RTS SYEP 2026 - 1,200+ Young People Gained Experience and Opportunity

Summer in New York City doesn’t slow down. Neither do our young people.

This summer, more than 1,200 Roads to Success(RTS) youth ages 14–24 spent their summer working, learning, building skills and contributing to communities across New York City, through the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).

For many, it was a first job. For others, it was an opportunity to explore an industry they may want to pursue in the future. Across New York City, RTS youth stepped into workplaces spanning healthcare, technology, business and finance, education, hospitality, sports, marketing, social services and more.

At 19, Brandon spent his summer working at Gatehouse Community Garden in Morningside Heights. His experience gave him more than a paycheck; It helped him build connections, strengthen his communication skills and learn how to navigate a professional environment.

“One of the best parts of SYEP was meeting new people and making connections. I also enjoyed working with the kids, communicating with them, and learning how to interact with different people in a professional environment.”

At RTS, youth employment is about more than placing young people in jobs. It is about giving them the opportunity to discover their strengths, build professional skills and see new possibilities for their futures.

Overall, RTS employed 1,201 youth across four boroughs through SYEP this summer.

This summer, RTS also partnered with ‘College Now’ to provide 60 participants with paid courses and college credit in areas including Financial Management, AI and Machine Learning, and Digital Game Design at City College. 800+ Youth also participated in the 10th Annual Success Summit, a day of career and educational exploration at CCNY.

As RTS CEO Sheila Duke shared:

“The Summer Youth Employment Program is a vital step, often the very first step in a young person’s life, and we’re proud to connect them with these paid work experiences.”

The summer concluded with an end-of-summer celebration on Randall’s Island, bringing together more than 1,200 participants and 50+ RTS staff members.

But the experience doesn’t end when summer does.

Every paycheck earned, skill developed, connection made, and workplace experience gained becomes part of a young person’s journey forward.