NYCHA and Public Housing Community Fund Launch Youth Tech Corps

May 3, 2023June 1, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

NYCHA residents ages 16 to 24 have an additional pathway to a technology career, thanks to a new initiative from the Public Housing Community Fund (formerly the Fund for Public Housing).

Launched on April 27, the NYCHA Youth Tech Corps, which is funded by AT&T and supported by Soulful Synergy, will provide critical digital literacy and technology skills to young people to help bridge the digital divide. Participants will also develop valuable leadership, communication, and client service skills.

Youth Tech Corps members will work with resident adult leaders to develop a technology plan and accomplish goals using skills learned in the classroom.

“Through the power of intergenerational collaboration and technology, we can break down the barriers that divide us and create a more equitable future for all public housing residents,” said Public Housing Community Fund Executive Director Alex Zablocki. “Thanks to this investment by AT&T in young leaders from across the five boroughs, they will learn valuable technology skills and be exposed to careers and education opportunities in tech. Working with adult leaders and mentors, they will form bonds within their community and tackle a technology problem to better connect their community. We are thrilled to welcome this first class of NYCHA Youth Tech Corps powered by AT&T scholars and can’t wait to see what they learn and create together!”

There will be three cohorts within the year-long pilot phase of this free program, with each session running for 10 weeks at the Wyckoff Gardens Resident Association computer lab in Brooklyn. After graduating, participants receive a cash stipend.

Dwayne Norris of Soulful Synergy (left with black cap), Pascal Desroches, CFO of AT&T (middle, in black coat) and Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of Public Housing Community Fund (third from right) at the launch of Youth Tech Corps

NYCHA Interim CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt expressed gratitude for the support from the Public Housing Community Fund and its partners “for their ongoing commitment to investing in the lives and futures of public housing residents across the five boroughs through initiatives like this.”

“NYCHA approached me about the Youth Tech Corps program powered by AT&T, and I thought it would be a great opportunity for our young people to learn about technology and stay off the streets,” said Valerie Bell, Resident Association President of Wyckoff Gardens. “I believe it can be a way for different developments to communicate with each other, so I fully support bringing the program here to Wyckoff Houses.”

Participants in the first cohort received a free laptop from AT&T and Human-I-T. Participants in future cohorts will receive other devices to help with their digital projects.

The first set of participants include residents of Wyckoff Gardens, Unity Plaza, Whitman Houses, Hughes Apartments, and Polo Grounds Towers.