MAYOR ADAMS APPOINTS KEITH HOWARD AS COMMISSIONER OF DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of Keith Howard as commissioner of the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). At DYCD, Howard — who has nearly 30 years of public service — will bring operational management expertise and a history of improving connections between community-based organizations and young adults. Howard also has a breadth of experience focused on community-driven programs to advance safer, healthier environments for young people. As a former board member of SCAN-Harbor, one of the largest youth service providers in Harlem, East Harlem, and the South Bronx, Howard provided oversight on organizational policy, budget, and program activities to after-school programs, early childhood education, family and social services, workforce development, youth education, and violence prevention. 

 

“Investing in our youth contributes to the prosperity of their future and the future of this city,” said Mayor Adams. “By building off preventive programs, like Summer Youth Employment Program and Saturday Night Lights, we will provide all New York City youth with the opportunity for a safe and successful life. Under Keith Howard’s leadership, we will continue to create bold, upstream solutions for our young people and dam the many rivers causing violence in our city.” 

 

“New York City’s young people deserve proper investments to plant and water the seeds to a fruitful future. Keith Howard has a proven record of championing to improve the quality of life of New York City youth and will continue this work at DYCD,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. “I am confident Keith is the right person to provide safe and supportive environments for our New York City youth to thrive.”

 

“I am humbled and grateful to Mayor Adams for my appointment as the new commissioner of DYCD,” said incoming DYCD Commissioner Keith Howard. “I am excited to lead an agency with 25 years of dedicated service and work with extraordinary public servants who tirelessly provide essential resources through a network of community-based organizations to young adults and their communities. Mayor Adams has dedicated his life and professional career to improving the lives of our city’s young people and the most vulnerable. The mayor’s upstream vision is clear, and DYCD will work side-by-side with our sister agencies to empower our youth and uplift their futures.”