BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The Talent Action Collaborative is a business-led task force that aligns the needs of the workforce with education, ensuring that high school juniors are receiving the tools they need to be employable.

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber Project Manager Tonnisha Ellis said there is a disconnection between education and the workforce. 

“So, what better way to make sure that we partner with the education system to ensure these students have clear guidance on what’s available in the capital region? We have a plethora of opportunities here that students are not aware of,” Ellis said. 

Students in the East Baton Rouge Parish are given internship opportunities throughout the region. However, BRAC said they need businesses and industrial companies to participate in this initiative to help encourage student success. 

“Students need to be exposed to what’s available to them in the future and upon graduation,” Ellis said.

CEO of Baton Rouge General Edgardo Tenreiro said 600 students have shown interest in the program and is one way for businesses to do something positive for the education system. 

“The problem is not student interest. Our problem is business interest. Right now, we have about 100 to 120 opportunities for the students, but we have 600 students. So, this is really a call for the business community in Baton Rouge,” Tenreiro said.

EBR high school juniors are required to complete 155 hours of internship work. Once hours are complete they will receive a $2,500 stipend that is provided by the company they work for.

The Talent Action Collaborative also offers two options to host students at the time of their internship. They can complete their hours either during the summer or during the school year.

Interested in the program? Click here to sign up for the online webinar, on April 4.

Click here to host a student visit.