Bloom Youth Project is a (nearly) two year, paid internship adventure that uses Bloom Community Farm as its workspace. Bloom Youth come together to grow food, cook meals, and run a mobile market while learning about themselves, making friends, developing skills, working hard, giving back, and having fun. Click here to read more about Bloom Youth intern experiences in FORBES!
Welcoming the 2022 Bloom Youth Interns
We are thrilled to have this new group of passionate teens working with us. Absolutely cannot wait to see the great things they will accomplish in and outside of the kitchen, farm, market, and more!
Angel
What’s your favorite fruit or vegetable?
“Banana, because it’s so versatile, you can use it to make bread, or put it into a yogurt parfait, or you can use the peel to prank someone.”
Ashley
What do you love most about our community?
“I love that my community is able to come together when change has to happen. So many people want to help our community grow and improve, and it’s awesome to see them so interested and hopeful for the future. “
Cesar
What’s your favorite part of Bloom Youth Project?
“Being able to help others through many different ways, for example the markets that bring affordable food to the community.”
Kimberlyn
What’s your favorite food memory?
“Eating Quesadillas with mushrooms even though I didn’t like them, the team and I challenged ourselves to give them another try.”
Lourdes
What are you most excited to learn this year at BYP?
“I’m excited to learn about a good work environment, as it is my first job. I know BYP is a safe space and will teach me a lot for the future.”
Shyanne
What’s your favorite part of Bloom Youth Project?
“Seeing people happy, or seeing my co-workers everyday. Bloom means a lot to me and I like that we help people, as well as the kindness at Bloom.”
2021 Bloom Youth Interns
These interns are in their second year of the Bloom Youth Program, and are ready to show the ropes and lead the way for our new 2022 interns. We’re so excited to have this amazing team of young people working with us, and we can’t wait to see all that they cook, grow, and learn this season!
Alfonso
What are your future dreams.
“My future dreams are either having a beach house or a house on a mountain. I buy this house because of all the money I make as a doctor. My biggest dream is buying a green Dodge Challenger with two black stripes down the middle. The green is dark like a pine green.
Betzy
What are your future dreams?
“I know my future is very big and bright! I know my value and potential, and I have strong goals and character to reach my dreams. A few years from now, I want to be in a college or university studying in the medical field or law. I strive to have my own house, dogs, and career to be as independent as I can. Even though I want to be very independent, I still want to help and support my family in any way, I will always love them and keep them near me! <3.”
Joanna
What changes/growth have you seen in yourself?
“Before this job I was very sheltered. Now, I try to be more communicative, and try to be more helpful to others. I know/see how something small can make someone’s day better.”
Jamie
What changes or growth have you seen in yourself since you first started working with BYP?
“I’ve become more secure in who I am. I’ve also confirmed my desire to help people and be of use an way that I can to make others’ lives easier .”
Vanessa
What is your favorite food memory?
“During one of my vacays in Peru when I was about 5 years old, I saw brown sugar for the first time and refused to eat it because ‘it was dirty’ even though everyone was drinking hot chocolate!”
Jocelyn
Tells us about your leadership tracks, what do you do? What skills do you use?
“I mostly work in the kitchen programs. In the Bloom Truck for the Summer Food Program and organizing kitchen workshops while creating a community recipe book for the community kitchens programs. In the Bloom truck I am able to practice my communication skills, especially with kids. During the kitchen workshops I am able to use my interpretation skills. The most rewarding part is seeing how food makes people happy whether it is through cooking and learning or choosing a Go-Go Squeeze for lunch.”
Miguel
Tell us about your leadership track. What do you do? What’s the most rewarding part?
“I have grown the most in our food distribution. When I first started, I didn’t know what to do and everything was pretty difficult. After a long period i was able to actually able to be in charge of the entire distribution. It can be overwhelming, but overall I really enjoy it.”
Thanks to the generous support of donors who made this tremendous growth possible.
