Internal News Update Page
exalt's 2023 Gala:"Framing the Future of Freedom"
On June 14th, 2023 at exalt's annual spring gala "Framing the Future of Freedom," we honored the men once known as the Central Park 5. The Exonerated 5 - Korey Wise, Antron McCray, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson and Yusef Salaam - all Black and Latino men - were wrongly accused of the rape of a white jogger in 1989. The award was accepted by Dr. Yusef Salaam.
"We chose to honor these individuals because of their perseverance in the face of staggering odds which serves as a model of strength and grace for the young people exalt serves. Hearing Yusef's story tonight reminds us, too, that this tale is not an anomaly or a relic of the past. We have so much to do to truly free our young people," said CEO Gisele Castro.
"I'm honored to accept this award on behalf of the work," said Yusef Salaam. "Because it is the work that deserves the honor and attention. It is the work of building a community around our youth. exalt is doing that work."
The event was held in New York City at Trinity Church Wall Street and welcomed a dynamic group of attendees including current exalt students and graduates, educators, government officials and leaders in the financial, real estate, technology and philanthropic sectors. View photos.
exalt Announces the Appointment of Five New Board Members
New Members Bring Decades of Experience in the Education, Criminal Justice and Social Impact Spaces to Elevate the Organization's Mission to Provide Academic and Job Training to Court-Involved Youth
NEW YORK, NY – exalt, a New York nonprofit elevating the expectations of personal success for young people who have been involved in the criminal justice system, announced today the appointment of five new members to the board of directors effective April 26, 2023. The new members are former Commissioner for the NYC Department of Probation Ana Bermúdez, former Chief of Global Business Development for Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP Danzey Burnham, Managing Partner at Hamilton Clarke Lance Clarke, President of the Fund for New York City Dr. Lisette Nieves, and Deloitte Global Purpose and Social Impact Leader Stasha Santifort.
El Diario NY Interviews exalt's Executive Director, Gisele Castro
El Diario NY recently interviewed our visionary executive director, Gisele Castro, along with other impactful exalt staff and alumni, on how the program is creating change for court-involved youth and within the New York City criminal justice system. To Read the full article click here.
exalt Unveiled the Expansion of Their Headquarters
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Ribbon Cutting ceremony celebrating the expansion of our space at 17 Battery Place on December 1st. We want to extend a special thank you to Manhattan Borough President Mark D. Levine, Council Member Christopher Marte, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Assemblyman David Weprin, Councilwoman Amanda Farías, Trinity Wall Street Chief Community Impact Officer Lorelei Atalie Vargas, and Hamilton Clark LLP Managing Partners Lance A. Clarke, Esq., and Phillip C. Hamilton, Esq. Our fearless leader and Executive Director, Gisele Castro, envisioned this expansion in 2017 when we prepared exalt’s five-year strategic plan, and it's exciting to see our vision come to life knowing that it positions us to reach even more youth through our program. #pathwaystofreedom #support #seasonofgiving
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”.