Press Release
Statement by CSS President David R. Jones on Adams Administration Expansion of SYEP
We commend Mayor Adams for prioritizing NYC's young people and expanding the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). The Community Service Society has long advocated for deeper investment in employment opportunities for our young people and this expansion moves us further along in that direction. We strongly believe that our city should work towards a more comprehensive version of SYEP that affords every high school student the opportunity to participate. As the program rolls out this year, the education department should make sure that recovery services, and other academic programs students may be taking during the summer because of the pandemic, do not preclude participation in SYEP. It is essential that SYEP operates in partnership with schools and creates intentional connections to career and educational advancement. Our young people are brimming with talent and knowledge. Any programming that engages the youth needs to recognize just how invaluable their capacities are for the future of our city. This isn't about keeping them off the streets, it's about giving them the opportunities they deserve to thrive in society.