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Xcel™ History
Champions breed excellence. They are born of adversity.
The story of Generation Xcel is the story of young champions from the "PJs" who have experienced victory without ever leaving the 'hood. Born into poverty and written off their entire lives, they demonstrate how supposedly powerless people can overcome.
| History Activism Volunteerism |
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In February 1996, a group of residents from Manhattan's Lower East Side partnered with Rev. Richard Del Rio, senior pastor of Abounding Grace Ministries, and his son Jeremy to form a 501(c)(3) non-religious not-for-profit called Community Solutions, Inc. (CSI). CSI adopted a mission statement, developed an action plan, and established, as its first initiative, a comprehensive youth outreach program called Generation Xcel.
Thirteen young people joined Jeremy, then 21 years of age, to design and staff Xcel as volunteers. At the outset, they were instructed to think constructively about neighborhood problems and creatively about solutions. They then harnessed that creativity and were challenged to do something to implement their ideas and strategies. Generation Xcel became their something, their vehicle for community outreach and renewal.
Activism
Generation Xcel opened the first Xcel youth center in the Jacob Riis Houses in June 1996, despite no money nor paid staff nor a space of its own. It subleased a space rent free, and its resourceful young people secured in-kind donations including computers, pool and ping-pong tables, office and athletic equipment, and much more. Within one year, 250 kids registered at the center and special events drew as many as 400.
In August 1997, after promising for eight months to award Xcel the primary lease for the space it occupied, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) attempted to evict Xcel without cause in a dispute with the then primary leaseholder. Xcel kids refused to see their program die and coordinated activism such as fliers, petitions, faxes, and telephone calls. Their efforts attracted the pro bono services of two leading New York law firms, generated media attention, and ultimately led to an audience with the mayor. The activism continued for nearly two years, after which the same teens that started the program in 1996 reopened it on July 5, 1999, with the launch of Xcel's first full-day summer camp. Since reopening, NYCHA personnel have uniformly expressed a desire to cooperate with Xcel to enhance its programs.
Volunteerism
From June 1996 until receiving a grant to hire a part time program director and administrator from the Pinkerton Foundation in May 2000, Xcel was staffed, top to bottom, strictly by volunteers. From its founders to its directors, Xcel employed up to 17 active volunteers at any one time who administered the day-to-day operations of the center. Nearly all of the volunteers were (and continue to be) high school upperclassmen or college students committed to serving their community.
In the summer of 1999, nine Xcel young people rejected paying jobs to participate in the Xcel Internship Program and staff the Xcel Summer Camp. For their sacrifice, Xcel agreed to give them a weekly $150 stipend, for ten to fourteen weeks of work. The youth further demonstrated their commitment to the program by deferring 83% of the stipend interest-free until the end of August to allow for fundraising.
