The Mentorship Gap: How Minneapolis’ Landmark Youth Internship Programs Face an Uncertain Future Amidst Economic and Political Shifting Tides
MINNEAPOLIS — Jordan Dotson’s career trajectory reads like a blueprint for the "American Dream" reimagined for the 21st-century Twin Cities. A 2019 graduate of Minneapolis South High School, Dotson grew up in a working-class household on the city’s North Side. Her daily routine involved a two-bus commute to South High to pursue her passion for theater, fueled by her parents’ unwavering expectation that academic diligence was the prerequisite for future freedom.
Today, at 25, Dotson is an environmental compliance manager at Best Buy’s corporate headquarters. Her transition from a North Side student to a Fortune 500 professional wasn’t accidental; it was the result of a deliberate pipeline created by "Step Up," a Minneapolis-based youth employment program. However, as Dotson settles into her professional life, the very program that launched her career is facing a daunting crossroads. Despite a twenty-year track record of success, Step Up and its St. Paul counterpart, "Right Track," are grappling with a significant decline in employer participation, rising teen unemployment, and a corporate landscape increasingly hesitant to invest in the next generation of diverse talent.
Main Facts: A Success Story Under Pressure
The core mission of Step Up has always been to bridge the gap between Minneapolis’ corporate wealth and its marginalized youth. Founded on the belief that "talent is universal, but opportunity is not," the program has served over 36,000 teenagers since its inception in 2003. These students, primarily from lower-income households and communities of color, are provided with online career-exploration courses, interview training, and—most crucially—paid summer internships.
In 2025, the program operated with a $3.75 million budget, facilitating positions for 1,385 interns across 85 wage-paying employers. These jobs are not merely "summer gigs"; they pay up to $16.50 per hour for 40-hour work weeks, providing essential financial support for families. For students like Mike Archer, a Step Up alumnus who is now a journeyman electrician earning over $100,000 a year, the program was a lifeline. "My mom had a disability and made only $14,000 a year," Archer recalled. "My job gave my mom a break."
Yet, the numbers tell a story of contraction. At its peak in 2011, Step Up employed 2,325 teens. By the summer of 2025, that number had fallen to 1,385, and current projections for the most recent summer season show a further dip to 1,250. With two applicants for every available internship, the "opportunity gap" is widening just as the economic need for these positions reaches a fever pitch.
Chronology: From Civic Handshake to Corporate Caution
The genesis of Step Up dates back to 2003, born from a unique partnership between then-Mayor R.T. Rybak and Richard Davis, the former CEO of U.S. Bancorp. Davis, who famously began his own career as a part-time bank teller, shared Rybak’s vision of a city where the "Skyway" economy was accessible to the students on the "Street" level.
2003–2010: The Formative Years
During this period, Step Up established itself as a national model for municipal youth employment. The program focused on "work readiness," teaching students the "soft skills" of the corporate world—handshakes, eye contact, and professional email etiquette—before placing them in offices.
2011: The High-Water Mark
In the wake of the Great Recession, civic and corporate leaders rallied to provide youth employment as a form of economic stimulus. Step Up reached a record 2,325 internships, proving that even in a strained economy, the Twin Cities’ business community viewed youth development as a priority.
2020–2023: The Pandemic Pivot
The onset of COVID-19 forced a radical shift. Internships went virtual, and the "hybrid work" model began to take root. While the program survived, the fundamental nature of mentorship changed. The "water cooler" learning that Jordan Dotson cited as crucial—feeling like she "belonged" in a corporate space—became harder to replicate through a Zoom screen.
2024–Present: The New Challenges
As the world returned to a "new normal," Step Up found that many employers did not return to their previous levels of participation. The decline to 1,250 interns represents a nearly 50% drop from the 2011 peak, occurring at a time when Minnesota’s labor market is desperate for new workers.
Supporting Data: The Economic Imperative
The decline in internships is occurring against a backdrop of troubling labor statistics. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), teen unemployment in Minnesota jumped from 7.9% in early 2025 to 13.5% by May of the same year. For Black Minnesotans, these figures are significantly higher, reflecting a persistent racial disparity in the workforce.
Angelina Nguyen, director of labor market information at DEED, notes that today’s teenagers are facing unprecedented competition. "Teens are competing with older, more experienced workers," Nguyen said. "There aren’t as many openings as possible… and it takes longer to find a job."
Furthermore, DEED data highlights a critical demographic reality: nearly all of Minnesota’s workforce and population growth since the early 2000s has been driven by people of color and immigrants. As the "Baby Boomer" generation continues to retire, the state’s economic survival depends on the successful integration of these younger demographics into high-skill industries.
The financial impact of these programs is also quantifiable. A journeyman electrician like Mike Archer, who transitioned from a $7.24-an-hour park maintenance intern to a $63-an-hour foreman, contributes significantly more to the tax base and local economy than a worker stuck in low-wage, entry-level service roles.
Official Responses: Why are Employers Stepping Back?
If the economic data supports the need for these programs, why are internships disappearing? Step Up leadership and labor analysts point to a "perfect storm" of factors:
- Remote and Hybrid Work: Tammy Dickinson, the long-time manager of Step Up, notes that fewer managers are physically in the office to supervise and mentor interns. Mentorship requires "proximity," and the shift to remote work has eroded the capacity for high-touch youth development.
- Economic and Technological Uncertainty: The rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has led many firms to pause entry-level hiring as they reassess their future labor needs.
- Political Pressure and DEI Backlash: Analysts point to a cooling effect caused by political volatility. Pressure on corporations to eschew "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI) initiatives has made some employers wary of programs that specifically target students of color, fearing litigation or political retribution.
- The "Mentorship Deficit": Rene Madrid, a manager at U.S. Bank who has mentored over 50 Step Up interns, argues that the problem is also one of leadership. "Some of my top bankers started as interns," Madrid said. He emphasizes that the value of an intern isn’t just the work they do today, but their potential as a "top banker" five years from now.
Implications: The Cost of a Lost Generation
The shrinking of Step Up and Right Track has implications that extend far beyond a single summer paycheck.
The Erosion of Social Mobility
For students like Jordan Dotson, the internship was a "jarring" but necessary introduction to a world she didn’t know she could inhabit. "The internship helped me with networking… and to start feeling that I belonged," she said. If these "entry points" disappear, the professional world risks becoming an insular bubble, accessible only to those with existing family connections.
Workforce Shortages in Key Sectors
While corporate internships are declining, sectors like healthcare and the trades are desperate for talent. Tammy Dickinson hopes more healthcare providers will "step up," noting that entry-level roles like nursing assistants can lead to high-paying careers in medical technology. Without a formal pipeline like Step Up, these sectors may struggle to find the "homegrown" talent they need to function.
Economic Stagnation
If Minnesota fails to prepare its increasingly diverse youth population for the workforce, the state risks a "skills gap" that could drive businesses to other regions. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has repeatedly stressed that "New Americans" and people of color are the engine of the state’s future growth. Stifling that engine by reducing internship opportunities is, according to labor analysts, an act of economic "short-sightedness."
Conclusion: A Call for Re-Engagement
The stories of Jordan Dotson, Mike Archer, and Jorge Estudillo Castillo—the 22-year-old banker who started as a Cristo Rey High School intern—serve as a testament to what is possible when a city invests in its youth.
As the Twin Cities move into the latter half of the decade, the challenge for civic leaders and CEOs will be to reclaim the spirit of the 2003 "Rybak-Davis" partnership. The success of the "Minnesota Model" has always relied on a social contract between the public and private sectors. With teen unemployment rising and the workforce aging, the stakes for renewing that contract have never been higher. For Mike Archer, the value of the program was simple: "I was responsible. I bought my own first phone and some clothes. I liked that feeling." For the state of Minnesota, that "feeling" of responsibility and participation is the very foundation of its future economy.
