This summer, the Children’s Trust of Alachua County will host its fifth annual TeensWork program.
The six-week program provides students from seventh to 11th grade the opportunity to intern with local businesses around Gainesville. The goal is to provide students with the skills necessary to succeed in the workforce.
During the summer, students will work up to 17 hours a week and earn $14 an hour, Florida’s minimum wage. Last year, the program helped 270 teenagers intern with 125 businesses throughout the county, according to a press release from the Children’s Trust of Alachua County.
The program is run by Children’s Trust of Alachua County in partnership with Goodwill of North Florida.
David Rey, the CEO of Goodwill of North Florida, said the program aligns with Goodwill’s goal of reducing barriers to employment.
“The TeensWork program is about getting students engaged in the workplace,” Rey said. “It's about teaching employability skills, helping them understand some financial literacy, opening a check account and providing opportunity and support into the workplace.”
About three out of every four employers surveyed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce expressed concern with applicants' lack of employability skills in a 2021 study.
For Rey, the TeensWork program is an important way to teach students the skills employers are looking for.
“You're teaching these skills out of the gate,” he said. “We're not learning bad skills that have to be refined later on, so they already come out of high school now with a competitive advantage.”
The program offers benefits beyond skill development. It also keeps students out of trouble during the summer and provides them with a chance to experience certain careers they may be interested in, he said.
The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice reported 812 juvenile delinquency arrests in Alachua County from 2024 to 2025. More than 42,000 arrests were reported throughout Florida during the same year.
Businesses participating in the program echoed Rey’s desire to help prepare students for successful future careers.
Gainesville Fire Rescue
Lt. Dallas Baker of Gainesville Fire Rescue said the TeensWork program grants students the opportunity to learn about different fire rescue careers, like those of investigators, inspectors and paramedics.
“My mindset is it's not about what you accomplish in life; it's about the people you inspire,” Baker said.
The program lets him share his perspective with students and help them develop a career in the fire department, he said.
In previous years, student interns have expressed interest in working for the fire department after participating in the program, Baker added.
While interning with the fire department helps students learn hard skills like CPR, it also teaches soft skills like accountability, leadership, teamwork and discipline, he said.
GFR employment has remained steady between 2020 and 2024, according to annual reports. But nationwide, the field is growing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11,800 firefighter positions will be added to the national workforce between 2024 and 2034.
Weecycle
The program offers a variety of internship opportunities across different fields. Those not interested in fighting flames can try their hands at retail through Weecycle, a children and maternity consignment shop.
Amanda Smith, a manager at Weecycle, said the internship allows students to develop customer service, organization, cleaning and communication skills.
“It teaches them work ethic and gives them work experience at an earlier age than most businesses are going to hire,” she said.
This will be Weecycle’s fourth time participating in the summer program. Weecycle has hired one intern, 18-year-old Desmon Crapps, from the program so far, Smith said, and the business continues to participate because she enjoys getting to know the kids and helping them develop job skills.
Crapps, a high school student who participated in the program two years ago, now spends his work days stocking shelves and helping customers. It’s a role that feels different every shift, he said.
The internship allowed him to explore different job opportunities while getting paid, he said, giving teen interns the freedom to figure out their best fit.
“They can get work experience,” he said. “They can, each summer, get a different job and see what each one is like and see what job they like the most.”
Businesses looking to participate in the TeensWork program can sign up until April 30. Students looking to apply can monitor the website for updates.
Contact Grace Larson at glarson@alligator.org. Follow her on X @graceellarson.
Grace Larson is a first-year journalism student, currently serving as K-12 education reporter. She has previously served as city/county commission reporter for The Alligator's metro desk. In her free time, she enjoys staying active and hanging out with her family.
