City Positive Youth Summer Program

Based in Elmhurst, Queens—one of the most diverse and immigrant-dense neighborhoods in the world—City Positive Youth was launched to provide local youth with opportunities for growth, empowerment, and community engagement. In the summer of 2022, we started the City Positive Youth Summer Program, led by Lester Lin (business owner & church elder) and Julian Jhocson (school teacher & worship leader), focusing on mental health training, community projects, and relationship-building.

The program’s success inspired us to expand into local high schools, leading to the establishment of our first City Positive Youth Club at Maspeth High School. Recognizing the need for sustainable growth, we became a worksite partner with SYEP and transitioned under City Mission’s youth department. Since then, we’ve partnered with organizations like NYC Parks, NYC DEP, and local food pantries, engaging students in volunteer projects such as street cleanings, mural painting, and community care initiatives.

Today, City Positive Youth has clubs in three high schools (Maspeth, Newtown, and Francis Lewis) and has impacted nearly 200 students through its summer program and school clubs. Rooted in Elmhurst, we remain committed to serving and uplifting our community, making it our mission to contribute to its thriving future.