York College Hosts NYC Kids RISE to Empower Queens Families

York College proudly welcomed NYC Kids RISE and Executive Director Debra-Ellen Glickstein for an inspiring and impactful workshop with NYCHA Resident Association leaders from Queens South. The event, held on Saturday, May 17, brought together community stakeholders to learn about the NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program and explore how local leaders can support children’s college and career goals through Community Scholarships.

This important gathering was made possible through the leadership of Manny Martinez, Resident Council President for the South Jamaica Houses, who played a critical role in connecting NYC Kids RISE with York College. His commitment to building stronger communities helped make this partnership a reality.

Resident Association leaders—from developments including Carleton Manor, Beach 41st Street, South Jamaica, Oceanside Apartments, Ocean Bay Bayside, and Redfern —attended the workshop to engage in discussions and presentations around growing wealth for local youth. Through the NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program, nearly every kindergarten through third grade public school student in New York City has a free NYC Scholarship Account. More than 280,000 students have accounts with over $44 million collectively saved. Each year, around 65,000 new kindergartners will join the program.

Nicholas Jones, Executive Director of Enrollment Management at York College, joined Ramzees Kennedy in presenting to the group, sharing the college’s mission, resources, and commitment to serving the broader Queens community. Their presentation discussed York’s role as an academic institution and a community partner dedicated to access, equity, and opportunity.

Special thanks go to Debra-Ellen Glickstein, Nicole Perry, Shakila Khan, Reed Jordan, Mari Nakano, Silvia Nava, Natalie Walker, and Nichole Acevedo for their outstanding support with event logistics. The contributions of York College’s Public Safety, IT, Buildings & Grounds, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, and Marketing teams were instrumental in ensuring the event's success.

The workshop was further supported by Dr. Claudia Schrader, President of York College; Dr. Karen Williams, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management; and Dr. James Salnave, Dean of Students, continuing to champion student-centered and community-focused initiatives.