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Our Mission is Clear

Connect Students to Success.

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  • Principal for a Day®

    Since 1995, NYC’s social entrepreneurs, business and civic leaders have shown up for PENCIL’s Principal For A Day® as the first step in their commitment to open minds, open eyes, and open doors for tens of thousands of public school students.

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  • School Partnerships

    PENCIL connects business and school leaders to leverage their collective energies and foster stronger schools, and to prepare students for college and career success. PENCIL serves as a critical liaison in these partnerships, providing hands-on support in the design, implementation, and evaluation of activities.

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  • Internship Programs

    Each year, PENCIL connects over 1,000 students across New York with career readiness and professional skills training. PENCIL works to place these students in paid summer internships and virtual work-based learning opportunities. PENCIL is a proud provider of the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development's Ladders for Leaders Program and partner in the RXR/PENCIL Internship Program.

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Hear from our Partners

“I was honored to volunteer with PENCIL, which places young students in internship settings and pairs them with working professionals who mentor and guide them as they complete projects over 5 weeks.”

Austin Rivera, Bloomberg LP

Hear from our Partners

“PENCIL's mission really aligned with what we were looking for—
bringing our expertise of language strategy and communication
and using that to help students.”

Sachi Pettit, Maslansky + Partners

Hear from our Partners

“Working with a PENCIL school, we were inspired by the ambition, talent, and passion driving the next generation of New York City leaders.”

Houlihan Lokey's Team

Hear from our Partners

“PENCIL leveraged its expertise in working with schools and its relationships with the business community to provide our students invaluable access to an extended social network and opportunities to participate in weekly career panels and workshops, develop their resumes, practice interviewing skills and develop career plans that will inform their postsecondary plans. ”

Jennie Soler-McIntosh, New Visions Charter Schools

Hear from our Partners

“From the first meeting, our team knew partnering with PENCIL could be an incredible hands-on opportunity to bring our passion and expertise into a classroom and have a meaningful impact on students’ lives. ”

Michael Maslansky, Maslansky + Partners

Hear from our Partners

“Each year, the students bring a new outlook on the world and I am happy to learn from them. ”

Madison Hart, JetBlue

Hear from our Partners

“I had such an incredible time discovering the talent and energy at John Jay—passionate teachers and administrators engaging remarkable groups of students. ”

Michael Koenigs, ABC News

Hear from our Partners

“Thanks to PENCIL and the Bronx School of Law and Finance for such an enjoyable experience! I appreciated the questions from the students and the opportunity to share my career path and thoughts (and hope both were helpful).”

Bryan Barreras, Mayer Brown LLP

Hear from our Partners

“This not only allows our students to engage with different members of our New York Community, but to network, gain wisdom, and be inspired. Watching our students engage in this every year is truly a blessing.”

Erin Hogshead, John Jay School for Law

Hear from our Partners

“We're proud of how the partnership between Salesforce and Dual Language Middle School (DLMS) has evolved over the years and the monthly virtual engagements we were able to bring to life for students this school year. Tough times bring communities together, and our common focus on supporting the students strengthened this partnership in an extraordinarily challenging year. We're so grateful for the amazing leadership at DLMS and the invaluable support from PENCIL, and look forward to growing our collective impact!”

Salesforce Team

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PENCIL brings together business #professionals, #educators & #students across #nyc. Your support helps connect #publicschool students to success.
Make a Difference—Become a PENCIL Volunteer! L Make a Difference—Become a PENCIL Volunteer! Looking for a way to give back and inspire the next generation? Join PENCIL as a volunteer! Whether through mentorship, career panels, or Principal For A Day®, you’ll help connect students to success by providing valuable guidance, skills, and opportunities. Be the connection that empowers students and shapes futures—sign up today! Links in bio #PENCIL30 #VolunteerWithPENCIL #MentorshipMatters
Introducing PENCIL’s Principal For A Day® Steer Introducing PENCIL’s Principal For A Day® Steering Committee! Benjamin Akande Cameca Bacchus Charlotte Castillo Sarah Diamond Khalid El Khatib Shauntia Nalls PENCIL is proud to recognize this dedicated group of volunteers who are not only actively engaged in Principal For A Day but also inspiring others to get involved. Their passion and dedication makes this transformative experience possible for students, educators, and business leaders alike. Join us in celebrating the Principal For A Day Steering Committee and be part of the impact by registering today! Link in bio!
Celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth: Honoring Vivien Th Celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth: Honoring Vivien Thomas’s Legacy Black History Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions of the Black community. Have you heard the inspiring story of Vivien Thomas? Vivien Thomas was a trailblazing surgical technician and researcher whose groundbreaking work helped develop life-saving treatments for blue baby syndrome at Johns Hopkins. Despite facing racial and educational barriers, he persevered—his success fueled by mentorship, hands-on learning, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. He later became a mentor himself, training future generations of medical professionals. At PENCIL, we share this belief in the power of mentorship and opportunity. By connecting students to professionals through career exposure and hands-on learning experiences, we ensure that all students have the support, skills, and connections to succeed. Thomas’s legacy reminds us that when we invest in mentorship and education, we open doors to endless possibilities. #PENCIL30 #BlackExcellence #MentorshipMatters #EducationForAll #ConnectingStudentsToSuccess
A huge thank you to Lewis Warren, PENCIL Vice Chai A huge thank you to Lewis Warren, PENCIL Vice Chair and Board Member, and @jpmorganchase for hosting a wonderful evening! PENCIL leadership had the pleasure of welcoming our newest board member, Roy Adams, with a special cocktail reception. As an organization built on relationships, we cherished the opportunity to come together—not only to celebrate Roy’s arrival but also to connect and reflect on our mission. The evening concluded with an inspiring story from Uche Njoku, who shared powerful insights about his school @ms224thebronx and reminded us of the impact PENCIL has made daily for the past 30 years. We all left feeling energized and committed to continuing our work to connect students to success! Here’s to many more moments of inspiration and collaboration! #PENCIL30 #ConnectingStudentsToSuccess #EducationMatters #Leadership #Mentorship
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About pencil
  • Theory of Change
  • Our Impact
  • Strategic Plan
  • Our Supporters
  • The PENCIL Team
  • Board of Directors
  • Board Alumni
  • Executive Leadership Council
Programs
  • Principal for a Day®
  • School Partnerships
  • Internship Programs
News & events
  • School partnerships
  • Students
Careers

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