The Rees-Jones Foundation Youth Internship Program was started four years ago in order to supplement existing and help create new internship programs at several faith-based, nonprofit agencies in Dallas. The Foundation was inspired to start the internship program after several agencies voiced that they lacked the funding and/or staff to provide their interns with enriching opportunities outside of the traditional intern role. These organizations each had longstanding programs that served youth in their communities, but each lacked a program that helped these youth bridge the gap between adolescence and adulthood.
The Foundation felt that by partnering with these agencies, it could fill the gap by providing leadership opportunities, life and workplace competency soft skills, and new experiences to the interns. The Foundation coupled this with a grant to each agency, which enabled the agency to pay its interns.
Thus, in 2018, The Rees-Jones Foundation welcomed the inaugural class of interns.
In the past, the Youth Internship Program hosted three in-person events for the interns each summer, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this summer operated a little differently. The Foundation hosted weekly webinars in addition to three in-person events. During the webinars, interns heard from special guests who spoke about financial literacy, post-secondary education opportunities, and specific career tracts like the military and psychology.
After the Fourth of July, the Foundation hosted the interns at the Trinity River Audubon in southern Dallas. The half-day event featured a guided tour of the Audubon, which was a first for almost all in attendance. Tairi Mobley, teacher and intern leader at Cornerstone Crossroads Academy, gave a testimonial before lunch that was enjoyed by all. The afternoon consisted of Civics Jeopardy presented by Foundation staff, and an interactive activity about a pencil that stressed the importance of the free market.
The final in-person event signified the end of the internship program. The interns gathered at Group Dynamix for a fun day of team building with their fellow interns. The day was a big hit with the interns who thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each other better through the physically demanding challenges.
Participating Intern Agencies
- Behind Every Door Ministries – six interns – its mission is to build relationships and partner with people to leverage resources, pursue opportunities and overcome poverty.
- Cornerstone Crossroads Academy – four interns – its mission is to develop urban youth through transformative education, equipping future leaders to impact their communities for Christ.
- Dallas Leadership Foundation – five interns – its mission is to identify, affirm, and develop leaders to transform communities.
- For the Nations Refugee Outreach – six interns – its mission is to provide educational and family services that help meet the practical needs of refugees and to share with them the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Voice of Hope Ministries – three interns – its mission is to extend the love of Jesus Christ by nurturing and training children through Biblical teaching, Christian character models, life skills coaching and educational support.
Founded in 2006 by Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones, The Rees-Jones Foundation is a private foundation that works with nonprofit organizations, primarily in North Texas, to serve and improve the quality of life of others in tangible ways.