This summer, Parker Street Ministries furthered its mission of Gospel-centered community development by investing in its Lifetime Learning focus area in a special way—through hands-on internships for neighborhood youth.
Five high school students, all of whom had previously participated in PSM’s Workforce Lab program as rising 9th and 10th graders, returned to the ministry this summer to intern 20-30 hours a week for eight weeks. Their roles were diverse: one supported the front desk and administration, two assisted the Education Team during Summer Camp, and two worked alongside the Housing and Facilities staff.
Across these placements, interns gained durable job skills, financial literacy, mentoring, and leadership training—all while giving back to the very community that raised them. One highlight included a unique opportunity to take part in a Disney-led leadership workshop at EPCOT’s Imagination Campus, where cast members introduced the “5 Keys of Excellence” and challenged students to think about what excellence looks like in their own lives and workplaces.
Interns tackled a variety of responsibilities—from helping maintain PSM’s four main buildings and assisting with housing initiatives, to supporting classrooms and enrichment activities, to greeting visitors at the front desk and lending a hand with communications projects. Each role gave students the chance to contribute meaningfully, learn practical workplace skills, and experience what it’s like to serve on a professional team.
Weekly check-ins with supervisors, group intern meetings, and both formal and informal evaluations helped track growth. More importantly, they gave interns the chance to process experiences, celebrate wins, and identify areas for growth. The ultimate goal was simple but transformative: that each intern walk away with increased confidence, stronger professional skills, and clearer vision for meaningful future work.
“Mentoring youth is more than guidance—it is a sacred calling to walk alongside them as God shapes their path, to speak life into their purpose, and to witness His promise unfold in every step they take,” says Paige Connell, HR Generalist. “This program has given us the opportunity to lead our interns to explore greater callings and build lasting relationships that will put them on the road to success.”
In addition to job experience, interns also participated in a financial literacy class designed to help them build strong money habits for the future. Young Adult Program Assistant Director, Sarah Bonner, walked through practical steps with the interns such as creating a budget, updating it weekly, and holding themselves accountable for sticking to it. Students also explored what Scripture says about money, taking a biblical look at contentment, generosity, wise saving and spending, and stewardship.
They also practiced distinguishing wants from needs, memorized the SMART way to spend (a simple question-based template for wise purchases), and discovered their own “money personality”—recognizing natural strengths and weaknesses in spending or saving tendencies. Each intern set both short-term goals (like saving for a new wardrobe or updating their room) and long-term goals (such as buying a car, preparing for their first apartment, or even saving toward a dream car or future home). By the end of the summer, students walked away not just with paychecks, but with a stronger vision for how to manage money wisely in ways that honor God.
“The beauty of a ministry like ours is to walk alongside neighbors and students for a long period of their life. It was fun to build upon the financial education we taught when they were in Workforce Lab, and it was a unique privilege to dive deeper into even more nuanced financial discussions that are a little bit harder to understand, or too far in the future to seem important, in just the 9th grade,” says Bonner. “Seeing them think through their financial future and ask complicated questions that we researched together was one of the best parts of my summer and something I wish I was doing or had access to at their age.”
Parker Street Ministries has long believed that youth are not just the future—they’re vital leaders right now. Programs such as Workforce Lab and summer internships give neighborhood students the tools, opportunities, and encouragement they need to thrive academically, vocationally, and spiritually.
We’re excited to see how this year’s interns carry their new skills forward—whether in school, work, or service—and look forward to continuing to build this pipeline of leaders in the years to come.
This summer internship program was made possible through a grant from the Arby’s Foundation, whose partnership helped create paid opportunities for youth right here in the Parker Street neighborhood.
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Parker Street Ministries (PSM) is a 501c3 in Lakeland, Florida, that follows a Gospel-centered model characterized by living, listening, affirming dignity, and building community together in and through the Parker Street neighborhood. Parker Street Ministries is committed to Gospel-centered community development through the focus areas of: Fostering Spiritual Growth so Christ and His Gospel are front and center, Supporting Lifetime Learners through educational opportunities, Stabilizing the Neighborhood by addressing the quality and availability of housing, and Cultivating Connections so gaps in relationships and services are bridged.