III.1. 2024 ACE Program Review; Arangure
CITY OF HOPKINS
Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: Arleth Arangure, Youth Adult Programs Specialist
Date: August 5, 2024
Subject: 2024 ACE Program Review
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PURPOSE
To provide an overview of the 2024 ACE Program.
INFORMATION
The Advancing Careers and Employment (ACE) program was developed in
partnership between the Hopkins Public School District, the Hopkins Race and Equity
Initiative (HREI) and the cities of Hopkins and Minnetonka. The ACE program offers a
paid summer internship for young adults ages 16-24 who might traditionally face
barriers to employment, to gain valuable work experience, expand their skillset, and
get a head start in a career path that interests them.
Our eleven interns this year worked part time and were employed in different
departments across Hopkins and Minnetonka including one in Hopkins Administration,
two at the Hopkins Police Department, one at the Hopkins Fire Department, one
shared position between the Hopkins Activity Center and the Arts Center, one in
Hopkins Planning and Zoning, two in Minnetonka Administration, one in Minnetonka
Public Works, one in Minnetonka Recreation and one with Minnetonka Police and
Fire. Throughout their internships, the interns have participated in weekly professional
developments covering topics such as finance, mental health, and college readiness
to name a few. These sessions were followed by a fun activity every Tuesday which
ranged from a breakout room, a trip to the Capitol, Hennepin County Government
Center, and more!
Staff would like to give a special thank you to the supervisors of the interns for making
this internship an unforgettable experience for the interns. Additionally, staff would
also like to thank the City of Minnetonka for joining us and onboarding five of their
own interns.
Tonight, we would like to recognize the interns who have completed their internships
along with the interns who couldn’t be here tonight. Interns who are here will take a
few minutes to introduce themselves.
• Akorede Balogun, Hopkins Administration
• Firdows Mohammed, Hopkins Planning and Zoning Department
Administration
• Amiyah Berry-Drummond, Hopkins Fire Department
• Tiahna Wolfe-Shields, Hopkins Police Department
• Audreah Vlasak, Hopkins Police Department
• Sophie Yakes, Hopkins Activity Center and Hopkins Arts Center
• Ruth Freiberg, Minnetonka Public Safety
• Max Starr, Minnetonka Public Works
• Leslie Varela, Minnetonka Administration
• Blake Herndon, Minnetonka Administration DEI
• Chloe Soundara, Minnetonka Recreation
FUTURE ACTION
There is no future action at this time.