The future is bright when New York City’s young people have the support, resources and opportunities they need to discover their passions and reach their full potential.

On Monica Makes It Happen, Monica Morales visits New York Edge during New York City Nonprofit Week to highlight the important work being done by nonprofits and community partners to help young people across the city thrive.

New York Edge’s mission is to ignite students’ intellectual curiosity, encourage their passions and ideas, and help develop the future leaders of New York City. The organization provides after-school programming that gives students opportunities to learn, explore their interests and build skills beyond the traditional school day.

The segment also highlights the powerful partnership between New York City government and nonprofit organizations. City leaders discuss the critical role nonprofits play in providing services and opportunities for young people, with the Department of Youth and Community Development supporting organizations that deliver programs directly in communities across the city.

For New York Edge, after-school programs aren’t a luxury — they’re a necessity. These programs provide young people with a safe and supportive environment where they can explore their interests, build relationships and think about what they want their futures to look like.

And the students have big dreams. During Monica’s visit, young participants share their aspirations, from engineering, architecture and biomedical engineering to real estate, fashion design, law, music therapy and more. Their goals are a powerful reminder of what can happen when young people are given the opportunity to dream big.

Today, New York Edge serves 33,000 students, helping young New Yorkers build confidence, discover new interests and develop the skills they need to become tomorrow’s leaders.

As New York City celebrates its nonprofit community, Monica Makes It Happen celebrates the organizations, leaders and community champions working together to create more opportunities for the next generation.

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