During the summer, City in the Community (CITC), the charitable program of New York City FC, teamed up with New York University (NYU) to host a free, three-week course in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for youth aged 16–23. Taking place at NYU and taught by NYU School of Professional Studies and Tisch Institute for Global Sport faculty, this initiative represents the fourth consecutive year of CITC and NYU working together to build college and professional pathways for high schoolers.
Young people from CITC’s ongoing programs—including the citywide Saturday Night Lights initiative—examined how AI can support sports, neighborhood improvement, and entrepreneurship. Teams collaborated to create AI-based solutions that fostered access, inclusive practices, and new ideas within their communities.
Active Learning and Guidance
The program offered students experiential learning in areas like sports technology, applied AI, and machine learning. Under the guidance of NYU’s Adjunct Professor Herbert Hill and CITC staffers Jack Jacobs and Joe Sullivan, participants developed their creative problem-solving abilities. The course combined academic growth with CITC’s aim to inspire young people using sports, academics, and technological skills.
“In many big organizations, efforts like these can remain superficial, but NYCFC was genuinely involved and supported our work at all stages,” expressed Herbert Hill. “Their involvement assured the students that their ideas mattered, raising their confidence and motivation. The workshop also demonstrated the practical uses of AI both in sports and in daily life for school improvement and stronger communities.”
Creating STEM Pathways
This effort highlights CITC’s ongoing work to offer fair opportunities in STEM fields for diverse youth in New York and to unite sports, technology, and innovation to boost health and leadership futures.
“We are very appreciative of NYU and the Department of Youth & Community Development for their lasting partnership in supporting these opportunities,” noted Bailee Eaglin, Director of Community Development, City in the Community and New York City FC. “Programs like this show just how valuable it is for young people to explore new technologies and envision their potential futures. We can’t wait to see what comes next as we deepen our involvement across our club and our city.”
In their final presentations, participants shared their team projects with NYU educators, CITC mentors, and community collaborators—offering fresh perspectives to inform upcoming sport and technology programming.
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