Bushwick Youth Returns to College After NYCHA SYEP Internship 

For more than 60 years, the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) has provided youth from across the city, including generations of NYCHA residents, with paid opportunities to explore career interests and pathways. 

Through SYEP, the nation’s largest youth employment program, participants engage in learning experiences that help develop their professional, social, civic, and leadership skills. This past summer, NYCHA residents throughout the city were among the approximately 100,000 young people between the ages of 14 and 24 who received paid summer jobs thanks to SYEP.  

As part of the six-week program held July through August, residents aged 16 to 24 earned the prevailing minimum wage, while youth under 16 received a stipend. NYCHA’s SYEP interns worked in various departments, learning about a range of functions and services and gaining a behind-the-scenes look into how the Authority does business. 

Bushwick Houses resident Brianne Anthony is a veteran SYEP participant who interned this summer with the Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES). Ms. Anthony, 22, first joined SYEP at age 14 and continued enrolling in subsequent years for a constructive summer activity. When it came to this summer, Ms. Anthony noted she was hoping to gain job experience more closely related to her educational pursuits. 

“I was looking to get real work experience in something that I think would be more related to my major,” said Ms. Anthony, who recently entered her junior year at CUNY City College, where she is studying business administration.  

For her summer internship with REES, Ms. Anthony was assigned to the Intake, Assessment, and Zone Coordination team in the Brooklyn office, where she assisted residents in person and over the phone by answering questions and connecting them to a variety of programs and services.  

“It involved helping clients and people who come to the window by directing them to where they want to go and introducing them to a lot of the programs inside REES,” she explained of her role.  

As an SYEP intern within the larger Resident Services, Participation, and Initiatives Department (RSPI), Ms. Anthony was invited to attend a presentation to learn from department leadership about the different office functions, services, and programs. Additionally, the interns participated in a Smoke-Free NYCHA workshop and training with the Resident Health Initiatives Department. The workshop covered topics such as understanding the health risks associated with smoking and promoting a smoke-free environment among youth.  

“It was very informative and engaging,” she described of the workshop. 

Along with the knowledge and insights into some NYCHA resident services, Ms. Anthony was thankful for the chance to team up with NYCHA employees, and she credited the fulfilling internship experience with exposing her to a dedicated workplace environment.       

“I think it opened my eyes to what work could be like and what I could do when I finish my degree,” she concluded. “This was a good experience and I’m going to take this to my next endeavor.” 

Amanda Moore, Assistant Director of Intake, Assessment, and Zone Coordination at REES, said Ms. Anthony “always maintained a professional work ethic and consistently met assignment deadlines.”  

“We appreciated her flexibility, as she not only supported the Intake and Assessment Unit, but all units within REES,” Ms. Moore stated. 

REES Intake and Assessment Manager Destiny Austin added: “It was a pleasure working with Ms. Anthony over the summer. She showed up each day on time and eager to assist. She took great initiative and was open to learning about REES programs.” 

To learn more about SYEP, visit Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) – DYCD (nyc.gov).