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91 East 116th St, New York, NY 10029 Tel: 212-831-5020 Fax: 212-996-0436
  • GOSO GPS to Success
    Orientation: After completing the intake process all participants must attend the GOSO Orientation Workshop before proceeding on to GOSO GPS seminars. The workshop introduces participants to the rules, policies, and expectations of the program and is held every Monday from 9:30 -10:30 am. Staff describe the GOSO GPS to Success curriculum and give each participant a GPS Roadmap form that will enable him to track his own progress through the program. The Orientation Workshop concludes with a question and answer session.

  • Career Exploration Part I: In this seminar participants spend some time thinking freely and creatively about their futures.  As a group, participants work to identify their passions in life as well as their talents.  With the help of the facilitator the group then brainstorms to create a list of careers that include some of the participants’ passions and talents so they can identify fulfilling and realistic career goals.  By the end of this seminar each participant has a list of three career options that sound exciting and fulfilling to him, and that he will research further before attending Career Exploration Part 2.

  • Resume Writing: In this seminar, we discuss the design, structure and content of an effective resume. In addition, we practice using our resumes in an interview setting. All workshop participants are asked to take a few moments to review their resume and then practice speaking about a job experience to the group. Everyone is offered constructive criticism in order to continue improving on this skill. Resume writing meets every Wednesday from 9:30 – 11:00 am.

  • Interview Skills I: We consider this to be the most essential workshop for every GOSO participant. In it he develops the key skills needed to take full advantage of interview opportunities by learning to dress appropriately for his interview, market his personal skills and experience with confidence, and discuss his background with potential employers. GOSO President and CEO, Mark Goldsmith, facilitates this seminar. Interview Skills I meets every Monday morning from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm.

  • Job Search Techniques: This workshop covers all the basic skills necessary to conduct a successful job search. Participants learn to use the internet to efficiently search for job prospects and fill out online applications, as well as procedures for both faxing and emailing a resume to a potential employer. Finally they learn basic phone skills and etiquette associated with the job search process. Job Search Techniques meets every Thursday morning from 9:30 – 11:00 am.

  • Career Exploration Part II: Having identified a number of possible career options in Career Exploration Part 1, each participant is asked to research what skills his career goals will require, and what potential benefits, economic and personal, could result from his choices.  He then develops a five year plan, with help from the group, and identifies the intermediate steps necessary for realizing his career plan. By the end of this seminar, each participant has a clear idea of what he needs to accomplish each year for the next five years to realize his long term goals.

  • Interview Skills II:This workshop provides an opportunity for additional role playing and interview rehearsal. Each participant engages in a mock interview to practice the skills he has learned in Interview Skills I. He also learns to research his prospective employer prior to his interview, formulate questions for his interviewer, and follow up his interview with phone calls and emails. Interview Skills II meets every Wednesday from 1:00 -2:30 pm.

  • Know Your Rights - Youth Represent Workshop: This seminar was developed and is facilitated by Youth Represent, a community based non-profit legal advocacy agency. The seminar is designed to inform GOSO participants of their legal rights in the community, including what to do if stopped by police and how to discuss their arrest record with potential employers. Participants can request to have their criminal records procured and reviewed for accuracy by Youth Represent lawyers.


  • GOSO GRADUATE CURRICULUM
  • GOSO Grad Group:The Grad group is an opportunity for participants to continue developing skills for school and the workplace. Participants choose the topics of discussion from week to week. Some topics include World of Work, Marketing Yourself, Conflict Resolution, Healthy Relationships, Back to School, and so much more. Two staff members facilitate each group and the facilitators change weekly.

  • Futures in Focus - GOSO Men’s Group: The GOSO Men’s Group is an opportunity for participants to share experiences with one another and cultivate community. This is a supportive environment where participants can both share and learn from one another. Each group will have up to 10 participants and meet for a twelve-week cycle. Groups will be closed to new members once the cycle begins, and will be co-facilitated by one male and one female staff member. Two groups run simultaneously, one on Monday night and one on Tuesday night.

  • Financial Planning I & II:This series of two workshops is facilitated by Martin Harris, a committed GOSO volunteer with many years of experience in financial planning and tax preparation. The workshops cover the general principles of financial planning, asset and debt management, the budgeting process, credit cards and credit scores, bank accounts, and taxes. By the end of the series every participant has opened a bank account, completed a budget analysis form and developed a personal budget.

  • Intro to Acting and Improv: Intro to Acting and Improv introduces GOSO participants to the world of improvisational acting. The classes incorporate movement-based exercises, scene work and group exercises to explore the primary fundamentals of improvisation, allowing participants to develop listening and communication skills and increase confidence. The class is taught by Micah Sherman, an professional actor and improve coach.

  • Fatherhood Initiative:This seminar was developed by the GOSO Associate Executive Director, Paul Gutkowski, LCSW, to help GOSO participants develop healthy and effective parenting skills.  The seminar uses many of the principles for effective parenting developed by the Love and Logic Institute. Participants explore their definitions of fatherhood and masculinity, and discuss how these definitions influence parenting techniques.  Participants are encouraged to adopt new and effective parenting skills rooted in compassion, empathy and rational decision making.


  • HEALTH AND WELLNESS
  • HIV and STD Awareness: Project STAY, a community based non-profit health agency specializing in promoting positive sexual health for young people in NYC, engages seminar participants in an informative discussion about sexual health.  They also offer onsite HIV and STD testing and counseling, as well as referrals to their community clinic for follow up care. 

  • Nutrition, Health and Performance: Our most recent addition to the curriculum is a Nutrition, Health and Performance workshop. The class is taught by Miles Harter, a certified personal trainer and graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. The seminar emphasizes the importance of healthy eating habits and exercise, and provides basic information about good nutrition.