For many BronxWorks staff, drive and passion for their work at BronxWorks comes from lived experiences and love for their community. Eliana De Los Santos is a perfect example of that, as she participated in the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) as a teen and is now Assistant Program Director for Youth Workforce Programs at BronxWorks. Eliana has been working at BronxWorks for over three years, but her career in Youth Workforce initiatives spans over a decade.  

Eliana began participating in SYEP, a citywide youth employment program, when she was 14 years old. SYEP is offered by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) in partnership with community organizations throughout the city, such as BronxWorks. Eliana developed a passion for working with children and youth after being placed by SYEP in an internship at a daycare.  

“Summer jobs are a really great opportunity for youth to build important skills and gain valuable insights into the workplace, and most importantly give them access to a network of caring mentors to help them become a better adult.”  

Eliana continued to earn work experience in youth development, customer service, and clerical skills through SYEP job placements during her time in high school. While she was earning her Associate’s Degree from Bronx Community College, Eliana became employed by SYEP to facilitate connections with worksites. “I was running my own program where I was serving around 880 participants between the ages of 14 and 21, and I was 20 years old myself,” Eliana said. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree from Lehman College while continuing to work for Youth Workforce programs.  

Eliana’s experience with SYEP from a young age and her passion for supporting youth and her community has made her well-suited for her current career. She joined BronxWorks three years ago as a Program Specialist and she quickly became Assistant Program Director for Youth Workforce Programs. In this role, Eliana is in charge of internship placement for our participants, supervising site monitors and program specialists, collaborating with worksites, hosting workshops for employment preparation, and much more.  

“I value working for BronxWorks because I am originally from the Bronx, and there is no better passion than helping your own people in your community. I know my community and how it can be difficult to find the right places or people to get help. It’s very important to me that I’m able to provide that assistance and be a person that someone can ask for help.”  

Outside of work, Eliana enjoys photography and graphic design, which she studied in college. Eliana is also a mother of two and loves spending time with her family.  

For many BronxWorks staff, drive and passion for their work at BronxWorks comes from lived experiences and love for their community. Eliana De Los Santos is a perfect example of that, as she participated in the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) as a teen and is now Assistant Program Director for Youth Workforce Programs at BronxWorks. Eliana has been working at BronxWorks for over three years, but her career in Youth Workforce initiatives spans over a decade.  

Eliana began participating in SYEP, a citywide youth employment program, when she was 14 years old. SYEP is offered by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) in partnership with community organizations throughout the city, such as BronxWorks. Eliana developed a passion for working with children and youth after being placed by SYEP in an internship at a daycare.  

“Summer jobs are a really great opportunity for youth to build important skills and gain valuable insights into the workplace, and most importantly give them access to a network of caring mentors to help them become a better adult.”  

Eliana continued to earn work experience in youth development, customer service, and clerical skills through SYEP job placements during her time in high school. While she was earning her Associate’s Degree from Bronx Community College, Eliana became employed by SYEP to facilitate connections with worksites. “I was running my own program where I was serving around 880 participants between the ages of 14 and 21, and I was 20 years old myself,” Eliana said. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree from Lehman College while continuing to work for Youth Workforce programs.  

Eliana’s experience with SYEP from a young age and her passion for supporting youth and her community has made her well-suited for her current career. She joined BronxWorks three years ago as a Program Specialist and she quickly became Assistant Program Director for Youth Workforce Programs. In this role, Eliana is in charge of internship placement for our participants, supervising site monitors and program specialists, collaborating with worksites, hosting workshops for employment preparation, and much more.  

“I value working for BronxWorks because I am originally from the Bronx, and there is no better passion than helping your own people in your community. I know my community and how it can be difficult to find the right places or people to get help. It’s very important to me that I’m able to provide that assistance and be a person that someone can ask for help.”  

Outside of work, Eliana enjoys photography and graphic design, which she studied in college. Eliana is also a mother of two and loves spending time with her family.  

LaVonne Smith is a Bronx native who has worked to support the New York City community her entire life. LaVonne attended Lehman College to study Sociology, and worked her way through school as a receptionist for Celebrity Cruises. After completing her Bachelor’s Degree, she worked as an Office Manager in the medical field for several years.  

LaVonne came to BronxWorks in 2005, then known as Citizens Advice Bureau, in search of a career related to her sociology degree. She started as Operations Coordinator at the BronxWorks Willow Ave Family Shelter for five years, and then became Operations Coordinator at the Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center for another three years. LaVonne eventually returned to Willow Ave as the Security Coordinator, where her supervisor recognized her potential and encouraged her to go back to school for her Master’s.   

LaVonne remained working at the Willow Ave Family Residence while attending New York University to obtain her Master’s Degree in Social Work. She then went on to work as Director of Social Services at Willow for several years. In 2023, LaVonne was promoted to Residence Director of Willow Ave Family Residence.  

“As Residence Director I provide leadership to my team and motivation to our clients to achieve their goals. I am responsible for the overall operation of the facility including Social Services, facility management, Childcare, Recreation, and managing the budget.” LaVonne’s experience in various positions at Willow Ave and longstanding institutional knowledge has made her uniquely well-suited for her current position. LaVonne says that she has continued her career with BronxWorks because she values the connections she has made with clients and colleagues. 

I really do enjoy it. I like the interactions with the clients, and I’ve really made good relationships at BronxWorks. I’ve always worked with wonderful people here… I can call my colleagues and ask for input on any situation. And I think that’s the great thing about BronxWorks.

In her free time, LaVonne enjoys attending the theater, concerts, and other live performances.  

LaVonne Smith is a Bronx native who has worked to support the New York City community her entire life. LaVonne attended Lehman College to study Sociology, and worked her way through school as a receptionist for Celebrity Cruises. After completing her Bachelor’s Degree, she worked as an Office Manager in the medical field for several years.  

LaVonne came to BronxWorks in 2005, then known as Citizens Advice Bureau, in search of a career related to her sociology degree. She started as Operations Coordinator at the BronxWorks Willow Ave Family Shelter for five years, and then became Operations Coordinator at the Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center for another three years. LaVonne eventually returned to Willow Ave as the Security Coordinator, where her supervisor recognized her potential and encouraged her to go back to school for her Master’s.   

LaVonne remained working at the Willow Ave Family Residence while attending New York University to obtain her Master’s Degree in Social Work. She then went on to work as Director of Social Services at Willow for several years. In 2023, LaVonne was promoted to Residence Director of Willow Ave Family Residence.  

“As Residence Director I provide leadership to my team and motivation to our clients to achieve their goals. I am responsible for the overall operation of the facility including Social Services, facility management, Childcare, Recreation, and managing the budget.” LaVonne’s experience in various positions at Willow Ave and longstanding institutional knowledge has made her uniquely well-suited for her current position. LaVonne says that she has continued her career with BronxWorks because she values the connections she has made with clients and colleagues. 

I really do enjoy it. I like the interactions with the clients, and I’ve really made good relationships at BronxWorks. I’ve always worked with wonderful people here… I can call my colleagues and ask for input on any situation. And I think that’s the great thing about BronxWorks.

In her free time, LaVonne enjoys attending the theater, concerts, and other live performances.  

Milton Webster, Program Coordinator for the BronxWorks Learn and Earn Program at Frederick Douglass Academy III, has worked with students since he was a student himself in high school. Milton grew up in Harlem, where he coincidentally attended Frederick Douglass Academy I and eventually graduated high school from Frederick Douglass Academy II. While in high school, Milton started working at Harlem Children’s Zone, where his passion for working with students began. Milton continued to work at Harlem Children’s Zone for over a decade, while he graduated high school and attended Syracuse University before transferring to the University of Bridgeport to study Business Administration.  

Milton originally wanted to be a gym teacher and worked with youth basketball teams in Harlem, until he realized his true passion for nurturing students as a whole. Milton says his time in after-school programs as a youth made him passionate about providing that kind of support to other children. 

“Growing up in after-school settings, I’ve seen both sides, being a participant and a staff member, so I know exactly what to do in certain situations.”

Milton joined the BronxWorks Learn and Earn Program at Frederick Douglass Academy III as a Youth Worker in 2018, before quickly being promoted to Case Manager. In November of 2021, he became the Program Coordinator for the BronxWorks Learn and Earn Program, and now leads programming for dozens of juniors and seniors to prepare them for life after high school. The Learn and Earn Program provides activities and workshops to help students learn more about the careers and colleges they are interested in pursuing. The program also continues to support participants for a year after they graduate high school.  

“I’m really proud to say I’ve gotten a lot of kids to go to college. Yes, they can have it in their minds to go, but when they come to our program, we really instill in them that we want them to have either a job or attend college right after high school. And we can say like 80-85% of our students have a job or are attending college after they graduate.”

Milton says his ultimate goal is to run his own nonprofit of after-school programming for students in his community. In his free time, Milton enjoys music and works as a DJ throughout the city, and he also enjoys watching anime. 

Milton Webster, Program Coordinator for the BronxWorks Learn and Earn Program at Frederick Douglass Academy III, has worked with students since he was a student himself in high school. Milton grew up in Harlem, where he coincidentally attended Frederick Douglass Academy I and eventually graduated high school from Frederick Douglass Academy II. While in high school, Milton started working at Harlem Children’s Zone, where his passion for working with students began. Milton continued to work at Harlem Children’s Zone for over a decade, while he graduated high school and attended Syracuse University before transferring to the University of Bridgeport to study Business Administration.  

Milton originally wanted to be a gym teacher and worked with youth basketball teams in Harlem, until he realized his true passion for nurturing students as a whole. Milton says his time in after-school programs as a youth made him passionate about providing that kind of support to other children. 

“Growing up in after-school settings, I’ve seen both sides, being a participant and a staff member, so I know exactly what to do in certain situations.”

Milton joined the BronxWorks Learn and Earn Program at Frederick Douglass Academy III as a Youth Worker in 2018, before quickly being promoted to Case Manager. In November of 2021, he became the Program Coordinator for the BronxWorks Learn and Earn Program, and now leads programming for dozens of juniors and seniors to prepare them for life after high school. The Learn and Earn Program provides activities and workshops to help students learn more about the careers and colleges they are interested in pursuing. The program also continues to support participants for a year after they graduate high school.  

“I’m really proud to say I’ve gotten a lot of kids to go to college. Yes, they can have it in their minds to go, but when they come to our program, we really instill in them that we want them to have either a job or attend college right after high school. And we can say like 80-85% of our students have a job or are attending college after they graduate.”

Milton says his ultimate goal is to run his own nonprofit of after-school programming for students in his community. In his free time, Milton enjoys music and works as a DJ throughout the city, and he also enjoys watching anime. 

Matthew Henry is a soon-to-be high school graduate and has been both a participant and a Youth Worker with BronxWorks. He currently attends Bronx Legacy High School, where he will graduate in June as Valedictorian. Matthew is also a recent graduate of the BronxWorks Work Learn and Grow employment program, which has helped him prepare for the next steps in his life after high school.

“The program was basically trying to teach me different life lessons [that will help me] get into the workforce when I grow older. It was a very important lesson for me since I’m 17, turning 18 in June.”

Through the BronxWorks Work Learn and Grow program, Matthew was connected to the BronxWorks Community Health Programs as an intern, and he was then hired to be a Youth Worker. Matthew worked with our intergenerational programming, where he facilitated cultural cooking classes, nutrition education classes, and technology classes for Bronx children and older adults. BronxWorks intergenerational programming works to create deeper cross-generational bonds to strengthen our community. While teaching these classes, Matthew has been able to make lasting connections with his Bronx neighbors.

“It was a lot of work, but it was fun. The seniors have amazing discussions with me and the kids. The kids, they’re amazing. They’re so smart and they’re so educated. I’m so proud to say that they are the new generation. These experiences that I’ve been through, it really helped me to shape into the type of person that I want to become.”

Because of his accomplishments, we proudly welcomed Matthew to speak at the BronxWorks 2024 Lifting Lives Gala about his experiences with BronxWorks. In the fall, Matthew will be attending Syracuse University to study Aerospace Engineering. In his free time, he loves to read sci-fi and fantasy books.

Matthew Henry is a soon-to-be high school graduate and has been both a participant and a Youth Worker with BronxWorks. He currently attends Bronx Legacy High School, where he will graduate in June as Valedictorian. Matthew is also a recent graduate of the BronxWorks Work Learn and Grow employment program, which has helped him prepare for the next steps in his life after high school.

“The program was basically trying to teach me different life lessons [that will help me] get into the workforce when I grow older. It was a very important lesson for me since I’m 17, turning 18 in June.”

Through the BronxWorks Work Learn and Grow program, Matthew was connected to the BronxWorks Community Health Programs as an intern, and he was then hired to be a Youth Worker. Matthew worked with our intergenerational programming, where he facilitated cultural cooking classes, nutrition education classes, and technology classes for Bronx children and older adults. BronxWorks intergenerational programming works to create deeper cross-generational bonds to strengthen our community. While teaching these classes, Matthew has been able to make lasting connections with his Bronx neighbors.

“It was a lot of work, but it was fun. The seniors have amazing discussions with me and the kids. The kids, they’re amazing. They’re so smart and they’re so educated. I’m so proud to say that they are the new generation. These experiences that I’ve been through, it really helped me to shape into the type of person that I want to become.”

Because of his accomplishments, we proudly welcomed Matthew to speak at the BronxWorks 2024 Lifting Lives Gala about his experiences with BronxWorks. In the fall, Matthew will be attending Syracuse University to study Aerospace Engineering. In his free time, he loves to read sci-fi and fantasy books.