Danny: Giving Back

Teenage Danny was constantly looking for an escape while growing up in the Baruch Houses. "It wasn’t the best neighborhood,” Danny shared. “My buddy and I walked to Grand Street’s Beacon Community Center after school.” There, Danny and his friends played basketball (after they finished their homework, of course) and went on field trips. Danny made an effort to go to Beacon whenever possible, even after he began commuting to the prestigious Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem.

Thanh Bui, Grand Street’s Chief Programs Officer for Youth, served as the Director of Beacon Community Center when Danny was in school. “Thanh and the other staff were invested in my journey,” said Danny. They encouraged his passion for math and math tutoring, and helped him secure part-time jobs through AmeriCorps. The AmeriCorps stipend helped him cover expenses in high school and prepare for college. 

“Grand Street gave me the agency to be the person I am today.” As a member of Grand Street’s Board of Directors, Danny is proud of how far the organization has come. “One of the most satisfying parts of being a board member is seeing how the staff and executive team are being good stewards of the organization. There are thousands of kids growing up in these neighborhoods who are going to feel these benefits, too. I’m here to serve the community and do what’s needed so that Grand Street is here for another 110 years.