SYEP Summer Bridge 2020

The City Council, right before the July 1st budget deadline, passed the partial, $115 million restoration of the Summer Youth Employment Program, rebranded as the SYEP Summer Bridge program.  Mayor de Blasio announced SYEP Summer Bridge 2020, has a $51M public-private partnership that will provide constructive engagement and enrichment activities to keep 35,000 New York City youth active and productive this summer. Beginning in late July, the program will engage teens in a series of career exploration and project-based learning activities that will help them build their skills and prepare them for their next steps in the fall.

"Our city's young people have sacrificed so much during this crisis and they deserve opportunities to learn and grow. We thank the City Council and the philanthropic community for ensuring our kids have a positive, productive summer,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.  

The #COVID-19 pandemic has presented an acute challenge for young adults from low-income households, which has been compounded by the shift to remote learning for the last three months of the school year and the cancellation of the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). The Mayor and City Council announced funding yesterday for a total of 115,000 slots in youth and community programs, including #SYEP Summer Bridge, to provide young people with enrichment opportunities and safe, engaging activities this summer.

“SYEP Summer Bridge is a new innovative model that was developed to meet the needs of NYC youth as the City recovers from the impact of COVID this summer,” said J. Phillip Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives. “Now more than ever young people need opportunities to explore career paths, gain skills for the workforce and start to envision and plan for their futures.”

Although SYEP Summer Bridge is distinct from the traditional SYEP, it will leverage the program's partners and program infrastructure to quickly deliver a valuable experience for participating youth through career exploration, project-based learning and management, and civic engagement skill building. City officials—in partnership with the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City and with $6M in philanthropic support from the Ford Foundation, Donald A. Pels Foundation, JPB Foundation, Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, Jennifer & Jonathan Allan Soros Foundation, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, The JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Gray Foundation, The Neuberger Berman Foundation, the NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund in The New York Community Trust, and CIT Group—aim to serve approximately 35,000 participants through the program.

“Restoring the Summer Youth Employment Program was an absolute must for the Council this year and I am so proud we fought to save summer for New York City young people in a very difficult year. This program is a lifeline for so many New York City children and its impact can last a lifetime. I thank Council Member Rose for her steadfast leadership on this issue during tough budget negotiations and for championing this program over the years,” said Speaker Corey Johnson.

Summer Bridge 2020 will offer approximately 60-90 hours of activities over a five-week period. The program will prioritize low-income, justice-involved, foster care, runaway and homeless, NYCHA residents and young adults from communities hit hardest by the pandemic. 

All participants will engage in online career exploration through an application developed by Hats & Ladders, a nationally recognized education software provider. This will incorporate online interaction with professionals, including well-known personalities and industry leaders from public service, business, technology, the arts, and more, aligned to participants’ interests.

SYEP Summer Bridge will also feature project-based learning related to community service, COVID-19 recovery, and careers in STEAM, which will be delivered by nonprofit organizations. Some youth will also participate in a “Workplace Challenge,” in which participants work in teams to solve real-world business problems presented to them by private employers, community-based organizations, and government agencies.

"These past months, the young people of New York City have endured a uniquely difficult situation unlike anything the adults in their lives have experienced," said Toya Williford, Executive Director of the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. "The resilience, tenacity, and creativity young New Yorkers have displayed is what makes me confident in the future of this great city. We must do everything in our power to support them in building toward that future, and Summer Bridge is one vital component of our city's plan to keep them enriched, engaged, and connected. Thank you to our partners for affirming that in New York City, every young person deserves access to the tools and experiences they need to thrive."

NYC is still in the middle of a pandemic and many of the summer activities they would normally participate in remain off limits. The need for Summer Bridge 2020 and other programs that will give young people a productive summer is greater than ever.    “Our hope is that Summer Bridge will be a lifeline to young people in the city whose communities have been hardest hit by this crisis. This crisis has exposed, deepened and widened the severe gaps in equality in our society. With opportunities like Summer Bridge, we aim to help close those gaps and give the youth of our city the tools to become the future leaders of this city,” said Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation.

FAQ

What is SYEP Summer Bridge 2020?
As you may know in April, we had to suspend the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). We have spent this time creating an
engaging virtual program that will offer opportunities to learn new skills, explore potential careers and earn money this summer and
are happy to announce the launch of SYEP Summer Bridge 2020.

If selected to participate in SYEP Bridge 2020, what will I be doing this summer? 
SYEP Summer Bridge will provide fully online constructive work-based learning activities for participants. As a 16-24 year old, you
will participate in a paid project-based learning experience with career exploration, work-readiness training, take part in leadership
projects and develop numerous skills. You will have the opportunity to engage with employers and build your network through
mentoring, career panels, social media workshops, and more.

How long is the program?
Participants will be engaged 18 hours per week for 5 weeks during July and August.

Do I need to submit a new application if I’ve already completed one for SYEP 2020? Can I still apply to the program?
If you’ve already applied to SYEP 2020, you will need to log into your existing application to select a provider and agree to the new
program model. You can find your application here: application.nycsyep.com

Who is eligible to participate in SYEP Summer Bridge 2020?
You must be:
i. 16-24 years old as of July 18th, 2020.
ii. A resident of one of the five boroughs of New York City
iii. Legally allowed to work in the US etc.

How much will I be paid?
You will receive up to a $1,000 stipend based on your attendance and participation.

I’m enrolled in summer school. Can I still participate in SYEP Summer Bridge?
It will depend on your school schedule and whether it can accommodate both your activity schedule and school. If selected, speak to
your provider

If selected, how can I submit enrollment documents? Do I still have to visit my CBO in-person?
You will submit your documents online to your CBO. You will not submit documents in-person.

What documents do I need to submit to successfully enroll in the program?
Check the application for a list of required documents including but not limited to a picture ID, proof of age and address.
Applications will be open from July 9th, 2020 to July 15th, 2020 . You can only submit your application during this time period.

If I’m not selected for the program or am not interested in this model, what other programs can I take part in?
Please visit this SYEP site for more info.

I already applied to the Department of Probation (DOP) Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON) summer
programming, is this the same thing?
SYEP Summer Bridge is a separate program from the Department of Probation (DOP) Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON)
summer programming. You can submit your SYEP Summer Bridge application here: application.nycsyep.com