Opening Doors: How Jair Lynch and Urban Alliance Help Students Explore New Career Paths

For recent high school graduate Sontia Porter, internships have been more than just résumé builders, they’ve been springboards to new opportunities.

Sontia first connected with Urban Alliance, a nonprofit  that connects young people (ages 16-24) to life-changing opportunities in today’s workforce, during her time at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. After participating in Urban Alliance professional development workshops as an 11th grader, she landed her first internship at an area bank during her senior year.

That experience gave her early exposure to the professional world. But after graduation, Sontia wanted to try something different and that’s where Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners came in. For nearly a decade Jair Lynch has been a partner with Urban Alliance providing students with meaningful internships and experiences.

Sontia joined the Urban Alliance Alumni Internship Program and was matched with an opportunity to work with the property management team at Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments, an affordable senior housing community owned by Jair Lynch and managed by WinnCompanies. 

A Real-World Look at Property Management

During her internship, Sontia earned a hands-on introduction to property management:

• Supporting elderly residents—greeting them, assisting with small tasks, and helping with recertifications for affordable housing compliance.
• Assisting building operations—printing notices, logging maintenance requests, and learning how audits and leasing paperwork work behind the scenes.
• Building community connections—helping organize summer events, bridging language and cultural barriers.

“It was eye-opening,” Sontia says. “You learn that kindness goes a long way. People want to feel seen and cared for.”

The experience gave her a deeper appreciation for the skills property managers need including patience, empathy, and problem-solving. “I saw how strong you have to be to do this job,” she says.

High Praise from Her Team

Through Urban Alliance’s Workforce Readiness Program, Sontia was able to build the skills required for this internship before she even set foot inside the door.  This program allows students to spend up to three hours per week participating in workshops building basic professional skills like: time management, communication skills, professional etiquette and networking and relationship building. 

And Sontia’s hard work paid off. Dhol Hashi, Property Manager at Dunbar Apartments, says Sontia quickly became an integral part of the team.

“During this time, Ms. Porter was an invaluable member of our staff. Her dedication and assistance were instrumental in ensuring we were thoroughly prepared. Both the residents and staff genuinely miss her presence and support. She demonstrated exceptional skills and qualities, and I’m confident she’ll excel in any path she pursues.”

Building Skills, Discovering New Paths

Looking ahead, Sontia is considering earning an advanced information technology certification, enrolling in a building maintenance course, or maybe both. Her internship gave her new skills and revealed a career path she hadn’t considered.

“Even if it’s just six weeks, it’s a wonderful learning experience,” she says. “Property management gave me skills I didn’t have before and showed me something I might really enjoy.”

Why This Matters

Young people face higher unemployment due to the job skills gap and deserve access to the exposure, education, and experience needed to build their economic future, while supplying employers with the talent they need. Through its partnership with Urban Alliance, Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners helps young professionals like Sontia gain real-world experience, build confidence, and explore careers—developing the next generation of leaders in real estate, property management, and beyond.