NYC Department of Youth & Community Development

Missed out on what we’ve been working on lately? 🤔👀 Here’s your weekly recap! 📺 🍂 Make this Fall unforgettable and join our community! Share this video and explore DiscoverDYCD for exciting programs and services near you! 📍 Check the link below for more resources: https://on.nyc.gov/3RSB5SV

🌟 Become an After-school Youth Leader! Are you passionate about mentoring and making a difference? Join an after-school team where you can support young people, build your skills and make an impact in your community. 📍 Flexible opportunities available 🙌 Share your experience and preferred role/location Ready to get started? Complete the DYCD After-school Opportunities Interest Form by scanning the QR code or visiting: Bit.ly/4hJbuFc

Tomorrow, Thursday, October 15 is NYC Go Purple Day in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Wear purple tomorrow and share your photos with the hashtag #NYCGoPurple! Also check out Domestic Violence Awareness month events on ENDGBV’s citywide calendar at https://on.nyc.gov/3V9p50S

Your next opportunity starts after school! DYCD is teaming up with NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to connect job seekers with opportunities at DYCD-funded community organizations offering afterschool programs. 📍Jobs NYC Center: 2 Lafayette St, Ground Floor, New York 10007 📅 Tuesday, October 20, 2026 ⏰ 10 AM – 2 PM Make a difference in the lives of NYC youth while building your career! See you there!

Breaking News you may have missed. Week of October 5, 2026: With NYC a proud host city of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, DYCD received a generous donation of soccer equipment, televisions, uniforms, monitors, apparel, printers, and more. Our staff shared these resources with CBOs to support communities across New York City. Meanwhile, in partnership with NYC Parks and the Department of Cultural Affairs, DYCD helped create vibrant public art designed by young people, artists, and community members. Twelve community-designed murals brought FIFA spirit to parks across all five boroughs. DYCD also partnered with South Bronx United to bring the community together for a major World Cup celebration at Macombs Dam Park and Heritage Field near Yankee Stadium. The event featured a USA versus Australia World Cup watch party. Finally, DYCD hosted a Youth Career Panel, exploring opportunities in sports, entertainment, marketing, communications, event operations, and more. Participants connected with professionals, asked questions, and discovered new career pathways. Follow us for more breaking news next week!

🤝 Stronger partnerships. Stronger communities. DYCD brought together Saturday Night Lights (SNL) providers and NYPD officers for a training and panel discussion focused on building relationships, strengthening collaboration and creating positive experiences for NYC youth. 🏀💙 Saturday Night Lights (SNL) is a citywide program, led by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and its agency and community partners, that provides young people with year-round free, exceptional sports programs on Saturday nights! 📍 Find a gym near you at https://on.nyc.gov/4eiXzEz

🎨 Your art. Your voice. Your vision for a community free from hate. The 2026 HeARTwork Against Hate Contest is now open to NYC youth, ages 8–18! Show us what inclusion, connection, and community mean to you through your original artwork. 📅 Deadline: November 1, 2026 at midnight Learn more about the initiative and submit your art by scanning the QR code or clicking this link: https://lnkd.in/e8nqe5qv #HeARTworkAgainstHate #HeARTwork2026 #NYCYouth #YouthArt #AgainstHate

Are you ready? Step It Up is coming back soon! In preparation for the next season of Step It Up, we are taking a look back at this year's Finale, now available to watch on YouTube, from start to finish! With topics ranging from Teen Impact, Domestic Violence, Self-Empowerment, and more, Step It Up teams transformed deep messages into touching performances. This year's finalists pushed their talents to new levels and showed us the impact they are striving for in their communities. Visit DYCD's YouTube channel to relive the Finale now, and stay tuned for another season coming soon! https://on.nyc.gov/4idGOMz

Looking for answers about afterschool? We’ve got you! 🎒 What is COMPASS? COMPASS is New York City’s free afterschool program for students in grades K–12. Programs offer homework help, arts, sports, STEAM, leadership activities, and safe spaces for young people to learn and grow. 🎒 How do I apply for COMPASS? Families can apply through their school’s COMPASS provider or main office, or visit DiscoverDYCD. Enrollment instructions will be provided before the program start date. 🎒 Is COMPASS free? Yes. COMPASS is free for all families 🎒 What will my child do in COMPASS? Programs offer homework help, arts and sports, STEAM activities, social-emotional learning, leadership opportunities, and family engagement events. 🎒 Citywide Contacts For questions, contact DYCD Community Connect at 800-246-4646 or communityconnect@dycd.nyc.gov, or NYC Public Schools at afterschool@schools.nyc.gov for school-based questions. Visit https://on.nyc.gov/4j7v54b for more information. #NYCYouth #Afterschool #DYCD

No one does Halloween like New York City 👻 Trick-or-Streets is back for a month of live music, arts and crafts, festive photo ops, performances, workshops, harvest & Halloween-themed activities and MORE across all 5 boroughs 🎃 Check out the events map and schedules now at https://on.nyc.gov/3Qdw96m #trickorstreets #halloween #freenyc #nycevents New York City Department of Transportation