The Step Up Youth Employment Program kicked off its annual employer recruitment event on February 15, 2023, gathering current and prospective employers to learn more about this nationally-recognized program and how they can hire interns this summer. Presenters included Director of Step Up Level 2 Yakasah Wehyee; Ashley Grell, Step Up manager of employment engagement; Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Step Up co-chairs Jonathan Weinhagen, President and CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber, and R.T. Rybak, President and CEO of the Minneapolis Foundation. Three of our distinguished Step Up alumni, including Mike Archer from General Mills, Jordan Dotson, a student at the University of Minnesota, and Ashley Yang from NorthPoint Logistics, participated in an alum panel discussion. The event also included an employer panel, facilitated by Shamayne Braman, Sonos Inc., Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer and featuring James Burroughs, Children’s MN, Senior Vice President, Government and Community Relations, Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer; Reba Dominski, U.S. Bank, EVP, Chief Social Responsibility Officer; and Scott Cummings, Minnesota Market Lead, Accenture. Step Up provides work readiness training, paid internships and paid online career exploration opportunities for Minneapolis youth age 14-21 in partnership with over 200 Twin Cities employers. Learn how you can become an employer at https://www.achievetwincities.org/stepup. Step Up is a partnership of the City of Minneapolis with Achieve Twin Cities, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Project for Pride in Living.