Young adults in Santa Cruz County have a new pathway to paid employment and professional experience through a partnership between Santa Cruz Works, Cabrillo College, and the City of Santa Cruz. The Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Internship Opportunity Program is offering more than 10 paid internships with local businesses and nonprofit organizations, specifically targeting young adults from underserved communities.
The program addresses a critical barrier: unpaid internships often exclude young people who cannot afford to work without pay. By offering wages, flexible schedules of 10 to 20 hours per week for up to six months, professional mentorship, and career development, the initiative aims to make career-building opportunities accessible to all. All internships must conclude by June 1, 2027.
Participating organizations span a diverse range of industries, including technology, marketing, media, sustainability, business operations, and community services. Host organizations include Clean Oceans International, Coastwoods Real Estate / Legacy Property, GeoPulse Solutions Inc., KRML, Mission Hill Creamery, People First of Santa Cruz, Sarah Marschall Strategy, Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation, Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery, Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center, Treeswax, and United Way of Santa Cruz County. This variety allows interns to explore different career paths while contributing to their community.
Eligibility is open to young adults 18 and older who live in underserved communities in Santa Cruz County, with priority given to residents of Beach Flats, Lower Ocean, Live Oak, Watsonville, San Lorenzo Valley, and the Pajaro Valley. Applicants do not need extensive professional experience, and there is no cost to apply. The program is designed to help young people develop the skills, confidence, and connections necessary to enter the workforce.
The initiative builds on the success of its first cohort, which placed young adults in roles such as software engineering, marketing, communications, video production, and community outreach. For example, Yuliana Morales-Galvan, a software engineering intern at Nurbli, helped improve digital tools supporting Indigenous families. Emily Ramirez developed social media and outreach skills at Clean Oceans International, while Elsa Tamayo gained marketing and communications experience at Siena House. These experiences demonstrate how a paid internship can provide more than a paycheck—interns build confidence, develop professional relationships, and gain experience that strengthens future job and college applications.
Young adults interested in exploring available positions are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To view internships and apply, visit Santa Cruz Works - Paid Internship Opportunities. Cabrillo College students may also complete the Student Interest Form linked on the program webpage. Parents, teachers, counselors, community organizations, and youth mentors are encouraged to share these opportunities with eligible young adults.
The AHSC Internship Opportunity Program is funded through a grant awarded to the City of Santa Cruz. The City has partnered with Santa Cruz Works to create paid employment opportunities that connect young adults from underserved communities with local employers. Launched in June 2025 in partnership with Digital NEST, the program expanded in its second cohort to include Cabrillo College as a workforce development partner.
This initiative matters because it directly addresses economic mobility and career readiness for young adults who might otherwise be excluded from professional development opportunities. By providing paid internships, the program helps build a stronger local workforce and supports the economic vitality of Santa Cruz County. It also fosters a more inclusive economy by giving underserved youth a fair chance to gain experience and connections that can lead to sustainable employment. As the program continues to grow, it serves as a model for how public-private partnerships can create meaningful opportunities for the next generation.
