New York Edge education professionals were honored to present to The Association of New York State Youth Bureaus (ANYSYB) and the Coalition for Homeless Youth at their 49th Annual Youth Development Training in Albany, NY. Youth development experts from across the state and country convened to share ideas, learn best practices, and exchange knowledge on issues pertaining to positive youth development, prevention services, healthy living, and high-risk youth. 

Margie Baker, Director of Education and Carla Rosado, Program Manager presented a session called TOP QUALITY Targeting Optimal Program Quality Using Assessment Leadership Infusion, Teams, and Youth. The presentation highlighted the four-pronged approach used in the New York Edge Y-LEAD (youth leadership infusion) program that incorporates youth and staff development; tiered coaching; program assessment and evaluation; and data-driven program adjustment.

Rigaud Noel, Chief Partnership Officer New York Edge ran a very popular workshop Sustaining and Growing Your Agency through Grants Writing and Management. Participants learned the basics of grants writing as well as engaged in team activities that simulate an internal grants review process. They learned best practices in managing grant deadlines; quality control checks; identifying private funding, and developing sustainability plans.

Michelle Durante, Director of Arts and Ralph Labianca, Director of Sports & Wellness led a group to explore MINDfulness & Self-Care: Fostering Resilience with Your Youth. Teaching & learning = HARD WORK! Self-care is a simple (or not so simple) task of taking time and space to attend to your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The participates explored how sports and arts activity can aid in Physical and Emotional Health: Stress Management for Youth. 

All these sessions were approved as SACC Training Credit an essential professional development tool. 

New York Edge and the New York Mets Join Forces to Inspire Kids to Stay Active and Healthy

“Mets on the Move” will Give New York Edge Students a Fun Way to Learn About Fitness Through a Mets-Inspired Curriculum Provided by Mets Staff

New York, NY – October 21, 2019 –  New York Edge — the metropolitan region’s largest provider of afterschool programs — is joining forces with the New York Mets to inspire kids to lead active and healthy lives through the Mets on the Move program presented by Subway.

Through the “Mets on the Move” program—a larger effort by the Mets to foster exercise and wellness among youth—New York Edge students will participate in a series of afterschool fitness classes led by Mets staff. The curriculum includes a series of exercises and fun interactive workouts designed by Mets staff and trainers and visits from Mr. Met. Each child that completes the workout of the day will receive a fun Mets-themed prize!

In total, more than 900 New York Edge students from 18 middle schools across the five boroughs are participating in the program, which launched earlier this month. 

“There’s a certain excitement that comes with working with the New York Mets,” said Rachael Gazdick, CEO of New York Edge. “For our students, that excitement translates into a greater interest in fitness and motivation to lead healthier lives.”

For more than 25 years, New York Edge has addressed the needs and goals of under-resourced schools through customized, curriculum-based afterschool programming. Today, the Queens-based nonprofit provides more than 40,000 students in grades K-12 with rigorous, innovative programs designed to give them the edge needed to succeed.

Partner Spotlight

Jon Hyman, knows that success doesn’t come easily. As a kid, he suffered from debilitating migraines, while at the same time worrying about whether his family could pay the bills each month.

But he also had a passion for coding, which helped him earn a full scholarship to Harvard University and led to the co-founding of Braze, where he currently serves as Chief Technology Officer.

Braze is a customer engagement platform that facilitates real-time experiences between brands and customers in a more authentic and human way.

Nowhere is that humanity clearer than in the efforts Braze has made on behalf of New York Edge. Since 2016, they’ve been active partners first with SASF and now helping New York Edge students gain access to technology education and mentors who look like and come from the same communities as our students. Braze has exposed students to careers in tech they never knew existed and empowered them to aspire to a workplace where all are respected, treated fairly, and heard.