About the non-profit

PRYD is a neighborhood-based agency. It has been around for 35 years and was started for youth by youth. Its neighborhood is poor, primarily Puerto Rican. The youth living within it witness gang violence on a daily basis. We work with our youth and their families to provide positive experiences such as team building rope course participation away from the city, visit to a world-renowned culinary school near New York city, recreational events, 1:1 mentoring and tutoring services, a drop in center, asset development, exposure to a variety of outside events and opportunities.

Why was PRYD founded?

This agency was started by Latino youth in this area to meet the needs of Latino youth. That work still continues. In a nutshell, our mission is to work with youth in a variety of ways to ensure success, to assist our youth reach their potential. We provide academic and health support services. These services include but are not limited to: tutoring, mentoring, peer groups, summer employment programs, HIV/AIDS and STD prevention programs, substance abuse and teen pregnancy prevention programs. Our challenge now is to impact on the number of Latino students graduating from high school. If this number can be increased the number going to college will increase also. Too many of our youth are dropping out of school at a younger age.

What are your day-to-day responsibilities?

These are numerous, from developing and managing the agency budget to developing and managing the people resources; identifying funding opportunities, developing community partnerships, answering lots of emails, trying to stay on top of the issues that impact our youth, most importantly be available for our youth.

Most notable milestones

The agency was in a terrible financial position a year ago, when I first walked into the agency as its new Executive Director. It also was operating in a somewhat unconnected fashion. We are now doing better financially, but we still have a very long way to go before we can say we are out of the woods and can use all the support. However, we can make payroll, and that is a great feeling. We have made many new friends, established several partnerships, the staff in involved in and working with other agencies that will bring in resources for our youth that we were not tapping into for a while.

What's the niche?

We are unique because we are in the heart of the community where the Latino youth is. We seek to give them a voice. We seek to bring to them a sense of who they are, and what power they have within them. We understand the challenges and obstacels they face not only as Latino youth, but for many poverty, gang violence, a school district that is only graduating at 51%, extremely limited resources, some do not speak English. For many we are the life-support jacket that keeps them afloat long enough to get to the other side alive, with a vision and a purpose to live.

What's the biggest challenge?

Unfortunately, we find that too many of our Latino families have a difficult time engaging; not for lack of desire but either transportation, finances, language. Too many of our Latino families have a difficult time becoming involved in what is going on in the community. We are always seeking ways to facilitate family involvement, so that the voice of not only the Latino youth but the Latino family is heard, that their needs can be addressed. The powers that be do not want to hear from an agency. They want to hear from the community itself, and that is sometimes hard with our community.

What's in store for the future?

I see a vibrant strong loud Latino youth voice. I see a website that is designed and managed by youth. I see youth graduating from college and becoming the leaders of this and other communities. The Latino community is one of the fastest growing groups in this country, let's use that power and create beautiful, positive things for the benefit of the whole.

Best way to keep a competitive edge

Stay connected to the community by attending multiple functions, participating in committees that focus on youth issues, and keeping our youth ever present.

Guiding principle in life

Honesty, accountability, strong faith in God.

Yardstick of success

PRYD is part of the success of the youth it touches, be it moving from one grade to the next, graduating, helping a family stabilize so the child can stay in school with minimal interruptions, our youth seeing a future for themselves, or having a positive self-image. The agency can financially afford to provide its youth opportunities that other they would not have had.

Goals yet to be achieved

Still working on the financial health of the agency. We are certainly in a better place, but have a long way to go.

A website that is dynamic, vital and serves Latino youth and their families.

A building that is inviting for all youth to feel comfortable walking into.

Youth in my office demanding services.

Best practical advice

Stick to it, but keep it all in balance. I could probably work 24/7 and never get ahead. Have faith.

At age 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be in charge. I never wanted to be the secretary, but the boss; not the nurse, but the doctor. I wanted to be a position to impact positive change.

What was your first job?

Helping elderly people when I was 12.

Biggest pastime outside of work

My church, my family, my daughter – all these occupy my time.

Leader in business most interested in meeting

Bill Gates or the owner of Virgin enterprises, because of their ability to see and make things happen.

Three interesting facts about yourself

1. I love my church
2. I love my job
3. I believe in living a healthy life, eat right and exercise are a big part of my life.

Three characteristics that describe you

1. Shy
2. Unafraid
3. Risk-taker

Three greatest passions

1. My faith
2. Seeing youth succeed
3. helping others move beyond their position of fear

Favorite book

"The Celestine Prophecy" by James Redfield

Favorite cause

Latino Youth

Who would you like to be contacted by?

This is an interesting question. I would love to work with a web design firm that would donate their time, work with a committee of youth to design the most dynamic website available. I would love to work with a research firm to help us see what we can and should be doing better. Would love to have a grant writing firm work with us at no cost as we have a very limited budget. Maybe an interior design firm to work with again our youth to design our space that will be youth focused.