We offer a Fall, Spring, and Summer session.  

Fall and Spring sessions include our 4-week internship prep session. Participants will earn a stipend for completion of weekly activities, including engagement  in career training workshops once a week held in person.  During the prep session, participants will have the opportunity to interview for competitive internships with our employer partners. Participants who are matched to internships will continue into a 7-week internship session.  They will be paid to work directly with local employers to gain hands-on work experience. 

Our summer session serves as the gateway to paid internship and work experience. Participants spend seven weeks of their summer developing their soft skills, networking with community employers, exploring career interests and options, and working at community job sites.  

A parent/guardian signature is not required during the application process but will be required for participants under the age of 18 prior to beginning the program.

• All applications must be completed ONLINE. To complete the application, you will need a computer or other device that is connected to the internet. If you need support to complete the application, please reach out to our MyCITY team at 269-775-1660.  
• Only one (1) application may be submitted per applicant. Duplicate applications will be deleted.
• You will find the online application by clicking here.

• • You must be age 14-21 and
  • You must live within the city of Kalamazoo. Please CLICK HERE to check the Street Guide Directory.

  OR

  • You must be age 14-24 and
  • You must meet needs-based eligibility requirements as outlined by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

You will be asked to complete the online application and submit updated/current documentation.

• No, each person must apply individually 
• Each applicant must have their own email account 

• If you have a smartphone, or a phone with internet access, you may be able to complete the application process using the phone even if you do not have a computer.
• If you wish to apply, but do not have a device and/or access to the internet, please contact YOU at (269) 775-1660.

All applicants must provide proof of their eligibility to work in the United States, but that does not necessarily mean that a social security card must be submitted. You may provide any of the following documents as proof of authorization to work:

• US Social Security card
• Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority or outlying territory of the US bearing an official seal
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Certification of Birth Abroad issued by US State Department
• Certification of Report of Birth issued by US State Department
• US Citizen ID Card
• ID Card for use of a resident citizen in the US
• Employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security

If you need financial assistance obtaining eligibility documents, please contact the MyCITY team at 269-775-1660.

• You can sign up for a free email address through many different email providers such as: Google, Yahoo, Outlook, etc.
• The email address on your application will be the primary way that MyCITY staff will communicate with you after completing the online application, so be sure to check your email inbox often.

Proof of Identity (one of the following):

• Driver’s license (must not be expired)
• ID card issued by federal, state or local government agencies or entities, provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color and address
• School ID card with a photograph
• Voter registration card
• US military card or draft record
• Military dependent’s ID card
• US coast guard merchant mariner document card
• Native American tribal document
• Driver’s license issued by Canadian government authority
  • If you are under the age of 18 and unable to present a document listed above, you may provide one of the following:
    • School record or report card
    • Clinic, doctor or hospital record
    • Day care or nursery school record

Proof of eligibility to work in the US (one of the following):

• US Social Security card
• Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority or outlying territory of the US bearing an official seal
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Certification of Birth Abroad issued by US State Department
• Certification of Report of Birth issued by US State Department
• US Citizen ID Card
• ID Card for use of a resident citizen in the US
• Employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security

• If you were born in Kalamazoo County, you may get a copy of your birth certificate from the Kalamazoo County Court House,
• If born in another state, you will find additional information at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm
• If you need financial assistance obtaining eligibility documents, please contact our team at 269-775-1660.

You will be paid bi-weekly according to the Kalamazoo RESA pay schedule. Specifics regarding pay dates will be provided during the orientations which are scheduled closer to the start date of the program.

Yes, a background check will be conducted on all youth selected to participate in MyCITY.

In order to have a completed application, you must complete two steps. First, the applicant will complete the application form, and then they will be required to upload employment documents – proof of identity and eligibility to work in the US. Both must be complete prior to the application close date. In the meantime, you will hear from the MyCITY team via email regarding further steps for participation in programming.

Available work opportunities will be based on participant age. Participants who are 14 and 15 years old will engage in project-based learning, hands-on career exploration, and career pathway planning activities. Participants who are 16 to 24 will engage in paid internship opportunities in partnership with local employers. MyCITY partners with a variety of local employers to provide internships and hands-on work experience. 

Past employer partnerships include People’s Co-op, Confections with Convictions, Airzoo, Public Media Network, Millenium Restaurant Group and El Concilio.

Interns have worked in culinary, retail, public media, childcare, and more.  Our internships and employer partners vary by program session.

No. Youth will only be paid for hours actually worked. 

No, placement is not guaranteed. Placement will be determined by the number of applicants that submit documentation and a random selection process. MyCITY reserves the right to limit participation based on available employment opportunities.

There may be, but it depends on the number of applicants applying and available positions. 

MyCITY (ages 14-24): Career exploration and pathway planning through hands-on work experience, project-based learning, academic opportunity exposure and career training. Gain real-world work experience through participation in internships with community employers, explore your current interests and take the next step toward your long-term career goals, plus training with our MyCITY team.  

CareerNOW (ages 18-24) This program offers you free, hands-on occupational training resulting in industry-recognized certifications and a paycheck! You land placement in a community-based internship or job in your specialized field after just a few weeks of soft skills and technical training. Available training programs are: Construction Trades, Certified Nurse Aid (CNA), Welding, Early Childhood Education, Culinary Arts, Phlebotomy and many more!

 2Gen (families): 2Gen is a paid career exploration and pathway planning program for Kalamazoo families. During this 10-week program, youth ages 14-19 and an adult in their household will explore their strengths, set goals, learn about opportunities in the community, and build a network of support with other families.

• Email mycity@kresa.org with questions
• Call us at (269) 775-1660 during our business hours:
  • Monday through Thursday, 8am-4:30pm
  • Fridays, 8am-3:30pm