The various summer employment opportunities afforded to her through the Youth Bureau, helped instill a level of professionalism, discipline and ambition that allows her to excel in her current position within the Duval County Public Schools of Jacksonville, FL, where she serves as the Lead Science Teacher at the Leadership Academies of Eugene J. Butler. Leslie recently received the honor of being named a top five finalist for 2020 Duval County Teacher of the Year award. Not only is Leslie a passionate educator she has also put her Biochemistry education to use in her entrepreneurial endeavors. She started her journey as a natural hair care blogger, which led to the founding of her natural hair care line Morning Dew Hair products. Leslie is heavily involved in the community of Jacksonville in programs similar to the ones that opened many doors for her during her teenage years. She credits her success not only to a stable family life and solid faith system but also to the rich variety of programs that she participated in growing up in the City of White Plains.

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Judith M. Watson, RN, BSN, MPH ,CEO, Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center Inc

Judith immigrated to the USA from Jamaica West Indies at age 7 and settled in White Plains. After graduating from White Plains High School, she joined the United States Army where she completed a 3 year tour on active duty, stationed on Ford Island in Hawaii. Following discharge in 1990, she joined the Army Reserves where she served actively for 7 years. Judith credits her disciplined nature and work ethic to the time spent in the United States Army.

Judith was an active member of the White Plains Youth Bureau where her foundation was established during the years that she attended Middle and High School.  Due to challenges, Judith’s High School Junior year was coordinated and provided by the WPYB to which she will be forever grateful. Her desire to serve and help others was formed in the army and her interests turned to nursing.

She completed her undergraduate studies at Pace University in 1994 where she achieved a Bachelor of Science Degree in Registered Nursing. She started her nursing career at the   Greenburgh Health Center which merged into the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center Inc. where she has been employed for a combined 25 plus years. The work at the health center encompasses her passion for advocacy for others, her concern for the health needs of the underserved and her desire to help her community.

To maximize her contribution to the Center, Judith entered a Master of Public Health Program at New York Medical College attending nights and weekends until graduating in 2007. Judith’s job responsibilities in addition to producing a public access television show, participation on a number of boards and serving as an adjunct professor, account for the lion’s share of her time however, the remaining hours are reserved for her loving family and significant other, good friends, jogging, travel, movies and meditation.

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Malachi currently resides in Silicon Valley and works in Product Development at Facebook. At the core of all Malachi is and does, he is first a believer in Jesus Christ. He is currently a Pastor and Elder at We are Church in East Palo Alto, and loves his wife, son and congregation deeply. Through God’s direction, together he and his church serve the community of East Palo Alto through evangelism, food distribution and providing for the daily needs that arise in the community. He is also a member of the Board for Crazy Love, a Christian non-profit that serves global and local needs with the aim of helping people see, hear, understand and respond to God’s amazing love for us.

Malachi shares his deepest thanks to Frank Williams and the Youth Bureau for the impact it has had on his life and countless others.

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My experiences with the Youth Bureau, working with staff and students in their afterschool programs created a desire in me to grow educationally. Education for me was an opportunity to improve myself and help others on a larger scale. I graduated from White Plains High School, Fordham University in the Bronx, Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, TX and 20 years later I graduated from Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY with a Masters Degree in General Education Grades 1-6 and a Masters Degree in Students With Disabilities Grades 1-6.

I am truly grateful to have grown from my youth bureau experiences and have learned from its great staff over the years. Presently I work as a teaching assistant in the White Plains City School District.

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After that summer, I continued to intern through various organizations in the community and ultimately finished high school and continued on to Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. I graduated and pursued a career in technology and consulting at Accenture, a global Fortune Global 500 company. I’m currently a Technology executive at Accenture in our Oracle practice. In addition, I support our HBCU Diversity Recruiting Team as the Spelman College and Dual-Degree Campus Champion for the Atlanta University Center Consortium, the Girls Who Code program lead in Atlanta. Looking back, I truly appreciate how the Youth Bureau helped equip me with the confidence to lead; continuously push myself to grow and how my roles helped me develop others to enter the workforce. Congratulations on this pivotal anniversary!

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Abdul was Captain of the White Plains High School Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track teams. He was also introduced to the White Plains Youth Bureau and participated in the White Plains Business Improvement District (BID) program where he developed entrepreneurial, professional and leadership skills that he carries with him today.

He was the White Plains Youth Bureau 45th Anniversary Certificate of Merit Honoree for the Month of April. At their third annual awards gala, the White Plains Juneteenth Heritage Committee recognized him with the Community Champion Award. He was also awarded a Humanitarian Proclamation from the County Executive of Westchester County; Westchester County Board of Legislators; the City of White Plains; the New York State Senate; recognition of his community contribution and accomplishments within the 35th district of New York State: Thursday, May 14 to be forever known as Abdul Tubman Day within the State and May 19th in White Plains.

He holds an International MBA in Sustainability and Environmental Compliance from Southern New Hampshire University and a BA in Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Clarkson University. He is also President of the Board of Directors and Theater Producer for Rebel Theater Company, a non-profit theater company that produces theatrical works based around social injustice, minority and LGBTQ rights and mental health awareness.

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I joined the Mayor’s Youth Council when I was in junior high school. Through this group we had some of the most unique experiences. We would meet monthly with the mayor of White Plains and numerous other city officials. During these meets we were able to discuss anything from school and sports, to our ideas and suggestions about our very own city.

I started my very first job through the White Plains Youth Bureau as an afterschool tutor at Post Road Elementary School with the After School program. My experiences here solidified my decision on my career path as an educator. I attended Manhattanville College where I earned my BA in Education and Psychology. While working in the White Plains School District I worked towards my Masters degree in Special Education at Fordham University.

Today, I am working as a second grade teacher for the Greenburgh Central School District. Though it is a town over, I still feel a sense of connection to the Youth Bureau and the relationships that I made all those years ago.

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After graduating, I was asked to work for the Youth Bureau as a Youth Aide. This work experience allowed me to decide on pursuing my M.P.A. in Public Administration with a concentration in Personnel Management from Pace University. As a City of White Plains Employee, I received the Edwin G. Michaelian Scholarship from Westchester County to supplement my tuition at Pace University. I currently work for Gartner, Inc. a global IT Research company as a program manager for client facing meetings. My love for community and the young continues also as I recently joined the Board of Directors for Sister to Sister International a non-for-profit with the mission “To link women and girls of African descent to the resources that connect, advance and strengthen us. We do this through advocacy education and the promotion of African culture.” At STSI I have the role of Organizational Effectiveness Director managing strategy and training. To think all this started with being nurtured at the White Plains Youth Bureau!

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After graduating from White Plains High School, Kiana attended LaSalle University in Philadelphia, PA. Her major was Marketing with a Health Care Administration minor. Kiana graduated from LaSalle in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Upon graduating from college, Kiana relocated to Queens, NY where she began her career as a pharmaceutical sales rep with Teva Pharmaceuticals. She has remained working in this same field for 14 years now and has had great success. Kiana has received numerous promotions and is a two time President’s Club winner which is the top sales award.

When not engaging in extra curricular activities with her son, she enjoys traveling, being involved with her church, and giving back to the community. Kiana is a fund administrator for the Jason Pryce Scholarship, where deserving high school seniors are awarded $2,500 each year to help with their college expenses. Kiana is very proud of this fund especially since scholarships have been given to students who graduated from her alma mater, White Plains High School.

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After attending Fordham University and majoring in Education and Child Psychology, I returned to work at the youth Bureau. I was the Educational Coordinator of the Saturday Academy program, the Camp Director of the Bits N Pieces Day Camp as well as other positions throughout the after-school programs. It gave me joy to be able to come back and work along side Frank, the very person who showed me the importance of investing time and love in children.

After working in various educational settings and nonprofits, I launched my online life coaching business, named ‘A Mom’s Movement’. ‘A Mom’s Movement’ is dedicated to working with other mothers as they navigate the education system and extracurricular activities for their children. I will forever be grateful to the second family I gained through the White Plains Youth Bureau.

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