NYC high school students explore career opportunities in commercial real estate through Jamestown and University Settlement’s inaugural summer internship program
This summer, 11 New York City-area high school juniors and seniors interested in learning about future career paths in commercial real estate participated in a unique internship convened by real estate investment and management firm, Jamestown, in partnership with University Settlement’s College Passport program.
Over the course of the six-week program, which centered on Jamestown’s evolution of the international landmark property One Times Square, a class of 11 interns learned about the types of work, capabilities, and skill-sets jobseekers encounter in the real estate industry, while also receiving advice about how to prepare to apply for college and for financial aid. Students gained insight into roles and responsibilities across job functions including redevelopment, construction, asset management, and marketing.
150 students applied for nine positions, and ultimately 11 were selected to participate in the internship; participants reported that they were inspired to consider pathways to a commercial real estate career in the future.
“I’ve learned about the nitty-gritty of the real estate development process, the minute details that go into completed real estate projects and saw the extent to which real estate holds prevalence in New York City,” said Alexander Calafiura, East Side Community High School Class of 2024. “I have been strongly inspired to pursue two real estate paths – fund management and office leasing.”
“We’re always excited to partner with organizations who can help us create immersive educational experiences for students in our communities,” said Melissa Aase, CEO, University Settlement. “When young people from diverse backgrounds, young people who are on the path toward becoming the first people in their families to go to college, are able to see people with similar backgrounds succeeding in industries that feel far from their own experiences, it can help spark untold creative ambition and build a brighter future. Creating this internship with Jamestown helped us make those kinds of connections this summer.”
“It matters… It matters that we take the time to educate and train future generations,” said Sherri White, Executive at One Times Square, who coordinated the internship program. “It matters that we take the time to make sure those that we train are outside our usual small circles formed from 6 degrees of separation … It matters that when we have the opportunity to make a difference in the course of someone’s life we take the time to do it.”