New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Bill Chong today announced that New York City residents between the ages of 14 and 24 can now apply for the 2019 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) through April 26.
SYEP is the nation’s largest summer youth employment initiative, and since 1963 has provided young people with up to six weeks of entry-level experience at worksites in all five boroughs. This year, the program will run from July 8 through August 17.
“Every year we give more and more job-ready and motivated young people the opportunity for an internship that could change the trajectory of their lives. This year we are meeting the next generation of talent where they are by revolutionizing the way they experience and connect to their interests and career options. Studies show that SYEP improves school attendance, offers new skills, reduces incarceration rates and keeps teens and young adults safe-including youth who would not otherwise have access to paying jobs. I urge all eligible New Yorkers to apply,” said DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong.
Last summer, with the support of the City Council, nearly 75,000 SYEP participants were employed at over 12,000 worksites. Since the beginning of the Administration, Mayor de Blasio has committed to improving specialized employment services for vulnerable youth populations. The number of foster care, runaway / homeless and justice-involved young people being served has grown from 1,000 in 2014 to a record breaking 4,000 expected to be served this summer.
Outstanding high school and college students have the opportunity to take part in Ladders for Leaders, a competitive professional summer internship component of SYEP that connects youth with leading corporations, non-profit organizations and government agencies in New York City. The City increased the number of Ladders for Leaders internships from 475 in 2014 to more than 1,500 in 2018. Past employer partners have included A+E Networks, Amalgamated Bank, AppNexus, Bank of America, Deloitte, Emmis Communications, KPMG, Maimonides Hospital, Medidata, the MET, NASDAQ, NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC), NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Tishman Speyer, Vox Media, Seven Squared Media, Sotheby’s, and Y&R.
As part of a national effort to encourage young people to save and make healthy financial choices, SYEP participants have the option to receive their wages via direct deposit to a bank account of their choice. Last summer, more than 28,000 young people signed up for direct deposit accounts, a 500 percent increase since 2014. The multi-year initiative, spearheaded by the Citi Foundation and Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, is supporting an additional 650 jobs this summer and financial empowerment services for all participating youth.
“Summer job experiences-with the opportunity to develop workplace and money management skills-can serve as onramps towards securing a strong financial future,” said Brandee McHale, President of the Citi Foundation. “Our continued collaboration with Mayor de Blasio and the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund for a sixth year is connecting more young people in New York City with a summer job and the chance to achieve their career aspirations. It is important work that is building healthy financial lives for young people and we look forward to continuing this work together with our partners.”
Applications can be completed online or at a participating community-based organization, depending on the program option. Online applications are available on the DYCD website here. Updates will also be posted to DYCD’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sites. For more information, please call 311 or DYCD Youth Connect at 1-800-246-4646.
Employers and worksites looking to support New York City’s youth employment programs, including SYEP, should visit the DYCD website here.
