NEW YORK - Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani kicked off the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), as 100,000 young New Yorkers prepare to step into workplaces across the five boroughs. From community organizations and small businesses to hospitals, cultural institutions, and government agencies, SYEP offers work experience at thousands of workplaces across the city, allowing young New Yorkers to hone professional skills while earning a paycheck.
"For so many young New Yorkers, a summer job is more than just a way to pass the time, it's a step towards their future. For years, SYEP has helped thousands of New Yorkers start their careers, hone their professional skills, and give back to the neighborhoods they call home - all while allowing them to earn money," said Mayor Mamdani. "Congratulations to the newest members of the SYEP cohort. We hope you not only learn new skills at work, but new things about yourself this summer."
"The road to professional and personal success is paved by programs like SYEP that provide young New Yorkers the experience they will need in the future," said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. "SYEP does not just develop skills in the workplace, it also provides education in key areas, like financial literacy, and to high-risk communities, so those young New Yorkers are afforded the opportunity to achieve long-term economic success and stability."
"Celebrating its 63rd year as the nation's largest youth employment program, SYEP continues to create career pathways and expand opportunities for young people to explore their interests, gain meaningful work experience, build professional skills and earn a paycheck. By connecting participants to employers, mentors and real-world experiences, SYEP helps prepare the next generation of New York City's workforce while investing in communities across the five boroughs," said NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Sandra Escamilla-Davies. "Alongside Summer Rising, Saturday Night Lights, Summer Night Lights, and other free DYCD programs, SYEP provides young people with safe, engaging opportunities to build lasting relationships, develop skills, discover new possibilities and create experiences that will shape their futures long after the summer ends."
Earlier this year, Mayor Mamdani released a video encouraging young New Yorkers to apply for SYEP, leading to a record number of applications.
SYEP is a six-week program, running from July to August, that allows participants to jumpstart their careers at thousands of worksites across the city. SYEP advances the City's vision of making New York City more affordable by helping young people earn income, gain valuable and transferable skills, and build pathways to long-term economic opportunities.
The program offers tailored experiences to thousands of young New Yorkers who often face barriers to summer jobs, including young people at the highest risk of gun violence, NYCHA residents, homeless youth, youth with disabilities, and those who are justice-involved, or in foster care.
SYEP participation outcomes cited in studies include improved school attendance, connections to new skills, reduced incarceration rates, and keeping teens and young adults safe-including youth who would not otherwise have access to paying jobs. Additional research indicates summer jobs save lives, reduce crime and strengthen communities. A 2021 study found that SYEP participation lowered participants' chances of being arrested by 17 percent, and by 23 percent for felony arrests. SYEP youth are also significantly less likely to be incarcerated in New York State more than five years after their participation in the program.
Every year, Lyft provides 1,200 free two-month Citi Bike memberships for SYEP participants, enabling young people to get to their jobs, explore their city and have fun. The company also hosts SYEP interns on their Social Impact team; participants gain exposure to careers in the private sector while building their leadership and communications skills as Citi Bike community ambassadors.
"We're proud to continue partnering with the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development because we believe access to transportation is access to possibility. Since 2022, Lyft has provided free Citi Bike memberships and hands-on experience to help young New Yorkers build real skills - and real confidence. Because when young people move, cities move with them," said Inbar Kishoni, senior manager, Community & Equity Programs, Lyft Urban Solutions.
