Staten Island Youth Internship Program

• Original Idea Voted on by New Yorkers: Provide Staten Island teens with work experience at hospitals, labs, and health-related businesses. Partners would provide internships per cohort and be located near MTA accessible locations. The teens would be paid stipends.

• Implementing Organization: United Activities Unlimited

• Neighborhoods: St. George, Stapleton, Port Richmond, Tompkinsville and Mariner’s Harbor

• Funding Amount: $190,000

The responses below are directly from the community organizations selected to implement The People’s Money projects.

How does your organization plan to bring this idea to life?

United Activities Unlimited (UAU) will operate a career exploration and internship program for 30 young adults who are interested in pursuing careers in the healthcare industry. The program will run from January 2026 - October 2026, and serve participants ages 16–19 who live or attend school in the TRIE neighborhoods of St. George, Stapleton, Port Richmond, Tompkinsville, and Mariners Harbor. The primary location for this project will be UAU’s Workforce Development office at 1 Edgewater Plaza on the North Shore of Staten Island. Participants will attend in-person work readiness training for four weeks, followed by six weeks of hands-on internships with local healthcare organizations. Workshops will cover professional communication, HIPAA and patient privacy, resume development, and career planning. Students will also receive individualized career counseling, academic tutoring, mentorship, and stipends for their participation. By combining classroom learning with real-world experience, the program will prepare participants to explore and pursue meaningful careers in Staten Island’s growing healthcare sector.

What motivated your organization to apply to implement this idea?

Each year, United Activities Unlimited (UAU) provides hundreds of young people with healthcare internships through various city-funded programs. In recent years, a growing number of participants have expressed interest in the healthcare field. Recognizing this trend, UAU has leveraged its partnerships with hospitals, nursing homes, veterinary offices, and other medical providers to offer meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. Through these internships, young people gain an understanding of what it means to work in a healthcare setting and begin building networks with industry mentors. This exposure helps participants make informed decisions about their career path while also developing critical workplace skills.

How do you think this project will make a difference in your community?

By delivering tenants' rights workshops in English and Spanish, providing direct legal services, and working to support resident-led housing advocacy groups—all guided by the lived experiences of our clients and community members—we will help prevent evictions, obtain badly needed repairs, and cultivate community leaders and grassroots organizing capacity.

List at least one thing you're excited about related to this project!

We look forward to seeing participants gain confidence, develop professional skills, and learn about lesser-known careers in the healthcare industry.

How can someone participate or stay up to date on the project?

By reaching out through the organization’s Contact Us page.

Website: https://unitedactivities.org/
Instagram: @unitedactivitiesunlimitedinc
Facebook: @unitedactivitiesunlimitedinc
LinkedIn: @unitedactivitiesunlimitedinc
Twitter/X: @uau_inc