The Ladders for Leaders program offers outstanding high school and college students the opportunity to participate in paid 6-week summer internships with leading corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies in New York City. Ladders for Leaders is open to NYC students ages 16—21, enrolled in high school or college with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 80 (3.00) and prior work or volunteer experience.
The Summer 2023 Ladders for Leaders application is now open. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, students are encouraged to apply early.
PENCIL will host pre-employment training sessions for selected students during NYC Department of Education Mid-Winter Recess and Spring Break, as well as additional dates throughout the Spring.
Scroll down or check out our Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the application, training, and matching process here and attend the Ladders for Leader information session to learn more. To learn how to apply, watch the SYEP 2023 Participant Application Video. Please contact l4l@pencil.org with any questions.
The Ladders for Leaders program is an initiative of the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and supported by the NYC Center for Youth Employment and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.
Apply to PENCIL’s Ladders for Leaders cohort and join PENCIL’s network, gain professional work experience and a chance for a paid summer internship. Ladders for Leaders applicants are required to live in New York City, have a cumulative average of 3.0 or above and have prior work or volunteer experience.
CLICK HERE TO APPLYStudents are expected to complete up to 30 hours of training before they are eligible for placement in an internship. PENCIL holds multiple training sessions throughout the spring. Students must register for training in advance and must attend all three days of training. Students who completed training in a previous year but were not placed in a Ladders for Leaders internship, must attend training again this year.
JOB DESCRIPTIONSPENCIL’s Ladders for Leaders Program typically places over 450 students at over 200 companies across New York City. All PENCIL internships provide students with at least 150 hours of work in July and August and are paid at a NY State minimum wage or higher. Students are matched to employers based on alignment of skills and interests, however, internship placement is not guaranteed.
EMPLOYER LIST