Richardson residents may soon see the return of a paid summer internship that connects high‑school juniors with local businesses, nonprofits and government agencies. According to Community Impact, the city council approved a 30‑day feasibility study on Nov. 2 to determine whether the Mayor’s Summer Internship Program can be relaunched for the summer of 2027 or 2028.
The program, originally launched in 2018 through a partnership between Richardson ISD, the city and the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, placed an average of 50 students each summer. It was managed by the nonprofit Education is Freedom until winter 2023, when RISD discontinued it because of budget constraints. City Manager Don Magner said the city could now run the program in partnership with RISD and the city‑run nonprofit Richardson Improvement Corporation.
Mayor Amir Omar emphasized that “RISD does not have a summer internship program today,” adding that restoring the opportunity would give residents another option for youth development. Council member Curtis Dorian cautioned that a January application deadline, modeled after Plano’s schedule, might be tight, while Council member Jennifer Justice suggested targeting a 2028 launch to align with the next budget cycle.
High‑school senior Sean de Miranda, a member of the mayor’s student advisory committee, told council members that students “want opportunities to do real work in their community,” and that the internship could “provide Richardson with a future generation of ambitious young people who are willing to invest in their own city.”
The feasibility study will cost $12,500, which Magner said can be drawn from year‑end budget savings earmarked for special projects. It will evaluate organizational, financial and operational requirements, including staffing, funding strategies and potential community partnerships. The city could follow Plano’s model, where the Mayor’s Summer Internship Program is run by the nonprofit Plano Improvement Corporation after an initial $130,000 city investment. In 2026, Plano’s program served 91 interns with a $292,500 budget.
After the study is completed, council will decide whether to move forward with the program for summer 2027 or 2028. Residents can expect further updates from the council as the feasibility findings are reviewed.
Sources: communityimpact.com
