Kalamazoo Promise Launches Fourth Annual Regional Business Challenge to Hire College Promise Interns

Contact: Von Washington, Jr., CEO - info@kalamazoopromise.com | 269.337.0037

{KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, Oct. 9} - The Kalamazoo Promise is excited to launch registration for Higher Promise 2025, an initiative challenging regional business partners to hire postsecondary Promise Scholars for paid summer internships. 

2024 Higher Promise Cohort at Higher Promise Kickoff

“As The Kalamazoo Promise approaches its 20-year anniversary in 2025, we are excited to invite the business community to join Higher Promise. The Kalamazoo Promise has invested over $215 million, that’s right, $215 million, in our future workers and we are asking the business community to partner with us to ensure Promise Scholars gain the hands-on experience required to get that first job after college. Our goal for this exciting year is to have at least 100 Promise Scholars engaged in meaningful paid summer internships in the summer. To do that, we need our incredibly generous business community to lean in and provide these extremely important opportunities that are generally required to get that first job,” said Von Washington, Jr., CEO of The Kalamazoo Promise.  

In the third year of Higher Promise, the business community hired 81 Scholars in internships, of which 60% are students of color. Over 20 Higher Promise Scholars were offered an internship extension or hired full-time.  

“We know paid internships lead to more job offers after college, higher wages after college, and that individuals who have had paid internships are more likely to be hired into college-level jobs. Our goal with Higher Promise is to ensure pathways to careers in Kalamazoo are attainable for all Promise Scholars, especially populations with unequal access to high wage careers. The Kalamazoo business community consistently supports the work we do at The Promise, and we hope in our 20th year, we hear from even more business partners,” said Sarah Klerk, Chief Strategy Officer of The Kalamazoo Promise. 

In the program, The Promise facilitates matching between internship seekers and companies, aligning student majors and interests with the needs of area employers.  

“Hosting an intern from Kalamazoo Higher Promise was a truly rewarding experience. The intern brought enthusiasm, fresh perspectives, and a strong work ethic that greatly contributed to our projects. Her passion and commitment to learning and growing in the role was truly inspiring, and we are grateful for the impact she made during her time with us here at Zoetis.” said Doug Pearce, Senior Principal Scientist at Zoetis. 

The business community is recognizing the benefits of Higher Promise.  “Leveraging a program like Higher Promise gives us an opportunity to bring in diverse talent, with diversified backgrounds, and use the lived experience of our interns and employees to help drive the future state of our culture at Stryker,” said Demecia LaBarre, Program Manager of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Stryker.

Higher Promise Scholars interning at Bronson Healthcare Summer 2024

In addition to their internships, Scholars participate in a Professional Development course centered around personal and workplace navigation, assisting Scholars with the skills necessary to succeed not only in their internship, but in their respective career fields. 

Some notable area businesses have already taken the pledge to hire Promise Scholars for summer 2025. Stryker, Bronson Healthcare, Duncan Aviation, LISC, Kalamazoo Defender, and Southwest Michigan First plan to participate in Higher Promise 2025, and local business partners are challenging other companies to participate in the program next summer.  

Higher Promise 2025 will be offered to Promise Scholars enrolled in any qualifying postsecondary institution.  

Higher Promise’s purpose is to support opportunity, equity, and ensure that pathways to careers in Kalamazoo are accessible to all Promise Scholars, especially populations with unequal access to high-wage careers.

For more information about Higher Promise, please visit www.kalamazoopromise.com/higher-promise.