URBAN ALLIANCE FOUNDATION INC

Who We Are

Urban Alliance is the only year long employment program for under-resourced high school seniors in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md. Our goal is to give youth access to professional growth and experiences. The program prepares students for a life of work and self-sufficiency through paid internships, formal training, and mentorship.

Urban Alliance Interns are selected after a rigorous application process. During the school year, each Urban Alliance intern works part time with a job partner in the public or private sector. On Fridays, they attend life skills and job readiness workshops.

During the summer following their senior year, Urban Alliance Interns work full time Monday through Thursday. They attend financial literacy workshops on Fridays. After finishing the program, Alumni have access to Urban Alliance Alumni Services.

Urban Alliance Interns are paid for their work and can earn over $6,000 over their senior year.

History

In 1996, Andrew Plepler, then an Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, established Urban Alliance after visiting Anacostia Senior High School in Washington, D.C.

Andrew asked the students what they needed to succeed, and one honest young man replied, “I need a real job.”

Andrew found an internship for that student and five of his friends—and created Urban Alliance. Since then, we have employed more than 1,100 youth and partnered with more than 100 local businesses.

With a unique blend of real-life experience and formal instruction, we continue to help students across D.C. and Baltimore work, aspire, and succeed.