By Barbara Champoux


For 2008, NYCREW plans to do so by participating in "CREW Careers: Building Opportunities," a program developed by CREW Foundation, and implemented by participating CREW chapters, which is focused on assisting economically disadvantaged and otherwise challenged young girls in learning the skills, and developing the resources, to achieve economic self-sufficiency through commercial real estate. NYCREW will be participating for the first time in the CREW Careers: Building Opportunities program through a partnership with Youth Empowerment Mission, Inc. (YEM). YEM is a not-for-profit organization based in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, which focuses on assisting for young women who live in high-risk environments marked by poverty, poor health and other environmental hazards which are growing increasingly susceptible to truancy, gang involvement, depression and victimization.
At age 16, YEM's founder and executive director, Isis Sapp-Grant, was the leader of one of the most notorious girl gangs in New York City. After her boyfriend was murdered and she was arrested for robbery, she pledged to turn her life around if given the chance. She started attending classes again and, with the help of two teachers and a policeman from the youth gangs unit, she finished high school and continued her education to eventually earn a masters of Social Work. In 1995, Isis began working with girl gang members and at-risk girls in Bedford Stuyvesant, empowering them to change their destinies as she had. Gradually, her work developed into the program that is now YEM. Isis believes that every girl, regardless of her circumstances, deserves the opportunity to develop her dreams and discover her true purpose in life. She has been recognized, applauded and supported by such notable organizations as: Robin Hood Foundation; Essence magazine; USA Today and Redbook, as well as Isis being honored during 2006 Black History Month as one of the Outstanding African-American Women of this country, along with Maya Angelou and Judith Jamison
Among other things, YEM prepares girls to move from crisis to competency by equipping them with the skills, information, work ethic, experience, and self-confidence needed to become emotionally strong and financially responsible, successful, and empowered future entrepreneurs. NYCREW Network is very excited about working with Sapp-Grant and the staff and girls of YEM in 2008 and beyond. We are also pleased to have the support of St.John's Dept. of Saks Fifth Avenue, for a March 13th fund-raising event for the YEM/CREW Careers Program to be hosted by them at SAKS.
On November 28, NYCREW Network concluded its formal programming for 2007 with its final "NYCREW and YOU" Series Event focused on Strictly Social, and Presenting "Annual Holiday Gala and NYCREW Network Vanguard Awards Ceremony." This event was held at the D&D Building, 979 Third Ave.
NYCREW salutes its 2007 Vanguard Award Winners:
* APEX Award for Overall Contributions to NYCREW Network-Barbara Champoux, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP;
* Asset Preservation Award for Mentoring-Wendy Berger, Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A. & Karen Dome, GVA Williams;
* EMG Award for Professionalism- Anna Cassan de Valry, Barclays Bank & Karen Nickerson, Moody's Investors Service, Inc.;
* Prudential Douglas Elliman Award for Winning Referrals- Deena Baikowitz, Studios Architecture.
Best wishes for happy holidays, and for a terrific New Year for all!

Barbara Champoux is a past president of NYCREW, New York, N.Y. Tags: