Step-Up Omaha, an initiative of Empowerment Network (empoweromaha.com) dedicated to providing career exploration, job opportunities, internships and entrepreneurship avenues for youth and young adults aged 14-21, is now accepting applications for its 2026 program. For nearly two decades, Step-Up has offered career exploration and entrepreneurial training to prepare Omaha’s next generation for long-term success. Applications are being accepted until March 2.
Organized by the Empowerment Network, Step-Up Omaha has connected more than 9,000 youth with workforce experiences since 2008. This year’s program will run from June 2 to July 31 and includes hands-on training in industries like healthcare, tech, construction, education, and the nonprofit sector. Interns can earn between $1,800 to $3,000 or more.
In 2025, more than 1,700 youth applied and more than 100 local employers hosted interns. Parents have praised the program’s long-term impact. One parent shared how her daughter used Step-Up connections to receive phlebotomy training through Metro’s Career Forward initiative and secure her first job interview with Methodist Hospital. Previous employers have reported 100% satisfaction with their interns’ performances.
Step-Up Omaha is more than a summer job. It’s a community investment. Supported by a collaborative network of funders and partners, Step-Up is an investment in Omaha’s future. The initiative receives support from partners like the City of Omaha, the Charles E. Lakin Foundation and the Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Alliance, a program that seeks to positively shift outcomes for boys and young men of color in Omaha through the implementation of evidence-based practices, which address six MBK milestones, cradle to career, during a young person’s life.
Interested students, parents, and employers are encouraged to learn more and apply at (StepUpOmaha.com).