The Institute for Youth Justice, alongside OneSpartanburg, Inc., has announced a new program designed to create internship opportunities for Spartanburg County students.
The Institute for Youth Justice has been active since 2016, providing high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to learn about a career in law enforcement or the judicial system. The five-month training program has graduated over 100 students over the last decade.
Now, interested program participants have the option to complete a work-based learning experience. In total, the partnership aims to create 50 new internships for students within the judicial system.
“When students have access to real-world experiences, paired with the social capital, the networks, and the confidence that those experiences create, doors open in ways that traditional opportunities simply can't afford,” said Russell Booker, Chief Executive Officer of the Spartanburg Academic Movement. “These opportunities do not only change individual lives — they are essential to the long-term economic prosperity of our entire community.”
Hope Blackley, former Spartanburg County Clerk of Court and Founder of the Institute for Youth Justice, says that the Institute aims to prepare young people for life, not just their future careers. She notes the importance of having students interact with the judicial system in a positive way and learning how they can impact their communities following graduation.
“My motto for the Institute is to be the change you want to see. If there’s something you don't like about the justice system, get involved, understand it, and then act,” Blackley said. “The goal is to retain young talent here, have them be a part of our community in a positive manner, and be able to have interactions with justice leaders in a positive manner.”
Kelsey Land, a current high school senior in Spartanburg County, participated in the Institute for Youth Justice program last year. While she does not plan to work in the judicial field post-graduation, she says that the program has given her valuable skills to use as she pursues a career in healthcare.
“I feel like law enforcement and medicine have similarities in being a service to the public,” Land said. “[The Institute] taught me how to make connections quickly, how to be better at introducing myself to people, and be more confident in the way that I talk. It also just taught me about leadership and how to lead my community in a way that will be beneficial.”
For additional details on the Institute and its new partnership, or to apply for the program, visit www.instituteforyouthjustice.com.
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