Maimonides Health held its annual Summer Youth Recognition Ceremony on August 6, bringing together nearly 400 attendees at the Ateres Golda Ballroom in Brooklyn. The event honored 254 participants from the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), along with 14 participants from the 1199 Youth Mentoring Program, 16 Maimonides interns, and 14 students from the Department of Education.
The health system is recognized as the largest SYEP site among healthcare facilities across New York City’s five boroughs. Over a period of more than 28 years, Maimonides has hosted over 5,000 participants through these programs. It also employs more summer youth than any other program funded by the NYC DYCD.
Speakers at the ceremony included Nancy Hagans, RN, NYSNA President and Maimonides nurse; Thomas McIntyre, 1199SEIU Contract Administrator at Maimonides; Julia Breitman, Assistant Commissioner for Youth Workforce Development at NYC DYCD; Rosemarie Michelle Hill, Associate Director of Program Development Division and Direct Programs at 1199SEIU Child Care Corporation; and Shuk King Cheng, Deputy Director of Education and Career Services at Chinese-American Planning Council Brooklyn.
The event featured performances by SYEP participants Damian and Devon Headley. Participant Reese Parascando also delivered remarks.
“Through SYEP and our other youth programs, we maintain strong bridges between Maimonides and our community,” said Ken Gibbs, President and CEO of Maimonides Health. “We’re proud to create an environment for growth and learning for our students and youth as they build their own futures and envision themselves as part of the future of healthcare leadership in our city. As a community hospital, we are run by and for Brooklyn, including our youth employees and volunteers who have inspired us greatly this summer with their energy and new perspectives. We extend our sincere gratitude to each of them for their time, contributions, and service to our mission.”
Fifteen Special Recognition Awards were presented by the Volunteer and Student Services Department to summer youth program participants for outstanding efforts in fulfilling their roles. Award recipients included Shane Christian, Robert Rivero, Akeelah Alexander, Liwen Chen, Matony Wang, Emily Wu, Jay Pizarro, Yisrael Friedman, Akila Llewellyn, Momota Begum, Mujahid Hussain, Sabrina Gonzalez, Rhonasha George, Nathaniel Motov,and Oliver Parra Paz.
Maimonides Health acknowledged several community partners that support its summer youth employment programs. These include organizations such as the 1199 Child Care Corporation and Child Care Fund – 1199 Youth Mentoring Program; NYC DOE CTE Industry Scholars Program; Department of Youth and Community Development: 1199 WorkForce 2000; Brooklyn Bureau of Community Services; CAMBA (Church Avenue Merchants Block Association); CCNS (Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services); Center for Family Life in Sunset Park; CMP (Chinatown Manpower Project); CPC (Chinese-American Planning Council) Brooklyn & Manhattan; COJO Flatbush; Edith and Carl Marks JCH of Bensonhurst; HANAC (Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee); Infinity Educational Programs; Italian American Civil Rights League; Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island – Horizons Academy; LaGuardia Community College; Police Athletic League; AHRC Middle/High School; NYC Department of Education – District 75 Occupational Training Center.
SYEP is one among several summer youth employment opportunities offered by Maimonides Health throughout its system.
