This summer, Emerge is proud to launch the Detroit Intern Experience, a bold new initiative designed to connect emerging talent with real-world, high-impact opportunities across Metro Detroit. Supported by the Michigan Growth Office, this program brings together college interns and small businesses through short-term, meaningful projects that make a lasting difference for both the interns and the community.

The Detroit Intern Experience isn’t your typical internship. It’s a curated, 10-week journey where interns work directly with small businesses, startups, and nonprofits—organizations that may not always have the resources to host full-time interns but are rich in opportunity, creativity, and need. Through this experience, interns take on micro-internship projects that allow them to apply their skills, build their networks, and contribute to real business goals in a city known for its resilience and innovation.

At Emerge, we believe in creating career pathways that are both accessible and impactful. The Detroit Intern Experience reflects our commitment to keeping talent in Michigan by giving students a reason to stay, grow, and thrive right here in the communities that need them most. In addition to their project work, interns will benefit from exclusive programming focused on professional development, networking, and community connection.

Here’s what makes the Detroit Intern Experience unique:

• Short-Term, High-Impact Projects
  Interns are matched with small businesses for project-based work that fits both their skill set and the business’s immediate needs.

• Community-Driven Growth
  We’re empowering the small business ecosystem in Metro-Detroit by providing extra hands and fresh ideas—while giving students authentic experience they can’t get in a classroom.

• Professional Development Built In
  Interns will have access to exclusive events, career coaching, and Emerge’s network of employers and professionals to help them take the next step.

• A Talent Pipeline with Purpose
  This is more than just work experience—it’s about building a better, more inclusive talent pipeline for Michigan’s future.

Want to be part of it?
Whether you’re a student interested in interning, a business looking for fresh talent, or a community partner who wants to support the next generation—we want to hear from you.

Let’s reimagine what internships can be—together, in Metro-Detroit.