NEW YORK—A summer internship program has 40 lucky city kids brimming with excitement. A tour of the NY1 television studios and a visit to Fordham College are only the dessert to an entree of courses and workshops the students are taking at City College.
The students flanked Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. on Wednesday as he announced the program in front of City Hall. Vance was joined by co-founder of the Brotherhood/Sister Sol organization Khary Lazarre-White, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, and councilors Robert Jackson and Inez E. Dickens.
“We all know summer is a time when parents try to have their children go to summer camp, get involved in some kind of program or some sort of fun activity that will help them keep learning and be engaged over the summer months,” said Quinn. “But there are times, unfortunately, when such an opportunity may not be readily available because of the very tough economic times we’re in.”
Quinn, Vance, Jackson, and Dickens collaborated to acquire $58,400 in City Council funds for the program. When faced with a need for space, Inez secured a location at City College.
The six-week program started in late July. Brotherhood/Sister Sol canvassed an area from 135th Street to 140th Street, between 5th and 8th avenues, in Harlem to recruit kids aged 12–16 years. This age group is considered to be especially vulnerable during the summer break, as the kids are too young to work and too old to be cared for at home.
“Learning does not stop, as we all know, when school is out. And thanks to the generosity of the City Council, these 40 teens and pre-teens are being exposed to some of the best that New York has to offer through a multitude of workshops and educational field trips,” said Vance.
Brotherhood/Sister Sol began operating in New York in 1995. In addition to the internship program, the organization operates summer camps, study-abroad programs, job training initiatives, and other educational endeavors.
All of the current Brotherhood/Sister Sol facilitators are alumni. Following their earlier participation in the organization’s programs, they have gone on to study at institutions like New York University, Barnard College, The New School, Fordham University, and Borough of Manhattan Community College.
“What you see here is our future, and we have a responsibility to take care of our future,” said Dickens.
The kids spend one day each week touring government and business offices. Another day is reserved for visiting colleges in New York City, and a third day is spent visiting cultural institutions. Two days are also reserved for workshops on race and gender issues, equality, access, and conflict resolution.
“We go on trips. They give us food. They’re kind to us,” said Stacy Fuentes, 13, from the Bronx, who is spending her first summer in this kind of program. “It’s not all about just teaching you how to be respectful. They make it fun and not all boring like school,” she added.
The kids didn’t have much time to linger as the press conference wrapped up. The program facilitators had everyone gather to move on to a tour of the African Burial Grounds in Lower Manhattan.
“It’s great! It’s a good opportunity for me,” said Tyquan McCormick, 15, of Lower Manhattan. “We have fun. We just discuss what we feel and stuff. It’s just good.”
The students flanked Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. on Wednesday as he announced the program in front of City Hall. Vance was joined by co-founder of the Brotherhood/Sister Sol organization Khary Lazarre-White, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, and councilors Robert Jackson and Inez E. Dickens.
“We all know summer is a time when parents try to have their children go to summer camp, get involved in some kind of program or some sort of fun activity that will help them keep learning and be engaged over the summer months,” said Quinn. “But there are times, unfortunately, when such an opportunity may not be readily available because of the very tough economic times we’re in.”
Quinn, Vance, Jackson, and Dickens collaborated to acquire $58,400 in City Council funds for the program. When faced with a need for space, Inez secured a location at City College.
The six-week program started in late July. Brotherhood/Sister Sol canvassed an area from 135th Street to 140th Street, between 5th and 8th avenues, in Harlem to recruit kids aged 12–16 years. This age group is considered to be especially vulnerable during the summer break, as the kids are too young to work and too old to be cared for at home.
“Learning does not stop, as we all know, when school is out. And thanks to the generosity of the City Council, these 40 teens and pre-teens are being exposed to some of the best that New York has to offer through a multitude of workshops and educational field trips,” said Vance.
Brotherhood/Sister Sol began operating in New York in 1995. In addition to the internship program, the organization operates summer camps, study-abroad programs, job training initiatives, and other educational endeavors.
All of the current Brotherhood/Sister Sol facilitators are alumni. Following their earlier participation in the organization’s programs, they have gone on to study at institutions like New York University, Barnard College, The New School, Fordham University, and Borough of Manhattan Community College.
“What you see here is our future, and we have a responsibility to take care of our future,” said Dickens.
The kids spend one day each week touring government and business offices. Another day is reserved for visiting colleges in New York City, and a third day is spent visiting cultural institutions. Two days are also reserved for workshops on race and gender issues, equality, access, and conflict resolution.
“We go on trips. They give us food. They’re kind to us,” said Stacy Fuentes, 13, from the Bronx, who is spending her first summer in this kind of program. “It’s not all about just teaching you how to be respectful. They make it fun and not all boring like school,” she added.
The kids didn’t have much time to linger as the press conference wrapped up. The program facilitators had everyone gather to move on to a tour of the African Burial Grounds in Lower Manhattan.
“It’s great! It’s a good opportunity for me,” said Tyquan McCormick, 15, of Lower Manhattan. “We have fun. We just discuss what we feel and stuff. It’s just good.”
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