Overview
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 2025 New York City (NYC) High Road Fellowship Program will run from June 2nd to August 1st, 2025. 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.
Interns will work on several timely advocacy campaigns in the summer including: non-partisan voter registration and education for the NYC Mayoral election; worker organizing for the #JustPay campaign (www.justpayny.org); and potentially additional City budget campaigns, depending on the proposed City budget cuts we may expect from the Mayor or City Council. In general, students will help us activate more of our incredibly hard-working human service staff to raise their voices in the JustPay campaign and for/with our communities.
The University Settlement office is located on 184 Eldridge Street, New York, NY 10002.
