Concluding a successful 25^th year of the Local Government Academy’s Municipal Intern Program (MIP), the Class of 2020 overcame the tremendous challenge of completing an internship in the age of COVID-19.

The MIP Class of 2020 completed in-person placements, in municipalities across Allegheny, Beaver, Mercer, and Washington County. The Academy’s program is designed to give graduate and undergraduate students an introduction to employment opportunities at the local level while also providing much needed capacity to local governments. The 11 projects completed this year encompassed Geographic Information Systems development, social media, blight remediation, and community outreach. In total, this year’s interns provided over 4,000 hours of professional-level support to their placement sites. As one intern expressed “Regardless of career plans, this program exposes you to valuable work experiences and provides an opportunity to support a municipal effort that has real world impacts.”

While the pandemic presented challenges, it also presented opportunities to rethink and reimagine the program. Historically, a formal luncheon is held and interns mix with dignitaries, but this year a Recognition Picnic at Monroeville Community Park allowed everyone to socially distance while meeting each other in person for the first time. A good time at the Inaugural MIP Recognition Picnic and everyone enjoyed refreshments from Sweet Sips Café and lunch freshly made and delivered by City Fresh Pasta.

Speaking on behalf of the Intern Class of 2020, Reserve Township’s intern Greg Wharton thanked the Township Manager, Donna Kaib, and Board President Ron Neurohr, for their support. Greg spoke with encouragement and candor about his experience, learning fiscal and budgetary aspects, building relationships with residents, learning about the different departments and needs of residents.

Town Manager Jasson Urey with the Town of Greenville spoke about the benefits of the program to municipalities explaining that the residents of Greenville in the past election voted to change the community to a Home Rule Charter, which led to the need for a new Administrative Code. Formalizing the Code was made possible by Intern Molly Shepler, an English Major, who helped write the Home Rule Charter. Molly enthusiastically noted that everyone should learn about local government even if you have different career goals.

A few highlights to share…

Under the direction of Amanda Settelmaier, Samantha Mason spent her internship as a Social Media Coordinator for the Turtle Creek Valley Council of Governments (TCVCOG), working on their Twitter and Facebook accounts and connecting to leaders and residents with current TCVCOG updates. Samantha’s activities also included working on TCVCOG’s 501(c)(3) application and writing supplemental answers for both the IRS and Pennsylvania forms. She said, “Even someone interested in a field other than public service can get valuable skills from this internship.”

Intern Paul Donnelly spent his summer in Braddock Borough working with Borough Manager Deborah Brown on a Blight Mitigation project. In 2017, Braddock Borough assembled a task force to identify ways blight could be addressed in the community and Paul developed a Rental Property Program, to monitor and improve the condition of rental properties.

In South Strabane Township, Intern Renna Wrubleski worked with Patrick Conner, Assistant to the Township Manager, to refine the Township’s social media presence and developing a Social Media Policy that was approved by the Township’s Board in July. Renna said “Local Government Academy made the entire process, from applying to interviewing really easy. Especially given the circumstances of this year, I am really impressed with how the program continued so smoothly.”

– Mary Romine, Intern Project Coordinator, Local Government Academy