Youth INC

We’re proud to celebrate Drama Club on receiving a NBC Universal Local Impact Grants from NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47 to continue their transformative work with youth across New York City.

Led by Executive Director and Rise Academy alum Ashley Adams, Drama Club uses theater and improv to create spaces where court-involved young people feel seen, heard, and supported. Through their programs, they help youth build confidence, communication skills, emotional resilience, and brighter futures.

Congratulations to our Nonprofit Partner on this well-deserved recognition and investment in their mission.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4frAhOa

Join us in congratulating Taylor Tanner on celebrating three incredible years with Youth INC! 🎊

Throughout her time with the organization, Taylor’s dedication to Youth INC’s Nonprofit Partners has been unwavering. In her role as Partner Network Coordinator, she has consistently gone above and beyond, seeking out innovative technologies that not only strengthened our internal workflows and illuminated the current state of the network, but also enhanced the overall partner journey. Thanks to her thoughtful approach, partners now experience clearer, more seamless support at every stage of their engagement.

We are incredibly proud of all that Taylor has accomplished so far and are so grateful for the care, creativity, and commitment she brings to Youth INC. We can’t wait to see what’s next and are excited to continue this journey with her! 💛

For over 45 years, Avenues for Justice has worked across New York City to divert young people ages 13–24 away from punitive systems and into supportive, community-rooted pathways. Through ongoing court advocacy, Avenues for Justice helps ensure that alternatives to incarceration are the norm for participants, communities, and the broader youth justice field.

Their programs provide prevention-focused workforce training, education, and mentorship for young people. Their approach is grounded in meeting participants where they are using creativity, collective intelligence, and deep care to respond to individual needs while strengthening long-term outcomes.
We are grateful to partner organizations like Avenues for Justice whose expertise, commitment, and leadership continue to shape a more restorative and opportunity-centered future for young people.

Learn more: https://www.avenuesforjustice.org/our-story

Strong fundraising is not built on charisma or a single major gift. It is built on systems, culture, and steady work.

Youth INC’s Chief Development Officer, Maggie Abrego shares that lasting growth for organizations comes from building strong foundations: clear systems, supported teams, meaningful relationships, and a culture where philanthropy is shared across the organization. When the foundation is strong, organizations are better equipped to sustain impact, adapt to change, and expand what’s possible for the communities they serve.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4as8hqu

A new NPR report highlights what leaders across the country are already seeing: rising community needs, shrinking resources, and growing pressure on organizations that millions of people rely on every day.

Across the sector, funding cuts and policy shifts are forcing difficult decisions, including staff reductions, reduced services, and, for some organizations, the possibility of closure.

Nonprofits are often the organizations communities turn to first and rely on most, especially in moments of uncertainty. Yet too often, they are expected to meet growing needs without the flexible capital, leadership support, operational capacity, and long-term investment required to sustain that work.

At Youth INC, we believe strong nonprofits are essential civic infrastructure.

If we want young people and communities to thrive, we have to invest in the organizations behind them. In their leadership, financial health, governance, talent, and adaptability.

As the sector navigates this moment, the question is not only how to protect services today, but also about how we strengthen the organizations our communities will depend on tomorrow.

Learn more: https://n.pr/49d2jcu

Congratulations to the incredible student-athletes who represented Beat the Streets at the Public Schools Athletic League Girls Freestyle City Championships in the Bronx.

The tournament was filled with standout performances, including Carolina Lockard’s historic fourth consecutive city title and PSAL Cheryl Wong Most Outstanding Wrestler Award, along with championship victories from Leona Gao, Ariana Oliveri, Nicole Kremyanskiy, Juliette Villafane, Alexa Nunez, Angelina Ramirez, Gabby Kiria, Kristen Baskin, and Victoria Page.
Beyond the medals and titles, these achievements reflect the discipline, perseverance, and leadership these young athletes continue to build both on and off the mat. With 10 city champions and nine runner-up finishes, the future of girls wrestling in New York City is incredibly bright.

We are proud to celebrate the impact of organizations like Beat the Streets, whose commitment to mentorship, opportunity, and youth development continues to create transformative pathways for young people.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3RopfiX

“Imagine. Believe. Create. Become.”

For more than 30 years, Art Start has supported over 25,000 young people with the help of 12,000 artist educators and volunteers, building a nationally recognized model for transforming lives through the arts. Art Start uses the creative process to nurture the voices, hearts, and minds of youth from communities that have been historically under-resourced.

Through creative workshops, mentorship, and youth-led multimedia projects, Art Start supports young people as they imagine new possibilities for themselves and their communities. Working alongside public schools, youth organizations, alternative sentencing programs, and residences for those experiencing homelessness, they create safe spaces where artistic expression becomes a pathway for personal growth, critical thinking, and healing.

Learn more: https://art-start.org/

Happy Anniversary, Krystalle! 🎉💛

For the past five years, Krystalle has been instrumental in elevating our brand, shaping the way we tell our story, and bringing our mission to life through everything from signature events to impactful communications.

As she looks ahead, Krystalle is leading an exciting strategic initiative focused on amplifying the voices of our Nonprofit Partners and expanding Youth INC’s visibility and thought leadership across the sector.

Her creativity, vision, and dedication continue to move our work forward in meaningful ways, and we are incredibly grateful for all she brings to our team and community. Please join us in celebrating this milestone and all of her incredible contributions!

Congratulations on your promotion to Associate Director of Development, Troy Runge! 🎉

Troy plays a critical role in strengthening our development infrastructure and operational excellence. He oversees our systems, processes, and database management with precision, ensuring the team has accurate, reliable data to inform strategy and decision-making.

From managing invoicing and tax acknowledgments to streamlining workflows, his rigor and attention to detail create the foundation that allows our fundraising efforts to operate efficiently and scale effectively. Thank you, Troy, for your dedicated work and leadership!

We’re proud to celebrate Marc Fernandes for being recognized by the National AfterSchool Association as a top-rated presenter at the NAA26 Convention.

Marc, alongside Kim Flores of Hello Insight, was honored for their session, Building Organizational Culture Through a Positive Youth Development Lens, which explored how youth-centered organizations can cultivate cultures that support holistic growth for both young people and staff.

Selected based on outstanding participant evaluations, the session was recognized for its dynamic facilitation, meaningful relationship-building, and impactful content.

Congratulations to Marc and Kim on this well-deserved recognition and for continuing to advance conversations that strengthen the youth development field.

https://bit.ly/4dgn08N