Applications open for Babylon Town interns

The Town of Babylon is accepting applications for its summer internship for minority high school students.

The Ujima program is a five-week, part-time, paid internship and mentoring program for students of color who will be starting their junior or senior year in high school in September.

Ujima is a Kiswahili word meaning collective work and responsibility.

According to the town, the program provides students with a “unique opportunity to participate in local government through hands-on training” which can foster an interest in community development and introduce them to the “myriad of occupations needed to effectively promote” community interests. Since the town started the program in 2000, 232 students have participated.

Students are assigned to a specific department within the town and will be trained in areas such as records management, complaint resolution, constituent services and scheduling.

Interns get the opportunity to shadow elected officials and a range of town employees, from attorneys and building inspectors to social workers and environmentalists.

The internship lasts from June 25 to July 27.

Applicants must be town residents, must be in the top half of their class and must have demonstrated an interest in their community.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday. Applications can be found at http://www.townofbabylon.com/forms/287.pdf.

Above: Babylon Town Hall