SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A San Antonio City Council member is calling for a new internship program aimed at youth considered “disconnected” or at risk, potentially expanding the city’s existing internship initiatives.
District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo filed a Council Consideration Request (CCR) this month for an “Opportunity Youth Internship Program.” The proposal targets young people aged 16 to 24 who are not currently in school or working, a group often referred to as “opportunity youth” or “disconnected youth.”
“For disconnected youth who face challenges such as dropping out of school and involvement in the criminal justice system, access to work-ready and occupational skills along with comprehensive supportive systems help reduce recidivism,” the proposal states.
The CCR has the backing of four other council members, including District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran, District 4 Councilman Edward Mungia, District 6 Councilman Ric Galvan, and District 8 Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez.
Bexar County has roughly 36,000 disconnected youth, according to research cited by Castillo. The councilwoman said the program would give at-risk youth opportunities they might not typically access, including through referrals from the municipal or county juvenile courts.
Rather than create a completely new program, Castillo proposes adjusting the eligibility criteria of the city’s current City Ambassadors program, which has placed about 200 students annually at businesses across San Antonio since 2004. Under the pilot, youth as young as 16 could participate, with a focus on those who are at risk, justice-involved, or disconnected from school or work.
The next step for the proposal is consideration by the city council governance committee. A timeline for when it will come before the full council has not yet been announced.