work, and play as you also embark on your professional journey. Your future is limitless, so choose our region and its boundless possibilities.