Syracuse is facing challenges that established systems can’t solve alone.
We have the highest child homelessness rate in the nation. Our literacy rates are the lowest in the region. Our communities are under-resourced.
But here's what else is true: Our youth are ready to lead.
Through the Synergy Leadership Internship, 50 high school and college students will spend 10 weeks:
Gaining professional skills through paid placements with leading regional employers
Designing and implementing real solutions to urgent community needs
Forging collaborations between organizations that create lasting change
This isn't a program. It's a pipeline. A pipeline of diverse, locally-rooted leaders who won't just build careers—they'll build a better Syracuse.
Your investment ensures that Syracuse has the diverse, locally rooted talent to tackle these problems.
INVEST IN COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS
What makes Synergy different from traditional internships?
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Students gain hands-on experience with Syracuse's leading employers:
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They build real-world skills: communication, project management, financial literacy, emotional intelligence, professional confidence.
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Students identify urgent community needs and deploy their training to create solutions:
Homelessness interventions designed by youth who've experienced housing instability
Mental health resources created by students who understand peer struggles
Literacy programs led by recent graduates who know what works
Cultural integration initiatives developed by those building bridges daily
THE RESULT: Students don't just learn how to succeed in the workplace—they learn how to transform their communities. And Syracuse gains leaders who understand its challenges from the inside out.
Your gift powers both sides of this model.
Synergy Student Impact Stories
FROM INTERN TO ENGINEER
Meet Bizimana Valesi (Class of 2022 & 2023)
"Thanks in large part to the skills and confidence I gained during my time at Mercy Works, I went on to intern at both Microsoft and Amazon and recently accepted a full-time offer to return to Microsoft as a Software Engineer…Your willingness to take a chance on students like me makes a real difference, and I’ll always be grateful that you gave me that first opportunity. It truly helped shape the direction of my career."
Your donation turns potential into immediate impact.
Why Every Dollar Matters More in Synergy
Traditional workforce programs prepare individuals.
Synergy mobilizes communities.
Your $500 doesn't just help sponsor one internship.
It catalyzes a chain reaction of community transformation.
Corporate Partners:
Interested in a larger investment, named sponsorship, or multi-year commitment? Let's talk about how your organization can become a Founding Partner in Syracuse's youth leadership movement.
Other Ways to Support
Become a Host Site
Offer a 10-week internship placement at your organization and gain access to talented, trained students.
Share Our Mission
Not able to give financially right now? Amplify our work on social media and help us reach new supporters.
2025 End of Year Fundraising Campaign
Connect with us at 315.937-9994 to learn more about donating to Mercy Works through United Way.
Leave a Legacy Gift
You can't choose the legacy you receive. But you can choose the legacy you leave. In addition to asking for monetary donations we also accept legacy gifts including retirement plans, life insurance, real estate, securities or bequests.
For more information concerning making a legacy gift, please contact Natividad Torrence, Director of Mercy Works at 315-937-9994 or ncabrera@mercy-works.org.