Our Learn & Earn program at InfoTech High School provides comprehensive college and work readiness, vocational development, counseling, and case management to 70 high school juniors and seniors throughout the school year. We also provide follow-up services to a cohort of first-year college students. A significant component of our program is the Summer Internship Program (SIP), where participants can choose from a wide range of paid six-week internships. This summer, thanks to our dedicated staff and generous worksite partners, we provided a record-high 46 internships.
During these six weeks, our interns gain meaningful workplace experience and have hands-on opportunities to enhance their work readiness skills. The internships, which allow each intern to work 25 hours a week—remotely, in person, or in a hybrid model depending on the company—have a significant impact on their professional growth. This year, our students worked with a diverse group of employers, including The DIA Art Foundation, the Swiss Institute Art Gallery, The Museum of the Moving Image, Run It Back, the New York City Football Club (NYCFC), Leverich Graphic Design, as well as at Riis’ Queensbridge Community Center, Immigrant Services offices, and administrative offices.
Two of our students, Erick and Aaron, interned with NYCFC, where they supported the club’s Soccer Bloc program, which provides youth (ages 6-14) from the five boroughs with free soccer programming. Erick and Aaron had the chance to travel around the city and even met some professional soccer players from Manchester City.
Jack Jacobs, the Program & Development Operations Manager at NYCFC, shared that they were “blessed with the opportunity” to participate in our program and expressed that NYCFC would love to continue working with Riis. Along with our partners’ appreciation for the program, we were thrilled to receive positive feedback from participants like Jezelle, a Riis Settlement Immigrant Services intern, who said she “learned how to communicate better with clients and work as a team with her coworkers.”
We sincerely thank all our generous worksite partners for providing our students with these fantastic opportunities. Your support and dedication have been instrumental in the success of our program. Check out our Instagram and Facebook for more videos and information! If you are interested in serving as a worksite partner next summer, please contact program director Mike Rieger at mrieger@riissettlement.org for more info!
