Edward DeJesus 

While many adults struggle to reach urban, inner city youth with services and supports, Edward DeJesus, Founder, President, and CEO of the nation’s pioneering youth policy and advocacy firm: The Youth Development and Research Fund (YDRF), actually makes it look easy. He has been reaching youth with a message that parents and educators have been trying to convey for years: education and work experience makes a big difference. DeJesus is the author of Countering the Urban Influence: Reclaiming the Stolen Economic Fortunes of America’s Youth. For the past twenty years, DeJesus has committed his life to working with youth who need options beyond the streets. He has directed several major youth initiatives in the South Bronx, Harlem and Washington Heights sections of New York City.

DeJesus has blended his love for reaching youth with a special ability to impact policy by conducing research on effective programs that help youth acquire and maintain jobs. DeJesus serves as a youth policy expert the Sar Levitan Center for Youth Policy at John Hopkins University and serves on the Task Force on Employment Opportunities for young offenders for the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. DeJesus balanced an active community life with rigorous education as his training to improve society. He received his BA in Political Science and Public Administration from Fordham University then his MS in Management & Urban Policy Analysis from the New School for Social Research and served as a Kellogg National Fellow for three years. As a Kellogg National Fellow DeJesus conducted site visits to youth programs in South Africa, Brazil, Central America and Israel. DeJesus was recognized as one of the top 40 under 40 in Washington, DC in 2002 for his work with youth. In 2003, The City of Miami named October 12th Edward DeJesus day for his work with South Florida Youth.

The young people DeJesus is concerned about are the subjects of almost every hip-hop track. They are the ones who live “keepin’ it real” on the streets of many cities. Millions of them are unemployed, out of school, under employed, and or incarcerated. These youth are often portrayed as Super Predators, Gang Bangers and Menaces to Society. Yet DeJesus knows they are not that. They are young people who strive for achievement, opportunity and support like everyone else. Unfortunately, in many inner city communities and rural areas, these supports don’t exist to any significant extent. DeJesus recognizes that effective action with these young adults could dramatically change life in America. DeJesus alone has many success stories of youth that have overcome the odds to “make it.” He knows how young adults can best be prepared for unfilled high skilled jobs, contribute valuable community service, and teach and lead a younger population out of danger and chaos and he shows adults how to do just that.

DeJesus brings missionary-like zeal to the positive potential of youth development. As a parent and a committed community advocate, DeJesus knows that the true strength of our nation is our youth. “I learned early on that “I must do something” solves more problems than “something must be done.” DeJesus is about change for the better, using research, analysis and youth popular culture to better the lives of those less fortunate. Sounds simple, but it’s damn hard, and no one does it better than DeJesus.