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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 084-06
March 22, 2006

MAYOR BLOOMBERG LAUNCHES NYC GIRLSREACH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AS PART OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION

New York City Commission on Women’s Issues Creates Public-Private Partnership to Expand Opportunities for Young Women

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today launched NYC GirlsREACH, a new youth development initiative that pairs New York City public high school students with successful professional women to prepare them for future careers. Mayor Bloomberg announced the start of the program during a breakfast reception hosted at the New York Public Library in celebration of Women's History Month. NYC GirlsREACH will provide students with a number of education and mentorship opportunities through workshops and college preparatory courses. This initiative was created by the New York City Commission on Women's Issues and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) to broaden perceptions on roles of women in the workforce and enable high school students to work directly with New York City professional women. The Mayor was joined today by the Commission on Women's Issues Chair Anne Sutherland Fuchs, Department of Youth and Community Development Commissioner Jeanne Mullgrav and Law & Order: SVU actress Tamara Tunie who will lead one of the many workshops allowing her to interact with students in the program.

"Our Administration has always put opportunities for women at the heart of City policies and practices," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Today we are backing our commitment to women by creating NYC GirlsREACH, which will support our City's students in their academic careers and open their eyes to professional career possibilities they may never have even dreamed of. This initiative is a public/private partnership that demonstrates what being a good citizen is all about."

"New York City is the most diverse, exciting City in the world," said Commission Chair Anne Sutherland Fuchs. "It is gratifying to have some of New York's leading corporations join with the City in creating valuable opportunities for so many young people and help them reach their great potential."

"Education is pivotal to the success of our City's future, and the Mayor has made it a priority since day one," said DYCD Commissioner Jeanne Mullgrav. "We are delighted to build on the success of our existing youth development programs with this important initiative that supports high school students in their learning and prepares them for the transition to the next step in their lives."

The NYC GirlsREACH initiative will emphasize the importance of postsecondary education for young high school students through one-on-one interaction with women role models who will provide access to the career pathways and other professional networks they have developed and navigated. The program will help develop the students' skills in the classroom, bolster self-confidence, and help prepare them for the workplace. NYC GirlsREACH will also provide work readiness, college orientation, and leadership development workshops focusing on women's issues throughout a six-week publicly-funded internship in the summer of 2006.

NYC GirlsREACH is available to current high school sophomores and juniors who are nominated and apply through their In-School Youth (ISY) program providers. ISY is a program of DYCD which provides education and employment-related services to public school students between the ages of 14 and 18. The goal of ISY is to provide guidance and education to increase youth readiness for higher education and the workforce.

The underwriters of NYC GirlsREACH include Ernst & Young LLP, Macy's, The Bank of New York, Lehman Brothers, The Moody's Foundation, HarperCollins Publishers, JPMorganChase, Bloomberg LP and Rosie's For All Kids Foundation. Kaplan is providing a comprehensive SAT prep course tailored specifically to address the needs of the students selected for the program. The City University of New York will provide a variety of services related to postsecondary education, including admissions and financial aid counseling. The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City will be responsible for administering the allocation of funds for this program. More information about NYC GirlsREACH can be found at www.nyc.gov or by calling 311.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser/Silvia Alvarez   (212) 788-2958

Michael Ognibene   (Department of Youth and Community Development )
(212) 442-6009




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