Internal News Update Page
exalt receives $5M Gift from Mackenzie Scott
EXALT RECEIVES $5 MILLION DONATION FROM MACKENZIE SCOTT TO SUPPORT COURT-INVOLVED YOUTH AND ADVANCE JUVENILE JUSTICE EFFORTS IN NYC
“We are honored to receive this transformational gift. It will allow exalt to significantly expand our work with court-involved young people in all five boroughs on their journeys away from the criminal justice system and towards academic progression, and employability.”
NEW YORK – Today, exalt announced a donation of $5 million by Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The funding will expand the organization’s work with court-involved teenagers.
The following is a statement from exalt Executive Director Gisele Castro.
“We are honored to receive this transformational gift. It will allow exalt to significantly expand our work with court-involved young people in all five boroughs on their journeys away from the criminal justice system and towards academic progression, and employability.
It is no secret that there is an over-representation of young people of color in the criminal justice system and now we have an incredible opportunity to keep more of them free of incarceration. This gift will allow exalt to empower at-risk young people not just to escape the cycle of poverty, abuse, and trauma, but to be truly liberated.
I thank Ms. Scott for entrusting me with this investment and acknowledging exalt’s commitment to racial justice, equity and eradicating the school-to-prison pipeline”.
DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE: MARCH 23, 2022
Gagosian Quarterly: A conversation with Gisele Castro and Nathaniel Mary Quinn
As 2020 came to a close, Nathaniel Mary Quinn spoke with Gisele Castro, executive director of exalt, a New York City nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of court-involved youth by providing a path to success through effective educational engagement. Quinn is a former educator at exalt and now serves as a member of the organization’s board.
exalt's Executive Director, Gisele Castro, joins Robin Hood's Power Fund
NEW YORK, January 14, 2021 – Robin Hood, NYC’s largest poverty-fighting organization, today announced two new Latinx leaders who have joined the Power Fund: Gisele Castro of exalt and Jose Ortiz, Jr. of New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC). Robin Hood’s Power Fund addresses a critical funding disparity for nonprofit leaders of color by elevating leaders who are reflective of the communities they serve. Both Castro and Ortiz are tackling inequities and driving solutions across New York City, while bringing perspective, proximity, and expertise to the fight against poverty.
Click here to read the press release at RobinHood.org.
exalt's Executive Director named on City & State's 2020 100 Responsible List
The 2020 Responsible 100: 100 individuals fighting the good fight.
For the past several years, City & State has closed out the year with a list of leaders in the private sector who are actively seeking to help New Yorkers and make our state a better place. It was a nice, uplifting feature that reminded us all that there’s more to life than making money as we brainstorm our own New Year’s resolutions.
But 2020 was different. As we shut ourselves in our homes and lost family, friends and neighbors to a deadly pandemic, and as the federal government abdicated responsibility, it fell on state and local governments and private institutions to do the responsible thing and pick up the slack to help New Yorkers in their time of need.
City & State is pleased to announce the 2020 edition of The Responsible 100, our annual list honoring individuals whose work is making life better in communities in New York City and across the state. The leaders recognized below work in government, business, health care, education and nonprofit organizations, among other fields. We asked each of them to tell us about their work, provide insight on social responsibility and share the best advice they have ever received. Read on to learn more about this year’s Responsible 100.
The 2020 Responsible 100
100 individuals fighting the good fight.
For the past several years, City & State has closed out the year with a list of leaders in the private sector who are actively seeking to help New Yorkers and make our state a better place. It was a nice, uplifting feature that reminded us all that there’s more to life than making money as we brainstorm our own New Year’s resolutions.
But 2020 was different. As we shut ourselves in our homes and lost family, friends and neighbors to a deadly pandemic, and as the federal government abdicated responsibility, it fell on state and local governments and private institutions to do the responsible thing and pick up the slack to help New Yorkers in their time of need.
City & State is pleased to announce the 2020 edition of The Responsible 100, our annual list honoring individuals whose work is making life better in communities in New York City and across the state. The leaders recognized below work in government, business, health care, education and nonprofit organizations, among other fields. We asked each of them to tell us about their work, provide insight on social responsibility and share the best advice they have ever received. Read on to learn more about this year’s Responsible 100.
exalt awarded $200,000 through Inaugural NBA Foundation Funding
NBA Foundation announces $2 million in inaugural grants to support Black communities
Seven organizations have been selected as the recipients of the first grants from the Foundation.
NEW YORK – The NBA Foundation today announced a total of $2 million in inaugural grants that will drive economic empowerment in Black communities through employment and career advancement. Seven organizations – exalt, Management Leadership for Tomorrow, Marcus Graham Project, Operation DREAM, TEAM Inc., The Knowledge House and the Youth Empowerment Project – have been selected as the recipients of the first grants from the Foundation. The organizations align with the NBA Foundation’s mission to provide skills training, mentorship, coaching and pipeline development for high school, college-aged, job-ready and mid-career Black men and women in communities across the United States and Canada. These inaugural grants aim to increase education and employment access in Black communities, as well as enhance and grow the work of these national and local organizations.
City Alternative to Incarceration Program Expands
Partnership with nationally recognized George Mason University research team leads to increased number of providers, diversified programming options to better serve more clients
New investments expected to result in additional 15% recidivism reduction among participants
Visit MOCJ’s ATI program page for more information
NEW YORK—The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) is expanding its successful Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) programming, increasing the number of providers and programs across the City through millions in new investments.
The expansion comes after a multi-year, cooperative effort by the City, policy experts, non-profits and justice-impacted people to revamp its original ATI programming. Partnering closely with Dr. Faye Taxman, a nationally recognized criminologist at George Mason University, the City identified the key support and service opportunities that, if expanded, can lead to improved long-term results for program participants.
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“We are honored to partner with the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice and be part of an extraordinary and disciplined cohort of ATI providers dedicated to racial equity and advancing justice for the young people of our city,” exalt Executive Director Gisele Castro said. “exalt provides court-involved youth a clear path to college and careers with a robust academic and work development program as well as support to help reduce and vacate sentences. We are excited to share our tested and proven model and transform the lives of countless families across New York City.”
Read the full press release from The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice.