PDC was pleased to join local software company eROI and the Portland Leadership Forum as well as business, nonprofit and higher education leaders and scholarship providers at the kickoff of the Emerging Leaders Internship (ELI) program on Wednesday, February 15 at the PDC office.

This marks the second year for the ELI initiative, which matches traditionally underrepresented college students (first-generation students, low-income students and students of color) with paid internships at local companies. In its first year, the ELI drew 172 student applications; 79 of those applicants interviewed for a position, and 36 were hired. In 2016 29 companies and organizations participated in the program; that number will more than double in 2017 to 72 companies and organizations, including PDC.  ELI hopes to have 125 ELI interns in 2017 and 1000 by 2020.

Emerging Leaders Internship Program