NYABJ Attends CARES Gala Anniversary Celebration
- pitches3
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
By: Ayanna Hunter
On March 6, the New York Association of Black Journalists (NYABJ) attended the red carpet for the 10th anniversary of the CARES Gala, a celebration honoring those dedicated to uplifting Black children growing up in poverty through holistic nurturing and mentorship. This year’s honorees are influential leaders in their respective fields and communities who have advanced conversations on mental health, advocacy, and criminal justice and prison reform.
Among the honorees receiving the prestigious North Star Award were actress Taraji P. Henson, philanthropist Tina Knowles, spiritual teacher Dr. Iyanla Vanzant, and social justice advocate and city council member Dr. Yusef Salaam.
Currently, National CARES is the only holistic program in the United States designed to advance the lives of Black and Brown people.
Susan L. Taylor, founder of the National CARES Mentoring Movement, spoke passionately about the impact of intergenerational poverty, emphasizing the urgency of the movement. “When you’re in a school that is gravely under-resourced and there is overwhelm in your homes, living in poverty is overwhelming,” she said. “We have teachers who are underpaid. They are the most underpaid and overworked professionals in this nation.”
According to a 2024 report from the Albert Shanker Institute, Black students are 3.5 times more likely to attend chronically underfunded school districts. This underfunding leads to significant disparities in educational opportunities and outcomes compared to White and Asian students.
For example, in 2024, among fourth graders nationwide, 85% of American Indian students, 84% of Black students, and 80% of Hispanic students scored below proficient reading levels. In contrast, 50% of Asian and Pacific Islander students and 61% of White students scored below proficient reading levels.
Taylor underscored the importance of closing these systemic gaps. “We are like first responders,” she said. “We are there with our psychologists, social workers, and others, ensuring that our children have opportunities.
”Through the efforts of Taylor and the National CARES community, the organization has supported over 300,000 children and recruited and placed more than 200,000 mentors, according to National CARES Mentoring Movement data.
Her work has also inspired others to take action in philanthropy. Tina Knowles, co-founder of the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth and the Where Art Can Occur (WACO) Center, credited Taylor with motivating her to begin formal mentorship. “I saw the work that she was doing, and I went home, and instead of procrastinating, I got started with my charity,” she said. “Now I mentor over 100 kids, and it’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
”The National CARES Mentoring Movement has made a profound impact on thousands of Black and Brown children growing up in poverty, demonstrating that holistic support, leadership, and the spread of critical knowledge can create transformative opportunities for those too often overlooked in America’s education system.