Carlos Ramos has seen a lot of youth transform their interests into careers.

Ramos coordinates one of the biggest youth internship programs that the SFPUC offers, Project Pull. He is a Project Pull Program Coordinator as part the Workforce and Economic Program Services team within the SFPUC’s Infrastructure Division.

Project Pull is a paid summer internship program for high school and college students that provides a mix of educational and vocational opportunities in a professional environment. Paired with City and County of San Francisco employees serving as mentors, the interns are able to gain insight into the public sector and the work it takes to keep the City running. At the SFPUC, Project Pull interns get to learn more about the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System, San Francisco’s combined sewer system, and public power. Interns are also exposed to a variety of career pathways in engineering, administration, operations, finance, the trades, and more.

Ramos has been in his current role for almost four years, but began his journey in public service as a Project Pull intern in 2014. As an intern, Project Pull was his first time interacting with others in a professional office setting outside of a doctor’s office. “I learned that it was okay to make mistakes,” he reflected. “I thank Lisa Miles-Wilkerson for teaching me everything I know about professionalism. During my time as an intern, I made many valuable relationships that I still keep in touch with today.”

Ramos shared how it has been an honor to provide San Francisco youth with internship opportunities throughout several city departments. He reflected, “I experienced first-hand the difference that internships can make in the career trajectory of youth with minoritized identities and I take great pride in being a part of their early professional journey.”

For Ramos, Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to reflect and highlight the tenacity, determination and many contributions of the Latine and Hispanic community. His family immigrated from Jalisco, Mexico, ‘home of good tequila,‘ he shared. “One of the things I am most proud of is how family oriented my culture is. My culture has taught me the value of hard work, and the importance of dedication and commitment in everything that I do. These values have played a tremendous role in who I am as a young professional and are a big reason as to why I continue my commitment with providing other youth with the same opportunities that were provided to me.”