HEAF welcomed Commissioner Keith Howard of the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) to our Harlem campus yesterday to share our program goals, outcomes and see our exceptional HEAF Scholars in action.
During the visit, Commissioner Howard and his team toured our Harlem campus and observed classes in session, including sixth grade STEM, eighth grade high school prep, and tenth and twelfth grades’ college seminars. Commissioner Howard also sat down with HEAF staff and administration to discuss the organization’s commitment to students from underserved communities, providing academic enrichment, personal development high school and college prep, and career exposure and support.
“We were so happy to welcome Commissioner Howard to HEAF’s Harlem campus, and show him first-hand the impact of our program on the students we serve,” said Michael G. Johnson, HEAF’s President and CEO. “Commissioner Howard’s dedication to New York City youth and their families mirrors HEAF’s own commitment to helping provide equitable opportunities for academic and career success. Given the New York State Comptroller’s findings about the college preparedness of New York City public school students, HEAF’s work and that of the DYCD has never been more critical.”
DYCD expects this year to support nearly 1,100 afterschool programs as part of its funded Beacon, COMPASS, Cornerstone, Adolescent Literacy, and NDA High School programs.
“It was great to spend time at the Harlem Educational Activities Fund, meet staff members, and speak directly with the college access program’s middle and high school students,” said Keith Howard, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development. “Programs like HEAF that provide access to academic enrichment, personal development, and college and career exposure and preparation not only provide opportunities to students they serve—they lift up our entire city. Our next steps are to Get Stuff Done.”
Fall programming for HEAF students began two weeks ago. Applications for Spring 2023 are open until December 16, click here to learn more!
About HEAF:
The Harlem Educational Activities Fund (HEAF) is a high-impact supplemental education and youth leadership nonprofit that helps motivated New York City public school students from underserved communities become high-achieving college graduates. HEAF makes an 11-year commitment to students beginning in sixth grade – the fully-funded scholarship college access and career exposure program provides academic enrichment, personal development, career exposure, college prep and more. At HEAF, College is the rule. 100% of HEAF students graduate from high school and are accepted into college. For more information about HEAF visit http://www.heaf.org and follow us on LinkedIn at @HEAF, Inc., on Instagram at @HEAFNYC, on Facebook at @HEAFNYC, and on Twitter at @HEAFNYC.
About DYCD:
The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) invests in a network of community-based organizations and programs to alleviate the effects of poverty and to provide opportunities for New Yorkers and communities to flourish. DYCD supports New York City youth and their families by funding a wide range of high-quality youth and community development programs, including Afterschool, Community Development, Family Support, Literacy Services, Youth Services, and Youth Workforce Development. Visit www.nyc.gov/dycd and follow @NYCYouth on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn.