The City Tutors and Vaughn College: Demystifying Aviation and Creating Pathways for NYC Learners
Aviation is all around us. In New York City, with two major airports—LaGuardia and JFK—planes crisscross the skies, following flight paths that millions of New Yorkers stare at every day. Yet for most, those planes represent something distant: a ticket to somewhere else. Rarely do they imagine being the person who helps make aviation happen—whether as an engineer, mechanic, pilot, or part of the intricate network of operations and logistics that keeps the industry running.
The City Tutors and Vaughn College are partnering to change that. Vaughn, located right next to LaGuardia Airport, has built a legacy of launching BIPOC learners into aviation and STEM careers, with alumni working at organizations like NASA, Lockheed Martin, and Delta Air Lines. Through this partnership, we’re creating new pathways to help New Yorkers see themselves not just as passengers but as part of this incredible field—whether designing, maintaining, or managing the engineering marvels that take flight every day.
A Partnership to Break Down Barriers
For most New Yorkers, aviation is a mystery. It’s a field that feels inaccessible—reserved for people who grew up with resources, technical training, and connections. This partnership is about breaking down those barriers. Vaughn students and alumni are stepping up as tutors and mentors to show NYC learners what’s possible, demystify the aviation industry, and provide the encouragement and guidance needed to take the first step.
“Vaughn College has always served as a direct pipeline for New York City residents, especially those from underserved and underrepresented communities, to become part of the incredible opportunities available in aviation and aerospace,” said Dr. Sharon DeVivo, President of Vaughn College. “Our vision is to change the world one student at a time with a transformational education that provides a lifetime of opportunity—with that comes an understanding of the type of educational experience that we need to create for students to be successful. The partnership with The City Tutors program is a wonderful extension of that experience as it provides a platform for students to be role models and mentors to young people. Vaughn students can demonstrate how they have pursued their dream and inspire the next generation that they can achieve theirs too.”
From Tutoring to Mentorship: Vaughn’s Role
Vaughn students and alumni are at the center of this effort. As part of The City Tutors Program, Vaughn students will serve as STEM tutors, helping learners across NYC—from K-12 students to GED candidates—build the skills they need to consider technical careers. Meanwhile, Vaughn alumni, many of whom have built successful careers in aviation, will join The City Mentors Program, providing career guidance and sharing their journeys to help learners understand what it takes to succeed in this field.
Vaughn’s proximity to LaGuardia Airport is symbolic of its purpose: connecting learners to a field that is often right in front of them but feels just out of reach.
Why Aviation Matters
Aviation is one of the most complex, interconnected industries in the world. It requires engineers to design planes, technicians to maintain them, operators to coordinate logistics, and managers to ensure everything runs smoothly. And while NYC is home to two major airports, few New Yorkers think about the career opportunities that exist just minutes away.
This partnership aims to change that by:
Providing Real Conversations: Vaughn mentors will connect with learners to share their personal journeys and demystify the steps needed to break into aviation and STEM.
Supporting Academic Foundations: Vaughn students will tutor learners in STEM subjects, helping them build the technical skills needed to explore aviation careers.
Highlighting Pathways in Aviation: By sharing insights into the many roles that make aviation possible, Vaughn students and alumni will help learners understand how they can find their place in this field.
A Call to Action for Aviation and STEM Industries
While Vaughn students and alumni are taking the lead, this partnership is also a call to the aviation and STEM industries to step up. The City Tutors has worked with over 1,000 mentors from companies like Goldman Sachs, Bloomberg, and Paramount, providing career readiness and job search support across NYC. Now, we’re inviting aviation and STEM professionals to join us.
“This is about more than just Vaughn or The City Tutors,” Rivkin added. “It’s about making aviation accessible to people who’ve been told they don’t belong or wouldn’t succeed. We’re building a pipeline of knowledge, support, and encouragement—one that shows learners what’s possible and gives them the tools to get there. We need industry leaders to help us make this vision a reality.”
Join the Movement
Aviation isn’t just about flying planes—it’s about solving problems, building systems, and bringing people together. Vaughn College and The City Tutors are working to ensure that more New Yorkers see themselves in this incredible industry and understand how to access it.
If you’re a Vaughn student, alum, or industry professional, visit The City Tutors to join us. Together, we’re turning wonder into action and helping learners take their first steps into a field that’s been in their sights all along.
Photo provided by Airport Voice: https://qns.com/airport-voice/