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

Statement on the passing of Judy Heumann

Dear Extreme Kids & Crew community,

It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the passing of disability rights activist Judy Heumann over the weekend. Her fierce championship of equality and inclusion paved the way for so many of the opportunities and protections we enjoy today. Judy was a trailblazer who fought fearlessly for the rights of all disabled people, advocating for accessible public transportation, education, employment opportunities, and so much more.

We are indebted to Judy’s work, and her legacy will live on as we continue to fight for disability equity in our schools, in our workplaces, and in our homes. We honor her memory by committing ourselves to the work of creating a more inclusive and accessible society, one where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and be their fullest selves.

Our thoughts are with Heumann's loved ones during this difficult time. We thank her for her tireless advocacy and her unwavering commitment to justice and equality for all. May her memory be a blessing.

Sincerely,
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 Announces New Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 17, 2023
Contact: Alex Bazeley
Phone: (347) 410-6050 
Email: alex@extremekidsandcrew.org

**PRESS RELEASE**

Extreme Kids & Crew Announces New Executive Director

Brooklyn, NY — Extreme Kids & Crew is pleased to announce that Lovisa Brown has been hired as the organization’s next Executive Director. Extreme Kids & Crew offers free and accessible arts and play programming for neurodivergent youth and their families in New York City.

Ms. Brown brings to the role 15 years of experience as an arts educator, igniting underserved youth to seize their narratives and make an impact in their community. She is an expert in bridging the gap between race and art for students through diaspora stories and the skills of visual arts, music, film, and history. In addition, Lovisa is a skilled and tactful communicator who enjoys direct conversation with audiences of all ages and abilities.

“After a competitive and thoughtful interview process, we are very excited to welcome Ms. Brown to our organization,” said Board Chair Christian Bergeron. “She is someone who brings a wealth of expertise and experience to Extreme Kids, and her background in arts and education, along with her passion for building equitable communities, make her the perfect person to lead this team as we enter our next chapter.

As the Senior Director of Education for the Museum of the African Diaspora from 2010 to 2015, Ms. Brown delivered high-impact programs that expanded the museum’s educational capabilities and helped grow her team into a robust, diverse workforce. Since then, she has worked as an arts and education consultant at museums and community-based organizations in San Francisco and New York City, developing strategies to enhance visitor experiences, expand outreach services, and build sustainable, culturally-competent educational curricula. 

She has also held roles at the International Museum of Women and the Children's Creativity Museum, building staff capacity, facilitating programmatic growth, and cultivating community relationships. Ms. Brown succeeds Caitlin Cassaro, Extreme Kids & Crew’s founding Executive Director, who served in the role since 2013 and left the organization in December 2022. 

“Extreme Kids & Crew is a leader in the New York disability space, and I am honored to become part of such an important and impactful organization that is making a difference in the lives of neurodivergent youth and their families,” said Ms. Brown. “I hold dear the values of equity and inclusion that guide Extreme Kids & Crew, and am eager to get to know everyone and work together to bring new programs and initiatives to life.”

Ms. Brown is starting in her role effectively immediately.

About Extreme Kids & Crew

Established in 2010, Extreme Kids & Crew is a welcoming space where neurodivergent youth, their friends, and their families socialize, create, and play on their own terms. By establishing and maintaining creative community centers for the disability community, Extreme Kids seeks to show people that disability is not to be feared, pitied or mindlessly exalted, but understood to be an inherent part of life. For more information, visit https://www.extremekidsandcrew.org/.

###

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

An Open Letter to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams

Dear Brooklyn Borough President Adams,

We were appalled to hear you call the closing of Willowbrook State School, the Staten Island site of numerous abuses of people with developmental disabilities, a “mistake” on MSNBC’s Morning Joe last Tuesday, while downplaying the nature of the atrocities committed there. These comments suggest an incomplete understanding of the depth of institutional failure at Willowbrook, as well as the harm that disabled people often face in facilities meant to care for them. 

It is imperative that we as a community — both citizens and elected officials — do not forget this history, lest we repeat these mistakes. Remarking that just “a few employees harmed those who were patients at Willowbrook” is a gross understatement that erases the lasting trauma of the thousands of Willowbrook patients and ignores the abuse that many of these same patients still receive today in smaller institutions. It is additionally upsetting that you would conflate the experiences of developmentally disabled people and people with mental illnesses, which ultimately marginalizes both communities and does a disservice to their unique lived experiences.

What happened at Willowbrook was a wake-up call for all of us about how disabled people are treated by the medical industrial complex, and New York City requires a leader who understands this. We encourage you to revisit some of the original coverage surrounding the Willowbrook exposé and listen to those who experienced life there in order to better understand the reality of Willowbrook. 

We hope that you can use this as an opportunity to educate yourself and reflect on the harmful nature of your comments. The point that you appeared to be trying to make — that disabled people are woefully under-served by the state despite an abundance of resources — remains a salient one. We look forward to working with the next mayor in advancing opportunities for, while listening directly to, disabled people across New York City. 

Sincerely,
The staff of Extreme Kids & Crew

Silas Raines, 10-year-old Crew Member, Wins In Disability Unite Got Talent Artist Contest

We’re incredibly thrilled to see that Silas Raines, a 10-year-old member of our Crew and a visual artist, was announced as a winner in the 2021 Disability Unite Got Talent artist contest! Silas is one of ten artists that were selected by a community vote, and he’ll be receiving a featured performance in this year's Disability Unite Festival. Congratulations to Silas for his hard work and beautiful creation!

Alt text: A drawing by Silas Raines that shows a community of cartoon people drawn in green on a white sheet of paper. Many of the people are smiling and some have their arms in the air, and it appears that they come from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life.

Silas, who is also the son of board president Vanessa Connelly, is a visual artist whose work — done primarily by pen — depicts abstract and surrealist interpretations of life, often focusing on communities of people. He maintains an Instagram account that showcases the variety of his work. We can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!