The Step Up Youth Employment Program kicked off its annual employer recruitment event on February 17, 2022, gathering current and prospective employers to learn more about this nationally-recognized program and how they can hire interns this summer. Speakers included Ashley Grell, Step Up manager of employment engagement; Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey; 2022 Step Up Outstanding Alum Lindsay Harris from Best Buy; Step Up founder and co-chair R.T. Rybak from the Minneapolis Foundation; Elizabeth Nelson from Thompson Reuters; Step Up alum Zemzem Siyad; Zemzem's Step Up supervisor Maria Zahhos from Xcel Energy; Dr. Nerita Hughes from North Hennepin Community College; Step Up co-chair Jonathan Weinhagen from the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce; and Dr. Julia Joseph-Di Caprio from UCare. 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.achievempls.org/stepup. Step Up is a partnership of the City of Minneapolis with AchieveMpls, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Project for Pride in Living.