This year’s Municipal Intern Program (MIP) has capitalized on the value of lasting professional relationships, networking, and career building. Intern Project Coordinator Lauren Lowen has facilitated weekly check-ins with interns to hear about progress and wellness, while Lunch and Learn sessions have featured resume critiques and a comprehensive discussion on municipal management.

This year had an MIP first: two Development Days. These Sessions have historically provided feedback on applications for jobs, advice from previous interns, and career guidance. For 2022, we wanted to expand upon these topics to provide interns a fulfilling and well-rounded experience.

On Wednesday, June 15th, the Class met up for the first Development Day in Carnegie Borough’s council chambers with Amie Courtney, Director of Human Resources at Cranberry Township, and Mayor John Burwell of Homestead Borough, for conversations about professional development, career paths, and what it means to be a public servant.

The day concluded with an intense game of trivia, testing the interns’ knowledge of their universities, United States presidents, and music. The competition was fierce, and it came down to the wire with a tie breaker between two of the four teams, the winners taking home a valuable prize.

On Wednesday, July 13th 2022, the Class came together again for their second Development Day, held at the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN). After the interns updated the Class on their current project progress, Megan Turnbull, Esq., Weiss Burkardt Kramer LLC, spoke about the Ethics Act, Sunshine Law, and Open Records Act, as well as the role of the solicitor in municipal government. Hypothetical situations challenged the interns to think on their feet about whether a situation violated the Ethics Act, and what could be done to prevent it.

A game of Pictionary pitted two teams of interns against each other, proving that they were both sharp thinkers and perhaps not so artistically inclined. Minds were baffled and points were awarded, and then it was time for the highlight of the day: the ALCOSAN tour.

Jeanne Clark, ALCOSAN’s Director of Governmental Affairs, explained the role of government in protecting water quality through safe and effective wastewater treatment. David Brown, Manager of Wastewater Education at ALCOSAN, led the Class across the premises and described the exhaustive process by which ALCOSAN treats wastewater to safely redeposit into the Ohio River. Interns walked along towering pipes and loud machinery, asking questions along the way, until Development Day Number Two came to an end.

With the Recognition Luncheon fast approaching, the interns are preparing for the final stretch and finishing up their projects. They’ll see each other again for a celebration of their achievements in August. Good luck, Interns!

To view the first Development Day session, click here. To view the second album, click here.