Next Stop,

Drive Change

We get young, justice-involved New Yorkers to their Next Stop.

Just as the subway connects you to new neighborhoods, opportunities, and each other– Drive Change connects young, justice-involved New Yorkers to meaningful career development, mentorship, and long-term stability. We can’t do it alone, and need your help. By supporting this campaign, you are helping young New Yorkers get to their Next Stop and beyond.

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ALUMNI STORIES

EMPLOYER PARTNERS

DRIVE CHANGE MILESTONES

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ALUMNI

Our alumni represent all five boroughs, and through Drive Change, they work all around the city. Learn how Drive Change helped these alumni get to their Next Stop on the Red Train.

STOP 1

Beau

Beau, born and raised in Manhattan, was afraid of kitchens before Drive Change - hot things, knives- it was overwhelming. But, Beau realized Drive Change was more than a second chance, it was a window into a world they had never seen before – to not only cook for themselves, but for others with care. Now, Beau loves that as a chef, they are able to show love and care through the food they cook for strangers, and they know they can feel that love through their food. To continue nourishing others with care, Beau sees the Next Stop on their journey as becoming a head chef, and down the line, starting their own culinary business.

STOP 2

Kidane

“Purpose and Stability,” the two words Kidane declared represent what Drive Change is all about. After being arrested in 2024, Kidane was out of work for a year. Drive Change was the only place that he found that didn’t care about his record, and gave Kidane a fair chance and platform to work on himself and make himself better, saying, “Drive Change presents people with opportunities when they feel like they don’t have it. Kidane's Next Stop will be joining the Drive Change team as a full-time Culinary Assistant, gaining more experience before he plans to open his own catering business, which would allow him to create food for others with care on his own terms.

STOP 3

Jahssiah

"You’re hungry, want something to eat? I got you, I can prep you a good meal right now!” Jahssiah reflects on their ability to take care of others because of what they learned at Drive Change. But the most important skill they feel they learned? The way Drive Change taught them to advocate for themselves if they're being stepped on in professional kitchen environments. These skills lead to the two words Jahssiah feels represent Drive Change, “Secure and Safe” Jahssiah says, "Drive Change feels like family as soon as you walk in,” which led to a sense of safety to self-advocate, driving confidence, and resulting in security within their career.

STOP 4

Nakayla

Coming from Brownsville, Brooklyn, Drive Change allowed Nakayla to directly impact her community through grocery and meal distribution, and by having stable employment so she can now take care of herself and her family. "Drive Change means opportunity for people who do not have opportunities elsewhere, setting you up for success to work in a real-world environment when others won't," Nakayla says. Through Drive Change, Nakayla’s opportunity came through employer partner BKLYN Blend, where she was hired straight out of her externship. With the skills Nakayla is learning about hospitality and business, she hopes her next stop is opening her own boutique hair salon, where people can feel beautiful and taken care of with good food and drinks.

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EMPLOYER PARTNERS

Our network of employer partners are important stops on the journey of our fellows and alumni in gaining professional culinary and hospitality experience, setting them up for long-term career success. Below are some of the ways our partners support our mission. You can see all of our employer partners here.

STOP 1

Union Square Cafe

Union Square Cafe was founded in 1985 as Danny Meyer’s first restaurant, setting the table for his legendary Union Square Hospitality Group to take shape in the years to come. Not only does Union Square Cafe support Drive Change through externship and employment opportunities for our fellows and alumni, but also hosts and sponsors the annual All In event, which raised over $100,000 this year for Drive Change, Emma’s Torch, and Food Education Fund. Union Square Cafe is committed to providing mentorship and job opportunities for our fellows to grow their culinary careers, hosting 11 fellows since 2023.

STOP 2

Caffè Panna

Inspired by her experience working and living in Rome, Hallie Meyer founded Caffè Panna in 2019, bringing some of the best ice cream in the nation to New York City. Hallie hired one of our fellows, Brandon, out of the Drive Change Fellowship, but was almost forced to lay him off when the pandemic hit. With food delivery services becoming an important way for businesses to stay afloat, Hallie hired Brandon full-time to help run their delivery operation- ensuring Brandon remained employed, and New Yorkers continued to receive the best ice cream in the city. Today, Brandon is a manager helping lead this incredible operation.

STOP 3

Melba’s

Melba Wilson founded Melba’s twenty years ago, in turn creating an institution that has served people all over the world with love. Being born and raised in Harlem, Melba understands well how to serve and support her community beyond just her signature dishes. Since 2024, Melba’s has hosted 7 Drive Change fellows, developing their skills by working at both her restaurant and catering service, and preparing them for multiple career paths in the hospitality industry. Most recently, one of our fellows, Al, trailed at Melba’s twelve years after meeting Melba at his middle school on a career day.

STOP 4

The MEAT Hook

Bringing back the tradition of locally-owned, neighborhood butcheries, The Meat Hook has been serving Brooklyn ethically sourced, high quality meat since 2009. They prioritize the education of their in-house team, making their shops positive environments for our fellows to continue their hospitality and culinary journeys. The Meat Hook has hosted 5 Drive Change fellows, showcasing an alternative career pathway in the hospitality industry, and giving our fellows the opportunity to learn about sustainable sourcing and farming practices, butchery, and more.

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DRIVE CHANGE MILESTONES

Drive Change has had many stops on it's own journey over the last 11 years: From starting on Riker’s Island as a food truck, to buying a new food truck this year. Drive Change has grown tremendously to now serve over 60 fellows annually. The Green Train stops at some of our recent milestones.

STOP 1

Team Growth

Our team has grown to twelve full-time employees, with more on the docket to be hired in the coming year. We’ve affirmed our commitment to expanding career opportunities for our alumni by creating six full-time positions, two of which are already filled. All of our team additions bring their unique perspectives and experiences, and expand our capacity significantly, allowing us to provide the best possible experience for the young New Yorkers we serve.

STOP 2

Launch of DC Foods

This past year we launched Drive Change Foods, our social enterprise which will allow us to hire six full time alumni on an annual basis, as well as allow us to offset our operating budget, leading to more opportunities for our fellows. Not only does this give us the ability to continue supporting them in their personal and professional development directly, but also provide them with unique opportunities within the hospitality industry.

STOP 3

New Food Truck

We had 10 years with our first food truck, where we began training youth returning from Riker’s Island. This year we found a new truck that is larger, with a brand new kitchen, allowing us to serve more people, and create more opportunities for our fellows and alumni to work. Coming soon in 2026!

STOP 4

Where to next - Strategic Plan

This past year we launched our first strategic plan, mapping out our journey for growth and priorities over the next three years.

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TAKE ACTION

We need your support to continue providing life-changing opportunities to justice-involved youth. Hop on the Purple Train to support Drive Change, and make a direct impact in the lives of young New Yorkers.