Baltimore, MD, March 18, 2022– As a college and career-preparatory institution, the mission of Cristo Rey Jesuit is to prepare students for success in life after high school through a rigorous academic program accompanied by a comprehensive Corporate Internship Program (CIP). This year, Cristo Rey Jesuit launched the Leadership Foundations Program, a program within CIP designed to introduce all freshmen students with the essential skills needed to successfully enter corporate internships. The Leadership Foundations Program is divided into two main groups; Personal Growth and Professional Development. Freshmen spent the first half of the academic year at Cristo Rey working with their peers to gain in-depth knowledge on workplace readiness, professional expectations, and technology basics culminating in a Power Of Positive Leadership For Teens summit led by best-selling author, Jon Gordon and his team, where students crafted personal Leadership Action Plans.
In January, students began participating in the Human Skills Academies, a series of three month-long experiential courses about Entrepreneurship, Design Thinking, and Innovation presented by Baltimore area partners, Towson University, Dent Education, and OpenWorks. Subject matter experts led the students in immersive, collaborative activities developing actionable solutions to self-identified issues in the world around them. Towson University’s Senior Strategist, BTU and Anchor Initiatives, Ardys Russakis commented, “This is a unique program that really allows students to explore their interests and gain exposure to a variety of different skill sets in a fun and engaging way. It has been an honor to be a part of their journeys as they explore new interests and take on these new challenges with their peers.”
To allow for a fully immersive experience, the freshmen are divided into smaller groups and participate in each Human Skills Academy for a total of four full days. Kayden ‘25 is currently participating in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy at Towson University where students work with their classmates and use their creativity to develop marketing plans and pitches for a product or service they identify as a need in the market. He commented, “My favorite part of this experience has been being able to collaborate with classmates and create a business based on problems that we face.”
At the conclusion of their Human Skills Academies, and to conclude the academic year, students will be able to utilize all that they have learned throughout the program and earn a Workplace Readiness Certificate as they prepare to transition into sophomore year and their individual workplace internships.
To learn more about the Leadership Foundations Program, contact Mr. John Busse, Director of the Corporate Internship Program, at 410-727-3255 x 1010.
About Cristo Rey Jesuit High School: Founded in Baltimore in 2007, CRJ is a private, Catholic, co-educational high school, sponsored by the Maryland Province Jesuits, empowering students to succeed in college, work, and life. The school partners with students from economically disadvantaged families of racial, religious, and ethnic diversity in Baltimore City to provide a rigorous education and corporate work experience. Through CRJ’s hallmark Corporate Internship Program, students earn a portion of their tuition and, moreover, access the social capital and work experience they will need to succeed in the twenty-first century job market. For more information, visit www.cristoreybalt.org.
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