Investing in Des Moines’ Youth through Bank of America’s Student Leaders Program

As students across the nation enjoy a three-month break from classes, homework and extracurricular activities, summer break presents students with the time to engage in opportunities that help pave the way for successful futures. Young people are the leaders of tomorrow, and at Bank of America, we believe it’s our responsibility to help connect them to these important opportunities. When we support our youth and young people by connecting them to jobs, skill-building and leadership development opportunities, we’re helping prepare a diverse group of community-oriented leaders to take on the future.

One of the opportunities Bank of America provides is the Student Leaders program. Each year, hundreds of high school students are selected from across the country based on their past achievements and desire to serve their communities. For eight weeks, the students participate in a paid internship with local nonprofits in their communities. There, they learn how nonprofits, governments and businesses work together to meet local needs, build their resume and professional networks, strengthen their understanding of teamwork and develop critical communication skills. The students also receive a $5,000 stipend for their work, which is crucial for many young people saving for their futures or helping support their families.

Across the country, 12.1% of young people ages 16 to 19 are categorized as disconnected, meaning they are not in school and do not have a job. In Polk County alone, 10.2% of youth ages 16 to 19 are disconnected. Without access to opportunities that build career skills, many young people may be left behind, leading to high rates of youth unemployment and juvenile delinquency, hindering overall economic progress. Paid youth employment programs like Bank of America’s Student Leaders connect young adults to education, training and the job market while servicing their local communities.

The Student Leaders program has recognized nearly 4,500 students from across the country and invested $42 million into more than 500 local nonprofits. This is a critical part of the bank’s long-standing effort to build pathways to economic mobility across nearly 100 markets since the program’s beginning in 2004.

Des Moines Student Leaders Opportunities

This summer, two of our own Iowa students are participating in the Student Leaders program: Nanees Abakar, a rising senior at Theodore Roosevelt High School, and Frise Mukina, a rising senior at North High School. Nanees and Frise are spending their time as Bank of America Student Leaders working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa, where they’re developing leadership and workforce skills in a real-life setting.

Since the program’s launch in Iowa in 2019, 10 Iowa students have participated in the program at local nonprofits like Urban Dreams and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa. The program helps to build the leaders of tomorrow. Iowa’s 2023 Student Leaders, Saw Gee Dow Sow and Mayada Alwan, are already finding success. Following their time as Bank of America Student Leaders, Saw received a four-year full ride scholarship to Colorado College and Mayada received the DEI Student Leader award from the West Des Moines Chamber.

In addition to working with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Nanees and Frise will also attend an annual leadership summit in Washington D.C., where they will join nearly 300 other students from across the country to build advocacy and inclusive leadership skills as well as develop their networks.

Investing in the region’s youth is key, as they are the future leaders of tomorrow. Through our summer youth employment initiatives, we’re helping to promote economic mobility in Greater Des Moines by connecting youth to employment opportunities and helping youth and young adults gain a better understanding of personal finances through Bank of America’s Better Money Habits®, our financial wellness and education platform. These tools will help impact the lives and future careers of these students for years to come by giving them the necessary knowledge to foster financial soundness and jumpstart a successful career.

I am proud of our Des Moines Student Leaders and the work they have completed throughout their internship so far and the impact they will continue to have over the next few weeks. Their participation in this program offers many new experiences and opportunities that will help them develop critical foundational professional skills, which they will carry with them into many future roles. I am beyond excited to see what these remarkable young people do next and how they decide to serve their communities in the future.

Job opportunities and career resources are abundant in Greater Des Moines (DSM). Whether you're looking to find an internship, a job, develop professionally or grow as a student, we have the resources to help you thrive.