A Paw-some Summer with SYEP
By Timothy Davis & Anna Gardner
Angely Rosado, 22, is a dog person. Studying to become a vet tech, she jumped at the chance to work at Harlem Doggie Day Spa this summer through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).
SYEP is the nation’s largest youth employment initiative, connecting New Yorkers aged 14 to 24 with summer job opportunities that allow them to earn money while exploring potential careers. Henry Street Settlement has been matching youth to summer jobs in partnership with the Department of Youth and Community Development for the last 40 years. This year, Henry Street matched 1,754 young people to 239 worksites.
At Harlem Doggie Day Spa, Manager Natasha Perez explains, 10 Henry Street SYEP workers have rotated through three roles over six weeks: dog handler, dog bather, and front desk assistant. Natasha says that SYEP has become an effective way to screen potential new team members, and the business has hired several SYEP workers for full-time roles in the past. “People often think, ‘Oh, it’s fun, you get to play with dogs all day,’ and yes, that’s part of it, but it requires a lot of patience. I compare working with dogs to working with toddlers.”
Sapphire Witherspoon, 19, sits with a furry friend at Harlem Doggie Day Spa as part of her dog handler duties.
Lee Emmanuel, 19, a college student at BMCC, also spent his summer at Harlem Doggie Day Spa through SYEP. A repeat participant in the program, Lee says SYEP has been instrumental in helping him find summer work. “With SYEP, it’s easier to find a job—once you’re in, you’re guaranteed to get a position,” he says.
Angela says that working at Harlem Doggie Day Spa also helped her overcome her shyness. “I came in asking a lot of questions, and that helped me break out of my shell,” she says. The job not only boosted her confidence but also deepened her passion for working with animals.
Click here to learn more about the Summer Youth Employment Program at Henry Street Settlement.
