For a fledgling, student-led organization such as The Decameron Project, navigating the logistics of an undertaking as ambitious as our own could well have proven insurmountable. We are where we are thanks to the kindness and generosity of our partners, who recognize the value of our mission and help in every way they can.
The New York Public Library has been an essential provider of free books, information, ideas, and education for all New Yorkers for more than 100 years. Founded in 1895, the NYPL is the largest public library system in the United States –– featuring a unique combination of 88 neighborhood branches and four scholarly research centers and bringing together an extraordinary richness of resources and opportunities available to all. Serving more than 17 million patrons a year, and millions more online, the Library holds more than 55 million items and offers 103,000 free programs annually. Their work reaches everyone from students, to English language learners, to job seekers, to passionate readers. We are delighted to become a part of that century-old legacy of excellence and public service, partnering with the NYPL in their mission to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities.
NYC Youth Leadership Councils (YLCs) are a network of youth groups focused on policy, practice and advocacy to make local change happen. Each YLC is a space to team up with others, share ideas, create solutions, and put those solutions into action with the support from City agencies, schools, and community organizations. YLC NYC is part of NYC Service, a division of the Office of the Mayor focused on volunteerism and service in NYC, launched in April 2009 in response to President Barack Obama’s national call for volunteerism and a goal of engaging 100 million Americans in service by 2020. NYC Service’s mission is simple: to deepen and expand civic engagement through volunteer and service programs, creating sustainable change for New York’s greatest needs. It is our great privilege to partner with NYC Youth Leadership Councils and NYC Service to expand the reach of The Decameron Project to more young people in New York City and beyond.
First Workings is a NYC based non-profit organization founded in 2014 to address the lack of representation within the intern to entry level talent pipeline. First Workings’ mission is to help high achieving, high potential students from some of New York City’s most underserved and underrepresented communities gain social capital and workplace readiness skills to broaden their horizons. First Workings accomplishes this by partnering with leaders from a wide variety of industries who provide their students with specialized training, paid internships, or one-on-one mentorships. We’re thrilled to partner with First Workings to help show young students the breadth of what they can be –– and exalt the worthiness of writing as a career.
