This spring, 20 interns from George Westinghouse High School participated in a mentoring program thanks to Youth, I.N.C.’s Young Professionals Committee’s (YPC) continued partnership with Futures and Options.  After meeting each other at the opening dinner at Mansueto Ventures, the mentors and mentees communicated by email, phone, or text at least weekly.  The program’s goal was to provide our interns with young professionals to whom they can turn for advice about careers, college, and their work experience.  

Intern Monet Davis with panelistTara Zablocki

Our second mentoring event, which focused on career exploration and goal setting, was held at SIFMA.  The Youth, I.N.C. YPC and mentors recruited 13 volunteers to share their unique stories about their career paths and current jobs.  A diverse group of professionals, ranging from a make-up artist and designer to a lawyer and a business owner, participated as panelists and then mingled informally with our mentors and mentees, which allowed time to practice networking skills, make contacts and continue asking questions of the panelists.  This exciting event ended with our mentors and mentees working together to research the interns’ ideal career plans and map out goals to achieve them.

Mentors and mentees at the closing event.

The Youth, I.N.C. Young Professionals Committee Mentoring Program concluded Wednesday, May 19th at the Alliance for Downtown New York, where we were able to show our appreciation to the mentors and have some fun!   After sharing pizza together, groups of mentors and mentees set off on a Downtown Scavenger Hunt.  Everyone had a terrific time searching for various historical spots, and the  first group back was delighted to receive a prize of a gift card to Old Navy, thanks to Gap Inc.

Our special thanks to the young professionals from Youth, I.N.C., Jelena Strelcova, Caroline Le Feuvre, and Poonam Shah, who recruited 20 mentors and worked with Tyran Williams and Digmarie Ruiz, our program coordinators, to create engaging and meaningful events for this program.  Of course, we are also truly grateful to our wonderful group of mentors who generously gave their time, energy and care to our interns: Zach Abrams, Marina Aspesi, Karina Bough, Holt Calhoon, Timothy Capuano, Jason Dudley, Faina Epshteyn, AJ Goodman, Chris Hecht, Amy Hertenstein, Davis Hostetter, Caroline Le Feuvre, Dodie Press, Poonam Shah, Chris Snyder, Jelena Strelcova, Paul Teske, Andrew Wolpert, Anna Yevzelman, and Danielle Zawislak. 

We are also most appreciative to SIFMA for donating their conference facility for this event.

For more information on mentoring with Youth, I.N.C.’s Young Professionals Committee, please contact Tyran Williams or call 212-601-0002.

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Amanta Antigua is a Futures and Options alumnus who interned at the NYC Department of Small Business Services when she was a part of our 2003-2004 Internship Program. Since graduating from Murry Bergtraum High School in 2004 and the University at Albany in 2008, with a B.S. in Business Administration, Amanta has become Program Analyst at the NYC Department of Small Business Services.

This year, Amanta was honored with the department's Innovator Award: “I received the Innovator Award for my work in creating a database that allows NYC's Workforce1 Career Centers to access training curriculum for courses on the NYC Training Guide.  My internship with Futures and Options opened up a world of opportunity. I never imagined that after graduating college, I would return to SBS. Futures and Options gave me the networking skills, strong work ethic and the chance to work in an agency with a strong interest in making NYC a better place for businesses and jobseekers. I am forever grateful to be a part of this and I couldn't have done it without Futures and Options.”

We congratulate Amanta on her accomplishments and wish her continued success in her career.

Visit our website for regular updates on intern and alumni success stories. Have a story to share? Email Serena Handley or call 212-601-0002.

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Many Futures and Options alumni, who work at various businesses, recognize the benefits of partnering with our Internship Program.  They know by their own first-hand internship experience that Futures and Options is good for New York City high school students as well as its businesses.

Katz Creative Inc.

Futures and Options Alum:  Pam Ramirez, 2002 Internship at Katz Creative
High School:  Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School, Class of 2004
College:  Baruch College
Major:  Marketing Management

Pam shared the following with us: “There was a time when I couldn't see past growing up as a member of the Latino community in Harlem. Integrating into the Futures and Options community in high school completely changed that. As a teenager, I remember walking into the meeting room at the Wall Street office. The view from the windows made me feel like I was at the top of the world. I later came to the realization that with the right kind of guidance and support, anything and everything is possible. This is what Futures and Options instilled in me. The summer before my junior year I was placed [at Katz Creative Inc.] a boutique Public Relations firm. When it came time to hire an intern of my own, there was no doubt it would be from Futures and Options.”

Ashley Redwood, a junior at the Urban Assembly School of Music and Arts, began interning at Katz Creative in March 2010.

S. Lichtenberg & Co., Inc.

Futures and Options Alum:  Albana Mujaj, 1999 - 2000 Internship at High Five Tickets to the Arts
High School:  High School of Fashion Industries, Class of 2000
College:  Fashion Institute of Technology, A.A.S., 2003; B.F.A., 2005
Major:  Fashion Design and Fabric Styling

Albana, who is now the Senior Designer, Product Development for S. Lichtenberg & Co., Inc., shared this with us: “The best internship program ever, Futures and Options opened doors for me that I didn't think were possible to open. I was able to learn the importance of building relationships with people and networking… I am more than happy to offer the experience to a Futures and Options intern. I think it will definitely benefit them and offer them a whole new outlook for their future. Not only will they learn skills to help them excel in their studies but they will also learn that they have a chance to become something great and that people do care.”

Asia Mills-Burton, a senior at High School of Fashion Industries, will begin interning at S. Lichtenberg & Co., Inc. on June 15th.

Let’s Get Ready

Futures and Options Alum:  Anna Ramirez, 2006-2007 Internship at Let’s Get Ready
High School: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School, Class of 2007
College:  Long Island University
Major:  Business Management

Futures and Options Alum:  Alejandra Sotomayor, 2006 at Internship at Let’s Get Ready
High School: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School, Class of 2006
College:  Pace University
Major:  Accounting and Management

Anna’s thoughts: “Working with Let's Get Ready has really helped me in making better career choices for myself. I've learned that administration is the perfect major for me."

Alejandra’s feedback: "I have been fortunate to be working at Let's Get Ready since January of 2006 and have continued to do so every summer since…I was able to work closely with the Director of Finance and Administration which helped me have experiences in accounting which is my major. Futures and Options helped me get my foot in the door in the corporate world and I'm greatful for that.”

Rasheed Adetunji, a junior at George Westinghouse High School, began interning in February 2010. Anna commented, "Working with Rasheed has been a wonderful experience. He is eager to learn and a fast learner. We have worked on various projects together and I hope he has gained as much as I have from interning with Let's Get Ready!”

Single Parent Resource Center

Futures and Options Alum:  Eduardo Chino, 2004 - 2005 Internship at Single Parent Resource Center
High School: Murry Bergtraum High School, Class of 2006
College:  Borough of Manhattan Community College
Major:  Human Services

Eduardo’s thoughts: "Being part of Futures and Options was and has been a great asset to my success at my agency as well as in school.  My first choice of career was to be a Health Administrator, but working with social service individuals, I chose to change my major to Social Work. I have never been so intrigued in learning and going on to the next step in becoming a professional in this field."

Kayla Shaw, a senior at George Westinghouse High School, began her internship in February 2010. Eduardo shared his feedback about her experience, "Kayla, our new intern, is going to receive a wide range of opportunities and assignments that will allow her to build on skills she already has, as well as gaining new ones. She will develop great social and thinking skills that will combine into developing more strategic ones.”

If you're interested in hiring a Futures and Options intern, please contact Patty Machir.

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RSVP here by June 7th

A complete list of auction items will be featured on our website soon.

For more information please contact Serena Handley or call 212-601-0002.

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A Toast to Brighter Futures, held on April 22nd, was our Young Professionals & Alumni inaugural fundraising and networking event with proceeds benefiting Futures and Options. The event was a great success! Thanks to our wonderful Young Professionals and Alumni, we raised funds to support our program and made some terrific new friends.

Photography generously provided by Dan Lane.

To view more pictures of this great event please visit our website photo gallery.

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We congratulate the following Futures and Options students from Brooklyn Preparatory High School, who were inducted into the National Honor Society this spring. From left to right: Amadi Arthur, Gloria Lopez, Javed Ramsaran, and Jelissa Thomas.

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Morgan Stanley Field Trip

What: Career Exploration Field Trip
Who: Core Internship Program students
Where: Morgan Stanley
When: June 3rd, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

For more information on corporate volunteer projects, please contact Tyran Williams or Digmarie Ruiz or call 212-601-0002.

Cocktails in the Sky

What: A cocktail reception to thank our donors, friends and sponsors and introduce new people to the work of Futures and Options.
Who: New York City professionals
Where: Mansueto Ventures, 7 World Trade
When: June 9th, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
*Must be 21 or over to attend.

RSVP for the event here. For more information please contact Serena Handley.

Urban Leadership Fellows (ULF) Program Opening Breakfast

What: Opening breakfast for the Urban Leadership Fellows (ULF) Program
Who: ULF Program Participants
Where: Bayard's
When: June 29, 8:30 am to 10:30 am.

For more information about our ULF Program please email Digmarie Ruiz or call 212-601-0002.

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Did you think wish lists were only for the holidays? You can visit our Amazon.com wish list to donate items that will improve our program workshops, add to our college guidance materials, and assist us in organizing our small office. This wish list is compiled from requests by program staff and is regularly updated to reflect the needs of our students and staff.

Visit our wish list to donate an item that will directly benefit the youth of our Career Development and Internship Program.

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It is our priority to keep in touch with our alumni and offer support in any way we can. If you are an alum of our program, please take a minute to update your contact information on our website, so that we can keep in touch with you and keep you informed about upcoming alumni events. Thank you for your help!

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Futures and Options is excited to share our 2009 annual report with you. The report details our work in the last year to serve the youth of our city and strengthen the workforce of tomorrow.

Thanks to your support we were able to serve 54 percent more students this year than in 2008. Please click here to read about our student's accomplishments, the benefits to our business partners, our new program initiatives, recent fundraising events and much more...

If you would like to receive a copy of our annual report please contact us at 212-601-0002 or email Serena Handley.

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We want to stay in touch with you. Please sign up for our newsletter and program and event updates.

To join our email list click here.

If you are a friend, donor, business partner or alumni of Futures and Options, please take a minute to fill out this short survey and update your contact info with us.

For more information on our programs or events, please email us at info@futuresandoptions.org or call 212-601-0002.

Visit our website to complete an online application for the Internship or Pre-Internship Program.