San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today kicked off the Opportunities for All (OFA) Summer 2022 cohort programming at Chase Center, which will provide a record number of San Francisco youth with paid internships throughout the summer months.

The initiative, which Mayor Breed launched in the summer of 2019, has seen significant success in helping young people access job and career resources in high-demand industries, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is a key part of San Francisco’s economic recovery efforts. To date, more than 3,000 youth have applied for placements with OFA this year, and of the interns that have applied, 95% are students of color.

“We know just how important it is for our young people to have access to these kinds of opportunities—internships that are more than just work, but are focused on building a sustainable pathway to a successful career,” said Mayor Breed. “This program is giving our youth a chance to explore, create, and expand their potential, and as our city bounces back from COVID, we must continue to connect young people with these opportunities so they can become leaders in whatever field they choose to pursue.”

Mayor Breed’s proposed budget continues to invest more than $4 million per year to extend Opportunities for All. The program is administered by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. OFA is also supported by philanthropic funding from private sector and non-profit partners. Additionally, San Francisco was awarded $11.8 million in grant funding this year for OFA through Governor Newsom’s Youth Job Corps, #CaliforniansForAll, which includes $150 million for youth workforce development in the 13 largest cities across California.

“The #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps is a win for our young people, the City of San Francisco and the state of California,” said California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday. “California is investing in underserved youth and bringing people together in service to uplift our communities.”

“When Opportunities for All launched, the goal was to develop paid internships to support youth with diverse experiences, skill sets, and interests. As we enter the fourth summer of the initiative, the number of youth served each summer has nearly doubled, with nearly 10,000 placements provided over the last few years,” said Dr. Sheryl Davis, Executive Director, Human Rights Commission. “Through Opportunities for All, thousands of young people have developed their skills, built strong networks, and most importantly, they’ve been a part of the San Francisco pandemic recovery, by supporting non-profits, preparing and delivering meals, leading civic engagement and social justice projects. We as a City have gained so much from working with the youth through this program.”

“The diversity of our workforce is essential to an equitable and healthy economy. Opportunities For All gives youth a strong foundation as they begin their journey in the workforce,” said Kate Sofis, Executive Director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “We are grateful to our partners and employers who are paving the way for our youth to have meaningful experiences and starts to successful careers in a range of industries.”

For the Summer 2022 cohort, interns will return to in-person work, participating in programs that include designing their own website through Code Tenderloin; and literacy enrichment and tutoring through Everybody Reads, among others. A full list of program, partners can be found here.

“I am thrilled as we kick off another summer where our young people will work, learn, and grow. Their project-based work experiences will help them build job readiness skills, social skills, and co-working skills,” said Sara Williams, Acting Program Director, Opportunities for All. “Access should not be predicated on socio-economic circumstances. Opportunities for All will continue to provide a pathway to economic freedom and financial success for our diverse and talented young people. They are the future and will make our city, our communities, and our collective effort stronger.”

“I deeply value OFA’s mission to support all youth from all backgrounds and it has been a pleasure to work with them for the past two years. Working with other passionate people inspires me to continue learning and growing, so I can better support my community as a social worker. This past spring, I served as the Fellow for the UCSF CHANGE SF cohort, and loved helping to guide their amazing work and supporting them with their interests in a career in mental health. I hope to continue supporting future generations and empowering them to make change,” said Angel Li, UCSF CHANGE SF Fellow.

Intern placements follow two structures: employment-based opportunities, where private sector companies, public sector departments, and non-profit organizations host paid, work-based internships within their existing workplace structure; and Community Safety Initiative (CSI) opportunities, where interns create and implement community-based projects that aim to address issues of public safety, equity, and expanding opportunities for underserved youth in San Francisco.

“It’s a huge responsibility to be able to guide young people in their journey – and a special opportunity to be the facilitator who trains young people to hold space for younger people. I get to do that with OFA and am humbled by this partnership, and by the trust instilled in me, to guide youth and young adults on their leadership journeys this summer,” said Cliff Yee, Senior Director of Training, CORO.

While the Summer 2022 program is currently in waitlist status, youth interested in applying for an internship or Fellowship with OFA can email info@opps4allsf.org. Businesses and organizations that are interested in becoming employers or partners can email partners@opps4allsf.org.

###