Bill de Blasio announced today, July 6, that the City’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) will be making its return this summer after the pandemic forced the program to operate virtually last year.
SYEP is a six-week program and will provide paid experiences for up to 75,000 teens and young adults. Last summer, over 35,000 people participated in the SYEP Summer Bridge initiative which was done virtually to ensure their safety during the pandemic. The return of SYEP this summer means the jobs can be held in person, virtually, or a hybrid of both.
“When I say recovery for all of us, I mean all of us, especially young New Yorkers,” said de Blasio. “The Summer Youth Employment Program is back and providing teens and young adults with a paycheck and the skills they need to build a stronger future for themselves and our City.”
Teens aged 14 and 15 will receive a stipend for project-based activities. Those aged from 16-21 will be paid the minimum wage and they explore career pathways. Young adults aged 22-24 who face employment barriers or are residents of NYCHA may be eligible for special programming.
“These jobs are a lifeline for many participants and provide crucial work and leadership skills that last well into adulthood. We know the pandemic was particularly hard on our young people, and we also know that programs like SYEP help them recover,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Manhattan).
Some participants of the program will be able to join SYEP’s CUNY Recovery Corps, which will work on projects supporting the City’s communities as they try and find their footing following the pandemic. These projects support small businesses, public health organizations, community-based nonprofits, government agencies, and schools.
SYEP participants will be connected to diverse opportunities through robust partnerships between community-based organizations, employers and their schools,” said Council Member Diana Ayala (D-Bronx) “As the City recovers from COVID-19, SYEP will provide work-based experiences that expose our youth to promising career pathways, allow them to develop new skills and meet their unique needs and interests.”
Council Member Mathieu Eugene (D-Brooklyn) shared the same sentiment.
“We are in a critical moment to get people back in the workforce and to help reinvigorate our economy as we recover from COVID-19, and the Summer Youth Employment Program will be an important part of that process.”
Some of the youth will be placed in precincts and NYPD worksites working as office assistants, community associates, and property clerks among other positions. The NYPD will also support 200 younger youth with project-based learning opportunities through the NYPD “Options” curriculum which includes workshops in financial management and community building.
“Young New Yorkers deserve every opportunity to develop new skills, connect with lifelong mentors, and jumpstart their careers. SYEP keeps our youth engaged year-round, and empowers them with the tools and experience they need to succeed,” said Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers (D-Queens).
