SEPTEMBER 2026

DIGITAL NEWS

Dear GOSO Supporter,

Fall has always felt like a season of new beginnings, and at GOSO, it's a time when I'm reminded of what makes this work so powerful. Growth doesn't happen alone. It starts with honoring where we come from, the cultures and communities that shape who we are, and it flourishes when young people are surrounded by people who believe in them. This season, that belief looks like a young person opening a textbook with fresh confidence, walking into a first day on the job with their head held high, and discovering they're worthy of healing.

As you read through this issue, I hope you'll see the GOSO community I see every day, one that steps up to open doors and offer our young people the exposure, resources, and connections they need to build the futures they deserve.

With gratitude,

Michelle Pryce-Screen

President & CEO

A New School Year, a Growing GOSO

A new school year is a fresh start, and this year our education program is growing from two classrooms to three, giving more young people a place to learn, grow, and work toward their goals, from GED prep to college. We kicked off the year with our annual Back to School event, where, thanks to the support of Ponce Bank and the participation of our friends at Macquarie, every participant left with a new backpack and the reminder that a whole community is in their corner. Between icebreakers, new connections, and our staff showing up dressed as participants, the room was full of energy. A special thank you to the volunteers from Macquarie and Council Member Encarnacion's office for organizing every last supply.

With a third classroom this year, our students still need supplies. It's not too late to help! Click the link below.

Honoring a GOSO Trailblazer

Behind every young person who finds their footing at GOSO is a team that believes in them, and leading that team is Yenia Vasquez, our Vice President of Community Programs. This year, City & State New York are honoring Yenia as a 2026 Latino Trailblazer! Yenia oversees our clinical, education, reentry, and career programs, the foundation of everything GOSO does to help young people build stable, thriving futures. Her leadership, heart, and unwavering belief in our participants shape the lives of so many young New Yorkers every day. Congratulations, Yenia, this recognition is so well deserved!

Click here to read more about Yenia.

Investing in Futures That Work

At GOSO, our vision is that every young person deserves the chance to build a future defined by their potential, not their past. That's why we're thrilled to share that GOSO has been named a 2026 Taco Bell Foundation Community Grants recipient! This continued support fuels GOSOWorks, our Career Services program, where our dedicated team ensures the young people we serve can step confidently into careers they can grow in. Thank you to the Taco Bell Foundation for helping turn that vision into reality every day.

Click here to read more about how Taco Bell Foundation is supporting GOSO.

This Good Feels Good

For many young people, the path to a new job or a fresh start comes with barriers most of us never think about, including something as basic as having the right clothes. Without them, confidence can fade before the first day even begins. That's why GOSO is grateful for our partnership with Haggar, a company that shares our commitment to helping young people grow. Thanks to their gift, our participants can now show up ready and feeling like their best selves. Thank you, Haggar, for helping our young people step into their futures with confidence!

Watch the video to see how Haggar is supporting GOSO.

Day for Dad: SAVE's Annual Resource Fair

Fathers spend so much of their energy showing up for everyone else. At Day for Dads, our SAVE team flipped the script and made the day about them. What started as a block party became a space for rest, reflection, and connection, where dads could step into a healing circle, learn about resources from local community-based organizations, and simply be celebrated for the role they play in their families and communities. We were proud to welcome New York City Council Member Yusef Salaam of Harlem's District 9, who stopped by to spend time with our dads and the SAVE team. Here's to the fathers who hold our community together.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our education team filled the past few days with activities celebrating the rich history and culture of Hispanic and Latino communities. Participants explored the lives of trailblazing figures like Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, whose journey from the Bronx to the nation's highest court is a powerful reminder of what's possible. They even built their very own bodega right here in the GOSO offices, a joyful tribute to a cornerstone of New York neighborhoods. At GOSO, we believe every culture and community deserves to be seen and celebrated because when young people see their stories reflected, they see their own potential.

Follow us on social media to see how we continue the celebration all month long!