NYC, NY, February 28th, 2023
Roads To Success (RTS) has been named an Official Charity Partner for the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon, which takes place on Sunday, November 5. RTS will be among more than 550 official charity partners providing thousands of runners the opportunity to run in the world’s biggest and boldest marathon.
 
The TCS New York City Marathon is one of the city’s most anticipated and iconic annual sporting events, attracting runners and spectators of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities from around the world. More than 50,000 runners are expected this year after the race returned to full capacity last year.

"The TCS New York City Marathon is one of the most exciting days of the year and thanks to our incredible Charity Partners, it is also one of the most impactful and purposeful sporting events in the world'', said Christine Burke, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, NYRR. "New York Road Runners is proud to support the Roads To Success team and the incredible impact they have made to the communities as they raise important funds to benefit their mission of empowering youth and build future leaders."
 
“We are excited and thrilled to be one of the amazing Charity Partners. TCS New York City Marathon allows organizations such as RTS to amplify our mission. We are grateful for the opportunity and excited to cheer for all the runners onboard!” said Sheila Duke, Chief Executive Officer, RTS.
 
The NYRR Official Charity Partner Program offers an opportunity for nonprofit organizations to raise funds to support their missions and services. Participating charities can offer guaranteed entry to runners who fundraise on their behalf.
 
About Roads to Success (RTS)
The mission of Roads to Success is to inspire and empower all young people to take control of their future. We envision a future where youth from all backgrounds are given a fair and equitable chance to be inspired, connected, and to discover their own path to thrive.
To learn more, visit www.roadstosuccess.org
 
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
NYRR’s mission is to help and inspire people through running. Since 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, virtual races, community events, free youth running initiatives and school programs, the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event, and the largest marathon in the world, is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features a wide population of runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.
 
Contact:
Roads To Success
Vidhi Guleria
Marketing & Communications Manager
vidhi@roadstosuccess.org
 
NYRR Media Relations
Stuart Lieberman
(c): 646-770-6987
(e): slieberman@nyrr.org
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​New York City, NY, Feb 2nd, 2023 – Roads To Success (RTS) announces the appointment of Mrs. Sheila Duke (Wilson-Wells) as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mrs. Duke will succeed Ms. Lisa Recio, who has led RTS for the past ten years. 
During the past several months, the Board of Directors of RTS engaged in a comprehensive search for a new Chief Executive Officer to further the mission of creating a world where all young people have equal access to a successful future.   The unanimous decision of the Board was followed by an extensive recruitment process.  
 
Prior to joining RTS, Sheila was the Chief Program Officer at the Fresh Air Fund. She has also held the title of Associate Executive Director of Early Childhood & Youth programs at Union Settlement Association and was responsible for overseeing a portfolio of over $10 million in public and private funding impacting several thousand children and families. She previously managed summer, elementary and college access for all programs at New York Edge.  She is a native New Yorker, and a passionate advocate for equitable and inclusive socially just communities. Sheila is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and serves as the 1st Vice President of her local NAACP branch. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Old Westbury and a Master of Science in Non-Profit Leadership from Fordham University.  
 
“I am thrilled to announce that we have selected Sheila Duke to fill this critical role. Sheila is a seasoned veteran within the youth programs space, with a strong track record of managing teams and programs.” said Mr. Gregorio Concha-Toro, Chair, RTS Board of Directors.  
On behalf of the Board, he further said, “We are honored and privileged to have such a talented and inspiring leader joining our community and look forward to introducing Sheila to all of you in the near future. Throughout her career, Sheila has shaped and advocated on a diverse set of issues, including summer restoration campaigns, early childhood education, ethics, police accountability, and preventative services. We would like to thank everyone who was part of this journey in helping advance our mission, with particular recognition of Lisa Recio and her executive team for the impact they have made on countless youths' lives for many years.” 
 
Mrs. Sheila Duke said, “What an honor to serve as Roads to Success’s incoming CEO, I look forward to working alongside the Board of Directors and entire Team as we continue the mission to inspire and empower all young people to take control of their future. At RTS we believe every young person has a right to access an equitable pathway of success and every day I will strive to make that mission a reality in the lives of the youth, school’s families and communities we serve.” 
 
Mrs. Sheila Duke assumed the role of CEO of RTS in January 2023 and will be based in the organization’s headquarters in New York City. 
 
About Roads to Success – (www.roadstosuccess.org)
The mission of Roads to Success is to inspire and empower all young people to take control of their future. We envision a future where youth from all backgrounds are given a fair and equitable chance to be inspired, connected, and to discover their own path to thrive.
 
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Contact: 
Vidhi Guleria
Marketing & Communications Manager
vidhi@roadstosuccess.org 

Youth in the Mott Haven section in the South Bronx face difficult odds because of extreme poverty, crime, health concerns, and pervasive literacy deficits in their community. When we began our partnership with Young Leaders Elementary School (YLE) P.S. 369 in 2015, our students were no exception.
 
At the beginning of our partnership, only 3% of YLE third graders were proficiently reading at a third grade level. According to the National Assessment of Educational Process, reading proficiently by the end of third grade can be a make-or-break benchmark in a child’s educational development. It is at this point when students begin to apply their reading skills to learn other subjects. A lack of reading proficiency can cause a child to feel frustrated in school which can lead to a downward spiral of learning and behavioral issues. Moreover, almost 1/5 of children who do not read by third grade will not graduate high school. Those incarcerated are about 80% non-graduates. 

In response to this crisis, we made a promise to YLE's new Principal, Jaleelah Cooke, to facilitate high-quality programming designed to extend the school day beyond 3pm, creating a positive learning environment of belonging and perseverance to boost literacy levels in the school.

​Our approach included:
(1) Literacy-infused arts education
(2) Organized phonics and site word recognition activities
(3) English language call-and-response cheers and songs
(4) Facilitation of the iRead software program
(5) Increasing enrollment in Saturday test prep by planning incentives such as field trips and fun events for students and families who attended

By addressing the 3pm-6pm hours, parents were empowered to find or maintain employment by having their childcare needs satisfied.

After 5 years, third graders at YLE exceeded the New York statewide English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency average of 45% with a rate approaching 60%. According to Principal Cooke, our program was "the consistent staple which contributed to the success of rising third graders" at YLE, despite inconsistent funding sources available from the government or other funders. 

What the progress of these resilient, young South Bronx residents  demonstrated to us was that with access to the proper tools, resources and encouragement, our young people can succeed and reach their full potential, even surpassing the accomplishments or wealthier peers throughout the state. 

We do not doubt that our young people can succeed in their endeavors when given the proper access to resources, guidance and support. Unfortunately this is the obstacle that many of our youth face. That is why we have made it our mission to instill inspiration and empowerment in all of our programs - to close this gap and help young people take control of their future. 

Contribute to our year-end campaign and help remove the obstacles our youth are facing by providing them with access to the resources and opportunities that match their current needs. ​

The online virtual event welcomes Griffin Matthews, Writer, Director, Activist and Actor as the Keynote Speaker. Matthews is the founder of UgandaProject, a nonprofit organization that sponsors the education of orphans living in Uganda. Matthews is a television actor appearing in 'Dear White People' and 'The Flight Attendant' on HBO Max. 

The event will feature:

• College panel with students and representatives from both private and public schools
• Four career panels featuring professionals from various industries and companies such as PwC, JP Morgan Chase, and The Wharton School. Youth will be able to connect and network with professional artists, entrepreneurs, engineers, sports agents and more.
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“Our main goal is to instill the idea that ‘yes, you can go to college’ which is not something all youth are exposed to,” says Kachina Respress-Pierce, Director of Education at Roads to Success. “We want to inspire young people to start planning their futures by connecting them with positive role models and having an open and honest dialogue about college, career, and the life lessons learned along the way.”

Build Your Own Road will be held on Thursday, June 3, 2021 from 11a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET via Zoom. The event is free and open to all teens, young adults, parents and educators.

Please visit www.roadstosuccess.org/youth-leadership to register, or contact Kachina Respress-Pierce, Director of Education at kachina@roadstosuccess.org with any questions regarding the event including partnership and volunteer opportunities.

About Roads to Success
The mission of Roads to Success (RTS) is to inspire and empower all young people to take control of their future. RTS aims on improving the financial position of young people who have been most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Program offerings include after-school programs, summer camp, leadership conferences, youth employment opportunities, college access and career development. www.roadstosuccess.org
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Contact:
Davis Connelly
Director of Development
davis@roadstosuccess.org

 ​Keynote speaker Alexis Nieves, US Foreign Service Officer and special guest speaker Latchmi Gopal, City Council candidate for The Bronx (CD 15) will deliver addresses and answer questions from youth. The event will also feature:

• College panel with students from in and out-of-state, public and private colleges
• Career Panel featuring speakers from various industries including Fashion, Health & Wellness, Education, Entertainment, and more.
• A Pathways virtual financial literacy workshop
  
  

Pathways by Roads to Success is a virtual learning solution that can be facilitated remotely and designed to empower educators to help students unlock their potential by guiding them through post-graduate options, financial aid resources, career goal setting, financial literacy, and more.  
Together We Rise will be held on Monday, January 18, 2021 from noon to 3:30 p.m. via Zoom. The event is free and open to all teens, young adults, parents and educators. Sponsorship opportunities available and will support empowerment programming for youth in neighborhoods affected by poverty.

Please visit www.roadstosuccess.org/youth-leadership to register, or contact Kachina Respress-Pierce, Director of Education at kachina@roadstosuccess.org with any questions regarding the event including partnership and volunteer opportunities.

About Roads to Success
The mission of Roads to Success (RTS) is to inspire and empower all young people to take control of their future. Due to current events, RTS aims on improving the financial position of young people who have been most affected this year. Program offerings include after-school programs, summer camp, leadership conferences, youth employment opportunities, college access and career development. www.roadstosuccess.org

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Contact:
Davis Connelly
Director of Development
(646) 205-7719
davis@roadstosuccess.org

Choosing a college is a very exciting rite of passage for many students at the end of their high school journeys.  It is an important decision because it is where they will be starting their college career. The institution they choose will be where they develop a professional and personal network, begin their path to adulthood, and establish career and life goals. College tours are where many students experience a ‘wow’ factor during the application process. For many, the atmosphere on a college campus helps determine if they see a place for themselves in the community.
 
However, the option to tour college campuses (in-person) came to a screeching halt in March. Admission offices across the country scrambled to cancel tours and offer more information online to prospective students and their parents. As the fall semester begins for many college students online, admission counselors are also delivering an alternative to in-person campus tours.
 
Virtual campus tours are becoming a part of the new standard for college admissions to produce. Some tours are even 360-degrees, to give students an expansive look at a college or university campus. Some institutions are going even further to demonstrate to potential students that their institution is the right fit by scheduling virtual meetings between high schoolers and current students, admission staff, and faculty. For instance, Yale has Zoom presentations; Vanderbilt University in Nashville is offering virtual coffee meetings, and University of Virginia has virtual dormitory tours.
 
Furthermore, students can research student life at various campuses through YouTube videos or on independent sites like campusreel.org, which features short, vetted videos from students from 320 colleges and universities focusing on various aspects of student life.a
 
Although face-to-face tours are more valuable to some students, there are perks to virtual tours which will keep the trend going after the pandemic. Virtual tours are convenient, time-saving, and cost-beneficial. You can visit different states and take multiple tours without leaving the comfort of your home.

Roads to Success and Pathways will be holding a special virtual youth leadership event for teens on January 18, 2021 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Together We Rise will feature a college panel, career panel, and leadership challenge for participants. Learn more and/or register for this event. 

From now until December 8th, Roads to Success is kicking off the holiday season with Giving Week - a week dedicated to rallying our community to take action and close the equity gap for young people striving for success.​ Because our young people have been faced with so much uncertainty recently, they are in need of reliable access to resources that support their continued growth and education - but we need your help. 

As a non-profit, our funding is not guaranteed and depends on the generosity of our supporters who believe that young people deserve an equitable chance to succeed in education, career, and in reaching their full potential. 

There are a number of fun and easy ways that you can support our youth, even if you are unable to make a donation yourself. Read below for ways you can participate in Giving Week.

​For the past 4 years, Roads to Success has partnered with Youth Inc. to hold our annual benefit Fall Gala. This year would've been the first year that we held our own, independent gala, but unfortunately due to Covid, we had to postpone our inaugural event. More importantly, we were unable to raise funds on the same scale as a gala to support our program to its full capacity.

As a non-profit, our funding is not guaranteed and depends on the generosity of our supporters who believe that young people deserve an equitable chance to succeed in education, career, and in reaching their full potential. 

Our in-person and remote programs have kept young people engaged with their peers and mentors, provided access to social emotional support during this difficult time, and allowed parents to go back to work. However, there is still more that we can do.

Although we can’t celebrate in person with you this year, we invite you to join us next week for Giving Week at Roads to Success. Starting on Monday, November 30th, we're taking our #BuildRoads campaign and Giving Tuesday a step further and rallying our community for one week to take action and close the equity gap for young people striving for success.

There'll be numerous opportunities during the week to show your support including our #BuildRoads For Youth online auction that you can start bidding on right now!

As we continue to adapt to this pandemic and try our best to keep our youth focused on their futures, your support is even more critical as we continue to provide the resources our young people need because they deserve an equal chance to get ahead, no matter their background. Thank you for stepping up on behalf of our youth.