PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Erin Prada, Assistant Director of Youth Development at Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
1:18:54
ยท
5 min
Erin Prada from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) testified about their youth development programs and the SCI Network NYC collaboration. She highlighted WCS's role in employing youth and providing educational experiences across their five parks in New York City.
- WCS developed the WCS Career Lattice, supporting 1900 young people aged 14-24 in various positions.
- SCI Network NYC, a partnership of 8 science-based cultural institutions, hosted 1100 interns in 2024, with 84% identifying as people of color.
- The program aims to provide paid internships and wrap-around services to over 1000 youth annually, requesting continued support of $2,000,000 in the FY26 budget.
Erin Prada
1:18:54
Hi.
1:18:54
Thank you, chairwoman, Rivera and members of the committee.
1:18:58
My name is Erin Prada, and I serve as the assistant director of youth development at the Wildlife Conservation Society.
1:19:04
WCS manages the Bronx Zoo, the New York Aquarium, the Central Park Zoo, the Prospect Park Zoo, and the Queen Zoo.
1:19:11
And I'm also very excited to be here as, this I support the administration of the SCI Network NYC collaboration partnership.
1:19:20
So thank you for your opportunity address to let us address the committee today.
1:19:25
Our 5 parks here in New York City not only rank among the city's most popular tourist destinations and family attractions, but also function as vital educational resources and employment hubs within their boroughs.
1:19:38
Partially funded by the city of New York, these parks contribute to preserving endangered species while offering environmental education to thousands of educators and children.
1:19:48
Additionally, they enable us to deliver diverse programming and interactive educational experiences.
1:19:53
In New York City alone, WCS employs over 2,000 individuals and is one of the city's largest employers of youth.
1:20:01
In 2018, with funding from the New York City Council and the speaker, we developed the WCS career lattice to support the 1900 young people, ages 14 to 24, who participate in volunteer positions, internships, and part time jobs at our 5 parks.
1:20:17
This integrated career pathways initiative ensures that youth from historically excluded groups gain expanded access to opportunities at our institutions along with training, case management, and access to a rich network of professionals.
1:20:31
Earlier, commissioner commissioner Kumble was mentioning, talking about the idea of a job fair.
1:20:36
For anyone listening between the ages of 14 and 24, this Saturday at the Bronx Zoo is WCS's annual WCS Youth Jive.
1:20:44
It is an interactive job fair, for young people to not only learn how to, enter into the pipeline at WCS, but to learn about all the volunteer internship and job opportunities.
1:20:58
Building on the success of the WCS career lattice in 2022, we created SCI Network NYC, a partnership of 8 science based cultural institutions who support New York City youth in building the confidence skills and social capital to advance in STEM fields.
1:21:14
In 2024, collectively, our organizations hosted 1100 interns who gained hands on experience in fields such as animal care, horticulture, science communication, science research.
1:21:27
Our youth earn more than our youth earned more than 2,400,000 in stipends and wages.
1:21:32
And additionally, this is very important, 80 for 84% of our interns identify as people of color as compared to 69% of New York City residents.
1:21:45
Historically, internships have been excessively have been accessible primarily to those with financial resources and social capital.
1:21:53
Through SCI Network NYC, we strive to ensure that youth from all backgrounds can participate in science internships and benefit from these transformative opportunities.
1:22:02
This is why a collaborative a collaborative partnership like SCI NYC is vital.
1:22:08
When you compare our statistics to the national statistics, in 2021, a quarter of the US workforce worked in STEM occupations.
1:22:17
That's 36,800,000 workers.
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Black or African American workers comprised only 8% of workers in STEM occupations, which is lower than their percentage of the total workforce.
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The percentage of STEM workers that were Hispanic was 15% in STEM compared with 18% of all workers.
1:22:37
So having collaborations like SCI Network NYC, to focus on, the impact of our internships and, recruiting young people from historically excluded backgrounds, has a lot of impact.
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77% of participants in 2024 reported that their internship helped them identify an interest in working or interning at cultural institutions in the future.
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And for many, these experiences have provided new perspectives on science, inspiring transformative career aspirations.
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And then just to wrap up, the SCI Network NYC program is the first of its kind in New York City, offering paid internships with wrap around services to over a 1000 youth annually.
1:23:21
We look forward to continued partnership and support from the council.
1:23:25
With your continued support of $2,000,000 in the f y 26 budget, cultural institutions like WCS can continue empowering a diverse cohort of young New Yorkers with the skills and experiences needed to build meaningful lifelong careers in STEM.
1:23:42
I'd like to pass oh, to you.
1:23:45
Sorry.
1:23:45
Yes.
1:23:46
I'd like to introduce, Yindel Ramirez, who is a high school intern, at the was a high school intern at the Bronx Zoo.