Winter 2004 DSY graduating class.

2004 was another banner year for the Joseph A. Forgione Development School for Youth (DSY). On December 10, the DSY graduated its 16th class of young leaders. Forty-one students from the DSY’s Tuesday and Wednesday Fall semester classes, took part in the graduation ceremony held at the New York offices of the McGraw Hill Companies. During the summer of 2004, 134 DSY graduates were placed in summer internships in 60 New York City corporations, a 20% increase in internship sponsorship over 2003. Since 1997, when the DSY was founded, the program has placed 432 students in paid internships and has graduated 478.

Congressman Charles Rangel and Dr. Lenora Fulani at the "Learning From Leaders" charity luncheon.

In addition to increased student participation (the DSY is fully registered with students through the Spring of 2006), the DSY has also attracted an ever growing number of business professionals who want to work with the youth as Program Associates and train in the DSY’s developmental learning approach with Co-Director Dr. Lenora Fulani.

One Program Associate, Lynn DeLeo, a vice president of human resources, began working with Dr. Fulani and the DSY in 1997. Over the years, Lynn has taken on increasing responsibilities with the DSY and is currently an assistant Program Director. In November Lynn was honored for her years of dedication and leadership with the DSY at the third annual “Learning from Leaders” luncheon, the program’s major yearly fundraising event. Also honored at the luncheon was accounting executive Frank Hertz who has chaired the summer internship committee and led workshops.

Honorees Frank Hertz (l.) and Lynn DeLeo (r.) with Professor Derrick Bell and All Stars founder, Dr. Lenora Fulani at the "Learning From Leaders" charity luncheon, Wed. Nov. 10th.

The 2004 Learning from Leaders gala, the most successful ever, raised over $300,000 for the youth leadership program. Over 300 business leaders attended the event, and Congressman Charles Rangel and the distinguished civil rights lawyer and professor, Dr. Derrick Bell, delivered moving addresses.

As 2005 approaches, the DSY has already begun to put together its spring class and workshop schedule, which will be led by a continuously growing compliment of trained and motivated volunteer executives, administrators, artists and others. For more information on the DSY, becoming a Program Associate, getting your company involved in the summer internship program, donating or volunteering, contact Cecilia Salvatierra, the DSY’s program manager at 212-356-8423 (phone) or via email at CSalvatierra@allstars.org.