PATH TO PURPOSE
Step Up. Stand Out!
Path to Purpose is a countywide high school internship initiative designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience. Designed in partnership with Sonoma County Office of Education, Path to Purpose is aimed at providing equitable access to high school internships and a streamlined experience for employers.
Path to Purpose provides equitable access to high-quality internship experiences for high school juniors and seniors in Sonoma County. Internships are 40 or more hours throughout the Spring semester.
We also make it simple and rewarding for local employers to invest in the next generation of talent through a flexible internship model with resources and training included.
Ready to Kickstart Your Career?
Our Impact in 2025-2026
Path to Purpose launched its pilot year in Fall 2025. Applications opened that Fall, and internships began in Spring 2026. With a modest first-year goal of 25 applicants, Path to Purpose ultimately received nearly ten times that number.
249
Applications received from 22 high schools
105
Interns placed at local employers
42
Local employers hosted interns
What Makes Path to Purpose unique?
Centralized Application System: Students apply once to be considered for multiple internship opportunities.
Customized Matching: We match students based on their interests, availability, and career goals – not by company.
Spring Semester Internships: Internships take place during the school year and are eligible for college credit.
Support for Employers: Optional monthly workshops and on-call support to make internship hosting seamless.
Equity-Focused: Designed to eliminate barriers and ensure all students have access to high-quality opportunities.
Program Timeline
Fall 2026 & Spring 2027
APPLICATION OPEN
Aug. 12 - Sep. 23, 2026
INTERVIEWS BEGIN
Sep. 30, 2026
PLACEMENTS ANNOUNCED
Nov. 13, 2026
INTERNSHIPS BEGIN
Feb. 2027
INTERNSHIPS END
May 2027
2027 Internship Hosts
67 employers have said yes - providing student interns opportunities for Spring 2027.
Alexander Valley Healthcare
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Alliance Medical Center
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Amy's Roofing and Solar
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Animal Hospital of Cloverdale
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Aqus Community Foundation
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Boys & Girls Club Sonoma Valley
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Capstone Security
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Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation
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Catholic Charities of Northwest California
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Ceres Community Project
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Charles M. Schulz Museum
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Charlie's Acres
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City of Petaluma
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Corcoran Icon Realty
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Costeaux French Bakery
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County of Sonoma - Creative Sonoma
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County of Sonoma - Department of Health Services
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County of Sonoma - Department of Human Services
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County of Sonoma - Human Resources
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Elizabeth Baird Photography
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Encore Event Rentals
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Food for Thought Food Bank
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Friends of Petaluma River
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Alexander Valley Healthcare - Alliance Medical Center - Amy's Roofing and Solar - Animal Hospital of Cloverdale - Aqus Community Foundation - Boys & Girls Club Sonoma Valley - Capstone Security - Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation - Catholic Charities of Northwest California - Ceres Community Project - Charles M. Schulz Museum - Charlie's Acres - City of Petaluma - Corcoran Icon Realty - Costeaux French Bakery - County of Sonoma - Creative Sonoma - County of Sonoma - Department of Health Services - County of Sonoma - Department of Human Services - County of Sonoma - Human Resources - Elizabeth Baird Photography - Encore Event Rentals - Food for Thought Food Bank - Friends of Petaluma River -
Gardenworks
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HOTWORX
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Humane Society of Sonoma County
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Inn at Occidental
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Kaiser Permanente - Future Faces of Family Medicine
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Kaiser Permanente - Medical Offices
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Keysight Technologies
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La Familia Sana
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Lace House Linen & Laundry Supply
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Lehr Insurance Agency
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LEMO Americas
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Life on Art
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Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
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Manzanita Grove Vineyard
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Max Machinery
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Medic Ambulance & Sonoma County Fire District
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North Coast Builders Exchange
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OMW Corporation
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Our Village Closet
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Pathways Charter
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Polly Klaas Foundation
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Providence Health (Santa Rosa)
Gardenworks - HOTWORX - Humane Society of Sonoma County - Inn at Occidental - Kaiser Permanente - Future Faces of Family Medicine - Kaiser Permanente - Medical Offices - Keysight Technologies - La Familia Sana - Lace House Linen & Laundry Supply - Lehr Insurance Agency - LEMO Americas - Life on Art - Luther Burbank Center for the Arts - Manzanita Grove Vineyard - Max Machinery - Medic Ambulance & Sonoma County Fire District - North Coast Builders Exchange - OMW Corporation - Our Village Closet - Pathways Charter - Polly Klaas Foundation - Providence Health (Santa Rosa)
Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA)
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Rebuild Together Petaluma
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Regenerative Education Alliance
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Reservoir Farms
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Samantha Paull Events
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Santa Rosa Community Health
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Sonoma Community Center
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Sonoma County Family YMCA
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Sonoma County Office of Education
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Sonoma Family Meal
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Sonoma Valley Hospital
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Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
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Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau
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Sonoma Water
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SRJC Public Safety Training Center
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SSU Police Department
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Sustainable Living Builders, Inc.
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Sutter Residency: Future Faces of Family Medicine
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The Zones
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Three Leaves Heritage Foods
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Top Speed Data
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Township Vet Hospital
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Windsor Unified School District
Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) - Rebuild Together Petaluma - Regenerative Education Alliance - Reservoir Farms - Samantha Paull Events - Santa Rosa Community Health - Sonoma Community Center - Sonoma County Family YMCA - Sonoma County Office of Education - Sonoma Family Meal - Sonoma Valley Hospital - Sonoma Valley Museum of Art - Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau - Sonoma Water - SRJC Public Safety Training Center - SSU Police Department - Sustainable Living Builders, Inc. - Sutter Residency: Future Faces of Family Medicine - The Zones - Three Leaves Heritage Foods - Top Speed Data - Township Vet Hospital - Windsor Unified School District
Founding Partner
Workforce Partners
Funding Partners
Crabb-Grasseschi Family Foundation
