“One Year of Your Life to the Career of Your Dreams”
That’s the motto of Year Up—and It Works
That’s the motto of Year Up—and It Works
Year Up says they empower low-income young adults to go from poverty to professional careers in a single year, and given the results of the 79 NYCHA young adults who’ve already attended their programs, it appears to be true. Year Up offers a free, year-long education and job training program for young adults ages 18 to 24 to bridge the gap between young adults looking for work and companies in need of qualified workers. Young adults who complete the year leave the endowed with the skills, experience, and confidence they need to succeed.
The national nonprofit’s beginnings can be traced back to Rutgers Houses, circa 1987. That’s when Year Up’s founder, Gerald Chertavian, met his “little brother,” David, as part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program.
“Through David, I learned the incredible value of a caring, consistent adult in the life of a young person, an adult who believes in their potential. An adult who is willing to challenge them, hold them accountable, while at the same time being supportive,” Mr. Chertavian said. He founded Year Up in Boston in 2000.
Year Up provides six months of professional training in IT, finance, or customer service, followed by a six-month internship at a top corporation. Participants can earn up to 24 college credits while receiving a weekly stipend and support from mentors. The results speak for themselves: 85 percent of Year Up graduates are employed or in college full-time within four months of completing the program. Those who are employed earn an average starting salary of $16 an hour, or $32,000 a year.
“There’s so much support, because it’s a hard program to get through. For those who get through it, there’s so much success and life-changing opportunities offered,” says Bland Houses resident Jennifer Johnson, a graduate of the program who works as a technology coordinator at Relay Graduate School of Education. “The program’s design is impressive, and so are the outcomes, from what I’ve seen from myself and my peers.”
Shanna Castillo, Director of NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability, says that Year Up is especially unique because “the exposure participants get to corporate employers during the internship is quite exceptional. Also, students have to dress professionally, even when they’re in training. Having that attire really makes you feel the part, and that’s an empowering experience.”
Year Up is currently recruiting its next class. Call or text Year Up at 646-634-2022 or visit www.yearup.org for more information.