MUSCATINE, Iowa–For interns having their first work experience away from the familiarity of their hometown or college campus, feeling at home in a new city can prove challenging. The Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s Young Professionals Network discussed that very topic and realized the friends they made as interns helped convince them to settle down and take a job in Muscatine. “In one of our Young Professionals Leadership Team meetings, we heard about their time spent in Muscatine as an intern and how they developed friendships that enriched their experience and made them want to come back to Muscatine after graduating from college,” shared Interim CEO for the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry Rebecca Paulsen.
From this discussion came the idea to expand the intern welcome event into an Intern Event Series. Paulsen explained, “In order to help foster that sense of community and offer a more enriching experience in Muscatine, we decided to create a series of events that would not only help them develop connections outside of work and between companies, but also introduce them to all of the fun things to do here that they may otherwise not be aware of.” The series kicked off June 7 and will feature seven weekly events highlighting different assets the Muscatine community has to offer.
Because interns from outside of Muscatine County may not know about all the recreation opportunities the area has to offer, several of the Intern Event Series outings will take them to several attractions. From disc golfing at Fuller Park, to kayaking at Deep Lakes Park, to swimming at the Muscatine Aquatics Center, interns will see for themselves how much even a smaller city has to offer.
The Intern Event Series will also work to help interns meet new people in Muscatine, encouraging them to build connections with others and to start to feel like a part of the community. By spending an evening at Almost Friday Fest and having a bags tournament with the Young Professionals Network, Paulsen hopes the interns will realize Muscatine has many people like them who they can form friendships with.
To help organizers make sure they have everything each intern will need to participate in the events fully, they do ask that any intern planning on attending RSVP by the Monday before the event. Any intern who would like to attend any or all of the Intern Event Series may contact their human resources representative to get all the information they need to RSVP.
A new way for the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Young Professionals Network to attract people to work and live in Muscatine, Paulson looks forward to many of this summer’s interns taking advantage of the Intern Event Series. “The events help the interns learn about the great things we offer here and it introduces them to things they would otherwise not know about,” reiterated Paulsen. “It is really rewarding to watch the interns enjoy themselves in Muscatine and develop friendships over the course of the summer!”
