"The Bridge to Adulting" Adulting Academy: Financial Literacy & Career Mapping for NYC Youth

Last summer, more than $17 million was stolen from SYEP youth through scams. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/nyregion/nyc-atm-scam.html Job scams are increasing at an alarming rate, targeting people of all ages, especially those urgently seeking work, changing careers, or returning to the workforce. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, using fake company names, stolen logos, and convincing job postings to trick people into giving away personal information or even money. With remote work becoming more common, it's more complicated than ever to tell which opportunities are real and which are traps. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-know-if-a-job-is-a-scam For many teens, it was their first paycheck ever, and they didn't even have a chance to understand how banking or payroll works. As someone who works in finance and payroll, I see adults struggle every day with paychecks, taxes, insurance, and budgeting. If adults are confused, imagine how our youth feel as they step into the workforce for the first time. "Adulting Academy" aims to bridge that gap by teaching young people real-life financial skills and career readiness citywide. The Program Will Cover: How to read a paycheck and understand taxes; Budgeting and basic banking; Choosing the right health insurance, preventing scams, and protecting personal information. Career mapping, Job resources, and Negotiation skills (Avoiding scams with Ghost jobs and Job board Scams) Scam Prevention; Digital Safety (How SYEP youth were targeted. Red flags in text messages, emails, and phone calls. How to protect your identity and money online). This initiative will prepare youth to navigate adulthood with confidence, helping them avoid financial harm, build stability, and understand the value of their hard work. A brighter, safer financial future for NYC starts with educating our youth today.

"Adulting Academy" aims to address the growing crisis of financial vulnerability among youth, particularly amid rapidly increasing job scams, identity theft, and payroll fraud. With the rise of AI-generated messages, fake websites, and convincing phishing tactics, scams have become harder to detect without proper education and awareness. Too many young people like those affected by last summer’s $17 million SYEP scam are entering the workforce without understanding how paychecks, taxes, banking, or employment verification work, leaving them unprotected. By providing financial literacy and career-readiness training, this initiative equips youth with critical thinking skills and a knowledge base to recognize scams, navigate real job opportunities, and confidently manage their finances.

Youth (under 24)

Public Housing Residents

Justice Impacted People

Parents