Kyle Gregory Devaras (Unsplash)
June 2, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
A local community-based non-profit has received a substantial donation to fund its summer youth internship program.
Commonpoint Queens, which has offices in Forest Hills and Little Neck, received $30,000 from real estate firm Cord Meyer Development, the non-profit announced Monday.
The money will help fund 12 summer student internships with the organization. The program is typically funded by the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program, commonly known as SYEP, but that was canceled in April due to the spread of COVID-19 and budget concerns.
The Commonpoint Queens summer internship program gives basic training to low-income students to prepare them for their future professional careers. The program is open to students aged between 16 and 21.
The internship program consists of pre-employment training with the organization followed by paid work experience with an outside company.
Students are taught how to build a resume and write professional emails as part of the training. They also participate in mock interviews and are shown how to dress and behave in an office environment.
The program then culminates in a paid work experience role with a company or non-profit organization.
Some of the companies hiring interns through the program this summer include New York Legal Assistance Group, Internationals Network, Sapphire Digital, SHARE Cancer Support, and Fam-In.
The donation will enable students to chart a pathway out of poverty and find long-term success, Commonpoint Queens Chief Executive Officer Danielle Ellman said in a statement.
She said that Commonpoint Queens reached out to Cord Meyer after hearing the city was not providing funding this summer.
“Over the years we have partnered with Cord Meyer on various projects and they immediately agreed to help fund the program,” she said.
Commonpoint Queens provides programming for around 50,000 Queens residents every year across its 52 Queens sites. Its two main offices are located at 67-09 108th St., Forest Hills and at 58-20 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck.
