News Archive

Winter/Spring 2005

Voice of Silence. Join Xpress at the Voice of Silence, its second production of the 2004-2005 season, on Friday, 2/25, 7 pm. This year's VOS event collaborates with World Vision's 30-Hour Famine and 7 local youth agencies to raise awareness of global hunger and AIDS. For location and details, go here.

Billy Graham New York. 800 youth workers and pastors interested in the upcoming Billy Graham Crusade, joined Jeremy Del Rio at Square One, Saturday, 2/26, 9:30-11:30, at the Roosevelt Hotel Grand Ballroom (45 Street and Madison). Listen to a PSA announcing the event, courtesy of Star 99.1 FM in New York. See Report from Square One for more details, here.

Congratulations.
To Enid Almanzar, part of the Xcel family since we opened in 1996 and a staff member for four years, for receiving a position as a project manager at American Bible Society's Urban Youth Initiative. Read more here.

To cofounders Mei-Ling Garcia and Luis Velez, for graduating in December from NYU's Nursing School and Nyack College with a degree in history, respectively.

To Rafael Santiago and Kristina Diaz for joining the Xcel After School family as program staff in January 2005.

Summer/Fall 2004

Life in Translation. Xpress produced Life in Translation on December 10 and 11. The fourth show since launching Xpress last September, Life demonstrated a depth of the material that has gotten so much richer and substantial. With the exception of three scenes from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream, the entire script was original – including “Remixes” of each of the Shakespeare bits, which were hysterical. About 150 attended on Friday and 200 Saturday. Saturday we had to turn people away. Check out Mike Mowery’s pictures: Page 1 and Page 2.

Special Thanks to Lear DeBessonet for teaching the acting class this fall, editing the script and directing the show, and Kenny Grohowski and his jazz ensemble for opening the evening with a stellar set of original music.

Bowery Poetry Club. Kenny Grohowski gets two special mentions this December as the Xpress music class, which Kenny co-teaches with Wynn Bennett, introduced two original songs at a live performance at the Bowery Poetry Club on December 28. Not a bad start for aspiring musician/songwriters to have their first songs performed live by professional musicians at a trendy club in the East Village!

XL Service Corps. As the rest of the nation took a day off to commemorate Independence Day, the inaugural class of the XL Service Corps graduated 11 senior members (ages 14-18) and 6 junior members (ages 11-13) after a week of Boot Camp on Monday, July 5. These community revolutionaries spent the previous week in classroom training, physical training, and strategic planning from 9:30am - 6pm, and had to successfully complete oral, written, and physical exams in order to pass. They are committed to volunteering 20 hours a week until August 21 taking everything Xcel does and represents out into the streets.

Chain Reaction. Chain Reaction visited three cities in July and August - Haverille, MA; York, PA; and New York City - for weeks of community service and random acts of kindness. 168 students registered and collectively volunteered 6000 hours during those outreaches. For more, visit www.ChainReaction2004.com.

Celebration of Xcellence. What an amazing evening! 120 guests, plus 30 volunteers from New York School of Urban Ministry and professional musicians packed the 88-STEP Theater for the 3rd annual Celebration of Xcellence. For the first time, we recognized the student and staff achievements of not one, but two Xcel centers. Check out Mike Mowery’s stunning photographs of the night here. Among the winners:

Students
Xpresser of the Year: Melissa Suarez
Xceller of the Year: Ali Martinez
Xpress Most Improved: Jonathan Cedeno & Louis Acevedo
Xcel Most Improved: Kala Spry
Xcel Group Club MVP: Megan Valentin
Xcel Sportsmanship: Jeremy Rodriguez & Janita Rosado
Xcel Math Award: Zahira Smith
Xcel Reading Award: Sunev Ambert
Xcel Student Service Award: Troy Owen, Jr.
Xcel Volunteer Prize: Danny Olivo & Sean Williams
Xcel After School graduates: Ali Martinez, Jeremy Rodriguez, Julia Santana
Xpress Video Award: Eden Martinez
Xpress Writing Award: Kevin Cedeno
Xpress Acting Award: Eric Velez
Xpress Vision Award: Xpress co-founders Louis Acevedo, Jonathan Cedeno, Kevin Cedeno, Lydia Jimenez, Eden Martinez, David Montalvo, Ralph Munoz, Jeremy Murillo, Martin Orguin, Jenylee Santana, Melissa Suarez, Korina Valencia, Amanda Vargas, Eric Velez, Frankie Villegas, and Sean Williams

Staff
Kristi Brattli Prize: Louis Velez
Founders Award: Stephanie Smith Waterman

Many thanks to guests Dr. and Mrs. Louis Carlo and the family of Jim and Jan Dolle; sponsors Metron Press, Health Plus, Concerts of Prayer Greater New York, Rex Duval Caterers, Nick Rini & Associates, NYSUM, and Abounding Grace Ministries; event coordinator Chris Eddy; caterer Jose Ruiz; and musical director Kenny Grohowski and band.

Winter-Spring 2004

Celebrate Xcellence. Join us for the third annual Celebration of Xcellence on June 4 as Xcel honors outstanding students and staff at the 88-STEP Theater (9 East 7th Street. Doors open 6 pm; program runs 7-10 pm. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased at 212 673 XCEL. Corporate sponsorship information is available here and individual donations can be made online via PayPal. - SOLD OUT

Xcel band member conducts senior recital at Juilliard. Joshua Pantoja, just the third Puerto Rican born French Horn student in Juilliard's history and a member of Xcel's YW8? band for three years, performed his senior recital on Wednesday, March 31. Among the audience were family, friends, and two of his mentors, the horn players at the NY Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera. View pictures of the recital online here.

interSECTIONS @ the 88-Step Theater. In the tradition of Holiday eXpressions and Voice of Silence, X-press presents Intersections @ the 88-Step Theater, a variety show featuring original music, dance, spoken words, video, and a one act play. May 7 & 8, 7 pm. Suggested donation: $10; $5 for students. 9 East 7th Street (corner of 3rd Ave). Reserve seats at 212 673 XCEL. Check out photographs of interSECTIONS, courtesy of Michael Mowery, here.

Now accepting applications for summer staff. Apply online to be part of XL Service Corps. here.

Monthly Prayer Alerts now available online.

Fall 2003

Holiday eXpressions, the 88-STEP Theater's debut production, offered a glimpse into the world of X-press and Xcel After School young people. Performed three times in December to an audience of more than 300 friends, family, and community supporters, the variety show featured all original music, film, dance, spoken word. View pictures from the production here. Photos courtesy of Michael Mowery.

Xcel Scores with the NY Jets. On November 21, 20 Xcel students graduated from Operation SCORE, a fitness and nutrition program co-sponsored by the New York Jets and Operation Blessing. Seven Jets, including rising stars Santana Moss, Jonathan Carter, and Victor Hobson demonstrated exercises with the kids. View pictures here.

Xcel hosts the Youth Track at the National Leadership Forum. Download invitation here and a review of the event here.

X-press @ The 88-Step Theater Announces its Innaugural Showcase Season. Featuring original music, film, dance, and drama presentations by X-press and Xcel After School young people, the first production season promises compelling theater. For corporate sponsorship materials, go here.

Generation Xcel presents X-PRESS @ The 88-Step Theater, a performing arts after school program by teens for teens. X-press offers theater, video, and audio production classes Monday-Friday from 3:30-7:00 beginning 9/15/03. Download flyer here. Register here.

Xcel After School Gets a Face-Lift. Thanks to the generosity those who responded to Xcel's Serve-A-Thon in July, matched by a Back-to-School grant from Operation Blessing, we gave our flagship location a $4,000 face-lift the week of 9/8/03, including a new library, educational supplies, fresh paint, and much needed furniture. Programmatically, Xcel After School takes on an enhanced literacy focus this year as well, developed around a theme of “I Know I Can.” Download Xcel After School flyer here.

Summer 2003

Generation Xcel announces A Summer of Service. A Summer of Service includes six youth-led projects and activities that will engage the wider community from June through August. View calendar here, photographs here, and sponsorship opportunities here.

Xcel Summer of Service in the News: Check out article in the Tri-State Voice.

Special thanks to Summer of Service corporate sponsors: Tri-State Voice, Metron Press, Health Plus, and Convoy of Hope.

Community Solutions ignites a Chain Reaction. Partnering with Matt Stevens of Baltimore, CSI launches a naional initiative to mobilize young people for service, with pilot projects planned for Summer 2003. More here.

Chain Reaction in the News: Check out article from the Haverhill Eagle-Tribune.

Winter-Spring 2003

Generaton Xcel welcomes inaugural Advisory Council members: Ninfa Segarra, Esq., Joe Holland Esq., Lisa Trevino Cummins, Rudy Carrasco, and Chris Frederick. Read bios here.

Special thanks to the cast and crew of Law and Order: SVU for hosting Xcel kids on 3/28/03. Pictures here.

Xcel welcomes executive director. In February 2003, Jeremy Del Rio returned to Generation Xcel as its first full-time executive director. For more, go here.

December 2002

• Happy Holidays. Season's Greetings from Rev. Richard Del Rio and the Xcel Family

October 2002

• Xcel opens the Xcel Theater. Xcel's vision to open a second facility for teens materialized on October 24, 2002, with "The Launch," the grand opening of the Xcel Theater. For more, go here.
  
  
• Xcel unveils Transformations. Xcel commissioned a mural for its new theater called Transformations, and unveiled it to the public at "The Launch." To see the mural and be challenged by its message, go here.

September 2002

• Xcel remembers 9/11: Co-founders produce MSG tribute & pioneer relief. In a fitting end to a whirlwind year, Xcel co-founders Rev. Richard Del Rio and Jeremy Del Rio co-produced the Tribute to Grace and Hope on the one-year anniversary of 9/11 at New York's most renowned venue, Madison Square Garden. For more on the Tribute and and other 9/11 relief efforts, go here.

August 2002

• Making a Difference: Summer 2002 Roundup.
  Organizationally and programmatically, Xcel is committed to exploding myths, exceeding expectations, and making a difference in individual and community lives. Read how this commitment impacted its Summer 2002 programs here.

May 2002

• Xcel's own PASE-Setter.
  The Partnership for After School Education (PASE) named Luis Velez, one of Xcel's co-founders, "Outstanding After School Educator" at an awards banquet in May. For more, go here.

December 2001

• "Youth Worker of the Year"
  The Latino Pastoral Action Center names Jeremy Del Rio "Youth Worker of the Year" in recognition of his service at Generation Xcel, along with his contributions to faith-based youth ministries.

• YW8? (Why Wait?) Generation Xcel revamps church-based youth ministry. Adapting its "by youth for youth" model in a faith-based context, Generation Xcel revamps the youth ministry at Abounding Grace Ministries, a neighborhood church. Called YW8? (Why Wait?)™, the group rejects the popular myth that young people are the future (they have a future, along with a present and a past), and challenges young people ages 12-20 to make a positive contribution to their communities today. Read more about the YW8? philosophy here.

September 2001

• Xcel co-founders pioneer 9/11 relief efforts.
  For more on the relief efforts, go here.
  For Jeremy's immediate reflections from Ground Zero, go here.

August 2001

• Xcel Carnival draws 500. Over 500 children and their parents flocked to the annual Xcel Summer Carnival at the Jacob Riis Amphitheater. There they participated in games, saw live entertainment including dance, drama, and a martial arts exhibit, and celebrated with Xcel Summer award winners.
  
  
• Xcel hosts WNBA star Rebecca Lobo for community service. In partnership with the Fleet All-Stars Program of Fleet Bank, Generation Xcel organized a community service project painting the facade of a neighborhood center on E. 9th Street. Joining the kids was Rebecca Lobo of the WNBA New York Liberty. Fox 5 and UPN 9 covered the project in their nightly newscasts.

July 2001

• New York Times acknowledges Rev. Richard Del Rio. In an article concerning New York mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer, the New York Times called Xcel co-founder Rev. Richard Del Rio "eclectic-looking" and described him as "a pastor from the Lower East Side who wore a black leather vest, black jeans and gold hoop earrings." Fair enough. For the full story, go here.

June 2001

• Xcel partners with local church to develop "faith-based" youth center. Beginning June 7, 2001, Generation Xcel will operate a second youth center in lower Manhattan in partnership with Abounding Grace Ministries, a church located in an historic East Village building at 9 East 7th Street. The building's fourth floor will be converted into a fully functional teen center, complete with an auditorium, lounge, and game room. The partnership represents a unique opportunity for Xcel to adapt its "by youth for youth" outreach model to a faith-based context. For more information and pictures, click here.
  
  
• Xcel After School celebrates its best year ever. Xcel After School ended the '00-'01 academic year at closing ceremonies on June 27. The Xcel Dancers performed, awards were distributed, and many tears were shed. Read more about the closing ceremonies and kid reactions, here. NEW
  
  
• The summer staff is here! Six students began their summer internships with Generation Xcel on June 20. Their experience will include a week and a half of intensive training in anticipation of the summer day camp that they will staff from July 5 - August 24. They will be joined by four additional interns through the Summer Youth Employment Program of the City of New York on July 2. To learn more about Xcel's summer staff, go here; to sponsor their efforts this summer, pledge support here.
  
  
• Cornell graduate joins staff. Former Xcel intern (summer 2000) Dorothy Rivera returned to Generation Xcel on June 10 after graduating from Cornell University with a degree in educational psychology. Dorothy will work as Xcel's associate director of education for a year before medical school.
  
  
• Xcel co-founder Jeremy Del Rio publishes article in The Love Express. The article offers Jeremy's thoughts about "faith-based" youth outreach strategies, and tells the story of how he first met co-founders Rollie Barnes and Luis Velez. To read the article, go here.

May 2001

• Xcel co-founder invited to represent hispanic clergy at White House. On May 22, 2001, Rev. Richard Del Rio joined 130 hispanic clergy who met with President George Bush concerning the President's faith-based and community initiative. For more on the white house gathering, read the report of our dear friend and colleague, Rudy Carrasco, here.
  
  
• Xcel director presents domestic violence workshop to NY Giants. On May 30, 2001, Xcel Board member Wendell Moore coordinated a seminar as part of the NY Giants' rookie orientation aimed at educating them through a series of dramas and role playing exercises on issues such as domestic violence, drugs, and peer pressure. The presentation was well received, with player personnel representative, and former Giants fullback, Charles Way calling it "the beginning of something new" in the area of player development. For pictures, click here.
  
  
• Xcel administrator graduates top business school. Jamie Del Rio, Xcel co-founder and administrator, graduated from the Stern School of Business at NYU on May 8, 2001. At a ceremony held at Madison Square Garden, Rev. Calvin Butts challenged the graduates that the two laws of business are, first, to make as much money as they can, and second, to give as much of it away as they can. This is a lesson Jamie learned long ago, as he has served his community, literally, since the age of three.

• Pinkerton Foundation renews $25,000 operational grant. On May 2, 2001 the Pinkerton Foundation announced that it will renew Generation Xcel's $25,000 operational grant for a second year. Xcel is proud of this continuing partnership and honored to be included among the programs Pinkerton funds throughout New York City.

April 2001

• Xcel announces new board member. Effective April 1, 2001, John Jun joined Xcel's Board of Directors as a Director and Treasure. John works as controller of Digital Telemedia, a leading New York telecommunications firm, and holds a B.S. in finance and accounting from NYU.
  
  
• Xcel co-founder publishes article on collective action. The Student Leadership Journal, a publication of InterVarsity Press, published an article by Xcel co-founder Jeremy Del Rio on the value of collective action in its Spring 2001 issue. The online version of the article will be available soon.

March 2001

• Former Xcel director performs at Madison Square Garden. Alisa Girard, Xcel's co-director from 1996-1997, performed with Zoegirl at Madison Square Garden on March 22, 2001. They have toured America's leading venues with Gospel recording sensation Carman since September 2000.

February 2001

• Xcel hires new program director. Effective February 19, 2001, Arlene Perez was hired as program director. She brings more than 10 years experience in the areas of children’s education and substance abuse rehabilitation, and will mentor Xcel’s teens and young adults as they further develop Xcel’s franchising model and organizational capacity. of Di

December 2000

• Florida internet company sponsors web site. Clear Access Communications, of Bradenton, Florida, agreed to sponsor Generation Xcel's web site, including redesigning and hosting www.generationxcel.com.

• Holiday party draws over 200 kids. More than 200 children attended Xcel's holiday party on December 16. Sponsored by Mrs. Helen Frey, they received gift bags, played games, received prizes, and enjoyed snacks for three hours. The turnout exceeded expectations and stretched Xcel's space like never before.

November 2000

• Community Solutions co-sponsors Thanksgiving Dinner. For the fifth consecutive year, Community Solutions, Inc. co-sponsored a Thanksgiving Dinner for approximately 200 homeless men and women, at Abounding Grace Ministries in the East Village.

• Volunteers launch web site. Xcel officially entered the cyber-age with the launch of its first informational web site, www.geocities.com/genxcel, designed entirely by volunteers.

• Co-founders receive Union Square Award. Generation Xcel cofounders Rev. Richard and Jeremy Del Rio received the 2000 Union Square Award on November 16 for their grassroots contributions to New York City. They are the first father/son tandem so honored. The award brings a $46,000 organizational grant for Generation Xcel. [Union Square Awards]

August 2000

• Xcel director co-produces Jammin' Against the Darkness at MSG and Seaport. Jeremy Del Rio worked with the Seattle-based Jammin' Against the Darkness organization to produce the Championship Living Street Festival at Manhattan's South Street Seaport on August 21. The festival transformed ten blocks of downtown Manhattan into a fun-filled recreation center, and included appearances by NBA celebrities; three-on-three basketball tournaments involving 210 teams; and a live sound stage featuring twenty musical acts. Among Jeremy's many responsibilities was negotiating permits and other agreements with the Mayor's office and various City agencies; entering contracts with vendors and performers; recruiting and managing 300 volunteers; and supervising all aspects of the festival. He also served as legal counsel for both the festival and an evening concert at Madison Square Garden, processing various corporate and tax documents. The concert featured Gospel artists Newsboys and Hezekiah Walker, and a basketball exhibition by current NBA greats Allan Houston, Charlie Ward, Mark Jackson and others.