Now in our second year coming out of the pandemic, BronxWorks summer activities were back in full swing. Last year our summer programming operated on a smaller scale and maintained many virtual elements. While some of those virtual elements remain, the 2022 summer schedule returned in-person and in a big way with the Summer Rising initiative, our summer camps and Cornerstone programming, Summer Youth Employment Program, and more.

The BronxWorks Summer Rising initiative included X149 South Bronx Preparatory School, PS 42, and PS 130. The Summer Rising initiative was a free six-week program for students in elementary and middle school. Participants received academic support in the morning from DOE certified teachers followed by enrichment activities in the afternoon facilitated by BronxWorks staff. Over 500 elementary and middle school students enrolled in BronxWorks Summer Rising this year. In addition, we held six more summer day camps for children K-5, and programming at each of our Cornerstone Community Centers for participants K-HS. In total, over 800 students joined us for BronxWorks summer programming.

Our summer participants enjoyed a menu of activities each day. They learned about architecture and engineering through the Salvadori Center and built earthquake resistant structures out of toothpicks and clay. They learned acting, improv, and self-expression skills through Playocity.

A partnership called Bigs In Blue brought officers from the NYPD 40th precinct to mentor our middle schoolers on a range of important topics and to foster positive conversations between young people and police officers. For their community service project, students and officers created a campaign called “Keeping the School Clean” and made signs and PSAs to get out their message. Another partnership with the NYC Parks Department brought students into the woods at Van Cortlandt Park to learn Orienteering and Wilderness Skills.

Through our own intergenerational project, Building Practice that Creates and Sustains Intergenerational Community Centers, we partnered across our Children & Youth and Older Adult Services Departments to bring together older and younger people to learn with each other and foster that cross-generational bond between these key groups in our communities. Over the six week program, students and seniors came together to garden, to cook, to share stories about their families and their culture, to make maps, and other arts and crafts.

BronxWorks SNAP-Ed Educators gave nutrition and fitness workshops. Students also participated in Teen Battle Chef (TBC), a hands on culinary skills program that meets our participants where they are at in the world of nutrition and cooking. The program culminates in a cook-off where participants demonstrate a recipe to a panel of judges.

Students also enjoyed a choice of outdoor and physical activities. Bike NYC brought classes to St. Mary’s Park where our students learned the skills and gained experience needed to enjoy safely biking in an urban environment. Participants were able to go on bike trips to Randall’s Island and through Crotona Park. Gotham Tennis also provided lessons throughout the summer to introduce the sport of tennis to our participants. They have even offered one student a scholarship to continue lessons throughout the year.

As always, STEM played a big part in our summer plans. The Salvadori Center brought even more lessons and projects to demonstrate the relevance of math, science, and the arts as it relates to buildings, bridges, and parks, and our communities. We also brought in Building Beats to teach students the science of music production and how to produce, mix, and engineer their very own beats. There were science and math lessons with HYPOTHEKids and fashion and cosmetology activities. The summer work culminated in a STEM Expo at our Classic Cornerstone Community Center where participants from all of our summer programs came together to demonstrate what they had learned. Learn more about the STEM Expo.

Of course, one of the highlights for summer participants are field trips. This year we packed our schedule with as many trips as we could find. We went to Coney Island, the Central Park Zoo, the New York Aquarium, Billy Beez, Bowlmor Lanes, Boundless Adventures, the Bronx Zoo, the Museum of Natural History, Sporttime USA, Sesame Place, Dave & Busters, Van Cortlandt Park, Randalls Island, and more!

Summer Youth Employment Program

If you know anything about the summer at BronxWorks, you know about the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). This year, 1,327 young people ages 12-24 signed up to gain work experience or take on summer-long project-based learning. 778 older participants ages 16-24 were placed across 225 worksites at BronxWorks or with partner organizations. The interns are paid a stipend and gain valuable work experience.

Participants ages 12-15 work in project-based learning groups focused on a variety of topics, including environmental and social justice, food equity, nutrition, and culinary skills. The groups are conducted with both virtual and hybrid models, meeting every week to discuss topics and share their work. Groups studying environmental activism completed team-building and leadership exercises and learned to make infographics and other ways to communicate information.

Groups studying nutrition learned about healthy eating, food deserts, and careers in food. They took trips to stores and learned to cook recipes together.

Summer Programming at the Family Residences

Big things are also happening this summer at BronxWorks Family Residences! We partnered with NYC Children’s Theater to bring theater and music literacy to our residents. Through the program, NYC Children’s Theater brings volunteer artists to each site every week. The volunteers lead activities and exercises to promote the arts and support the emotional-wellbeing of the children living at all three Family Residences. The activities are designed with calming rituals and include reading and acting out books, singing songs, and mindfulness and breathing exercises.

There are nature walks and picnics at Wendell Park, and trips to the library for story time and arts and crafts, a behind the scenes field trip to a restaurant to speak with the owners and meet the cooks and learn about the importance of food and culture. The New York City Football Club has also invited the children to participate in their recreational soccer programs. Last but not least, we have the end of summer trip coming up, where children from all three residences will go to the American Dream Mall. The Childcare programs prepare an 8am to 6pm schedule every day for the children living in our family residences to help them enjoy the summer, give them an opportunity to spend time outside of the shelters.

Now in our second year coming out of the pandemic, BronxWorks summer activities were back in full swing. Last year our summer programming operated on a smaller scale and maintained many virtual elements. While some of those virtual elements remain, the 2022 summer schedule returned in-person and in a big way with the Summer Rising initiative, our summer camps and Cornerstone programming, Summer Youth Employment Program, and more.

The BronxWorks Summer Rising initiative included X149 South Bronx Preparatory School, PS 42, and PS 130. The Summer Rising initiative was a free six-week program for students in elementary and middle school. Participants received academic support in the morning from DOE certified teachers followed by enrichment activities in the afternoon facilitated by BronxWorks staff. Over 500 elementary and middle school students enrolled in BronxWorks Summer Rising this year. In addition, we held six more summer day camps for children K-5, and programming at each of our Cornerstone Community Centers for participants K-HS. In total, over 800 students joined us for BronxWorks summer programming.

Our summer participants enjoyed a menu of activities each day. They learned about architecture and engineering through the Salvadori Center and built earthquake resistant structures out of toothpicks and clay. They learned acting, improv, and self-expression skills through Playocity.

A partnership called Bigs In Blue brought officers from the NYPD 40th precinct to mentor our middle schoolers on a range of important topics and to foster positive conversations between young people and police officers. For their community service project, students and officers created a campaign called “Keeping the School Clean” and made signs and PSAs to get out their message. Another partnership with the NYC Parks Department brought students into the woods at Van Cortlandt Park to learn Orienteering and Wilderness Skills.

Through our own intergenerational project, Building Practice that Creates and Sustains Intergenerational Community Centers, we partnered across our Children & Youth and Older Adult Services Departments to bring together older and younger people to learn with each other and foster that cross-generational bond between these key groups in our communities. Over the six week program, students and seniors came together to garden, to cook, to share stories about their families and their culture, to make maps, and other arts and crafts.

BronxWorks SNAP-Ed Educators gave nutrition and fitness workshops. Students also participated in Teen Battle Chef (TBC), a hands on culinary skills program that meets our participants where they are at in the world of nutrition and cooking. The program culminates in a cook-off where participants demonstrate a recipe to a panel of judges.

Students also enjoyed a choice of outdoor and physical activities. Bike NYC brought classes to St. Mary’s Park where our students learned the skills and gained experience needed to enjoy safely biking in an urban environment. Participants were able to go on bike trips to Randall’s Island and through Crotona Park. Gotham Tennis also provided lessons throughout the summer to introduce the sport of tennis to our participants. They have even offered one student a scholarship to continue lessons throughout the year.

As always, STEM played a big part in our summer plans. The Salvadori Center brought even more lessons and projects to demonstrate the relevance of math, science, and the arts as it relates to buildings, bridges, and parks, and our communities. We also brought in Building Beats to teach students the science of music production and how to produce, mix, and engineer their very own beats. There were science and math lessons with HYPOTHEKids and fashion and cosmetology activities. The summer work culminated in a STEM Expo at our Classic Cornerstone Community Center where participants from all of our summer programs came together to demonstrate what they had learned. Learn more about the STEM Expo.

Of course, one of the highlights for summer participants are field trips. This year we packed our schedule with as many trips as we could find. We went to Coney Island, the Central Park Zoo, the New York Aquarium, Billy Beez, Bowlmor Lanes, Boundless Adventures, the Bronx Zoo, the Museum of Natural History, Sporttime USA, Sesame Place, Dave & Busters, Van Cortlandt Park, Randalls Island, and more!

Summer Youth Employment Program

If you know anything about the summer at BronxWorks, you know about the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). This year, 1,327 young people ages 12-24 signed up to gain work experience or take on summer-long project-based learning. 778 older participants ages 16-24 were placed across 225 worksites at BronxWorks or with partner organizations. The interns are paid a stipend and gain valuable work experience.

Participants ages 12-15 work in project-based learning groups focused on a variety of topics, including environmental and social justice, food equity, nutrition, and culinary skills. The groups are conducted with both virtual and hybrid models, meeting every week to discuss topics and share their work. Groups studying environmental activism completed team-building and leadership exercises and learned to make infographics and other ways to communicate information.

Groups studying nutrition learned about healthy eating, food deserts, and careers in food. They took trips to stores and learned to cook recipes together.

Summer Programming at the Family Residences

Big things are also happening this summer at BronxWorks Family Residences! We partnered with NYC Children’s Theater to bring theater and music literacy to our residents. Through the program, NYC Children’s Theater brings volunteer artists to each site every week. The volunteers lead activities and exercises to promote the arts and support the emotional-wellbeing of the children living at all three Family Residences. The activities are designed with calming rituals and include reading and acting out books, singing songs, and mindfulness and breathing exercises.

There are nature walks and picnics at Wendell Park, and trips to the library for story time and arts and crafts, a behind the scenes field trip to a restaurant to speak with the owners and meet the cooks and learn about the importance of food and culture. The New York City Football Club has also invited the children to participate in their recreational soccer programs. Last but not least, we have the end of summer trip coming up, where children from all three residences will go to the American Dream Mall. The Childcare programs prepare an 8am to 6pm schedule every day for the children living in our family residences to help them enjoy the summer, give them an opportunity to spend time outside of the shelters.

I always dreamed to be in the nursing field, that was a dream since I was little.”

Balima came to the U.S. in 2005, an immigrant from West Africa. Since she was little, she dreamed of becoming a registered nurse. To achieve her dreams, Balima enrolled in the BronxWorks EXCEL Program and is now working toward her GED. “Back in my country, I was going to school to be a doctor, but things got in the way and I had to come here,” Balima says.

When Balima first came to the U.S., she lived with an aunt and was enrolled in school but had to stop to find work. In 2021, Balima came to BronxWorks to enroll her sister in the GED/HSE prep program and she also ended up enrolling in the first 25+ cohort of the BronxWorks EXCEL program. Programs like this are important in preparing students for the GED exam, giving them practice and resources in math, reading, science, social studies, and writing so they have the highest chance of succeeding and passing.

Now a mother of three kids and working at the same time, Balima must balance these increased demands while pursuing her GED.

BronxWorks is helping not only the young people get their life back and go to school, they’re also helping people like me that are trying to move onto something bigger.”

James Dunn, Program Director, recalls how Balima’s personal drive impressed him. “She came every day. She worked really hard. She came to tutoring. She speaks multiple languages.” Balima recently took the GED test and passed three out of the four sections. She continues to come to GED prep classes to work on the last subject she needs to pass. “I am confident she will get her diploma,” James says. “She’s not giving up.”

Balima’s story is shared by so many people who come to the Bronx and dream of building a new life. With her GED in sight, Balima is now thinking about enrolling in BronxWorks college prep programs like CAFE. “My next goal is I want to be a registered nurse.”

I’m not young no more but I still want to fight for my dream.”

DONATE NOW to support programs for neighbors like Balima.

I always dreamed to be in the nursing field, that was a dream since I was little.”

Balima came to the U.S. in 2005, an immigrant from West Africa. Since she was little, she dreamed of becoming a registered nurse. To achieve her dreams, Balima enrolled in the BronxWorks EXCEL Program and is now working toward her GED. “Back in my country, I was going to school to be a doctor, but things got in the way and I had to come here,” Balima says.

When Balima first came to the U.S., she lived with an aunt and was enrolled in school but had to stop to find work. In 2021, Balima came to BronxWorks to enroll her sister in the GED/HSE prep program and she also ended up enrolling in the first 25+ cohort of the BronxWorks EXCEL program. Programs like this are important in preparing students for the GED exam, giving them practice and resources in math, reading, science, social studies, and writing so they have the highest chance of succeeding and passing.

Now a mother of three kids and working at the same time, Balima must balance these increased demands while pursuing her GED.

BronxWorks is helping not only the young people get their life back and go to school, they’re also helping people like me that are trying to move onto something bigger.”

James Dunn, Program Director, recalls how Balima’s personal drive impressed him. “She came every day. She worked really hard. She came to tutoring. She speaks multiple languages.” Balima recently took the GED test and passed three out of the four sections. She continues to come to GED prep classes to work on the last subject she needs to pass. “I am confident she will get her diploma,” James says. “She’s not giving up.”

Balima’s story is shared by so many people who come to the Bronx and dream of building a new life. With her GED in sight, Balima is now thinking about enrolling in BronxWorks college prep programs like CAFE. “My next goal is I want to be a registered nurse.”

I’m not young no more but I still want to fight for my dream.”

DONATE NOW to support programs for neighbors like Balima.

My children are my world, my heart, and I’d do anything for them.”

Destiny has lived at Twin Parks West for over 33 years. She is a mother of two, a 12-year old and a 1-year old.

Destiny learned about BronxWorks when Dominique Jackson, the Assistant Program Director of the Twin Parks/Highbridge/Franklin Community Services Program, was conducting outreach during the pandemic to inform residents of the services that BronxWorks provides to those communities. “She gave everyone the opportunity to participate, whether through the food pantry or through getting a job.”

The BronxWorks Community Services Program serves all residents 18 and over in the Twin Parks, Highbridge, and Franklin public housing developments. The workforce program enhances the skills of working residents through vocational trainings, job readiness preparation, and supportive services, providing new career opportunities and pathways to long-term employment. In addition, the program provides residents with emergency food with a weekly food pantry.

Destiny was originally working at a nonprofit but was laid off during the pandemic when everyone was forced to stay home. She started working with BronxWorks Workforce Development. “This was more a matter of, ‘I need to be working right now.’ I had to do something,” she said. Through the Workforce Program, Destiny was able to complete her OSHA30 Certification, making her eligible for a job at a construction site.

I had to do the footwork and BronxWorks helped me along the way.”

Destiny also started coming to the Twin Parks Food Pantry to get a little more of the food items and varieties that she and her family needed. “The pantry is pretty important because, as everybody knows, the world we live in right now, everything is going sky-high,” Destiny says, “and sometimes things are not affordable. For them to have the food pantry on-site, it helps out a lot.”

The program also runs the community center at Twin Parks West, and now offers activities and workshops for children and families on-site. “Destiny enjoys the community center events with her kids,” says Dominque Jackson, “They attend the health and wellness workshops. They make food and eat together. Her son comes down sometimes to utilize the computer lab.”

Destiny’s story is shared by so many people in the Bronx who have, through an unprecedented challenge, used the resources available to them to not only survive but build a better future for themselves and their communities. “Destiny has overcome a lot of barriers throughout her time here and especially through the pandemic,” says Dominique, “She is definitely resilient. She did not let those barriers stop her from thriving.”

“Things are definitely getting better,” Destiny says.

If we keep a positive mindset, you’re always gonna have a smile on your face. Especially if you have kids.”

DONATE NOW to support programs for neighbors like Destiny.

My children are my world, my heart, and I’d do anything for them.”

Destiny has lived at Twin Parks West for over 33 years. She is a mother of two, a 12-year old and a 1-year old.

Destiny learned about BronxWorks when Dominique Jackson, the Assistant Program Director of the Twin Parks/Highbridge/Franklin Community Services Program, was conducting outreach during the pandemic to inform residents of the services that BronxWorks provides to those communities. “She gave everyone the opportunity to participate, whether through the food pantry or through getting a job.”

The BronxWorks Community Services Program serves all residents 18 and over in the Twin Parks, Highbridge, and Franklin public housing developments. The workforce program enhances the skills of working residents through vocational trainings, job readiness preparation, and supportive services, providing new career opportunities and pathways to long-term employment. In addition, the program provides residents with emergency food with a weekly food pantry.

Destiny was originally working at a nonprofit but was laid off during the pandemic when everyone was forced to stay home. She started working with BronxWorks Workforce Development. “This was more a matter of, ‘I need to be working right now.’ I had to do something,” she said. Through the Workforce Program, Destiny was able to complete her OSHA30 Certification, making her eligible for a job at a construction site.

I had to do the footwork and BronxWorks helped me along the way.”

Destiny also started coming to the Twin Parks Food Pantry to get a little more of the food items and varieties that she and her family needed. “The pantry is pretty important because, as everybody knows, the world we live in right now, everything is going sky-high,” Destiny says, “and sometimes things are not affordable. For them to have the food pantry on-site, it helps out a lot.”

The program also runs the community center at Twin Parks West, and now offers activities and workshops for children and families on-site. “Destiny enjoys the community center events with her kids,” says Dominque Jackson, “They attend the health and wellness workshops. They make food and eat together. Her son comes down sometimes to utilize the computer lab.”

Destiny’s story is shared by so many people in the Bronx who have, through an unprecedented challenge, used the resources available to them to not only survive but build a better future for themselves and their communities. “Destiny has overcome a lot of barriers throughout her time here and especially through the pandemic,” says Dominique, “She is definitely resilient. She did not let those barriers stop her from thriving.”

“Things are definitely getting better,” Destiny says.

If we keep a positive mindset, you’re always gonna have a smile on your face. Especially if you have kids.”

DONATE NOW to support programs for neighbors like Destiny.

I had to learn how to walk again.”

Frederick is a resident of the BronxWorks Park Haven Supportive Housing Program. Frederick had been in a homeless shelter for two years when, in 2019, he was hit by a bus and sustained serious injuries. He was put in the hospital for four months. The hospital discharged Frederick before he could fully recover at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when hospitals were overrun with the initial wave of COVID cases. The only place Frederick could go was the BronxWorks Living Room Drop-in Center. He was still recovering from his injuries.

As one of the only 24-hour drop-in centers in the Bronx, the Living Room is a crucial resource for street homeless adults to spend time off the street, use the laundry, take a shower, eat a hot meal, and connect with essential homeless services. It is, however, not equipped to provide the significant medical care that Frederick still needed. BronxWorks Adult Homeless Services staff worked to place Frederick at the Pyramid Safe Haven, where they could provide him with a private room and bed to help his recovery. “They were so good there. They had security monitoring to make sure I was alright. I was able to prop my feet up like I was supposed to.”

Then I focused on getting my foundation.”

While at the Pyramid Safe Haven, Frederick worked with Lisbenny Salcedo, then a Housing Specialist. “The goal for many of our clients is permanent housing,” Lisbenny said. “Frederick was very committed. He knew what he wanted and what he wanted was to obtain his own place.” Lisbenny helped Frederick complete the paperwork for a housing package. He interviewed for housing and was ultimately selected for the Park Haven Supportive Housing Program in late 2021, shortly after it opened.

BronxWorks offers supportive housing and care management at an array of sites across the Bronx. In supportive housing and other strategies to address homelessness, BronxWorks follows a Housing First model, believing that providing homeless individuals with access to stable housing is an essential first step to resolving many life issues.

For Frederick, that belief has taken him out of the shelter system, helped him recover from his injuries, and given him a place to call his own. He has his own closet to display his hat collection and loves doing his own dishes. “I’m 61, and this is the first time I can stay I have something that’s mine, that I earned.”

I got my strength back through BronxWorks.”

DONATE NOW to support programs for neighbors like Frederick!

I had to learn how to walk again.”

Frederick is a resident of the BronxWorks Park Haven Supportive Housing Program. Frederick had been in a homeless shelter for two years when, in 2019, he was hit by a bus and sustained serious injuries. He was put in the hospital for four months. The hospital discharged Frederick before he could fully recover at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when hospitals were overrun with the initial wave of COVID cases. The only place Frederick could go was the BronxWorks Living Room Drop-in Center. He was still recovering from his injuries.

As one of the only 24-hour drop-in centers in the Bronx, the Living Room is a crucial resource for street homeless adults to spend time off the street, use the laundry, take a shower, eat a hot meal, and connect with essential homeless services. It is, however, not equipped to provide the significant medical care that Frederick still needed. BronxWorks Adult Homeless Services staff worked to place Frederick at the Pyramid Safe Haven, where they could provide him with a private room and bed to help his recovery. “They were so good there. They had security monitoring to make sure I was alright. I was able to prop my feet up like I was supposed to.”

Then I focused on getting my foundation.”

While at the Pyramid Safe Haven, Frederick worked with Lisbenny Salcedo, then a Housing Specialist. “The goal for many of our clients is permanent housing,” Lisbenny said. “Frederick was very committed. He knew what he wanted and what he wanted was to obtain his own place.” Lisbenny helped Frederick complete the paperwork for a housing package. He interviewed for housing and was ultimately selected for the Park Haven Supportive Housing Program in late 2021, shortly after it opened.

BronxWorks offers supportive housing and care management at an array of sites across the Bronx. In supportive housing and other strategies to address homelessness, BronxWorks follows a Housing First model, believing that providing homeless individuals with access to stable housing is an essential first step to resolving many life issues.

For Frederick, that belief has taken him out of the shelter system, helped him recover from his injuries, and given him a place to call his own. He has his own closet to display his hat collection and loves doing his own dishes. “I’m 61, and this is the first time I can stay I have something that’s mine, that I earned.”

I got my strength back through BronxWorks.”

DONATE NOW to support programs for neighbors like Frederick!

On July 28, 2022, BronxWorks hosted a day of hands-on STEM activities for hundreds of elementary and middle school-aged children in our summer educational programs. The expo was the culmination of a STEM enrichment program funded by Verizon.

In the Fall of 2020, BronxWorks embarked on a two-year partnership with Verizon to implement a Digital Inclusion and STEM Enrichment Program for children enrolled in all of our after-school and summer programs. Verizon committed $325,000 over two years to provide resources necessary for students to engage in remote learning and to enhance STEM lessons, activities, and opportunities within our programs.

At the time the grant was awarded, students in New York City schools were still adjusting to remote learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and many Bronx students faced additional challenges due to inequalities in digital resources and access. To support students and families as they adapted to remote learning and hybrid schedules, BronxWorks worked with the New York City Department of Education to set up Learning Labs, a program that allowed students to have access to our facilities and resources during the school day when they were not able to be home with a parent or guardian.

BronxWorks used part of the Verizon grant to upgrade technology, equipment, and supplies for our after-school and summer programs to provide these Learning Labs and digital access for our students. Funding was also used on a case-by-case basis to purchase laptops, devices, and data plans necessary for students to participate in remote learning. Finally, the grant helped expand BronxWorks STEM programming by supporting a part-time STEM Coordinator and purchasing STEM learning programs and resource kits to engage students in an enhanced STEM curriculum.

The STEM Expo on July 28 commemorated the work that took place over the two years of the Verizon Digital Inclusion and STEM Enrichment grant. The event was held at the BronxWorks Classic Cornerstone Community Center. Hundreds of students from our after-school and summer programs participated in STEM activities, including sound engineering, building their own stethoscopes, and building earthquake resistant buildings out of toothpicks. Over the course of the grant, BronxWorks partnered with STEM organizations like the Salvadori Center, HYPOTHEkids, and Building Beats, who were all guests at the Expo.

BronxWorks is proud of what our programs and participants have accomplished through the Verizon Digital Inclusion Grant. We are thankful to have partners like Verizon who are committed to bringing STEM and digital literacy to the young learners in our communities.”

Eileen Torres, Executive Director, BronxWorks

On July 28, 2022, BronxWorks hosted a day of hands-on STEM activities for hundreds of elementary and middle school-aged children in our summer educational programs. The expo was the culmination of a STEM enrichment program funded by Verizon.

In the Fall of 2020, BronxWorks embarked on a two-year partnership with Verizon to implement a Digital Inclusion and STEM Enrichment Program for children enrolled in all of our after-school and summer programs. Verizon committed $325,000 over two years to provide resources necessary for students to engage in remote learning and to enhance STEM lessons, activities, and opportunities within our programs.

At the time the grant was awarded, students in New York City schools were still adjusting to remote learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and many Bronx students faced additional challenges due to inequalities in digital resources and access. To support students and families as they adapted to remote learning and hybrid schedules, BronxWorks worked with the New York City Department of Education to set up Learning Labs, a program that allowed students to have access to our facilities and resources during the school day when they were not able to be home with a parent or guardian.

BronxWorks used part of the Verizon grant to upgrade technology, equipment, and supplies for our after-school and summer programs to provide these Learning Labs and digital access for our students. Funding was also used on a case-by-case basis to purchase laptops, devices, and data plans necessary for students to participate in remote learning. Finally, the grant helped expand BronxWorks STEM programming by supporting a part-time STEM Coordinator and purchasing STEM learning programs and resource kits to engage students in an enhanced STEM curriculum.

The STEM Expo on July 28 commemorated the work that took place over the two years of the Verizon Digital Inclusion and STEM Enrichment grant. The event was held at the BronxWorks Classic Cornerstone Community Center. Hundreds of students from our after-school and summer programs participated in STEM activities, including sound engineering, building their own stethoscopes, and building earthquake resistant buildings out of toothpicks. Over the course of the grant, BronxWorks partnered with STEM organizations like the Salvadori Center, HYPOTHEkids, and Building Beats, who were all guests at the Expo.

BronxWorks is proud of what our programs and participants have accomplished through the Verizon Digital Inclusion Grant. We are thankful to have partners like Verizon who are committed to bringing STEM and digital literacy to the young learners in our communities.”

Eileen Torres, Executive Director, BronxWorks