SYEP is Biggest Hospital-Based Summer Youth Program in NY

Brooklyn, NY, August 12, 2025 – Maimonides Health held its annual Summer Youth Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 6, honoring hundreds of students participating in various youth employment programs across the hospital system.

The event took place at the Ateres Golda Ballroom in Brooklyn, welcoming nearly 400 attendees to celebrate 254 participants from the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), 14 participants from 1199 Youth Mentoring Program, 16 Maimonides interns, and 14 students from the Department of Education.

Maimonides is the largest SYEP site among all healthcare facilities across the five boroughs, and has been active with the program for more than 28 years, a period over which the health system has hosted more than 5,000 participants.

It also employs more summer youth than any other program funded by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (NYC DYCD).

Speakers at the event included Nancy Hagans, RN, NYSNA President and Maimonides nurse; Thomas McIntyre, 1199SEIU Contract Administrator at Maimonides; Julia Breitman, Assistant Commissioner for Youth Workforce Development, NYC DYCD; Rosemarie Michelle Hill, Associate Director, Program Development Division and Direct Programs, 1199SEIU Child Care Corporation; and Shuk King Cheng, Deputy Director of Education and Career Services, Chinese-American Planning Council Brooklyn.

SYEP participants Damian and Devon Headley performed at the event, and Reese Parascando provided participant remarks.

“Through SYEP and our other youth programs, we maintain strong bridges between Maimonides and our community,” said Ken Gibbs, President and CEO, 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.”

Maimonides’ Volunteer and Student Services Department presented 15 Special Recognition Awards to summer youth program participants for extraordinary 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
• Oliver Parra Paz

Maimonides Health is grateful to the following community partners for their help in making our summer youth employment programs possible:

• 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, Inc.)
  • CPC (Chinese-American Planning Council) Brooklyn & Manhattan
  • COJO (Council of Jewish Organizations) 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 (OTC)

SYEP is one of many summer youth employment opportunities at Maimonides. The healthcare system also hosts participants through the 1199SEIU Youth Mentoring Program, the District 75 Occupational Training Center, and the New York City Industry Scholars Program, among others. Learn more about careers and volunteer opportunities at Maimonides.

View photos of the event and download using PIN 4011.