An Important Update About Our Programs

Dear Extreme Kids community:

My first two months at Extreme Kids & Crew have been full of excitement and learning. I feel privileged to partner with our vibrant community to create brave spaces where differences are welcomed and celebrated. I’ve worked diligently with the staff, community partners, and the board to craft a vision for our future, and I am thrilled about what we’ve come up with. 

Our clubs, monthly family programs, and Powerful Parents group continue to transform the lives of neurodivergent youth and their families. However, we currently reach only a fraction of the children and families who could benefit from our programs and community. Growing our disability-centered programs means making them more economically sustainable. With plans to expand our demographics (Spanish-language program), geography (family programs to all five NYC boroughs), and age range (elementary school students), an immediate change is needed.

This summer, we will begin charging for our youth programs, a change that will help us fulfill our vision to become the NYC community hub for young people with disabilities and their Crews. The fees will cover approximately half the cost of each program, enabling us to offer exciting new play opportunities for young people, reach more families, and create a sustainable foundation for our work. Our upcoming Spring 2023 clubs will remain cost-free.  

We understand that this change may be difficult for some families, and we want to ensure that every child continues to have access to our programs. No family will be turned away due to their inability to pay. If you have concerns about the fee, please do not hesitate to contact me (lovisa@extremekidsandcrew.org). We are committed to working with you to find a solution that meets your needs.

We have not taken this decision lightly and have carefully considered ensuring that we can continue to provide the highest quality programming for years to come. We will continue to foster welcoming, accessible spaces where young neurodivergent people, their friends, and their families can socialize, create, and play without fear of judgment or exclusion. 

Thank you for your understanding and continued support of our mission at Extreme Kids & Crew, and stay tuned for further announcements. We look forward to continuing to serve our community and provide everyone with a space to be. 

Sincerely,

Lovisa & The Crew

A Letter From Our New Executive Director

Dear Extreme Kids & Crew community,

I am thrilled to join Extreme Kids & Crew as the organization’s new Executive Director. As a longtime educator and arts program strategist, I am passionate about connecting communities and youth. I am honored to become part of an organization making a difference in the lives of neurodivergent youth and their families. I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself and tell you why I’m so excited.

For the last two decades, I have worked in museums in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, developing programs that link art, community, and the lived experiences of marginalized youth, most recently as the Senior Director of Education at the Museum of the African Diaspora and then as an art consultant in NYC. As a result, I have seen firsthand how thoughtful, well-designed programs aimed at marginalized youth can give them self-confidence and a sense of belonging.

In my first two weeks at Extreme Kids, I’ve seen the power of our programs in the laughter of our young people, often misunderstood and marginalized in other places, who feel free to be themselves without fear of judgment or stares. I’ve seen our Extreme Kids staff affirming them, meeting them where they are and gently redirecting them when needed. Through the power of play, our youth develop social-emotional skills, learn about the world around them and create a community free of judgment. Parents have shared how they appreciate our programs as unique spaces for the whole family to play together.

This is a pivotal time for Extreme Kids & Crew. For the past ten years, Extreme Kids has established itself as a cornerstone of the disability community in New York. I am deeply impressed by the resilience and commitment of the staff, board, and community in facing challenges during the pandemic. I look forward to all of us building on that foundation and supporting Extreme Kids and Crew to grow, making us even more of a space to be.

Above all, I hold dear the values of equity and inclusion that guide Extreme Kids & Crew, and I am eager to get to know everyone and work together to bring new programs and initiatives to life.

Thank you for this incredible opportunity. I can’t wait to see what we will become together.

Warmly,
Lovisa Brown
Executive Director, Extreme Kids & Crew

What's coming up:

• Extreme Kids Clubs resume in April! See what clubs we're offering.

• The next Powerful Parents cohort begins on March 9th — sign up now!

Extreme Kids & Crew Launches Executive Director Search

Dear Extreme Kids & Crew community,

After 10 successful years, Extreme Kids & Crew’s founding Executive Director Caitlin Cassaro will be leaving the organization at the end of December. Caitlin’s leadership, vision, spirit, and tenacity have been a driving force in making Extreme Kids a “space to be,” where young neurodiverse people, their friends, and their families, socialize, create, and play. We are deeply proud and grateful for her accomplishments and wish her much success in her next endeavors.

As we bid Caitlin Cassaro farewell, the Board of Extreme Kids & Crew is excited to announce the launch of our search for Extreme Kids & Crew’s next Executive Director. This is an extraordinary opportunity to build on our past successes to take this small and essential organization to its next generation of sustainability and impact.

The Board has engaged Rachel Howard, a seasoned nonprofit leader and friend of Extreme Kids, to serve as Interim Executive Director. Steve Stern, an experienced nonprofit financial professional, will serve as the Interim Director of Finance and Administration. Rachel and Steve worked together at INCLUDEnyc for many years where Rachel served as Executive Director and Steve served as Director of Finance. Together with Extreme Kids & Crew’s dedicated staff and Board of Directors, they will work to ensure a smooth transition.

We are looking for a strategic thinker with expertise developing sustainable programs and partnerships to advance the organization’s mission of increasing access to play in New York for young neurodiverse people and their Crews. An exceptional candidate will embody the qualities and values that reflect Extreme Kids’ unique mission and values: creativity, connection, compassion, respect, and collaboration, and a desire to include the voices of the people and communities served in program development.

To learn more about this opportunity and for directions on how to apply, please visit the job posting on our website. And if you know someone who might be interested, please spread the word! We're excited for what this next chapter holds for our organization and can't wait to get started.

Christian Bergeron
Chair, Board of Directors