As anyone at Children’s Arts and Science Workshops will tell you, “hands-on” is a phrase you’ll hear often across our different sites and programs. The truth is, young people learn best when they’re allowed to experience things for themselves, and apply the knowledge they learn within the classroom. Nowhere is this more apparent when it comes to entering the working world – and CASW is happy to comply!!! That’s why, thanks to our partners at DYCD, we’re proud to offer an array of workforce programs centered on hands-on experience – each designed to help you get your foot in the door.
Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
The Summer Youth Employment Program is one of the largest youth employment programs in the country, and is designed to provide young people ages 14-24 with paid employment experiences during the summer months, either through structured projects or work-based opportunities. For example, our recent PBL, “The Power of Fashion” sought to guide participants on a creative journey as they learn about the social and political impacts of fashion. The goal of SYEP is to help participants recognize their individual strengths and how they apply to long term career goals.
Ladders for Leaders (LFL)
LFL is a nationally recognized program that offers outstanding high school and college students the chance to participate in paid professional summer internships through our partners at various companies, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies across NYC. LFL applicants undergo a competitive vetting process and, once accepted, 30 hours of pre-employment training, designed to help them to navigate the realities of office life and other rules of professional etiquette. LFL is designed for students who are entering their chosen field, with the purpose of helping them gain further insight into what they’d like to do after their formal education.
Work, Learn, and Grow (WLG)
Work, Learn, and Grow (WLG) aims to do what programs like LFL and SYEP accomplish, but during the school year. Targeted toward students ages 16-20, WLG is a 22-week-long, paid program that offers them the opportunity to strengthen their professional skills, explore new educational/career paths, and earn college credit through an internship. We are currently in Phase I of WLG, as this year’s participants are undergoing training for their eventual internships and meeting with career mentors. The idea is to help NYC youth develop both academically and professionally through active working experiences.
Learn and Earn
This is a special opportunity geared towards high school students (specifically juniors and seniors). Learn and Earn is a structured learning program which focuses on work readiness training, college prep, mental and sexual health education, and employment opportunities. This paid opportunity seeks to empower high schoolers with the essential life skills needed to navigate both higher education and the professional world. By the end of the program, young people will have learned to advocate for both themselves and their wider community, all in pursuit of a better tomorrow.
Why Hands On Experience Matters for Teens
CASW-Workforce is targeted toward an age group that is primarily concerned with self-discovery. At this stage in life, young people are largely figuring out who they are and what their future holds, so it follows that these years are defined by exploration and trying things for themselves. This is especially true as a young person transitions from a school context to learning how their interests/studies apply to real-life careers. This is precisely why CASW-Workforce is proud to bridge the gap between academic excellence and professional success.
