The Copeland Auto Group created a paid internship program aimed at helping minority and recent graduates from Brockton High School.
Mayor Robert Sullivan joined President Todd Copeland for the announcement of the new program.
“I’ve been blessed with a lot of fortune in my life. This is an opportunity to give back a little bit,” said Copeland. “There is a challenge out there. I think we all need to look at. Ways that we can grow, and make change over the next 10-20 years of our lifetime.”
His family has been in business for 50 years in the city, and Copeland says he was moved by Mayor Sullivan’s calls for unity after protests took place last week.
He says the car business entails finance, sales, and automotive repair. They’ll put students in an area where they have interest.
“If someone comes to work for me in this internship program, they might not stay in the automobile field. But I do feel that they’re going to learn those values and that they’re going to go on to do great things,” said Copeland. “They can realize that it’s up to them – they can make a difference.”
He says they have the goal of six internships per year, starting out with two people. The sessions would be broken into fall, winter, and the summer.
Sullivan says the only way for positive change is through action. He’s hoping this will set an example for other businesses to follow.
“What Todd’s doing today and his family, that’s just a component of success. Really, the sky’s the limit right now. These paid internships, we’re not a wealthy community, we’re not. We’re a gateway community, of hard-working, dedicated people,” said Sullivan. “Every dollar counts in the City of Brockton. To have a paid internship and also have the opportunity to learn a career path for success – that’s a game-changer.”
