CAREER & EDUCATION
Building Community. Growing Leaders.
The C&E Network provides a clear pathway into living-wage employment in careers with high-growth potential in NYC.
We specialize in supporting young adults who are ready to excel in the workforce by providing customizable training sequences, one-on-one coaching, and other career development services. Our members gain educational and economic success and develop leadership skills to transform their lives and community.
Train & Earn (Workforce training, Internship, job assistance and retention services)
YouthBuild Ignite (High School Equivalency preparation)
SYEP (Summer work experience for young people)
Work Learn Grow (Paid employment opportunities for high school students)
Cypress Hills Business Partners (Merchants' Association for local businesses)
Careers That Care: Transportation (Advanced Transportation Training)
Building East New York (Advanced Construction Training)
PerScholas (IT Training)
Hot Bread Kitchen (Culinary Skills Training)
Contact:
Lowell Herschberger, MSW
Director, Career and Education Programs
276 Chestnut St, Brooklyn, NY 11208
Train & Earn Programs
Train & Earn provides everything young adults need to start their journey. This foundational
sequence focuses exclusively on out-of-school / out-of-work, 18-24 year olds. Members gain a
strong start through individualized assessment, work readiness training and internship, with
support from a career advisor, mental health specialist and job developer, so they are fully
prepared to start the career pathway of their dreams.
We offer two sector-based tracks where the following credentials can be obtained:
Technology: CompTIA A+
Industrial: National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Core, 30-Hour
OSHA Construction Authorization, Site Safety Supportive Scaffolding, Flagger, Driver's License
Training (Class D), CDL Training (Class C)
Eligibility Requirements:
● 18-24 years old
● Not attending or enrolled in secondary or for-credit postsecondary school
● Has high school diploma (HSD) or equivalent (HSE)
● Authorized to work in the U.S.
● If male, has or willing to complete Selective Registration
All applicants must come in-person to an information session, where they complete an
application and are scheduled for an interview. Documentation submission of (but not limited to)
HSD or equivalent, Social Security Card and ID will be required.
If you have questions, please contact:
Diamond Boston
Train & Earn Technology - Program Director EO/ACCES-VR Liaison
276 Chestnut Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208
TrainandEarnTechnology@cypresshills.org
845-328-2578
Kymsha Henry
Train & Earn Industrial - Program Director EO/ACCES-VR Liaison
276 Chestnut Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208
TrainandEarnIndustrial@cypresshills.org
845-328-2526
Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program
Auxiliary Aids and Services are Available upon Request to Individuals with Disabilities/TTY#: (1800) 662-1220
Transportation Advanced Training
Thousands of well-paying, union and non-union jobs in the transportation sector are going unfilled every year. Gaining a CDL is one simple pathway directly into solid employment. Careers That Care: Transportation is a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program with job placement with an Access-A-Ride company. Participants will obtain their CDLClass C Driver’s License with Passenger Endorsement. This is the entry level CDL that gets you started in the profession of driving and it does not even require a road test. You simply must be:
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18 and older
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Regular Driver’s License for 3 years (no suspensions during that period)
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No serious violations (no more than 4 points on license)
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No major adult criminal history. Evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Qualified Train & Earn graduates are assured of a spot into Transportation Education. If you are 25 years old and up contact Careers That Care: Transportation directly below:
Jessen Vasquez
Program Coordinator
276 Chestnut Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208
(845) 328-2705
IT Training
We are now offering technology training with Per Scholas to offer Satellite IT Support courses. Satellite IT Support courses offer the opportunity to earn the Google IT Support Professional Certificate and the CompTIA A+ certification, equipping our program participants with the knowledge to fill a wide range of entry-level technology jobs.
If you have any questions about enrollment,
Contact:
276 Chestnut Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208
Culinary Training
We've partnered with Hot Bread Kitchen, to provide local Cypress Hills and East New York residents the opportunity to take culinary skills training. Hot Bread Kitchen’s mission is to create economic opportunity for women and gender-expansive people, immigrants, and people of color through job skills training, food entrepreneurship programs, and an ecosystem of support in New York City.
Through this training, participants learn about cooking techniques and safety measures that will help them become professionals within the food industry. Classes take place at the Cypress Hills East New York Community Center, located at 276 Chestnut Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208.
Apply to the Culinary Training Program here. Be sure to select “Brooklyn- Cypress Hills” as the training location.
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For more details or questions about enrollment, please contact:
Jessen Vasquez
Program Coordinator
276 Chestnut Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208
(845) 328-2705
Construction Advanced Training
Construction is booming in our neighborhood with several thousand apartments being built in the next few years. Building East New York, our advanced construction skills training program streamlines the hiring process of local residents to sites in our area. From entry level candidates to skilled tradesmen, all are encouraged to apply. Individuals who live in Cypress Hills / East New York that are 18+ years old are eligible to receive their OSHA 30 and 10 hr SST and direct introduction to local contractors who need workers. 18-24 year olds that live outside of the neighborhood are encouraged to apply
Qualified Train & Earn graduates are assured a spot. If you are 25 years old and up contact the coordinator directly:
Entrenamiento GRATUITO en construcción para Solicitantes de asilo.
Contact:
276 Chestnut Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208
If you do not live in the area or you would prefer to compete for an opportunity in the Carpenter’s Union, Building Works might be the best fit. This is a highly-competitive, 6-week pre-apprenticeship program that prepares individuals for work in the Union Construction trades. Certifications offered include OSHA 10 Construction Safety, 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Worker, CPR, Scaffold, and others.
Typically, about 1 out of 5 applicants get accepted into this program. Contact for direct services:
Jessen Vasquez
Program Coordinator
276 Chestnut St, Brooklyn, NY 11208
(845) 328-2705
YouthBuild Ignite
YouthBuild Ignite is a Brooklyn-based alternative school and vocational training program that enables unemployed, out-of-school young men and women, ages 18-24, to obtain their high school equivalency diplomas, develop tangible job skills, secure employment, and pursue higher education via college or vocational school. The program offers paid construction and health care training to students, providing them with valuable skills and certification from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (construction) and Prometric (healthcare), while helping to rehabilitate affordable housing in their community.
YouthBuild offers: Pre-HSE and HSE Prep; OSHA 30-Hour Construction Authorization/10-Hour Site Safety Training; NCCER Construction Certification; CNA Certification; Paid job training and certification (can earn up to $5,100.00); College and career placement assistance. Courses take place Monday through Friday, from 9am to 4pm at the Cypress Hills East New York Community Center located at 276 Chestnut Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208.
Eligibility Criteria:
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Must be 18 to 24 years old
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Most left high school without a diploma and are either a member of a low-income family, a foster care youth, a youth who is homeless, an offender, a youth with a disability, a child of an incarcerated parent, or a migrant youth
Apply here: http://tinyurl.com/2p98nhc5
YouthBuild Background
YouthBuild Ignite rises like the mythical phoenix, born from the legacy of YouthBuild programs that came before it. Just as the phoenix emerges from the ashes, renewed and stronger, YouthBuild Ignite embodies the rebirth of time-tested practices, blending them with modern innovations in youth development. This new program honors the wisdom of the past, while evolving to meet the needs of today’s young people. Like the phoenix, it represents transformation, reigniting the inherent potential within each youth, guiding them to rebuild their lives with purpose, strength, and resilience.
YouthBuild Ignite is a transformative youth development program that believes every young person already holds the power to shape their future. Unlike traditional programs that aim to pour into opportunity youth, YouthBuild Ignite sparks the innate potential that exists within each participant. Through mentorship, hands-on learning, and community-building, we empower young people to uncover their strengths, take control of their journey, and ignite the path to success—fueled by their own passion and drive.
If you have any more questions
Contact:
Peter Rodriguez
Program Director
276 Chestnut Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208
(347)-201-2239
Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) provides New York City youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with paid summer employment for up to six weeks in July and August. CHLDC hosts an SYEP program along with organizations in all five boroughs of New York City. There are two types of SYEP, Career Ready SYEP and Community Based SYEP. Here is how you can find out if you qualify for Career Ready or Community Based:
Career Ready SYEP:
Career Ready SYEP has partnerships with certain high schools and is not open to all of the public. Any high school student between the ages of 14-21 yrs old that attends ANY school at Franklin K. Lane or Thomas Jefferson, are eligible for Career Ready SYEP.
Community Based SYEP:
Community Based SYEP applications are open to ALL that are 16-24 yrs old, regardless of their school status. At the end of the application, youth will be prompted to choose a provider. If they would like to work with our agency, they must select Cypress Hills LDC as their primary provider before they submit their application.
Before completing your application, you will be asked if you want to submit your application to Career Ready or Community Based. Please be sure to submit your application based on the qualifications listed above.
Application Deadline: March 14th, 2025
Apply Here: https://application.nycsyep.com/
Contact:
Kia Weekes
Career-Ready SYEP Program Coordinator
(347) 389-4001
Christine Rohoo
Community Based SYEP/WLG Program Director
Work Learn Grow
Work, Learn and Grow Program is a youth program designed to extend high school student's skills and experiences gained through CCM's Summer Youth Program (SYEP). WLG provides career readiness training and paid employment opportunities for up to 25 weeks from October to April. Participants work in a variety of entry-level jobs including:
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Government Agencies
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Hospitals
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Non-Profits
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Small Businesses
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Law Firms
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Museums
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Sports Enterprises
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Retail Organizations
WLG career readiness training focuses on topics that include career exploration, financial literacy, conflict resolution, resume/cover letter development and opportunities to continue education and social growth.
Contact:
Christine Rohoo
Community Based SYEP/WLG Program Director
Cypress Hills Business Partners
Cypress Hills Business Partners is a merchants association that supports community-friendly businesses to strengthen the local economy and expand workplace opportunities in Cypress Hills/East New York. With strong support from the NYC Department of Small Business Services, Cypress Hills Business Partners addresses such needs as security, marketing, sanitation/beautification and the pressures of gentrification. Currently there are 50 businesses enrolled in our program.
General Inquiry Form: here
Contact:
Katty Garces
Senior Director of Business Services
276 Chestnut St, Brooklyn, NY 11208
The Cypress Hills Fulton BID Steering Committee has a vision to create a cleaner, brighter, safer, greener, more pedestrian-friendly, commercial corridor where businesses can thrive and grow while helping the community retain its diversity and affordability. Through the BID, merchants will have a united voice to advocate for fair policies and services for the community.
The Cypress Hills Fulton Business Improvement District formation Steering Committee consists of business owners, property owners, residents, government officials, and community representatives who share a mission to maintain the vibrancy of Fulton Street.
For more information visit www.cypresshillsfultonbid.org
Brooklyn A's Commercial Lease Assistance Program (CLA) is funded by NYC SBS. We provide free, high-quality legal support to NYC small businesses for commercial lease issues. Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A also assist with business formation and intellectual property, which may involve a fee.
Our focus includes:
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New leases
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Lease renewals
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Lease terminations
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Rent arrears
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Questions about commercial spaces
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Other legal aspects of landlord-tenant relationships
To get started, please sign for Commercial Assistance Program via the portal
Cypress Hills Business Partners offers the Latinx in Business Program by UnidosUS, providing digital upskill training for business owners and future entrepreneurs. This 10-hour program offered in English and Spanish, helps current and future business owners launch or expand their business, increase their online presence, market their business and products, and learn about and make use of essential digital tools and applications. As a result of this, Latinx business owners can upskill, reskill, and leverage their skills to expand and grow their business to become more competitive in the global market.
If you are interested in registering for an upcoming Latinx in Business workshop, please click here.
For more information about the Latinx in Business program, reach out to the contact below:
Contact:
Orlando Matamoros
Pt_orlandom@cypresshills.org
(347) 450-9281
If you’re looking for a particular service, but don’t know the name of the program, head to the “How Can We Help You?” form so a program staff member can contact you directly.