The Urban Assembly's 7th Annual Benefit Dinner - College & Career in the Digital Age

March 02, 2016

On Tuesday, February 24th, The Urban Assembly held its 7th Annual Benefit Dinner at The New York Public Library, celebrating our family of schools and students.

Master of Ceremonies, Reverend Jacques De Graff led the evening's program which included inspiring speeches from current Urban Assembly students and alumni. Richard Kahan, Founder & CEO, announced the submission of UA's proposal to open its first-ever charter school - The Urban Assembly Charter School for Computer Science.Keynote speaker Robert K. Steel highlighted the evening's theme of College and Career in the Digital Age by illustrating how technology companies and education organizations in NYC are successfully coming together to help students succeed.

Read an article featuring our benefit on Bloomberg Business here. Select videos and photos are attached below.

Fahad, a 7th grader at The Urban Assembly School for New Technologies shared what he most likes about his school and how he is "getting ready to change the world" by working with Quantum computers. Alumna Marium Dar spoke about how the experiences she had and skills she developed at The Urban Assembly School for Criminal Justice have contributed to her success at Columbia University.

The Urban Assembly School for Law, Government & Justice and Skidmore College Alumna, Yabielis Guerrero described her UA journey which began in 7th grade, continued through high school graduation and into her college years when she became a UA staffer through our Bridge To College program. Ms. Guerrero now works as a College Success Counselor at Goddard Riverside Community Center's Options Center.

"I've spent most of my youth affiliated with the Urban Assembly. It has provided me a space to develop my professional interests, skills, and connections. I had the privilege of fostering relationships with people that believed in me, cared about me, and allowed me to see a world/future for myself that I did not necessarily even have in my imagination beforehand."

-Yabielis Guerrero, UA School of Law, Government & Justice and Skidmore College Alumna

Through the generosity of our growing community of supporters the evening raised $538,000.

If you would like to become a supporter of this year's campaign, please make a secure online donation here.