ILR High Road New York 
University Settlement 

ILR High Road New York is a statewide program that aims to teach ILR students practical methods for civic engagement and leadership through economic justice, evidence-based policy, and strategic development that creates opportunity for community members to share in prosperity.  The Summer 2026 New York City (NYC) High Road Fellowship Program will run from June 1st to July 31st, 2026. Students intern in person with various NYC partner organizations and will participate in weekly cohort workshops focused on critical reflection and peer-to-peer collaboration and networking and learning opportunities with guest speakers will be offered at ILR's NYC office on Lexington Avenue. All interns will be paid and need-based subsidized housing will be available. 

University Settlement’s mission is to empower families by building on their strengths and knowledge through the provision of comprehensive quality services that meet current needs, innovative programs that anticipate future needs, and advocacy with the community and its residents.  University Settlement is the nation’s longest-lived traditional settlement house, a community-based organization serving neighbors of all ages in a holistic model that increases economic, social opportunity, health and well-being.  Direct service programs include early childhood, youth development, eviction prevention, mental health services, older adults centers and home-based elder-care, adult ESOL classes, and fine arts programming (performing and visual arts), as well as civic engagement, community leadership development, and advocacy for vital and inclusive communities. With a team of 700+ people, we serve over 40,000 New Yorkers per year in Lower Manhattan and across several northern Brooklyn neighborhoods.  Agency-wide, our current strategic priorities are ensuring high-quality programs driven by data, deepening our impact through advocacy and community-building, strengthening our infrastructure through technology, and advancing racial equity.

A potential IRL intern will be placed at Project Home, University Settlement’s eviction prevention, housing counseling, and tenants’ right organization  (Information can be found about Project Home here.)  The main projects would be putting together a comprehensive resource list for public housing residents in East New York and setting up external partnerships between other CBOs and our teams so that we have a list of potential community workshop partners and real referral sources and partners.  In addition, as needed, the IRL intern will help with University Settlement’s newest initiative We Got US, designed to make sure that staff and community members have the most up to date information and advocacy assistance to ensure as many community members as possible retain their public benefits after federal changes have increased work requirements and outreach to AAPI communities in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn to ensure they understand the services that Project Home provides.

The University Settlement office is located on 184 Eldridge Street, New York, NY 10002.