De Blasio Announces Summer Bridge Program to Keep Teens Productive This Summer

On July 1, Mayor de Blasio announced the Summer Youth Employment (SYEP) Summer Bridge 2020, a $51 million partnership (public-private) that will provide engagement and enrichment activities to 35,000 of New York City’s youths to keep them active and productive all summer. De Blasio announced this initiative after suspending this year's traditional SYEP and proposing to cut it from the city's budget due to the financial crisis that has stemmed from the coronavirus.

Summer Bridge is slated to begin in late July and offer approximately 60-90 hours of activities over the course of 5 weeks. The program will prioritize low-income, justice-involved, foster care, runaway, and homeless NYCHA residents and youth adults from communities that have been hit hardest by the pandemic.

All participants will engage in online career exploration and interaction with professionals—including well-known personalities and industry leaders from public service, business, technology, the arts, and more—aligned to the participants' interests. SYEP Summer Bridge will also feature project-based learning related to community service, COVID-19 recovery, and STEAM. Some will participate in a "Workplace Challenge," in which youths will work in teams to solve real-world business issues presented to them by private employers, community-based organizations, and government agencies.