18 Jul Los Angeles Rams Teams up With LA Promise Fund to Offer Internships to South LA Students for the 6th Consecutive Year
By Andy Lopez
Beginning next week, the Los Angeles Rams will open their doors to interns from LA Promise Fund’s The Intern Project (TIP) program. This comes after the Los Angeles Rams opened their stadium to all TIP interns where students were able to to tour the Sofi stadium, the home of the professional football team since 2020 in Inglewood, California. Students had several opportunities to speak with LA Rams staff, including Rams Director of Social Justice and Football Development Johnathan Franklin and learn about their various pathways into their current role on the NFL championship team and students received tips on how they can start their own career.
“The experience has been great,” said Chase Moore, a first-time TIP intern who will be interning with the Rams. Moore is a fresh graduate from Harbor Teacher Prep Academy and is set to attend college in the fall. “The career readiness meetings that my coach Ms. Flor holds weekly are helpful and informs me on how to stay on top of everything once I enter the ‘real world’.”
The Rams tour included a look at player locker rooms and opportunity to walk out on the pro field followed by a career panel moderated by Franklin who explained the hardships they went through and how they managed throughout their life.
“My favorite part was being in the locker room and being on the field seeing what players and performers see every time they are on it,” said Izabella Menendez, an upcoming senior at John Marshall High School, and also a soon-to-be intern with the Rams. “It truly makes sense as to why they either feel pressure or ecstatic being on the field with thousands of people watching them.”
TIP received more than 1,000 student applications for its summer internship program. The summer internship experience guides high school students from South Los Angeles high schools into paid summer internships. Students also receive the opportunity to attend career readiness workshops and field trips. TIP aims to expose students to opportunities in a professional setting, while expanding their skills, experiences and network as they prepare for college or to enter the workforce following high school graduation. In 2018, the Rams created a summer internship program for students from Inglewood Unified School District in partnership with LA Promise Fund. In 2019, the Rams broadened the internship program to include additional public high schools from various districts. As part of the internship selection process, interested students submit their resumes and participate in professional interviews with team executives. The team’s LA Promise Fund Internship has provided more than 40 local students, 70 percent who were first generation college students, with work-based learning opportunities.
To learn more about TIP visit their website or follow them on Instagram.
