Inspiring Futures Through Access and Opportunity

Rachael Gazdick, CEO, New York Edge

I began my career as a Teach For America teacher in Louisiana, where I learned that brilliance exists in every classroom—it just needs access and opportunity to shine. That lesson has driven my work ever since: empowering young people to see themselves as creators, innovators, and leaders. At Syracuse University, I connected learning to community impact, and as CEO of the Colorado “I Have a Dream” Foundation, I expanded programs in mentorship, technology, and higher education.

As the CEO of New York Edge, I lead the largest provider of afterschool programs in the city, serving thousands of students at over 130 schools. Our mission is to close the opportunity gap and prepare young people for bright futures. Through initiatives like EdgeUcate Labs and the award-winning Morgan Stanley Coding Club, which Harvard Education Magazine recognized, we provide students with hands-on access to emerging industries such as music production, animation, podcasting, publishing, and more.

Every day, I see the same spark I witnessed in my first classroom in Louisiana: the moment when a young person realizes that their voice, creativity, and ideas matter. That’s what continues to drive me and the extraordinary team at New York Edge to expand what’s possible for the next generation.

Leading With Empathy, Collaboration, and Purpose

Our school communities and staff are at the heart of everything we do. When every community member unites behind the shared goal of advancing our students— providing them with the best tools, opportunities, and access—we create pathways for them to become leaders in their own neighborhoods and beyond.

I strive to lead in ways that are collaborative, intentional, and grounded in understanding—creating space for others and building genuine relationships. Leading across diverse communities requires deep listening and the belief that every voice matters. Whether it’s hearing from a site director about what inspires students, or learning from a parent about the support their family needs, these conversations keep our work rooted in lived experience, emphasizing that leadership is as much about learning as it is about guiding.

Blending SEL and Digital Literacy for the Future

At New York Edge, we know that preparing students for the future means developing both their emotional intelligence and digital fluency. Academic and technical skills open doors, but it’s social-emotional learning (SEL) that helps students walk confidently through them. In a time when young people face increasing mental health challenges and rapid technological change, SEL gives them the self-awareness, resilience, and confidence to lead.

“When every community member unites behind the shared goal of advancing our students—providing them with the best tools, opportunities, and access— we create pathways for them to become leaders in their own neighborhoods and beyond.”

Through our groundbreaking partnership with ACT by Mosaic, New York Edge is the first out-of-school-time provider in the nation to bring this research-based, data-driven SEL model to scale across all our programs. Together, we’re equipping students with measurable skills, including communication, goal-setting, and self-management, that not only align directly with college and career success but also build the human capacity to collaborate, adapt, and thrive in any environment.

Where Creativity and Technology Meet

When creativity and technology intersect, learning transforms from passive to powerful. Students aren’t just absorbing information — they’re inventing, producing, and expressing ideas in ways that mirror real-world innovation. In our podcasting workshops, young people become storytellers and collaborators, mastering both active listening and digital production. Through coding, they learn to think critically, tackle complex challenges, and persist through trial and error. In music production labs, creativity meets technical precision as students compose, mix, and perform using professional-grade tools and guidance from industry professionals.

Authentic learning happens when students gain the confidence to apply their knowledge, experiment freely, and persist through challenges. When their ideas take shape, they begin to see their own potential reflected in them. And when obstacles arise, our staff and mentors help them reframe those moments as opportunities to adapt, solve problems, and grow. This approach ensures that every student leaves not only with technical expertise but with self-belief and determination to thrive in any real-world setting.

Using Technology as a Bridge to Equity

My advice is that educators and nonprofit leaders must stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. We can’t afford to wait until tools become outdated or react to trends after the fact — we need to lead the conversation. Technology should not only expand how we teach, but also how we work, improving efficiency, communication, and innovation across our organizations. Our field is often behind in this area; yet, we should strive to be as forward-thinking and cutting-edge as any major corporation.

For leaders, that means designing learning experiences that are engaging, relevant, and rooted in the communities we serve, while helping young people see how what they’re learning connects to their lives and futures. When used strategically and responsibly, technology has the power to open doors, drive innovation, and prepare our students to solve critical problems and shape the world ahead.