Teens from CFL’s Youth Employment Program joined hundreds of other teens for Youth Action Day on January 17th in Albany, NY. As part of the Campaign for Summer Jobs, teens attended a Youth Speak-Out and met directly with elected officials. Youth explained why the Summer Youth Employment Program is so important to them, their families, and the community and asked that $35 million be included in this year’s State budget for the program. Their advocacy efforts were successful: Governor Spitzer’s executive budget, released in late January, allocates $35 million for the Summer Youth Employment Program.

The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is a government program funded by the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). SYEP provides NYC Youth between the ages of 14 and 21 with summer employment and educational experiences that build on their individual strengths and incorporate youth development principles. These principles include engaging the talents and interests of youth, developing their skills and competencies, and providing positive adult role models.

“It was my first paycheck, the first time I earned money with my own hands. It was a great experience.”

– 2006 SYEP participant

Through SYEP, many young people work in a variety of entry-level jobs at community-based organizations and government agencies. Examples of summer jobs include assisting with clerical duties in local hospitals and libraries, serving lunches at a senior center, helping children at a day care center, and helping with clean-ups at local parks. The SYEP experience introduces youth to the workplace, imparts valuable employment skills, and provides our youth with summer income.

Youth participants meet with State Senator Eric Adams.

Center for Family Life is a longstanding contractor with DYCD, providing summer youth employment opportunities. We have successfully employed thousands of teenagers over the past eighteen summers and placed them in worksites throughout New York City. The summer of 2006 was our largest program yet, with 1400 working teenagers and 140 participating worksites.

In Fall 2006, 18 high school students worked together with the staff of Center for Family Life and Groundswell Community Mural Project to create a mural, entitled "A Walk Through Sunset." Participants in the Rise On after-school group wove together the themes of employment, education, diversity, intergenerational connections, and hope to generate an inspirational image of the Sunset Park community.

Youth presented a sketch of the planned mural at a community viewing in November, and the completed mural was unveiled at a dedication on January 17, 2007.

Rise On is a community service and career development program for 9th and 10th graders. Their mural can be viewed at CFL Employment Services, 443 39th Street (3rd Floor), between 4th and 5th Avenue in Sunset Park.

Click here to view a slideshow of the Rise On mural project!