The push is part of the mayor’s blueprint strategy to attain safer streets and to end gun violence, alongside other initiatives like the Saturday Night Lights program. City officials say there is still time for both SYEP applicants and SYEP employers, who may be interested in hosting worksites, to apply to the program. The 2022 program runs from July 5 through August 20.

 

DYCD deputy commissioner for workforce connect, Valerie Mulligan said by extending the Summer Youth Employment deadline, DYCD was giving even more young New Yorkers an opportunity to apply for a “record number of jobs this summer.”

 

The deputy commissioner said, “DYCD strongly encourages youth and families to visit the application site or contact their local community-based organization for a chance to explore their interests and career pathways, and take part in learning experiences that help boost their workplace, social, civic and leadership skills.”

 

As reported, also as part of the mayor’s Blue Print to End Gun Violence, the NYPD, DYCD, the city’s five district attorneys’ offices and several city agency partners, community based organizations and foundations relaunched the Saturday Night Lights program in March, which began last year, opening up gyms across the city for free, high-quality sports programs for kids on Saturday nights.

 

The mayor visited P.S./I.S. 224, located at 345 Brook Avenue in the Mott Haven section of The Bronx on March 27 for the relaunch, noting that the number of open gyms across the city on Saturday Nights had expanded to 106 since the program began, all in efforts to provide a safe space for young people to congregate on Saturday Nights.

 

Speaking on the night of the relaunch, Adams said, “We have been so reactive in the engagement between our police and our young people. This proactive approach is just so important.” He added, “We are making wonderful changes and we don’t really lift up enough…..when you look at these sergeants and police officers, and lieutenants and inspectors, the only thing that will come to mind is that that individual is going out there, fighting crime, and that is just so not true.”

 

The mayor went on to say that the police had observed many young people being denied basic services and that it had affected them. “They don’t like placing their hands on a young person, trust me,” he said. “And whenever they do programs like this one, they’re able to foster relationships with these young people. They’re going to now view police officers differently because of this proactive approach.”

 

The mayor said more programs like it were needed, acknowledging that when he was a borough president, he hadn’t expected it to become such a huge program. “We have these beautiful schools,” he said, adding that more use should be made of them on the weekends. “Pools, classrooms, locker rooms, it belongs to them,” the mayor said.

 

“This is what we are going to do – intervention and prevention, and whenever I say that it’s ignored,” he said. “No! It’s not about locking people up. It’s about placing them on a pathway so they don’t have to do a crime in the first place. That is what is at the heart of this administration, because I was one of them.”

 

Adams also highlighted the importance to the youth of playing ball and interacting with one another. “We have to keep them safe. Be clear on it,” he said. “Three-year-old babies won’t be shot in this city. We’re very, very clear on that. We’re not going to apologize for protecting our young people.”

The mayor went on to say that young people should should not leave the gyms and then have to deal with gun violence. “It’s unacceptable, and we’re not going to make excuses for people who choose to shoot three-year-old babies,” he said. “Last week, we had a three-year-old and a seven-year-old shot while standing with their parents. So, we’re going to create safe spaces for our children, but we’re going to be serious about those that bring violence.”

 

Referring to those who sought to criticize what his approach, he said, “That’s just noise.” He continued, “I have to protect the children and families of this City and I am going to do it, and I’m not listening to any noise from people that don’t know what it takes to do so. We can do this as you’re doing it here.”

 

Adams added, “This is a great program – Saturday Night Lights. Instead of our children, on Saturday night, being in unsafe environments, we are creating a great safe environment, the DYCD, the local CBOs, the police department. This is a partnership that we want and what we need in the city. So, I’m happy to be here. I knew I wanted to come up in The BX because I love the Bronx. You know, Mr. Brooklynite – wished I’d lived in The Bronx.”

 

For her part, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, who was also present on the night, spoke about the reason for creating the program the previous year. Addressing the young people present, she said, “We wanted to give you the opportunity, so you understand that all of you are the next generation of leaders. This is about all of you, to be anything and everything that you want to be. You want to be the next basketball player, the next baseball player, then come to to Saturday Night Lights.”

 

She added, “We have a great staff, they will help you. They will support you so that you can be a good team player, but you can also be a good leader.” The borough president then explained that the partnership between the NYPD, the District Attorneys’ Offices, the Police Foundation, the Department of Education, the housing authority, and DYCD did not come easy.

 

“There were people that didn’t believe we could do this, but when you understand that this is about the next generation of leaders, this is not about reacting every time we have a shooting. This is about going into doing preventative work, loving on young people before there’s a shooting, giving them access, and that’s what Mayor Eric Adams is all about.”

She continued, “In addition to Saturday Night Lights, we’re not stopping there, y’all – 100,000 summer youth employment jobs! We have to be about this work, we have to be about action, and putting money and commitment into summer programs, summer enrichment, summer camps…. so many young people and it’s all yours, and we can’t wait for all of you to explore those opportunities.”

 

Gibson then thanked the NYPD, the Community Affairs officers and partner organizations for believing in the young people. “Thank you for not giving up on all of the possibilities that our people present. They are the next generation of leaders.”

Applications for the summer youth employment program can be completed online at nyc.gov/syep or at a participating community-based organization during the application period. Employers and worksites looking to support SYEP should visit nyc.gov/hirenycyouth. For more information, call 311 or DYCD Community Connect (1-800-246-4646).

 

For a list of sports venues offered under the Saturday Night Lights program, click here.