MADE READY

2021 marks the 6th year of the Downey MADE Work Experience program and the 2nd year of the MADE Work from home Experience, now known as MADE Ready. Last year, despite the pandemic that forced all but essential workers to stay home, 180 Downey Unified School District (DUSD) students took part in this paid summer internship program.

MADE Ready provides work experience, community, and mentorship to Downey’s youth. In January, Downey Unified launched MADE Ready with an online kick-off event for juniors from all three district high schools (Downey, Warren, and Columbus). Downey Unified’s partner, Bayha Group, provided an overview of the series of work-based learning workshops that will lead up to this summer’s paid internship opportunity. Special guest, Gary McGuey of FranklinCovey, shared a preview of his upcoming leadership workshop, based on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.

What Interns are Saying about MADE Ready

"After completing this internship, my self-confidence has definitely grown. I now a person that is willing to complete any task, no matter the difficulty. This internship has also allowed me to realize how important it is to be a lifelong learner."
- Kiara Aleman
“Now I have more voice and I believe that people regard me as more of a leader. I have been able to take more charge and initiative to show others what I am capable of."
- Briana Mercado

The paid summer internship comprises a number of Deep Dive opportunities, including Product Invention, Animation, Filmmaking, and Finance. Here are some short videos created by Downey MADE interns to share their Deep Dive experiences:

The MADE Ready program is funded through a grant. Just this past year, the Bayha Group helped Downey Unified secure an additional $5.9M in Career Technical Education (CTE) funds, due to the K12 Strong Workforce Program and the CTE Incentive Grant.  

To learn more about MADE Ready, please contact the College & Career Center at any of the Downey Unified high schools.

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