Bolstered by the successes of its inaugural cohort, Columbia University’s Career Catalyst Internship Program (CCIP) ushered in a new group of six interns in January. The program, established last year by the Columbia University School of Professional Studies (SPS) in partnership with the Center for Justice, offers formal work experience at SPS for young people from underresourced communities and who are participants in the Justice Ambassadors Youth Council, a 12-week social action and life-skills building educational seminar that brings together government officials and 18-25 year-olds.
Jeremy Casso Garcia was one of the interns in the first year of the program. He’s now a full-time human resources coordinator at the University. He said that CCIP “not only provides invaluable hands-on training but also opens doors to potential employment opportunities, which can significantly impact the participants’ futures.”
In addition to opening the door to his current career, Garcia found the the professional development workshops an enriching part of the internship experience. Now on the other side of the program, he hopes to apply his interest and background in business and entrepreneurship to build a nonprofit that provides resources for children and young people from economically underserved communities.
“Growing up, I experienced firsthand the barriers that come with a lack of resources and support, which has motivated me to break those cycles and demonstrate that anyone can achieve their dreams regardless of their background,” Garcia said. “Overall, my vision is to build a legacy that inspires future generations to believe in their potential and to work toward creating a more equitable and successful future for themselves and their communities.”
The interns are given an opportunity to express a preference for which SPS department they’d like to work in based on their interests and skill set while they participate in weekly trainings and workshops. Some members of this year’s cohort are also students, simultaneously adding college level coursework and specialized trainings.
Four of the six 2025 CCIP interns at a welcome event on Morningside campus. (l to r): Raheem Downer Jr., Danielle (Jester) Trivino, Destiny Bostic, and Oluwatosin (Tosin) Kupoluyi. Not pictured: Antoine Parker and Jaiden Riviera. Photo credit: April Renae
“It was amazing to see what the program did,” said Steven Thomas, a director of instructional support at SPS who is involved with CCIP. “Everybody has natural talents. It was nice to see those skills refined through the program itself as well as the the relationships we built.”
According to SPS Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs Zelon Crawford, who helped to establish the CCIP with Jarrell Daniels from the Center for Justice, the benefits of the program have extended beyond its stated goal of helping to prepare interns for sustained and full-time employment.
At the same time the interns are learning new work-place skills, the SPS community is gaining insights and knowledge from their new colleagues.
“We’re impacting them, and they’re impacting us,” Crawford said, adding, “I want to continue to positively impact our young people and be a resource for them as they find out what their next course of action will be.”
For Ariel Fleurimond, senior director of Instructional Design and Curriculum Support at SPS and project manager of the CCIP, witnessing the success of the first cohort of interns has been deeply rewarding. CCIP is one of the many SPS programs where teams can see the immediate impact of their efforts, reinforcing their commitment to the work. “Knowing that we’re making a real difference makes it all the more meaningful,” she said.
