Way Finding in Long Island City’s New Economy

Long Island City (LIC) and Astoria is experiencing unprecedented commercial real estate development that will produce new jobs beginning in 2018. Additionally, a coalition of public and private sector stakeholders has formed to promote a 21st Century transportation system along its waterfront. As these communities gentrify, low-income residents living in public housing and youth attending neighborhood schools must benefit from these changes and enjoy the workforce opportunities that the growing economy, especially in the tech sector, and transportation system will bring.

Long Island City High School (LICHS) is the neighborhood high school. With two current CTEcertified programs—Culinary Arts and Restaurant/Hotel Management, a third program in Sports Medicine pending State approval and a planned program in Global Informatics, LICHS is rightly positioned to prepare its young people for the new world of work. However, if these skills are only learnt in a classroom with outdated methodologies, the ability of students and graduates to perform in the 21st Century workforce will be hampered. More importantly, to ensure the issue of job placement is of vital importance. Consider the facts:

Zone 126 is taking a lead role in helping schools rethink skill-building that create early opportunities for school to career exploration and prepare youth for the next wave of automation. To get there, we need a complete system for accessing middle class jobs in the new economy and pathway to progress for homegrown talent.

Zone 126 is taking a lead role in helping schools rethink skill-building that create early opportunities for school to career exploration and prepare youth for the next wave of automation. To get there, we need a complete system for accessing middle class jobs in the new economy and pathway to progress for homegrown talent. Let us know what you think and join us to ensure that local schools and youth benefit from opportunities the new economy will bring.