Returning to classrooms this fall doesn’t mean reverting back to the “old way” of doing things. As many of us know too well, the “old way” was working for far too few of our young people. Instead, we are taking the lessons learned over the past year-and-a-half to better braid learning from work and school, forge stronger partnerships between educators and employers, and create a thriving, inclusive economy powered by our students.

HERE to HERE announced $600,000 in grant awards through their Braided Pathways Fund. The fund recognizes high-quality, existing programs as highlighted by the Key Distinguishers of Integrated Work-Based Learning (Key Distinguishers).

HERE to HERE Student Ambassadors have played a pivotal role in steering HERE to HERE’s vision of creating equitable work-based learning opportunities for young people in the Bronx and throughout New York City. Learn how our Student Ambassadors initiative have amplified and designed professional development opportunities for themselves and their peers, as well as their bold advocacy to increase investment in work-based learning programs.

HERE to HERE’s analysis of data on the labor market and educational outcomes of New Yorkers finds that the existing NYC talent pipeline simply does not work for many New Yorkers, who are currently at a disadvantage compared to US-born jobseekers from out of state. However, labor market projections show that we have a chance to steer our policies in a new direction, with New York projected to add many mid- to high-wage occupations over the next few years. With this report, we hope to offer some policy solutions that can help the City ensure that young people born and raised here have a chance to compete for good jobs.

With temperatures rising, vaccines readily available, a robust mayoral race narrowing, and the City reopening, Summer 2021 is proving to be a season for growth, energy, and renewal. Amidst the frenzy of activity, HERE to HERE is not simply “returning to normal,” but instead “striving for better.”

We all are welcoming interns again through the fully reinstated SYEP program, the Braided Pathways Fund RFP is out—building on the work of the Key Distinguishers Task Force, the Pathways to Prosperity NYC campaign is underway, and we’re taking lessons learned from SY2021 to help support schools in our High School Network deepen their commitment to work-based learning (WBL) in the coming school year. In the field, you all are doing amazing work as well. Lehman’s Bronx Recovery Corps is expanding and has inspired the creation of a Brooklyn Recovery Corps, and NYC DOE is making a new investment in WBL this summer.

We are excited to share all of this great news in this edition of our newsletter.