Paid Internships Create Local Opportunities for Monte Vista Students

Like many rural communities, Monte Vista continues to experience brain drain as younger residents leave the San Luis Valley for opportunities elsewhere. The problem affects nearly every corner of Monte Vista from local industries and businesses to government and the public sector. One local educator wanted to tackle this trend and create new opportunities for Monte Vista youth that would strengthen civic engagement and the local workforce. Alongside the City of Monte Vista, she reached out to LOR with the idea for a new internship program that would support students as they develop and execute community projects. LOR’s funding will help the city fund roughly 50 paid internships for students at Monte Vista High School, who will work with teachers in business, agriculture, social studies, and art to pitch and implement projects that benefit the Monte Vista community.