By Reporters
This summer, the Big Apple will pay young New Yorkers to learn online.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced a new initiative that will enroll 2,700 youth in six weeks of online instruction.
While announcing this Friday last week, Mayor Blasio stated that Participating New Yorkers would receive a stipend, and could earn up to $1,200.
He added only certain New Yorkers are eligible.
“NeON Summer is open to young people ages 14-24 who live in the seven Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON) communities of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, East New York, Harlem, Jamaica, North Staten Island and the South Bronx; who live in the 27 hardest-hit COVID-19 communities; or who live anywhere in New York City and are on probation,” Blasio said.
He further stated that the program would help offset the lack of opportunity available to some young New Yorkers.
Applications from those living in NeON communities and the hardest-hit COVID-19 communities are due June 15.
The online programs will be run by community-based organizations that specialize in mentorship, cultural, arts programming, mental health and wellness services.
According to the city, NeON Summer is “designed to strengthen social, civic, and leadership abilities.”
NeON Summer will help fill the gap left by the city’s cancelation of the Summer Youth Employment Program earlier this year.
Henry Ukazu