Connecting Youth Initiative

COVID-19 Update:

CYI has gone virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All outreach, supportive case management and workshops can be accessed via scheduled zoom sessions. If you are a young adult or community organization interested in scheduling an information session, please use this link to to get in touch and a staff member will respond within 24 hours to schedule a phone call or virtual meeting. 

Also we have organized this list of COVID-19 resources for youth and young adults. This list is updated regularly so please bookmark it and check back often.

Program Overview

The Connecting Youth Initiative (CYI) is a community and school-based outreach effort providing assistance to 16-24 year old’s in Harlem, Washington Heights and the South Bronx who have yet to graduate high school and are not employed. Additionally, CYI services those under 24 years old who have a high school diploma or equivalency, but are unemployed. CYI is managed by The Office of Government and Community Affairs at Columbia University, with the main objective of supporting participants with achieving their educational and employment goals.

Through collaboration with local community-based organizations and schools, CYI staff work with under-served young people to identify barriers to their success and connect them with appropriate services and service providers that will address their needs.

In addition, CYI participants may be:

  • Navigating re-entry to the community
  • Court involved
  • Aging out of foster care
  • Homeless

CYI's school-based model provides outreach to youth who are enrolled in school but chronically absent, truant and/or at-risk of dropout or aging out. We assist participants with re-engaging in educational activities and obtaining employment opportunities.

Program Offerings

CYI participants receive assistance with

  • Getting back on track for high-school completion in a NYC Department of Education public school
  • Referral to High School Equivalency programs to prepare for TASC (formerly known as GED) examination.
  • Referral to alternative school settings (such as DOE Transfer Schools, YABC programs, or Co-Op Tech and other vocational programs)
  • Enrollment or re-enrollment in a college or university.
  • Direct referral to workforce/employment skill development programs
  • Access to paid internship and employment opportunities at Columbia University.
  • Resume writing and building
  • Assistance with job applications for positions outside of Columbia University
  • Mock job interviews

Additionally, CYI partners with organizations to facilitate workshops on-site for their program participants. Workshop topics range from soft-skill such as communication and active listening to hard-skills such as resume building, and financial planning. If you are interested in bringing a workshop to your organization please get in touch with us.

CYI grew out of the Outreach to Disconnected Youth required by Columbia University’s community benefits and services related to the Manhattanville Campus Expansion. We determined a need for more intentional program to provide participants with support for re-engaging in educational activities and obtaining employment opportunities. Through a targeted outreach and case management process CYI staff are able to reach young people who are in need and connect them to a variety of service providers.

    Qualifying Criteria

    • Age: 16-24 years old
    • Education Status: Currently not enrolled in school or enrolled but in danger of dropping out or aging out
    • Employment Status: Currently not working.
    • Residential Status-Lives in Zip Codes: 
      • Manhattan:10025, 10026, 10027, 10029, 10030, 10031, 10032, 10033, 10034, 10035, 10037, 10039, 10040, 
      • Bronx: 10451, 10454, 10455, 10474

    Staff Contacts

    Henry Danner, LMSW, Director of Youth Initiatives, Government and Community Affairs