Access to opportunity starts at an early age. We all know summer work, internships, and early career experience can open doors, provide future career opportunities, and introduce young people to valuable skills and experiences that make a difference in their personal and professional lives.

In NYC, the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), helps tens of thousands of low-income NYC youth get valuable summer work experience (and income), while reducing childcare burdens and in some cases, keeping youth out of problematic social circumstances.

While COVID initially put the program in jeopardy, a coalition of non-profits have stepped up to help operate and keep SYEP alive in 2020. Today we're happy to announce we'll be working with NYC SYEP Summer Bridge and Catholic Charities of New York (a wonderful organization that, among other things, has served over half a million COVID relief meals to NYers in need this year) to provide Brightest's full resources to the 2020 program, help it successfully run as a digital/virtual initiative, and provide positive opportunities to aspiring students.