Yonkers Partners in Education
The nonprofit Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE) guides students through high school, college, and into the working world, helping them access skills and resources needed at each stage.
“Many of our students are from lower-income families, who at first may not feel they have a place in higher education. We help them see it can be possible and affordable,” said Alexa Dalbis, YPIE’s director of strategic partnerships.
Students enter the YPIE pipeline in their high school freshman or junior years. The Freshman Scholars program provides individual mentorship during the school day, then offers after-school projects where students pick from “majors” including science research, finance, robotics, entrepreneurship, film, the environment, and debate.
As juniors, students can opt into the College Access program. “YPIE advisors assist students in things like building a college list, writing their application essay, and applying for financial aid,” said Dalbis.
YPIE reaches more than 2,000 students annually, supported by professionals, volunteers, and business partners. College affiliations include direct admission and fellowship partnerships with SUNY Purchase, and collaborations with Mercy and St. Peter’s universities.
After high school, students can continue on with the College Persistence program to help navigate their college years. YPIE’s Career Connections was launched in the fall of 2025. “It guides college students into internships and helps prepare them for the transition into grad school or the workforce,” said Susan Schwartz, YPIE’s chief marketing officer. Career Connections has matched students with corporate partners including Con Edison, Webster Bank, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
Latino U College Access
First-generation high school students with college dreams can find practical support from Latino U College Access (LUCA), a White Plains-based nonprofit that focuses on high-achieving, low-income students.
LUCA partners with eight Westchester school districts, helping high school juniors and seniors reach college. “This year alone, we’re assisting 120 students,” said Faith Ann Butcher, the organization’s CEO.
“We look at their academic needs, financial possibilities for their family, and help determine the best overall college fit,” added Grace Battaglia, LUCA’s senior manager of development and communications.
“Some parents don’t speak English as their first language, so we offer outreach to families who might benefit. We try to get the word out through school districts, social services, and libraries,” said Andrea Parada, LUCA’s director of development.
LUCA programs include College Access, offering personal mentorship outside of school hours. Trained volunteers assist students in creating college lists, filling out applications and applying for financial aid and scholarships. “One of our main goals is to help students graduate with little or no student debt,” said Butcher.
Graduating students can continue with LUCA’s two-year College Success program, receiving coaching to help acclimate to college life. “Then, in their junior and senior years, we focus on Career Readiness — resumes, mock job interviews, and exploring potential career fields,” added Butcher.
About one-third of its students eventually attend Mercy University, and in December 2025, LUCA launched a partnership with Mercy to coordinate outreach and student support. LUCA’s high school graduates have also been accepted to schools including SUNY, Cornell, Harvard, Vassar, Boston University, and Brown.
LUCA also partners with Regeneron and other regional companies. Added Butcher: “One of our graduates has been promoted to a vice president position at Morgan Stanley, one is now a data engineer at Pepsi, and one senior has already been offered a job at Microsoft.”
Connect Westchester
Connect Westchester is a Westchester County-funded digital equity initiative, administered by the county’s Office of Economic Development, that supports residents in need by providing essential technology, internet access, and digital skills training.
Led by The STEM Alliance in partnership with the Westchester County Association (WCA), the program has distributed more than 1,300 Chromebooks and delivered foundational tech training to over 1,100 residents to date.
The need is significant: more than 50,000 households in Westchester lack reliable, high-speed internet access, according to the WCA.
“We’re entering our fourth year serving people based on their digital needs,” said STEM Alliance President Margaret Käufer. Connect Westchester begins by assessing each participant’s situation through a consultation with a trained digital navigator. Those who qualify may receive a Chromebook at no cost, hands-on training, and guidance on affordable internet options.
“We focus mostly on high-need, workforce-age people who qualify financially, or those in other situations of distress,” said Käufer. “Some clients are returning from incarceration or unstable housing. We’ve served fire victims who lost all their possessions and need a computer to get back to work. Or someone might be living paycheck to paycheck, or cobbling together several gig jobs, but can’t quite level up because they don’t have digital skills.”
Studies show that 92% of current jobs require basic digital skills, Käufer added. “And people training for trade jobs in fields like HVAC, contracting work, or others still need foundational digital skills. Connect Westchester helps address that.”
SUNY Reconnect
In the fall of 2025, SUNY Westchester Community College launched its SUNY Reconnect program, providing no-cost associate degrees in high-demand fields for residents aged 25 to 55 with no prior college degree.
Through the New York State Opportunity Promise scholarship initiative, the state’s community colleges offer SUNY Reconnect to cover costs of tuition, fees, books, and supplies for eligible residents after other forms of federal and state tuition aid have been applied.
“It’s designed to remove barriers in a student’s way to getting an associate’s degree,” said Nicola Glass, SUNY Reconnect program specialist at SUNY Westchester. “One wonderful thing about the program is its flexibility, and the majority of our students are working or balancing family obligations,” she said. “There’s no GPA requirement, and you can attend full or part-time, with a minimum enrollment requirement of six credits.”
Some classes are in-person; others combine on-campus with online learning. Courses include advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering, green and renewable energy, nursing and health professions, pathways to teaching, and technology.
“Health Studies is by far the largest focus among our Reconnect students,” said Glass. “It’s the prerequisite for our other healthcare programs such as nursing, radiology, and respiratory care.”
Other top student SUNY Reconnect choices include its pathways to teaching as well as tech, especially cybersecurity, noted Glass. “We work with individuals every day on overcoming whatever is preventing them from getting their degree,” she added.
Related: Southern Westchester BOCES Offers Innovative Hospitality Certificate
