Work Based Learning | meca-nyc.org

Work Based Learning | meca-nyc.org
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Where Every Door
Leads to Success
Work-Based Learning
NYS registered high quality Work-Based Learning program is an integral part of MECA's Career Technical Education (CTE) curriculum.
Available for all students 14+ years of age
What is Work-Based Learning
New York Work-based learning is authentic learning experiences that allow students to explore their career goals, abilities, and interests while applying their academic and technical knowledge and skills in a real-world context. These experiences are planned and supervised by instructional staff in collaboration with business, industry, or community partners.
Learn more about NYS WBL
Career Discovery
Multiple career discovery and exploration events throughout the school year for all students
Workplace Challenge
Variety of hand-on intensive programs such as Character Design, Entrepreneurship, Digital Marketing, Computer Science, and more
Paid Internships
Summer Youth Employment (SYEP), Work Learn Grow, Industry Scholars Program, and more
Industry Competitions
Annual advertising competition call ReACT for all students in 9 and 10 grades
Skill Certifications
Adobe Photoshop Associate Certification, Digital Marketing Certification,  Google Skill Budges
Reasons to Join
MECA Work-Base Learning provides students with valuable skills and experiences and positions them advantageously for future educational and career opportunities.
Skill Development
Students gain practical skills that are directly applicable to the workforce, making them more competitive in job markets
Industry Exposure
WBL programs include partnerships with local businesses and organizations, providing students with real-world experience through internships and collaborative projects.
Certification Opportunities
Students can earn certifications that validate their skills and knowledge, which can be beneficial for college applications and job searches.
Career Readiness
The focus on career-oriented education helps students transition smoothly from high school to either higher education or the workforce.
Earn Money:
Students can earn $16.50/Hour working part-time without jeopardizing academic achievements
Types of Internships
WLG APPLY NOW
SYEP APPLY NOW
NYCCP PORTAL
Summer Youth Employment Program
The Summer Youth Employment Program provides young people with paid summer jobs and career exploration opportunities. By connecting them with local businesses, nonprofits, and government organizations.
Work, Learn, & Grow
WLG, or Work, Learn & Grow, is a program for NYC youth between the ages of 16 and 20. It is a paid 22-week-long opportunity to strengthen their work-readiness skills, explore careers and college, and potentially earn college credit. You must be an NYC resident, legally allowed to work, and enrolled in high school or a similar program.
Industry Scholars Program
The Industry Scholars Program (ISP) offers paid six-week internships for NYC high school students aged 16-18 in various industries, providing real-world work experience in Career and Technical Education (CTE) fields. CTE-ISP supports students in CTE programs with sector-specific work-based learning, training, and internships.
Workplace Challenge
A Workplace Challenge is a Career Preparation activity where small groups of 4-6 students work together to solve a real-world problem or challenge presented by an employer. This project-based learning approach focuses on authentic issues within a specific career pathway, allowing students to develop practical skills and connect their academic knowledge to workplace applications.
Showcasing Our Success
Paid Internships
Adverting Competition
Certifications + Skills
Career Discovery
BrandMECAnics
Internships
High-school students can participate in paid internships, earning professional experience worth over $8,000 and 600+ hours.
Launch Your Creative Career with Paid Internships!
Get hands-on experience creating characters for cartoons, games, or movies through a paid Character Design internship.
Gain valuable experience in the tech industry with a paid WorkED or Cyber Tech internship.
Discover your passions through a paid SYEP (Summer Youth Employment Program) internship in a variety of fields.
ReACT
Advertising Competition
The ReACT competition is a program designed for high school students to develop their advertising skills. Students compete by creating a comprehensive 360° marketing /advertising campaign, which they then present to industry professionals from the 4A's Foundation.
This advertising competition was created when the school first opened to add real life workplace challenges into the curriculum. This program provides a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience and receive feedback from leading advertising experts.
As part of the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) for
older youth
(ages 16 and up),
students have the option to participate in MECA's BrandMECAnics agency as a paid summer job. Through this agency, older youth participants help create and maintain the project "Rebranding MECA" at Havas Media.
BrandMECAnics
The Brandmecanics program for
younger youth (13-15 )
is held at BMCC and coordinated by a designated facilitator. Students are divided into groups and tasked with creating campaigns on various topics. These campaigns are then evaluated by professionals at the end of six weeks, with prizes awarded for first, second, and third place.
MECA Rebranding Casestudy
Professional Skills
(Top 10 Employability skills)
Technical Skills & Certification
At MECA, students learn to effectively use essential applications like Adobe, Google Workspace, Wix, LinkedIn, and Canva, ect, to enhance their work, designs, and facilitate your career growth.
1.  Needs minimal supervision to complete tasks.
2.  Maintains focus on tasks despite internal (e.g.,                    emotional) and / or external distractions.
3.  Adapts approach in response to new                                      conditions or others’ actions.
4.  Manages time to complete tasks on schedule.
5.  Recognizes the consequences of one’s actions.
6.  Balances own needs with the needs of others.
7.  Helps team members complete tasks, as                              needed.
8.  Brings energy and enthusiasm to the work.
9.  Takes responsibility for his or her actions and                      does not blame others.
10.  Identifies alternative ideas/processes that are                  more effective than the ones previously                                used/suggested.
Mentorship
: Students benefit from live 1:1 interactions with industry professional and receiving guidance.
Industry Exposure:
Workplace tours and networking opportunities provide students with a firsthand look at the industry in action.
Skill Development:
Workshops equip students with transferable skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork,
Exploring Diverse Career Options:
Diverse industry exposure helps students explore new interests and careers in advertising and media.
Building Confidence:
Engaging with professionals and learning from their experiences boosts student confidence in career exploration.
MECA's Career Discovery Program connects students with advertising and media professionals, providing valuable industry insights and career exploration opportunities.
Career Discovery
Briana
Class of 2019, Intern at Tribal DDB
MECA internship opportunities helped me to learn core qualities that I'd need in a work place and skills that can be placed on my resume
Jordan
Class of 2020, Intern at Horizon Media
MECA CTE courses made me realize that the advertising industry is the career path I want to go into, and the partnership with 4A's has helped me further advance in advertising field with internship opportunities and competitions.
Ruby Morency
Class of 2025, Intern at Brand MECAnics @ HAVAS
MECA internships and career exploration events enabled me with set of valuable skills I am able to use in my professional journey. I know how to create Resume, I have a LinkedIn account, I've practiced personal pitch and job interviews. I feel confident and ready for college, career search, and the life after!
10 students from MECA participated in a BrandMECAnics Rebranding project, that
Meet The WBL Team
Carol Sun
csun@meca-nyc.org
Work Based Learning Coordinator
Julissa Figueroa
jfigueroa@caswkids.org
Youth Workforce Program Director
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