The GrowNYC Workforce Development Program offers a transformative 6-week internship tailored to young individuals seeking exposure to environmental fields and green career opportunities within the vibrant backdrop of New York City. Throughout the internship, Youth Workforce Development Interns will rotate through each of GrowNYC’s programs: Education, Greenspace, and Food Access and Agriculture.
Through immersive experiences, interactive workshops, and meaningful interactions with industry experts and community leaders, participants gain invaluable skills and insights crucial for success in the environmental sector. Participants will end the season with a deeper understanding of our complex food system and will receive a certificate of completion.
The program emphasizes the cultivation of essential workplace skills, including:
- Workplace Culture: Interns learn to navigate professional environments and adapt to workplace dynamics across a variety of GrowNYC programs.
- Leadership and Communication: Opportunities for leadership roles and effective communication exercises empower interns to articulate ideas and collaborate effectively.
- Teamwork: Collaborative projects and group activities instill teamwork and cooperation among participants.
- Environmental and Community Stewardship: Through hands-on experiences and mentorship, interns develop a deep sense of responsibility toward environmental and community well-being.
Interns interact with a diverse array of environmental advocates, leaders, organizers, workers, and fellow youth interns, providing unparalleled networking opportunities and exposure to the breadth of the environmental workforce. These connections not only broaden perspectives but also inspire future career paths within the environmental sector.
By participating in the program, interns actively contribute to and support the mission of GrowNYC, a leading organization dedicated to promoting sustainability, food access, and cultivating green space in NYC. Their engagement not only enriches their personal and professional growth but also contributes to the larger environmental workforce, fostering a more resilient and environmentally conscious city. The Workforce Development Program offers a dynamic platform for young individuals to explore their passions, develop crucial skills, and make meaningful contributions towards a greener, more sustainable future for NYC and beyond.
Meet The 2026 GrowNYC Interns
Aadya D.
Bio: Hi! My name is Aadya (she/her), I just finished junior year in Manhattan, NYC. I am ethnically from India, but have lived in New York city all my life. I am really interested in food and nutrition, especially food policy. Some of my hobbies include soccer, debate, Model UN , and cooking.
Most excited about: I am most excited to learn about sustainable agriculture and how we can incorporate it better into urban areas, specifically New York City.
Why the environment is important to me: Growing up in NYC has a connection to nature and real plant growth has always been something unique and interesting for me. I feel like being around a nature filled environment can affect quality of life in so many aspects: health, happiness, etc. Giving everyone the chance to learn more about such a beneficial environment and one that produces real and natural food has always been meaningful to me.
Adiel H.
Hey! My name is Adiel, and I use He/Him pronouns. I’m currently going into my senior year of High School in The Bronx. My family is from the Dominican Republic, but now I live in The Bronx near Yankee stadium. In my free time I like to listen to all genres of music, both English and Spanish alike. I’ve always had a passion for baseball even as a kid. Lastly, something that I’ve gotten into more is going out and exploring new parts of the city. I would say I’m most excited about not only seeing, but also experiencing the process that goes into building a crucial part of our cities diet.
Why the environment is important to me: The environment matters to me because I feel like we as a society fail to realize that it’s not only a major factor right now, but also that it’s the foundation for the future. Growing up in parks always felt like a safe haven, nature in general felt like a comfort space. So for me caring for the environment is not only taking care of it but also taking care of ourselves.
Adrien D.
I am Adrien (he/him) I’m a junior in high school. Most excited about hands on experience and meeting new people.
The importance of the environment to me: I am from a rural area outside of New York and also I just love green spaces in and out of the city. These spaces ought to be protected and a part of that is mitigating the effects of environmental degradation and climate change.
Chayyah L.
My name is Chayyah Lewis, I’m from Brooklyn and I am participating in the youth workforce development program at GrowNYC. I go to a boarding high school and participate in a few environmental action clubs. Before that my middle school was focused on eco activism and sustainability which led me to this program. I have some experience with planting with my schools and with my family. I can play the classical guitar, I know an intermediate level of Spanish and I recently picked up my leisurely reading. I am most excited to learn how urban agriculture can connect with the changing climate crisis.
The environment is important to me because I understand that it reacts to stimuli within it and I want to be someone who positively impacts the space around me. I want for the people in my community to have the same standards for the space around them and reverse and prevent damage created from our existing life systems.
Christel E.
My name is Christel (she/her), I’m 18 and part of the Workforce Development Internship. I grew up and live in Harlem. I attend college in Massachusetts as a hopeful Physics and Environmental Studies double major. I hope to use my degree to make NYC a healthier place to live. I love being in nature and volunteering in my local gardens. My hobbies include playing soccer and football, dancing, listening to music, reading, and expanding my wardrobe. I am excited to learn more about climate and environmental justice and expand my network.
Why Food is Important to me: Food is a human right and should be accessible to everyone.
Katherine E.
Hello! My name is Katherine (she/they) and I’m a rising college sophomore studying Elementary Education. I’m from the Bronx and I’m excited to explore NYC through this program. In my spare time, I enjoy experimenting with different materials in my sketchbooks & getting involved in my community. Over the course of this internship, I hope to sprinkle in tidbits of what I’ve learned across different disciplines that I’m interested in. Most excited about getting hands-on experience at different site locations and meeting new people!
Why food is important to me: I think food is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about someone’s culture. It also shows how a community adapts to their current environment when using ingredients outside of their traditional recipes.
Diego M.
Hi my name is Diego (he/him) and I am from Jackson Heights queens and a graduate from High School and I am currently interning at GrowNYC and I am hoping to learn more about urban agriculture and interacting with the local community of new york city and making new friends and connections with everyone I meet. Some fun facts about me is that i can identify more than 100+ flowers and i remember every location that i’ve been to and go to it with a mental map ,and I am most excited to get more work experience with in the career field I am aiming for.
Why is the environment important to me: For me the environment is very important because it the thing that we live in and if we don’t take care of it and being mindful of our own actions, we are both harming ourselves and the animals and the living things all around us and growing up i always enjoyed seeing all the living things that are with us in this world and we don’t have a long time here on earth, so we have to ensure that the future generation has a better environment and area to survive and to enjoy together.
Ginny Z.
Hello my name’s Ginny (she/her) and I’m an intern with GrowNYC’s workforce youth development! I used to spend every Saturday at the Dyker Heights library while my dad went grocery shopping across the street. My interest in community outreach started there and is part of why I’m very passionate about local politics. Some of my favorite things to do or learn about include talking to people, urban planning, cooking and the window seat of a subway train. I spend most of my free-time trying to hit my step-count goal and seeing friends. Most excited about learning more about how our city’s food system works and how to make it more accessible for everybody!
Why food is important to me: I grew up cooking dinner for my family a lot. So I understood from a young age how important nutrition and affordability was when it came to food. I put a lot of effort and time into making healthy meals that wouldn’t break the bank. It led to a fascination with food and how it impacts other people’s lives.
Hedy D.
Hello! My name is Hedy (she/her), I’m sixteen years old and I’m an incoming senior. I was born and raised in New York. I have a strong passion for anything regarding science—specifically biology—I hope to study biology in the future and acquire meaningful resources that I can utilize to pursue a career in the field of science. Whenever I have free time, I like to dedicate it to all sorts of arts: reading literature, playing the piano, and drawing are some of my hobbies. Most excited about having the opportunity to meet so many new people.
Why the environment is important to me: The environment is an ecosystem that every living being heavily depends on, it serves as the foundation to grow the produce and crops that contributes to the food cycle that we as a collective society indulge in daily. The ensurement of a stable environment not only guarantees a healthy ecosystem but the growth of a prosperous community that would flourish and would only continue to be able to give back to everyone within the system.
Justin W.
My name is Justin (he/him), I am participating in the GrowNYC summer workforce. I graduated high school in June and I plan on pursuing Marine biology. My passion is learning about ocean wildlife, communicating with others from different backgrounds and learning about nature. Most excited about learning more about Greenmarkets and communicating with others.
Why is the environment important to me: The environment is important to me because it is not only a home for humans but it is home to many other ecosystems. The survival of our ecosystem and others depends on our knowledge of what we need to survive and food is crucial. So the environment is important to me because it houses the lives of many people and animals.
Luna K.
Hello! My name is Luna King and I am working as an intern this summer at GrowNYC’s Youth Workforce Development Program. I’m an incoming college freshman having recently graduated from High School and will be attending college this fall as an architecture major. Being born and raised in Queens, I’m looking forward to learning how to make a tangible impact for communities and gaining hands-on experience! In my free time I enjoy listening to music, spending time with my friends, and many creative activities such as drawing or painting. I am most excited to learn more about green spaces, especially in New York’s urban landscape.
Why the environment is important to me: As the world becomes more and more industrialized, it’s very easy for environmental consciousness to be left behind. While being around nature provides so many positive benefits, society frequently prioritizes technology. Now more than ever it feels important to preserve the environment as well as everything it stands for.
Miles H.
Hey, my name is Miles (He/Him/His). I’m from the Bronx, I’m also 17. I’m a graduate from high school, now preparing to go into my first year of college and I’m quite passionate about basically doing anything I can to help people. I love plants very much, so I made a garden in my backyard; It’s a work in progress, my potatoes are growing, the 7 tomato plants are growing and even a new addition, my radishes. Sometimes, I can cook or bake foodstuffs when my plants are fully grown and I use those instead of the ingredients in the fridge. I want to pursue psychology in college because I believe it will give me even more insight about the human body so I can connect what I can and can’t eat. Most excited about seeing all of the connections I can make with everyone in this internship. I can hope to grow close enough to these individuals in order to have a long lasting friendship even outside of this program.
Why the environment is important to me: Food production as well as food quality is a big part of our lives. It’s well intertwined in our day to day lives, and we need it to survive. By the way, there was a 103 degree heat wave for 4 days straight, and fresh food spoiled over fast. This is very concerning and I want to spread awareness to not just people locally, but globally. We all need to come together and attempt to eliminate the very thing that threatens us all, which is pollution/climate change. Food is best enjoyed by the communities it is given to, because food makes us happy, it feeds us, and lastly, it brings us all together.
Ngozi K.
Hi! My name is Ngozi (she/her). I’m 16 years old and I’m in the GrowNYC program. I’m originally from Nigeria. I live in Queens. I like to play the guitar and hang out with my friends. I hope during this program I can broaden my horizons and grow alongside my passion for the world around me. I’m most excited about the hands-on work because it feels so impactful. While learning about the environment is great, being able to actively work on it is something else entirely.
Why the environment is important to me: The environment is important to me because at the end of the day, only we can take care of it. It’s our job to preserve it for the generations that come after us, and in doing so we also benefit ourselves. I also believe that the environment around us is significantly tied to our life as a whole, and so taking care of that said environment, especially in areas where it is most needed can help so many people around us.
Vivian V.
Hi, I’m Vivian (She/her), and I’m in the GrowNYC program. I am a student studying biology and live in Manhattan. In my free time, I like to play the violin, go to the beach, roller skate, spend time in nature, and go on hikes with my friends. Most excited about experiencing hands-on work in urban gardens and farms. I enjoy learning new things about gardening and plants by learning from others and from experience.
Why the environment is important to me: I grew up spending time in community gardens and outdoors, which makes the environment a foundational part of my life. Although it supports societies as a whole and our food systems, it continues to be exploited and damaged due to our own actions, which gives us the responsibility to protect it.
