Overview
ILR High Road New York
Youth Action Programs and Homes Inc.
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.
The mission of Youth Action Programs and Homes, Inc. a.k.a. Youth Action YouthBuild (YAYB) is “to build a community of young people and adults committed to taking responsibility for their own lives and for improving the larger community.” We are a small community-based nonprofit with a staff of 10 and a number of embedded volunteers. The agency, founded in 1978 and incorporated in 1984, is located in the East Harlem neighborhood of Northern Manhattan. YAYB works primarily to support NYC low income, out-of-school, out-of-work young adults between the ages of 17-24 (aka “Opportunity Youth:”), supporting them to complete their high school education and gain vocational skills training and accompanying in-demand credentials leading to entry into a life sustaining career. Our primary program, Youth Action YouthBuild is a nine-month, full-time education and vocational training program that each year recruits up to 40 NYC Opportunity youth from N. Manhattan and the S. Bronx. Enrollees receive free-of-cost daily High School Equivalency (HSE) prep, work readiness training, vocational pathways training with accompanying industry credentials and hands-on work experience, community engagement, and leadership opportunities, paid stipends, case management, and support service referrals. YB students spend the day alternating between education classes, life skill development, and vocational pathways training. We currently offer four vocational training options - Construction Skills, Food Economy Jobs, Building Operations, and Wireless Network Installation.
Intern will be a Program Aide supporting multiple areas of Youth Action YouthBuild workforce development/vocational training programming. The intern will assist in the coordination of work readiness trainings for students including providing support in the management of YAYB’s Job Up Internship program including coordinating with worksite partners and follow up with students. Program Aide will work with the Exec. Director in developing funding proposals that support workforce development initiatives. The Program Aide will support the Director of Programs in developing program initiatives, program curricula and supporting data management and reporting. Lastly, the Program Aide will support the Workforce Development staff in connecting with and building relationships with employer partners that support career pathway opportunities for graduates of our YouthBuild program.
Ideal candidate should have good writing and research skills, and an ability and desire to work with Opportunity Youth in a community setting. Communication skills are highly desired as the Program Aide will interact with a range of agency stakeholder and will need to have self-confidence and great people skills. Prior experience in grant writing, program planning and/or data management is preferred but not essential. Candidate should be able to work independently and collaboratively.
Youth Action Programs and Homes Inc. is located at 206 East 118th Street, NY, NY 10035
