Michael Roberts, executive director of Comprehensive Youth Development, joins J.D. Durkin to discuss how the nonprofit supports New York City students through education, workforce training, and career planning.
J.D.: Please welcome into the broadcast, Mr. Michael Roberts. Michael is the executive director of the Comprehensive Youth Development, joining us here on the trading floor of the Big Board. Welcome to the show.
Michael: Thank you so much for having me.
J.D.: Really good to have you. Can we start first and foremost, what is the Comprehensive Youth Development? Who do you serve? What should we know about it?
Michael: We serve over age and under accredited young people here in New York City and New York City high schools. We have three main high schools: Manhattan Comprehensive Night and Day, which is the only night high school in New York City, City As School, as well as the High School for Health Professions and Human Services. And we do partnerships with CUNY, where we’re running workforce development programs with BMCC, training kids as medical billing and coders, EMTs and CSPs.
J.D.: What is the type of support that so many of these young students need?
Michael: Well, right now, a lot of young people are looking at what their futures are going to be. And one of the things we try and do from the moment they enter our high schools is providing them with an advocate, a counselor who works with them individually on their plan for life after high school. And we say life after high school because it’s not just about college in the workforce of today. There’s certifications, technologies, digital ways to make a living. And so we try and give them as much information so they can make a real plan.
J.D.: How do you measure success? What are the actual kind of follow throughs on success and kind of indexing the impact of the program on the students you serve?
Michael: Well, one of the outcomes we look at, you see that 90% plus have a post-secondary plan, whether it’s in career, college, certification or workforce or just employment or going to the civil service or the Army, but that they have an actual plan that they can actualize.
J.D.: Why finance and nonprofit should combine for further youth development. That’s an interesting one, especially down here at the New York Stock Exchange. What do you follow there?
Michael: Finance is the lifeblood for people to survive in New York City. Correct? And so giving our kids a platform to earn as they learn, as they become young adults and break the cycle of poverty is one of the most important things to us as an organization.
J.D.: Before I let you go, let the people know how can they get involved or where should they head if they want to learn more about the amazing work that you’ve been doing here for some really important New York City schools?
Michael: You can go to our website, www.ComprehensiveYouthDevelopment.org. You can be a volunteer, you can be a donor, or you can be a listener or an advocate. Right now, kids need your support.
J.D.: Michael Roberts is the executive director of Comprehensive Youth Development here making his debut on Taking Stock. Welcome back any time. Congratulations on all the success. Really nice to have you.
Michael: Thank you.