News & Insights

5 Ways Internships Can Grow Workplace Diversity

A year after the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action in college admissions, the ruling’s effects are reverberating well beyond decisions about who gets into top schools and who doesn’t. Minority students are worrying about how they’ll fare in the job market too, according to the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, some advocates for workplace diversity see the ruling leading to less diversity in corporate hiring. Here’s why: The court’s decision in June 2023 has sparked a broader attack against companies’ diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs. Companies have responded by opening hiring practices, fellowships and internships to all that were once reserved for underrepresented students, the Wall Street Journal reported recently.

What can business leaders, managers and employees do? A recent article in Inc. magazine and a panel discussion at the American Marketing Association’s Diversity-Driven Marketing Symposium propose ideas. Here are five:

#1. Boost paid internships.

Boost paid internships, says Miguel Valentin, executive director of Momentum and Value for People of Color. His organization, which is also called MVP, coaches young people of color to help them acquire job skills they need to compete in the marketplace. Minority students often must help support their families financially while in school. That’s why paid internships are so important –- they help students “put bread on the table,” Valentin says. Compensating interns also sends a message that their contributions are valued and they are integral members of the team, writes Partake CEO Denise Woodard in Inc. She is also the founder and CEO of Black Futures Fellowship, a 501(c)3 organization that strives to match students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with paid internships in the food and beverage industry.

#2. Create an inclusive culture.

Employers should provide an environment where interns feel safe and can show up as their authentic selves, Woodard advises. Implement proactive programming that addresses the unique needs and challenges of diverse interns, she suggests. An example: Comprehensive onboarding that includes training for all employees, including interns.

#3. Mentor young people of color.

It’s a constructive outlet for people whose jobs don’t allow them to get involved with internships. Valentin’s organization helps arrange yearlong mentorships for young people of color that produce life-changing results. Often, participants tell him the experience inspired them to switch majors or even rethink their career plans. “Giving your time, giving back, giving talks, doing workshops, speeches or interacting with students is a great way to share your story, your own experience,” Valentin says.

#4. Donate to internship and mentorship organizations.

If you don’t have time for internships or mentoring, you can assist young minorities in launching careers while supporting the goal of greater workplace diversity by donating money to organizations that are actively engaged in working for both.

#5. Expand recruiting efforts beyond top universities.

Expand recruiting efforts beyond top universities to more diverse HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) to meet potential interns and interview job candidates.

Planned and managed thoughtfully, giving college interns meaningful work experiences is a win-win for seasoned managers and diverse young people whose careers have yet to start. Office workers gain fresh perspectives and interns absorb a taste of what a full-time job might be like.

SRB’s summer intern, Bianca Ward-Washington, says she appreciated being involved in discussions with clients and seeing how co-workers communicated with clients. An incoming freshman at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Ward is majoring in architecture and minoring in graphic design. Her internship gave her opportunities to practice graphic design and, just as importantly, to polish her communication skills.

“It pushed me out of my comfort zone a bit,” she says.

We hope summer interns elsewhere can boast the same. Thank you for joining us this summer, Bianca. We wish you well.