NYC High School Students Get Wardrobed in Corporate Attire for Summer Jobs

July 14, 2006

As part of the NYC GirlsREACH Initiative, fifty young women from New York City high schools were outfitted today in "corporate attire" with generous support from Macy's department store for their summer internship positions.  The GirlsREACH participants were assisted by personal shoppers, and for many it marked their first business suit purchase. The NYC GirlsREACH initiative, announced by Mayor Bloomberg earlier this year, is a pilot program of the New York City Commission on Women's Issues (CWI) and the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). The program exposes high school juniors and seniors to successful professional women in both the public and private sectors for a six-week internship. Once a week, participants attend a work readiness, college orientation, women's issues, or leadership development workshop at a host company.  These workshops are led by CWI and DYCD.

These young women are not only the future of this City but also role models for others their age," said CWI Chair Anne Sutherland Fuchs. "Through the GirlsREACH program, they are learning earlier than most what it takes to work in a corporate setting, and acceptable professional attire is part of that education.  We are grateful to all of our private sector supporters who have helped to make this initiative such an enormous success."

Last week, at pre-internship orientation sessions, the participants attended two sessions with Jantzer Consulting on workplace etiquette and attire, in addition to learning about careers, health, and their employee rights. Today they put what they learned into action, with help from Jantzer's personal shoppers and NYC GirlsREACH staff. Thanks to generous support from Macy's, the 50 young women had the opportunity to shop for appropriate corporate attire at Macy's.

"The clothes might not make the woman, but the shopping skills and business attire provided by Jantzer Consulting and Macy's are sure to enhance the professional confidence of every GirlsREACH participant," said DYCD Commissioner Jeanne Mullgrav. "I am proud to count Jantzer and Macy's as partners in our efforts to provide these young women with the tools they need to achieve professional and personal success."

The goals of the NYC GirlsREACH Initiative are to: orient high potential youth to the importance of post secondary education and help them prepare for a successful college admissions process; expose them to inspirational role models and provide access to career pathways, networks, and mentors; and develop their skills, self-confidence, and knowledge of women's issues. Participants are paid through DYCD's Summer Youth Employment Program, and some participating companies are paying interns directly. In the fall, the interns will take a Kaplan college preparation course. Based on a final evaluation, the interns will have the opportunity for college scholarships.

The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, the City's not-for-profit organization, administers the allocation of funds for the GirlsREACH Initiative. For more information on the Mayor's Fund, please visit www.nyc.gov/fund or call 311.

CONTACT:
Elizabeth LoNigro (CWI) 212-788-2547
Ryan Dodge (DYCD) 212-442-5979

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