Bridges Baltimore: How the Early Career Encounter initiative delivers hands-on training to local college students

By Zeasia Long
AFRO Intern

Kayla Cain is a rising sophomore at Morgan State University in Baltimore, majoring in multiplatform production. She could be anywhere this summer. However, for the past few weeks she has been investing in her future via the offerings of Bridges Baltimore and the organization’s Early Career Encounter (ECE) initiative. 

“The Early Career Encounter is helping me understand what areas of media I like—figuring out if I like photography and videography, or if I like editing more,” said Cain. “It’s given me the opportunity to try different things and be out of my comfort zone, and I’m able to get hands-on learning within careers that are in my interest.”

According to a study by Gallup, a global analytics and advisory firm, a 2023 report shows that only 41 percent of college students take on an internship while earning a bachelor’s degree. 

Last year, the Early Career Encounter had 13 student participants, and this year it has 12 students gaining hands-on career experience and networking skills.

Jayden Wheatley is a junior organizational sciences major at George Washington University, aspiring to have a career in management consulting. This summer, one of his Early Career Encounter internships is at SCB Management Consulting, a company focused on his career interest.

“It’s perfect,” said Wheatley. “It aligned with what I was already learning in school, so applying it in the real world is really a blessing. It’s great to have some experience, and with this I can apply to jobs, and ‘Yeah I interned there…and I learned the skills and traits needed to perform well at this job.”

Bridges Baltimore’s Early Career Encounter program is now going on its second year. It is focused on college students entering their second and third years of college and is a 5-week long program.

Prior to the student’s time at their internship assignments, the interns spend their first week of the program learning about important career skills such as networking, LinkedIn posting and interview skills. Participants learn these skills beforehand, to become prepared for their time at each worksite.

Kelsey McLaurin, the associate director of college and career programs at Bridges Baltimore, spoke about her role and goals of the Early Career Encounter.

“Our goal for the Early Career Encounter for students not only to build professional and soft skills, but also…to either affirm or change what want to do postgrad,” said McLaurin. 

McLaurin is part of the college and career team that teaches the student participants and equips them with skills and tools to excel in their internships and their future workplace. 

“My role is to help facilitate the classroom experience with students, and also to support them with preparing them for their job sites, their shadows. We do a lot of work–myself, and my colleagues–to prepare the curriculum,” she said.

Anita Hilson, the senior director of partnerships at Bridges Baltimore, plays a key role in collaborating with partners and organizations. Throughout the length of the program, different leaders come speak to students in addition to hosting the scholars for two-week internships. 

Hilson takes part in mock interviews with student participants, where she plays the role of an employer, then gives feedback to the students.

“We’re hoping that gain some good real life experience,” said Hilson. “Or at least an idea of what it might be like in the career that and other students participating in ECE are considering.”

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