YouthBridge-NY Bridge fellows serve on committees that do important work in the City of New York. These include:

• Express Yourself! Youth Summit – The highlight of each year is the YouthBridge-NY Summit, which convenes more than 350 teen leaders and some 50 teachers, guidance counselors and youth professionals in a single day of seminars, workshops, and keynote talks. Click here to learn more and register for the May 28th 2008 Youth Summit.

• Shared Resources for a Shared Future – For this critical committee, Fellows run their own foundation, the Bridging the Gap Foundation, and disburse thousands of dollars for worthy causes that focus on such issues as health, diversity, education, poverty, and the environment. This year, for the second time, this committee held its own fundraiser to augment the available funds for disbursement.  The students surpassed their goal of $7,000 and raised more than $17,000 to disburse to public school initiatives focused on the environment, health, and diversity.  (See our slide show from our April 2007 Student Fundraiser below!)

• Get Green Committee – Valuing the importance of community service, eight Bridge Fellows have assembled a committee that dedicates a year of volunteer work within the New York City community.  The Fellows complete volunteer projects focused on the environment and build partnerships with local schools and organizations.  Projects have included a beach cleanup, Habitat for Humanity builds, and a recycling initiative in partnership with the High School for Environmental Studies to implement recycling strategies in New York City public schools.

• Engaging Workplace Diversity Internship Program – In the summer of 2007, eight Bridge Fellows participated in a six-week internship sponsored by Allianz Foundation for North America to learn how corporations handle issues of diversity. From hiring to promotions, from interpersonal issues to work style differences, Bridge Fellows spent four days each week from July through August in corporations throughout New York City. Each Fellow underwent a six-month training program prior to participating in the internship program.  This summer, eight students will again be participating in the second year of the program.

Bridging the Gap Student Fundraiser: April 18, 2007