ORLANDO, Fla. – The city of Orlando is launching its Summer Youth Employment Program, which is a paid internship initiative that pairs high school students with small businesses.
On Thursday, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer joined commissioners at We Print, a local business that has become a creative hub for young talent through the program.
During the event, Dyer worked alongside Jamarion King, who designed and created custom clothing.
King is a junior at Jones High School and said participating in the program has given him a hands-on learning experience while learning valuable skills.
“It’ll help me down the road because I want to be a designer when I grow up, so this will help me start learning how to make designs,” King said.
Through a continued partnership with CareerSource Central Florida, the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program provides paid, five-week internships to qualifying high school students ages 15 to 19.
The program offers real-world job experience, professional skills training, and a paycheck—all at no cost to participating businesses.
Derrick Johnson is the owner of We Print and said the initiative is a great way to reach youth while helping his business thrive.
“Most small businesses struggle with staffing, so having the youth and having them able to learn, it’s a great opportunity for that,” Johnson said.
With over 400 students expected to participate in 2025, the city is actively seeking new business partners who want to inspire the next generation of professionals, support the local workforce, and make a lasting impact in the Orlando community.
To learn more or to get involved as a student or business, click here.
Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.
