Each summer, the Alianza Division of Catholic Charities of New York partners with New York City’s Department of Youth and Community Development for the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), providing seasonal paid internships, professional development, and educational opportunities to young people ages 14–24.
On October 22, the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center in Washington Heights hosted a luncheon to celebrate and thank the 250 SYEP worksites where Catholic Charities of New York placed 2,000 interns.
From chocolate shops to medical centers, STEM education camps to laundry centers, and government offices to dance programs, professionals from a wide spectrum of businesses and fields gathered for food, music, networking opportunities, and a chance to share valuable knowledge and experience with ambitious youth.
Also in attendance was Porfirio Figueroa, Deputy Director of Community Affairs for the Manhattan Borough President’s Office, where Catholic Charities of New York’s SYEP has been placing interns for five years. “I have to say, I’m always very impressed,” the Deputy Director said, expressing his gratitude for their service.
“Every SYEP intern that we have received has been extraordinary. They have all been free thinkers, can manage their own projects, or be given ideas and turn them into something that our office can actually use,” Figueroa explained.
Now a coordinator for the nonpartisan civic organization Dominicanos USA, Carlos Sánchez talked about being an SYEP participant growing up and his experience leading a cohort this year. The interns ran a voter registration drive and citizenship education campaign while receiving financial literacy and AI technology training.
“One thing that brought me so much joy was seeing the students use the money they made from SYEP to pay for laptops and other college expenses, which is very important for our community,” added Sánchez.
Chef Andrea Young, founder and CEO of the Sweet Vegan chocolate company, who also brought treats for the luncheon, described her experiential approach to leading interns. “Every student that comes in gets the opportunity to either be on our marketing line and learn all about creating content, getting out on the streets of New York and interviewing people, or else be a part of our culinary experience, making 600–700 boxes throughout the summer,” she said.
“We learn just as much from our students as we give back,” said Young. “We want them to walk away from Sweet Vegan knowing how to seek out quality, read labels, learn from each other, and be kind.”
“Our interns were very shy coming in. I mean isolated shy,” said Kechira Etoty, Senior Programs Officer of Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement. This real estate organization builds affordable housing and encourages individual homeownership in disinvested areas.
“By week 6, I saw a new confidence in them,” Etoty recounted. “They were able to do a lot of public speaking. They shook hands with CEOs and bankers. They worked in community outreach and marketing by writing stories about what we do and sharing them externally. They were working with HR, learning about compliance and confidentiality. I look forward to working with them again.”
“The main reason for the event was to thank our worksite partners for their dedication, collaboration, and commitment to providing young people with meaningful employment experiences and professional development opportunities,” said Bobby Gates, Program Director for Alianza Division Youth Employment Program.
He added, “Overall, the event was a meaningful opportunity to acknowledge the impact of our worksite partners and recognize their essential role in creating positive internship experiences, fostering professional development, and supporting the growth and future success of our youth.”
The work doesn’t end with summer programming. The Alianza Division mainly serves the Bronx and Harlem, where Out-of-School, Out-of-Work (OSOW) rates are 60% and 120% higher than the national average, respectively. As the team turn their focus on supporting youth throughout the school year, they continue to stress the importance of community partners in helping youth create pathways to success.
As Gates told the luncheon attendees, “There’s no us without you.”
