15TH ANNIVERSARY YEARBOOK
CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF GIVING BOSTON STUDENTS A SECOND CHANCE AT COLLEGE
Letter from our leadership Dear Friends, This year, the Alray Scholars Program marks 15 years of giving Boston students a second chance at college. Since 2008, our supporters have helped promising students return to college after a setback, reducing their financial burden while providing them with guidance and mentoring. With the support from this dedicated community, 82 Alray Scholars crossed the finish line and completed college. With their degrees, graduates have built careers in nonprofits, government, education, healthcare, business, and more. They have bought homes, obtained graduate degrees, and provided a stable income for their families. Beyond that, they have inspired their friends, families, and communities to believe in second chances. In the years to come, we will continue the work to make a college degree more affordable, accessible, and attainable for students who have been left behind by educational systems. Additionally, we will assist scholars and graduates in leveraging their hard-earned degrees to advance in their careers. Finally, we will encourage graduates to pay it forward and give back to the Alray community, leading the way for the scholars coming up behind them. We could not do any of this without the remarkable scholars, graduates, mentors, and other volunteers and supporters who make up the dynamic Alray community. Thank you for all that you have done to help us get this far. Here’s to the next 15 years—and beyond. With gratitude,
Neil Swidey, Founder and President
Debbie Nguyen, Executive Director
Our people STAFF Debbie Nguyen, Executive Director Elaina Curtis, Program Manager Christina Joseph, Program Manager
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Neil Swidey, President Noel Samu, Treasurer Thomas Arruda, Clerk Liz Cabrera Michele Carroll Alia Crocker Kevin Fudge
Heidi Guarino Lewis Okun Teresa Pina Jethro Trente et un Hermese Velasquez Nancy White
ALUMNI COUNCIL Jean Dolin Ray Leconte Rachel Regis
Alray board at annual off-site, 2022
Cheryl Ricketts Oscar Torres
Alray board and staff gathering, 2023
How We Began Founded in 2008, the Alray Scholars Program is named in memory of Charlestown High School graduate Alray Taylor. He was also a key member of his high school’s basketball team and earned a coveted basketball scholarship to attend college. His promising life was cut short in a random neighborhood shooting, just as he was preparing to return to college. Alray’s struggle to complete his degree was hardly unique back then, and remains too common today. Boston writer Neil Swidey explored these issues in his book The Assist, and worked with friends to found the Alray program and help improve the odds for Boston public school graduates.
Alray Taylor with the Charlestown High boys’ basketball team, 2000
Our Mission
Our Vision
We provide Boston students with a second chance at college through scholarships, mentoring, and career planning support.
All Boston Public School graduates will have access to the financial, academic, and emotional support they need to re-enroll in college, earn their degree, and ultimately become economically self-sufficient and civically engaged.
Core Values We believe relationships are the heartbeat of Alray.
Service Areas Scholarships Mentorships Career services Resources & advocacy
We see and hear every member of our Alray community. Core We have a problem-solving mindset.
We know the path to success can be long and bumpy, yet we are not deterred. Scholars and mentors at Mentoring Night at Fenway Park, 2022
Top: Brittney Luvan and Alray board member Michele Carroll at Duet; QueChi Nguyen at UMass Boston Bottom: Teresa Pina at UMass Boston; Cheryl Ricketts at UMass Boston
15 years of second chances at college
2008: The Alray Taylor Second Chance Scholarship Fund is founded in memory of Alray Taylor.
2009: The organization officially receives 501(c)(3) status and separates from its fiscal sponsor as an independent organization.
First scholar and mentor pair: Neil Swidey with Teresa Pina
2009: Responding to scholars' requests, Alray creates a oneon-one mentoring program to complement the financial support scholars receive. 2011: Keyana Washington becomes the first Alray graduate, earning her associate's and bachelor's degrees from Cambridge College.
Janet Altman with scholars
2014: Alray receives Cummings $100K for 100 grant, allowing our volunteer-led organization to hire first employee, Janet Altman.
Keyana Washington at her graduation
2016: Alray adds job coaching to support scholars with navigating career transitions.
15 years of second chances at college 2019: Alray reaches our 50th graduate mark. 2021: Debbie Nguyen becomes Alray’s Executive Director (following Janet’s retirement!), joining Program Manager (and Alray grad!) Christina Joseph. Celebrating graduating scholars at annual lunch, 2019
2022: Alray pilots a more robust set of career development offerings, including job coaching, career exploration, and networking opportunities.
2023: Alray grows to 3 staff members, adding Elaina Curtis as a Program Manager.
Where we are in 2023 40
current scholars
Growing by 10 scholars per year
$600,000+ awarded in scholarships
More than
80
graduates
3 in 4
Alray scholars earn a degree compared to 1 in 4 nationally*
*Source: October 2019 report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center on 5-year graduation rates for students returning to college after taking a break
Remember when...
The Assist book launch party, 2008
Annual celebration, 2011
Gov. Healey at 3-on-3 basketball tournament, 2014
3-on-3 basketball tournament, 2013
Annual celebration, 2015
Remember when...
Members of Alray Taylor’s family at the Alray 3-on-3 basketball tournament, 2015
Annual celebration, 2019
Annual celebration, 2020
Graduation celebration, 2022
Holiday party, 2022
Graduation celebration, 2023
Alray graduates: Where are they now?
Alejandra Bautista Graduated from: Eastern Nazarene Current job: Intake Coordinator at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute “I am proud of negotiating my pay using my degree as credentials.”
Andria Capers Graduated from: UMass Boston Current job: Medical Lab Technologist at Boston Medical Center “I am proud of getting into graduate school.”
Exodia Demosthene Graduated from: Mount Holyoke Current job: Grad student at Savannah College of Art & Design “I am proud of going back to school to earn a master’s degree in fine arts.”
Sabs Diaz Graduated from: UMass Boston Current job: Early College Career Counselor at New Mission High
Jean Dolin Graduated from: SNHU Current job: Founder of LGBTQ + Museum of Art, History & Culture
“I am proud of learning how to network and advocate to bring resources for my students.”
“I am proud of my cross-sector career that drives both social and cultural impact in Boston.”
Alray graduates: Where are they now?
Christina Joseph Graduated from: Framingham State University Current job: Program Manager, Alray Scholars Program
Ray Leconte Graduated from: UMass Dartmouth Current job: Administrative Assistant at Brockton Public Schools
“I am proud to have been part of the INP Community Fellows Program - I learned so much!”
“My degree brought a sense of fulfillment. This is part of my commitment to education and lifelong personal development.”
Samira Lopes Graduated from: Salem State Current job: Family Liaison and Assistant Volleyball Coach at Charlestown High
Charita Parham Graduated from: California U of PA Current job: Sr. Contracts Manager at Bottomline Tech. and Principal / Sr. Corporate & Contracts Specialist at Certified Legal Support & Consulting Services
“I am proud to be promoted into my current roles at Charlestown. I am also currently in grad school!”
“I am proud of establishing a great career in the legal industry.”
Alray graduates: Where are they now?
Teresa Pina Rachel Regis Cheryl Ricketts Graduated from: UMass Boston Graduated from: Johnson & Wales Graduated from: UMass Boston Current job: Nurse at Tufts Medical Current job: Deputy Director at Current job: Grad student at UMass Center Allston Brighton CDC Boston “I am proud of finding a career that has allowed me to support my family emotionally, socially, and financially.”
“I have had the opportunity to grow professionally and further expand my networks in the nonprofit sector.”
Oscar Torres Graduated from: Suffolk University Current job: Communications Coordinator at Mass. Dept. of Public Health
“I am proud of enrolling in the master's program at UMass Boston and securing research and teaching assistantships.”
Keyana Washington Graduated from: Cambridge College Current job: Teacher at Boston Public Schools
“Since graduating, I have found “I am proud of my English as a myself in opportunities and spaces Second Language (ESL) teaching where I am able to be a part of certification and Sheltered English something greater than me.” Immersion (SEI) endorsement.”
All-star mentors: Volunteers who came back to mentor multiple scholars
Mark Michelson “My graduating scholar was asked to share some thoughts during the graduation brunch. She was not comfortable speaking in front of an audience. We met several times before the event to work on her speech. She nailed it! I was simply blown away by her poise, confidence, and heartfelt words.”
Clare Putnam “My favorite Alray mentoring memories are the times when I would connect with my Alray mentee and know that I was helping to support a talented young individual committed to completing college and beginning an exciting new chapter in her life.”
Carol Pacheco “My favorite Alray mentoring memory was attending the Mass Mentoring Night at Fenway with my mentee in 2017. We had a chance to check in with each other, catch up on how she was doing, and talk through her school plans. It was such a casual and fun atmosphere!”
Carine Tarazi “My favorite Alray memory is meeting my first mentee, who is now an Alray board member. That first meeting opened my eyes to the mission and importance of the organization.”
Thank you to our early supporters. FOUNDING BOARD OF DIRECTORS Neil Swidey Heather Barry Lisa Fliegel Lemma Jarudi Paul Jasinki Thaddeus Miles
Thomas Nardone Jack O'Brien Nicolas Souffrant Altia Taylor Mike Wanyo
CHARTER DONORS WHO CONTINUE TO GIVE Judy and Michael D’Angelo Herb and Sara Drower MaryAnn Jackson
Lemma Jarudi Patty Mahoney Dick and Linda Wolk
FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FIRST GRADUATE DONOR
Janet Altman
Allison Colonna
Janet Altman with Alray graduate, Shanae, 2019
Alray board, staff, and supporters at 3-on-3 basketball tournament, 2014
Thank you to our 15th anniversary sponsors. SPONSORS Anne and Andrew Abel Charitable Fund David and Susan Foss Heidi and Eric Steinert Janet White Memorial Scholarship Fund
IN-KIND SUPPORTERS
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE + ANNIVERSARY TASK FORCE Jethro Trente et un, Co-Chair Nancy White, Co-Chair Thomas Arruda Art Dorfman
John Garrity Mark Michselon Ugonna Onyekwu Eric Steinert
P.O. Box 960400 Boston, MA 02196 www.alray.org