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III.2. 2025 Ace Program Review; Arangure CITY OF HOPKINS Memorandum To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members Mike Mornson, City Manager From: Arleth Arangure, Young Adult Programs Specialist Date: August 4, 2025 Subject: 2025 ACE Program Review _____________________________________________________________________ PURPOSE To provide an overview of the 2025 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 skillsets, and get a head-start in a career path that interests them. Our fourteen interns this year worked part-time and were employed in different departments across the cities of Hopkins and Minnetonka. A full list of interns and their departments is provided below. This year, the program partners with Nine Mile Creek Watershed District to add two positions in their fisheries division. Next year, the program is set to expand with new positions at the City of Richfield and is always seeking private employment partners in the community. Throughout their internships, the interns have participated in weekly professional development covering topics such as finance, mental health, and career panels to name a few. These sessions were followed by a fun activity every Tuesday which ranged from a trip to the Hennepin County Government Center, the University of St. Thomas for a Media Literacy workshop, and more. This year the ACE Program also partnered with the MPLS Regional Chamber of Commerce to host a half day workshop for educators in the metro to learn about the positions available to students. Those who are interested and would like to apply to be an intern next year can visit the city’s website. Applications will open December 1st and close mid-April. Administration Staff would like to give a special thank you to the supervisors of the interns for making this internship an unforgettable experience for them. Additionally, staff would also like to thank the City of Minnetonka and the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District for onboarding their very 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. • Avery Lash, Hopkins Police Department • Ayaz Hussain, Hopkins Community Development • Philip Nguyen, Hopkins Administration • Nolan Bell, Hopkins Public Works Fleet Division • Mohamed Mohamud, Hopkins Public Works • Jackson Matthies, Hopkins Center for the Arts/Hopkins Activity Center • Amelia Schulz, Minnetonka Administration • Andrew Weinberg, Minnetonka DEI • Naima Michael-Crushshon, Minnetonka DEI • Praise Akinyele, Minnetonka DEI • Mia Kleinman, Minnetonka Recreation • Sebastian Pliego, Minnetonka Fire • James Martinez, Nine Mile Creek Watershed District • Natascha Nawrot, Nine Mile Creek Watershed District FUTURE ACTION There is no future action at this time. v Hopkins City Hall 1010 1st Street South Hopkins, MN 55343 952-935-8474 952-935-1834 (Fax) www.hopkinsmn.com Apply for the ACE Program Applications to be an ACE intern are accepted annually from December through April. Information and the application form can be found on our website at www.hopkinsmn.com/ACE. Application Process 1. Candidate submits their application 2. Candidate completes Virtual ACEentials training 3. Candidate attends ACE presentations and interviews 4. The City of Hopkins will review applications, interview students, and match interns with employers. Questions? Contact: Arleth Arangure Young Adult Programs Specialist 952-548-6328 aarangure@hopkinsmn.com Advancing Careers and Employment ADVANCING CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT July 2025 The ACE Program is an internship program for those ages 16-24 who face barriers to employment. The ACE Program partners with the City of Hopkins and Minnetonka to provide youth an insight into government roles, gain valuable work experience, and expand their skillset. Vision The ACE Program envisions that the next generation of workers are inspired to reach their aspirations by attending the ACE Program that equips them with prior experience and various workshops to ensure that they’re ready to enter the workforce confidently. Mission The ACE Program offers a paid summer internship for youth ages 16-24 who might traditionally face barriers to employment. The program allows youth to gain valuable work experience, expand their skillset, and get a head start in a career path that interests them. About the Internship This summer internship program requires a minimum commitment of 18 hours per week. Interns will be expected attend work Tuesday through Thursday, working half days on Tuesdays and also attending professional development. Employers provide interns with all necessary work equipment to complete their assigned duties. Internships begin mid-June and run through early August (eight weeks), with a minimum wage of $17/hour paid by the employer. About the ACE Program ACEentials Work Readiness Training Once candidates submit their application, they will be required to complete a virtual training, which covers topics such as an ACE Program overview, professional etiquette, resume building, interviews, equity training and more. The training includes a video with multiple choice and open-ended questions. This training must be done prior to candidate interviewing. Program Tuesdays Every Tuesday, interns are required to attend professional development where we cover an array of topics such as problem solving, financial literacy, media literacy, as well as tour facilities such as the Capitol, Hennepin County Government Center, and more! These professional developments are followed by a fun activity and lunch.