Marcel Media and Ambitious Chicagoland Students Reap Rewards in Chicago Lights' Career Development Program
Interactive Marketing Firm Is on a Mission to Break the Cycle of Poverty Through Job Training
CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - February 10, 2011) - Marcel Media, a Chicago-based interactive marketing firm,
has taken an active role in community service by partnering with
organizations such as Chicago Lights, a nonprofit dedicated to providing
hope and opportunity to Chicago children, youth, and adults who face
the challenges of poverty.
For four years, Marcel Media has been an internship partner for Chicago Lights' Career Development program,
which provides an eight-week paid summer internship for high school
students participating in the Tutoring program of Chicago Lights. The
goal is to break the cycle of poverty by providing students with the
tools, insight, and confidence necessary to choose a satisfying career.
Marcel Media partners with Chicago Lights in an effort to
cultivate young creative talent, while offering the opportunity for
select high school students to earn money, learn about careers in
digital marketing, and receive hands-on experience in a professional
work environment.
Students who are chosen to participate in the internship
program commute to Marcel Media's River North offices and work closely
with the full-time staff. Initially, the goals are to teach the intern
to arrive on time, to look people in the eye, to give a firm handshake,
and to speak professionally.
After a brief orientation process, the interns are put to
work as part of the Marcel Media team, sitting in on both internal
company meetings and client meetings. The Marcel Media team furnishes
opportunities for the intern to learn how to express their creative
ideas in a professional environment. Interns are exposed to a variety of
career options ranging from search engine marketing to web development
and strategic operations.
The man behind the initiative, Ben Swartz, president of
Marcel Media, believes that the online marketing world offers great
opportunity to high-school and college graduates. "High schoolers in
particular have creative ideas and talents that are sometimes difficult
to find in more seasoned professionals, and we like the idea of being
able to include them on the creative and strategic process."
"Marcel Media is honored to be able to support the Chicago
Lights Career Development program. As we approach our fifth year of
participation, the entire staff looks forward to introducing the new
interns to our industry and to watching them develop into young
professionals."
January through June, Chicago Lights Tutoring high school
students, along with their tutor-mentors, attend weekly job-training
classes in preparation for the eight-week summer internship. After
successfully completing training, students interview and are matched
with Chicagoland companies -- such as Marcel Media -- based on
individual career goals, skill sets, and interests. Donations from
individuals in Chicago help fund the internships. Learn more about this
program at www.chicagolights.org, or visit the Marcel Media careers page at http://www.marcelmedia.com/join/.
For more information about Marcel Media, contact Jess Simpson, jsimpson@marcelmedia.com or call 312.255.8044.
For more information about Chicago Lights, contact Erin Dalpini,
edalpini@fourthchurch.org or call 312.981.3596.
ABOUT MARCEL MEDIA
Marcel Media was founded in 2003, and is a Chicago-based, Inc. 5000 ranked, internet marketing agency. Marcel Media is currently one of the only firms in Illinois that is a certified Google Analytics and Google Website Optimizer Partner.
Our firm has partnered with organizations such as Ryland Homes, Hub
International, DePaul University, and NorthShore University HealthSystem
to help them achieve their online marketing goals.
Follow us on Twitter @marcelmedia or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/marcelmedia.
ABOUT CHICAGO LIGHTS
Chicago Lights, a nonprofit community outreach
organization at Fourth Presbyterian Church, provides hope and
opportunity to Chicago children, youth, and adults who face the
challenge of poverty. Chicago Lights Tutoring, one of the seven
community outreach programs of Chicago Lights, helps break the cycle of
poverty through education for 400 students living in low-income
neighborhoods by encouraging students to stay in school, graduate from
high school, and pursue higher education and meaningful careers.
Follow Chicago Lights Tutoring on Twitter @CLTutoring.
For more details about Chicago Lights, visit www.chicagolights.org.
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