Advancing Careers and Employment (ACE)

The ACE Program is a youth employment program that offers young people ages 16-24 paid summer internship and professional development experience. Participants are able to explore a variety of careers within the cities of Hopkins, Minnetonka and Richfield and build and grow their professional and leadership skills.

ACEentials Training

Each applicant will be required to complete their ACEentials training via Edpuzzle. Applicants will watch a presentation and answer several multiple choice and long answer questions prior to attending any ACE internship presentations and interviews. Edpuzzle can be accessed online through a cell phone, tablet or computer.

ACE Internship Presentations and Interviews

We will have one day for presentation and interview. Applicants who have completed their ACEentials training may attend any presentations that include the internships they are interested in the most. These presentations will be presented by the departments listed below. 

Applicants can ask any questions they may have about the internship or department and will be able to interview for their desired position(s) at the end of the presentations. Lunch will be provided at noon.

April 18, 10 a.m. to noon:  ACE Presentations and Interviews 

• Field Work
  • Hopkins Police Department
  • Hopkins Public Works
  • Minnetonka Police Department
  • Minnetonka Fire Department
  • Minnetonka Public Works
  • Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
• Administration:
  • Hopkins Administration
  • Hopkins Community Development
  • Minnetonka Administration
  • Minnetonka DEI
  • Minnetonka Elections
  • Minnetonka HR
  • Minnetonka IT
  • Richfield Administration
  • Richfield Communications
• Recreation:
  • Hopkins Center for the Arts + Hopkins Activity Center
  • Minnetonka Recreation

Eligibility

The program is partially grant funded and focuses on meeting the needs of youth traditionally under-represented in the workforce. 

Applicants must face one of the following barriers to employment:

• Youth from communities of color who are under-represented in the workforce
• Be eligible for free or reduced lunch at school
• Have an Individual Education Plan or have a physical, mental, learning, emotional, or behavioral disability
• Be pregnant, an expecting parent, or a parent
• Are/will be the first person in my immediate family to receive a high school diploma
• Are/will be the first person in my immediate family to graduate college
• Self and/or parents immigrated to the U.S.
• Are currently taking English Language Learner (ELL) classes
• Have experienced homelessness or stayed in temporary housing in the last six months
• Have received or am currently receiving foster care services
• Have or their caregiver have had interactions with the criminal justice system
• Dropped out of high school before receiving a diploma or GED, or attending an alternative learning center
• Other Barrier - reviewed through application process.

Timeline

• December 1:Applications for internships open
• February 26: TBD ACE Resume Building Workshop (optional) 
• March 7:  ACE Mock Interviews (optional) from 1 to 3 p.m.
• April 16: Application deadline
• April 17: Deadline to complete ACEentials Training
  • Make sure to complete your ACEentials training accordingly with the presentation dates you will be attending. If you will be attending all three presentation and interview dates, make sure you have your ACEentials training completed before April 17.
• April 18: Interviews and presentations from 10 a.m. to noon
• April 25: Selected interns receive job offer
• May 2: Deadline to respond to job offer
• May 16: Mandatory Caregiver Orientation from 1 to 2 p.m.
• June 16: Start your first day!