About Us
Right now, in neighborhoods all across New York City, children are growing up in poverty. Due to a lack of exposure to high-quality books, early reading, and structured pre-schools, kids from low-income homes may enroll in kindergarten as much as 1 to 1.5 years behind. For Latino students, there is an added layer of complexity as they begin their language acquisition learning in two languages, Spanish and English. These inner city youth do not lack ability, just opportunity.
Exodus is that opportunity – our goal is to provide our students with enriching academic and personal programming that allows them to excel during middle school, graduate high school, attend college, and pursue a profession they are passionate about including being community minded and leaders full of hope for the future.
Our Vision
For NYC Latino Youth to thrive as they achieve their God-Given Potential
Our Mission
Operation Exodus launches NYC Latino Youth to college and lives of excellence through educational opportunities and transformational relationships.
Our Core Values
Learning and Growing
Empowerment
Grace
A Healthy Cultural Identity
Community and Connectedness
Board
David Turley – Board Chair
Commercial Mortgage Banker at Cronheim Mortgage Corporation
Phil Lee – Vice Chair
Managing Director at Goldman Sachs
Geoff Davenport – Treasurer
Salesforce Administrator at Union for Reform Judaism
Jane Hyun – Secretary
Founder and President at Hyun Associates
Ashley Modisett – Board Member
Consultant
Lana Kim – Board Member
Assistant Commissioner at the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services
Lisa Ortiz– Board Member
Product Design Manager at Coinbase
Rosina Roa – Board MemberÂ
Senior Business Operations Manager at Madison Square Park Conservatory
Nathan Meeks – Board Members
Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at GLIA
Advisors
Amber and George Cerezo – Graphic Design and Website Uriel Designs
Bryan Rivera – The Learned Concept
Jason Rivera – Consultant
Yanire Montanez – Consultant
Jose Orengo – JLO Consultants
Kim Massey – The Rise Group
Rich Rivera – Consultant
Rei Perez – Consultant
Mayra Lopez Humphreys – Strategic Consultant
Mike Park – Consovoy, McCarthy, Park PLLC
Nato Rosado – Rosado Designs
Operation Exodus Site Team
Kimberly Collado
Development and Communication Coordinator
Esther Acosta
Mentor and Volunteer CoordinatorÂ
Group Leaders
Marlene Boyce, 1st Grade Group Leader
Jaritza Pinales, 2nd-3rd Grade Group Leader
Edwin Martinez, 4th-5th Grade Group Leader
Zuri Castro, 4th-5th Grade Group Leader
Our HistoryÂ
Since 1988, Exodus has been committed to the future of the at-risk children from the Washington Heights community in New York City.
Our work began when Luis Iza, Jr., a businessman and Sunday school teacher at a local church, was approached by a mother whose twelve year old son was living in fear of his life. This son had recently refused to join a neighborhood gang and was facing constant danger and harassment. Greatly moved to help, Mr. Iza shared this child’s plight with a boarding school. Equally moved, the school readily accepted the boy on a scholarship basis.
As a result of the positive changes that education made in this child’s life, as well as a result of the persistent violence and lack of academic challenges in area schools, Mr. Iza and a group of parents from a Latino church founded Exodus.