91Ó°ÊÓ

From July 7 through August 15, 2025, 18-year-old NYCHA resident Natalie Severino was one of approximately 170 interns gaining work experience at NYCHA through the Summer Youth Employment Program (). SYEP provides 91Ó°ÊÓyouth between the ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration and paid work experience every summer. NYCHA is proud to partner with the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) to provide residents with priority access to summer jobs—both through the community lottery and through two SYEP special initiatives, MAP to $uccess and CareerFIRST, which reserve slots for residents of select developments. Ms. Severino worked at Wyckoff Gardens in Brooklyn, one of the MAP to $uccess developments. Hear about her internship experience in her own words: 

Before working at NYCHA, I worked at different jobs, including at a school helping kids read and I also had a small job helping at a family business. Each job taught me something different, but this internship gave me more structure and career experience. 

In my role as an SYEP intern, I help with a mix of administrative and hands-on tasks. Day to day, I might assist with organizing files, updating spreadsheets, or helping staff with small projects. I’ve also helped set up for events and worked on tasks that support the residents and the NYCHA team. It’s given me a better understanding of how things run behind the scenes. 

As a NYCHA resident, I learned how much detailed work happens behind the scenes in the office to support residents. I didn’t realize how much time is spent organizing paperwork, managing work orders, handling tenant requests, and planning community programs. It gave me a new appreciation for how much effort goes into keeping things running smoothly — not just outside in the developments but inside the office too. 

One new skill I learned during this internship is professional communication. I got better at writing emails, speaking clearly with supervisors, and asking questions when I needed help. I learned this by watching how others around me communicated, getting feedback, and practicing every day on the job.  

There was a moment during my internship I felt really proud of myself when I helped organize and file a large stack of important documents. It took time and focus, but once I finished, my supervisor thanked me and said it made their job easier. That made me feel like I was actually contributing to the team and not just there to observe.  

My favorite part of the internship was being in a professional office environment and getting to experience what it’s like to be part of a team. I liked learning how everything works behind the scenes and building relationships with the staff. It made me feel more confident about working in the future.  

When I’m older, I want to be a nurse. This internship helped me get closer to that goal by teaching me how to stay organized, communicate professionally, and work with others — all skills that are important in healthcare too. Even though I wasn’t working in a hospital, I learned how to be responsible and focused, which will help me in any job, especially nursing.