Austin Interfaith, Austin ISD and AT&T have teamed up to give at-risk students at Crockett, Lanier and Travis high schools a greater chance to graduate and gain work experience.

Representatives from the entities announced the High School Youth Leadership Development Program during a news conference June 24 at the AISD Central Administration campus in downtown Austin. The program, which will begin in summer 2016, entails internship opportunities for students who are at risk of not graduating from high school.

“It’s a wonderful new program designed to keep students in school and on track for the workforce,” said Rev. John Elford, a member of Austin Interfaith and senior pastor at University United Methodist Church.

Strengths, opportunity in Austin

State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, speaks about how opportunity is a measure of a thriving local economy.[/caption]

State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, spoke during the news conference about the strong Austin economy, with its workforce and booming downtown.

“But the true measure of a thriving local economy is that opportunity reaches every corner of our community,” Watson said.

Two AISD board of trustees members, Paul Saldaña and Ann Teich, were also present to speak. Teich, a former Austin Interfaith leader, said she hopes this is the beginning of a good partnership with AT&T.

Funding for the program came from AT&T Aspire, the telecommunications company’s education initiative.

Saldaña thanked Austin Interfaith for being “the social conscience” for the community.

“[Austin Interfaith] reminds us that everybody here, regardless of background or economic status, deserves access to a quality of life,” Saldaña said. “And we all know that starts with public education.”

Speakers urged other companies to collaborate and assist the program.

Working toward prosperity

About 150 students may receive internship opportunities as part of the program during its first year, Austin Interfaith leader Ofelia Zapata said.

Austin Interfaith plans to expand the program to all AISD high schools in the future, she said.

Zapata also talked about her own experience in high school and how she was afraid to participate in extracurricular activities. With this program, she said, she hopes students will be inspired to see themselves as leaders with the ability to be what they want to be.

“Projects like this, involving collaborations [among] faith communities, community organizers, schools and employers … are absolutely vital,” Elford said. “And they are one small but crucial step in bringing more folks, particularly our young people, into the prosperity of the whole community.”