THE CITY OF NEW YORK

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

NEW YORK, NY 10007

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 7, 2020

CONTACT: pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov, (212) 788-2958

MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS JORDAN STOCKDALE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE YOUNG MEN’S INITIATIVE

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today the appointment of Jordan Stockdale as Executive Director of the Young Men’s Initiative (YMI). In this role, Stockdale will oversee YMI’s marquee initiatives like NYC Men Teach, which recruits and trains men of color to teach in NYC public schools, and Jobs-Plus, which provides employment-related services to NYCHA residents.

“Leading an Initiative that seeks to confront inequality and create opportunity for young Latino and Black men is a big responsibility,” said J. Phillip Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives. “As a former NYC public school teacher, mentor and community leader who is passionate about ensuring our City is a fair and more equitable place for all, we are confident in Jordan’s ability to deliver big wins that support the success of our young men of color in New York City.”

Stockdale brings extensive programmatic experience to the Young Men’s Initiative. He recently served as Deputy Executive Director of the Close Rikers Initiative at the NYC Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ), and previously served as Program Director of School Climate Initiatives at MOCJ and as an education policy analyst at the Mayor’s Office. Before working at the Mayor's Office, Jordan was as a Fulbright Scholar in Madrid, Spain, and a special education teacher in Harlem.

Stockdale is a graduate of Princeton University with a Master’s in Public Affairs, and has a Master’s from Hunter College in Special Education.

“The Young Men’s Initiative has a storied history of uplifting communities of color, and I am excited to join the YMI team in leading programs that create jobs, increase educational attainment and reduce disparities in the criminal justice system,” said Jordan Stockdale, Executive Director of the Young Men’s Initiative. “I want to thank Mayor de Blasio for the opportunity to continue to serve New York City’s young people and their families.”

The NYC Young Men’s Initiative is a cross-agency enterprise that is committed to finding new ways to support historically marginalized communities of color. YMI invests and co-manages tens of programs designed to improve outcomes for black and brown young people across education, health, employment and the criminal justice system. Recently, Mayor de Blasio announced that YMI and NYC Men Teach - a collaboration with CUNY and the NYC Department of Education - would double the number of men of color in the program’s pipeline to become teachers. And this year, Jobs-Plus, an initiative managed by a collaborative of agencies that includes the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity, the Human Resources Administration, NYCHA, and the Department for Consumer and Worker Protection, is expanding from serving 27 NYCHA communities to serve 44 communities. 

“Changing the narrative for boys and young men of color happens by having the right leadership to inspire, guide and empower our young Kings.  Jordan Stockdale is absolutely prepared and ready to excel as the next Director of the Young Men's Initiative.  As someone very committed to My Brother's Keeper, I am very proud and excited to work with Jordan as he ensures that the next generation of young men in our city are ready to thrive, that we have more male teachers of color to be faces of hope and to provide economic opportunities for NYCHA residents seeking Jobs and Justice,” said Assembly Member Michael Blake. 

“Young men of color face tremendous opportunity gaps that not only threaten their present and future possibilities, but also those of the communities in which they live and of our entire city and state. The Young Men's Initiative, which seeks to close those opportunity gaps, is a critical and essential initiative in the overall effort to ensure that every person in our democracy has full, equal opportunity to realize their highest potential. Jordan Stockdale's appointment as Director of the Young Men's Initiative gives me great confidence that NYC will lead the way in making excellent gains in the area of young men of color achievement. Jordan has devoted considerable time academically as well as while working in and outside of our city's educational system to understanding this issue thoroughly, in an effort to formulate impactful solutions that truly make a difference in young men of color's lives. The young men of color in our city and their futures are in superb hands with Jordan leading the way as director of this initiative,” said Senator Brian Benjamin, District 30.

“Jordan Stockdale has consistently demonstrated leadership, initiative, and commitment to his work. His experience working on criminal justice reform, education policy, and workforce development makes him a perfect fit to lead the Young Men's Initiative," said Council Member Diana Ayala. "I look forward to working with him in his new role, where I am certain he will succeed in positively impacting the lives of young men across our city."

“I have had the great pleasure of working with Jordan. His leadership comes at a time when young men and women of color are our hope and promise for a city that shows the country how to unite and fight for justice and opportunity. Investments and programs need stewardship and Jordan will be a committed steward,” said Maya Wiley, NBC News & MSNBC Legal Analyst and Professor.

“Jordan Stockdale is an excellent choice to lead YMI.  He has proven his commitment to the mission, as well as his ability to bring stakeholders together behind new programs and policies aimed at addressing barriers to education and justice for people of color.  We look forward to working with him as he moves this initiative forward,” said Kim Sweet, Executive Director, Advocates for Children of New York.

“Jordan is an exemplary public servant who has achieved a lot on behalf of New Yorkers in a very short period of time. In my office, Jordan played a central role in increasing school climate and safety supports in schools, as well as effectively implementing Raise the Age. He has brought smarts and passion to this work, informed by his previous work as a teacher and beyond.  He will be an energetic and extraordinary leader of the Young Men’s Initiative and I look forward to working with him to further support the city's young people,” said Liz Glazer, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice.

“The Young Men’s Initiative is a cornerstone program that provides guidance and support to groups historically disenfranchised,” said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “As a man of color, I know the importance of investing in our youth and the lasting impact it has on their growth and development. Jordan is well poised to lead this program and further the City’s commitment to vulnerable communities.”

"As young men of color have borne the disproportionate brunt of our nation's criminal justice, education, housing and poverty policies, it is entirely appropriate that New York City has sought to redress those inequities through the Young Men's Initiative," stated Vincent Schiraldi, co-director of the Columbia Justice Lab and former New York City Probation Commissioner. "I can think of no better person to direct YMI than Jordan Stockdale who has been at the forefront of promoting criminal justice and educational reforms that contribute to equity throughout his career."

“In 2011, NYC launched the Young Men’s Initiative with the vision of creating a city that provides support and resources for youth, while holding high expectations of every young man regardless of zip code or racial identity. Today’s announcement of the appointment of Mr. Jordan Stockdale as the Director of the Young Men’s Initiative demonstrates the City’s commitment to moving this vision forward with proven and tried leadership.  Mr. Stockdale’s interaction with the community around Mayor’s de Blasio efforts to close Rikers Island and overhaul the criminal justice system have affirmed our city’s ability to solve deep-rooted societal problems by looking to the wisdom of impacted communities.  We look forward to being part of the movement to help propel all youth forward, particularly African-American and Latino young men who face institutional barriers as they navigate their individual paths towards manhood,” said Rev. Wendy Calderón Payne, Executive Director, BronxConnect.

About Jordan Stockdale

Jordan Stockdale most recently served as Deputy Executive Director of the Close Rikers Initiative at the NYC Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ). In this position, Jordan also managed the implementation of Raise the Age as well as school climate and safety reforms for the office. Jordan also previously served as Program Director of School Climate Initiatives at MOCJ and as an education policy analyst for the First Deputy Mayor. Before working at the Mayor's Office, Jordan was a Fulbright Scholar in Madrid, Spain, and a special education teacher in Harlem. In 2017, Jordan launched Hire Harlem – a platform that promotes businesses that hire locally, reinvest in the community or are owned by women or people of color (MWBEs). Stockdale has a Master's in Special Education from Hunter College and a Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton University.

About Young Men's Initiative

In August 2011, New York City Young Men’s Initiative (YMI) was created as a public-private partnership to address increasing disparities among black and Latino men between the ages of 16 and 24 years old in education, employment, health and justice. The YMI mission is to develop and champion policies, programs and partnerships that holistically support the success of young men of color throughout NYC. YMI accomplishes its mission through broad policy recommendations, changes and agency reforms and by connecting the city’s young men of color to individuals, opportunities and organizations that improve the quality of their lives and lead them to a more successful future. To learn more about YMI, visit www.nyc.gov/ymi

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