NYCHA’s Summer Interns Gained Work Experience and Skills Training
This summer, approximately 170 New York City young people gained valuable paid internship experience working at NYCHA through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Since 1963, SYEP has provided NYC youth ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration and paid work experience each summer. It is the country’s largest summer youth employment initiative.
The program ran in two cohorts from July 1 through August 15. Of NYCHA’s 170 SYEP interns, about 88 worked at various NYCHA developments, and the rest worked at the Authority’s central offices. (Read about the experience of one of NYCHA’s SYEP interns in The NYCHA Journal.) The departments with the most SYEP interns were Breukelen Property Management and Resident Participation & Civic Engagement.
SYEP at NYCHA was managed by Carly Wine, Senior Strategic Projects Manager in Resident Initiatives and Jernessa Cruickshank, Community Coordinator in REES. The program also served as a cross-agency collaboration that highlighted the strength of NYCHA departments working together. For example, Strategic Planning, Environmental Health & Safety, and the Office of EEO, Fair Housing, and Access Services jointly delivered orientation to NYCHA’s SYEP interns, presenting the Introduction to NYCHA training, New Employee Safety Orientation, and EEO training, respectively.
A special feature of this year’s program was a series of enrichment sessions designed to provide interns with real-world skills to support their academic, professional, and personal goals. Ms. Cruickshank took the lead on developing the enrichment sessions, which were held virtually and in person and were led by NYCHA staff from REES, Resident Initiatives, and Resident Health Initiatives.
The seven sessions were:
- Succeeding at a New Job
- Engagement Strategies to Support Community Health
- SMART Goals & Vision Board Workshop
- All About Grants-Research, Writing, and More
- Job Search 101
- Personal Branding for Young Professionals
- Financial Literacy 101
NYCHA Now spoke with Ms. Cruickshank about the enrichment sessions.
Why did REES create these enrichment sessions for SYEP interns?
The enrichment sessions were created to build upon the foundation provided by the existing orientation trainings such as the New Employee Safety Training and Equal Employment Opportunity Training. While these orientations ensure interns understand workplace safety and policies, there was a noticeable gap in professional and personal development opportunities tailored to the interns’ growth.
As a former SYEP participant myself, I remember not having access to these kinds of workshops until much later in my academic and career journey. That experience really informed my vision. These sessions were designed to offer free, accessible, high-quality workshops that are both engaging and hands on, equipping interns with practical tools and transferable skills that support their growth not only on the job, but in their everyday lives.
How did you choose the topics for the enrichment sessions?
The topics were selected with intentionality and care, grounded in five key areas: career development, mental health and wellness, self-development, and financial literacy. We wanted to ensure that each intern, regardless of where they are in their personal or professional journey, could find something meaningful and relevant to their goals.
I also opened the door to collaboration by inviting volunteer facilitators who are NYCHA employees from REES and Resident Health Initiatives to share what topics they felt passionate and skilled in offering. With their support and expertise, everything aligned beautifully. Each session became a unique opportunity for interns to explore new ideas, gain confidence, and connect with tools they could immediately put into practice.
What do you hope SYEP interns gained through their participation in the enrichment sessions?
My hope is that every intern who participated walked away with a sense of empowerment equipped with real world skills, valuable insights, and a portable toolkit they can use in school, work, and life.
More than anything, I want them to know they are capable, prepared, and supported. Whether they’re exploring career paths, managing their mental health, building financial literacy, or growing personally, these sessions are designed to meet them where they are and help them take their next steps with confidence.
Departments interested in hosting SYEP interns next summer should watch for a worksite interest form in early 2026.
Featured photo caption: SYEP interns at the Job Search 101 session led by NYCHA REES Program Manager Jordan Hipolito.
