Tomorrow is today: Internship intros students to a world where they’re already the social changemakers

Editor’s note: Startland Education is a sister program of Startland News within the broader nonprofit organization Startland.

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Angela Gonzalez-Casas emphasized the value of exposure and network building as the Van Horn High School freshman reflected Tuesday on the impact of her just-wrapped Social Change Internship and the opportunity to engage with audiences she’d never before met.

“It’s awesome to be able to have these interactions and develop things you didn’t know you could do,” said Gonzalez-Casas, a student member of the Health Access team within the SCI program from Startland Education.

Student interns from Team Women’s Rights present during the Social Change Internship (SCI) student showcase; photo by Austin Barnes, Startland News

Over the course of the eight-week paid internship, 33  high school students like Gonzalez-Casas from across Kansas City implemented design thinking to conduct research and find solutions to social challenges they believe impact their generation.

Click here to learn more about the Social Change Internship.

During a showcase event Tuesday evening that marked the end of SCI’s 10th cohort, student teams — on the topics of Health Access, Climate Change, Education Reform, Women’s Rights, and Racism and Inclusion — pitched solutions and answered audience questions.

The event, organized at MultiStudio in Westport, offered an opportunity to express what they learned through the program, as well as connect with a crowd of parents, educators, school officials and community and nonprofit leaders.

“For me, the most important thing — and the exciting part as their instructor — is that they get to see how they can contribute to the world now,” said Veronica Alvidrez, director of youth and community programs for Startland Education.

Offering a blend of online and in-person classes, the SCI program ensures accessibility for students, including those balancing work and other after-school commitments, she explained. 

“That was really our goal: to make sure our students with busy lives can still access these opportunities and continue to develop professionally and personally, despite all the challenges they might be facing,” said Alvidrez.

Check out photos from this week’s student showcase, then keep reading.

Building confidence in young leaders 

According to impact reports from Startland Education, 40 percent of past SCI students showed an increase in their confidence to network, and over 90 percent say that the internship increased their ability to take an idea and turn it into a reality, empowering them to be leaders in the workforce. 

“Other than the personal development each of them have, I think they will go away with a sense of like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know I had this big of a voice in the world,’” said Alvidrez.

“I hope they leave understanding and knowing they have the power to be part of something bigger, and that they just hadn’t plugged in.” 

Student pitches

Team Health Access; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Team Health Access (Kenna Bigley, Destiny Salazar, Angela Gonzalez-Casas., Keyra Castillo Avila, Tyler Gross, Karina Wilson, Nicodemus Snyder)

The Health Access pitch addresses the pressing issue of substance abuse among teenagers, highlighting the underlying factors such as loneliness, lack of support, and societal stigmas. Their solution involves implementing an approach centered around student ambassadors.

Team Climate Change; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Team Climate Change ( Elisabeth Van Wagoner, Thailin Green, Maximiliano Pedreros, Azareel Rodriguez)

The Climate Change pitch stresses climate change urgency and partnerships with Evergy, Climate Action KC, Casey STEM Alliance, and Lakeside Ventures. They plan to educate and engage youth through workshops at places like the Kansas City STEM Alliance, connecting them with industry professionals.

Team Education Reform; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Team Education Reform (Niera Brown, Danny Llamas, Lydia Shankle-Raney, Lyrics Sapho, Caroline Shemwell, Rachelle Kiza, Moira Schirk)

The Education Reform pitch introduces their website “EdgeConnect KC,” addressing high school students’ mental health struggles with the website’s five main tabs: mission, mental health resources, community activities, academic planning, and post-graduation guidance. 

Team Women's Rights; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Team Women's Rights; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Team Women’s Rights (Finley Eder, Sadia Arome, Kristina Henry, Miranda Alfons, Alexa Boyd, Zuleika Ayala, Serenity Merritt)

The Women’s Rights pitch supports women in transitional housing and homeless shelters, addressing their self-confidence challenges due to limited access to personal care products. They propose a Women’s Confidence Workshop offering personalized goodie bags and motivational speeches.

Team Racism and Inclusion; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Team Racism and Inclusion (Jakeia Gibson, Kristen Johnson, Daniela Saucedo, Bahar Ahmed, Jeremy George, Raahul Aravind, Khalilah Dye, Jimena Sanchez Flores)

The Racism and Inclusion pitch launches “Global Harmony Society” to fight discrimination in high schools, providing a safe space for minority students to share their cultures. They collaborate with student-led organizations and seek support in connecting with school districts and individuals to promote cultural education.

Bringing ideas to reality

Katie Kimbrell, chief education officer for Startland Education, speaks to the crowd during the Social Change Internship (SCI) student showcase; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Even though the showcase is the end of this cohort’s internship,it’s just the beginning of their social change journey for many students, said Katie Kimbrell, chief education officer for Startland Education. Some continue their efforts by implementing the solutions in their communities, collaborating with local leaders, and even launching their own non-profits.

“We’ve had students that get special scholarships to colleges, we’ve had students that launch their initiatives, and are still running them,” said Kimbrell.

One such SCI intern who successfully launching their own initiative is University of Kansas sophomore Komal Kaur, founder of Eye of an Immigrant, which provides financial assistance and legal pathways to obtain citizenship for immigrants.

“Many interns come to the end of this and they’re like, ‘Well, what are we going to do now? We have to do something with our ideas,’” Kimbrell said.