New Settlement

03/26/2026

New Settlement Leadership Transition


After five and a half years as New Settlement’s Executive Director, Rigaud Noel has announced that he is stepping down as of Friday, March 27, in order to attend to family caregiving responsibilities.

In his time at New Settlement, Rigaud oversaw an expansion of New Settlement’s programming, deepened partnerships, and established a food pantry that now serves between 600 and 800 families each month. He also secured a partnership with Grand Street Settlement to bring a Head Start child care program to the Community Center, which will provide top quality early childhood education to 58 children. Additionally, Rigaud guided New Settlement through a full organizational rebranding—culminating in the adoption of our new tagline, Building Equitable Futures, and a refreshed mission statement that reflects our values, aspirations, and the communities we serve. We are so thankful to Rigaud for his leadership.

“I will forever be grateful for my time at New Settlement and for each of you,” said Rigaud Noel, outgoing Executive Director. “Thank you for the incredible memories, the hard work, and the commitment you bring to our community every day. New Settlement is in great hands with Kelly and the New Settlement leadership team.”

Graikelis (“Kelly”) Morales will serve as New Settlement’s Acting Executive Director while we search for an interim and then permanent new Executive Director. Kelly is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Settlement Housing Fund, an affiliate of New Settlement. Kelly has over 30 years of leadership experience at RiseBoro Community Partnership, with a focus on finance, operations, human resources, and New York City community programs, and will be an expert steward of New Settlement as we navigate this transition. Kelly will work closely with Nina Simone Stovel, Associate Executive Director, and the New Settlement executive team and staff.

“I started my career in community service through the DYCD-funded Summer Youth Employment Program at RiseBoro,” said Kelly Morales, Acting Executive Director.“ It is now my privilege to lead New Settlement while we search for long-term leadership. I look forward to working with the incredible staff and partners to ensure New Settlement continues to thrive.”

Chuck Warren, Board Chair of both New Settlement and Settlement Housing Fund, said, “On behalf of the Board, we are deeply grateful to Rigaud Noel for his years of dedicated leadership and service to New Settlement and the New Settlement Community. As we move into this next chapter, we are confident that Graikelis (Kelly) Morales will provide strong, thoughtful leadership as Acting Executive Director, ensuring continuity and stability during this transition.”

03/07/2026

hank you to and Commissioner Moy for holding the Budget Roadshow at New Settlement. We were honored to host you and always, a huge thank you to our partner Councilmember for showing up to support our community. Gracias a y al Comisionado Moy por organizar la Gira de Presupuesto en New Settlement. Fue un honor para nosotros recibirlos y, como siempre, un enorme agradecimiento a nuestra compañera, la Concejala , por su presencia para apoyar a nuestra comunidad.

02/28/2026

"The paradox of education is precisely this—that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated." – James Baldwin

At New Settlement, Black history isn't just a month; it's a foundation. The work of educating, empowering, and advocating for our young people is central to everything we do, every single day.

02/21/2026

Thank you, News 12 The Bronx for featuring our Y**I Program!

The disturbance broke out on the first day of mid-winter vacation for New York City public school students at Bay Plaza

02/06/2026

So proud to join over 1,000 Bronx community members and leaders for the Bronx First, Metro Industrial Areas Foundation Founding Assembly! Bronx First! Metro IAF

01/31/2026

A huge thank you to the New York Yankees and to New York Cares for their incredible support of New Settlement and our partner schools! ⚾️ We are proud to partner with the Bronx’s hometown team to better serve our community.

01/19/2026

Today, we honor the life and enduring impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

At New Settlement, we believe that a strong community is built on the pillars of justice, opportunity, and shared responsibility. Dr. King’s legacy serves as a roadmap for our work in the Bronx, reminding us that our individual well-being is deeply connected to the well-being of our neighbors.

As we reflect on his mission, we are inspired by his call to collective action:
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny."

This garment of destiny is what drives us to fight for better housing, more accessible education, and a neighborhood where everyone can thrive. Dr. King’s dream is not a static memory; it is a living mission that we carry out together every time we stand up for one another.

Today, let’s celebrate how far we’ve come and recommit to the work that still lies ahead.

01/08/2026

Congratulations to NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin on her historic election! New Settlement looks forward to working together to support New York's children and families.

12/31/2025

There is still time to make a meaningful difference for Bronx families before the year ends. In 2025, New Settlement reached over 15,000 individuals across our diverse range of programming. By focusing on high-impact services and community-led advocacy, we secured tangible financial gains and educational milestones for Bronx families. Give now at www.newsettlement.org/donate.

Your year-end gift helps sustain these critical initiatives:

*Securing Futures: We helped local youth secure and accept over 1 million dollars in financial aid for the 2025-2026 academic year.
*Gold-Standard Education: Every single one of our afterschool programs received a rating of Above Standard or Far Above Standard from DYCD evaluations.
*Essential Support: We expanded our weekly food pantry to provide consistent support to approximately 150 families every week.
*Organizing and Advocacy: We won significant victories for tenant and student rights, including successfully securing lower rent increases for two-year leases and expanding our Healing-Centered Schools model.

Continued support is essential to maintain these benchmarks and respond to the ongoing economic pressures facing our community. Please consider making a donation today to ensure our continued success in 2026. Thank you for your support, which makes this all possible.

12/30/2025

Before we ring in the New Year, we want to share a story of incredible transformation.

Meet Maya*. When she joined our Young Adult Opportunity Initiative (Y**I) in July, she had a goal: becoming a nurse. Since then, she’s worked tirelessly alongside her Youth Advisor to earn her CPR certification, complete a CNA program, and finish her clinical internship. She is officially on her way to becoming an LPN! 🩺✨

Maya’s journey is why we do what we do. This year alone, we’ve helped 65 young people secure jobs and supported 29 students in their transition to college.

We can’t do this work without our community. Will you make a gift today to help the next class of future professionals reach their dreams?

Support Bronx Youth here - www.newsettlement.org/donate

12/11/2025

Join us on December 17th!