All Stars Project Elects Rising Alumni Leader to National Board of Directors
In Less than 10 Years, Newark Resident Wadnes Castelly Moves from Teen Participant in the All Stars’ Development School for Youth Program to Seat on the Organization’s Board of Directors
New York, NY – November 4, 2020 – The All Stars Project, Inc. (ASP), a national nonprofit organization that sponsors innovative Afterschool Development programs for inner-city youth, is pleased to announce that Newark native Wadnes Castelly has been elected to its board of directors. Mr. Castelly graduated from the All Stars’ Development School for Youth (DSY) program in 2011, Rutgers Business School in 2016, and is now a Client Solutions Partner at Spotify. At 26 years old, he is the youngest member of the board.
“We are proud to have Wadnes on our national board. His contributions as an alumni leader who has gone through our performance-based, afterschool development programs will help the All Stars further innovate our youth engagement strategies,” says Gabrielle Kurlander, ASP CEO. “Additionally, Wadnes’ expertise in social and digital media will be very valuable as we expand our impact across the country.”
Mr. Castelly is a first-generation Haitian American, whose family moved from Newark, NJ just over the city line to Irvington when he was a child. As he progressed through the school system, he became aware of the lack of resources in the township, especially for education, compared to more affluent communities. When he was 17, rather than continuing to play football for the high school team, Mr. Castelly opted to sign up for the All Stars Project of New Jersey’s Development School for Youth (DSY) program. He had become intrigued by DSY through his older sister Jessica, who was in the program years prior.
“I am honored and excited to be a member of the board of directors for the All Stars Project,” said Mr. Castelly. “As a young person born in Newark to Haitian parents, I didn’t have a linear pathway to corporate America. I’m grateful to the All Stars Project’s investment in me that helped position me to be where I am today. Now, it’s time for me to pay it forward and share my perspective and insights to develop ideas to grow the All Stars Project and equip young people with the skills needed to thrive in the digital and technology era.”
As part of his DSY experience, Mr. Castelly earned a paid summer internship with AIG in lower Manhattan, where he felt welcome and learned first-hand many of the skills needed to be successful in a professional business setting. Skills he later used in marketing internships he had during his college years at Rutgers Business School with the Brooklyn Nets/Barclays Center and Showtime, and later as an employee at HYPEBEAST and The New York Times. Now, after more than a year at Spotify, he is continuing to advance his career at the intersection of four things that excite him – marketing, technology, business and philanthropy.
“We have already benefited from Wadnes’ strong spirit of service and commitment to initiatives that support the advancement of marginalized communities,” explains Maria Morris, Chair of the ASP Board of Directors. “Wadnes has remained active with the All Stars since he was in our Development School for Youth program, and as chair of the Alumni Leadership Council we’ve seen his leadership abilities through his work to mobilize thousands of young people who have participated in our programs. We are grateful for his involvement and know he will help us in our work to transform people’s lives.
About The All Stars Project:
The All Stars Project is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1981 that sponsors Afterschool Development programs to help thousands of inner-city youth and their families each year. Its mission is to transform the lives of youth and poor communities using the developmental power of performance in partnership with caring adults. Headquartered in New York City, ASP operates in six cities – New York City; Newark and Jersey City, NJ; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; and San Francisco, CA.
The ASP is privately funded by thousands of individuals, foundations and corporations, including Equity Residential, EY, Hartz Mountain, Hilco Global, Hunt Consolidated, Investors Bank, MetLife, Onyx Equities, PSEG, PwC and RBC Capital Markets, who give underwriting support to expand the reach and impact of All Stars afterschool development programs. ASP is an action and thought leader in the field of Afterschool Development – evidence-based practices that focus on afterschool activities as a new way of engaging poverty – and is connecting with and influencing leading-edge thinkers, researchers and institutions in the fields of youth and community development.
Starting in March 2020, the All Stars Project has converted its performance based programming to digital platforms and is engaging with thousands of young people and caring adults through on-line volunteer and experience platforms.
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All Stars Project Media Contact: Derek Beckwith, (617) 331-3567, derekrbeckwith@gmail.com