Desiree L. Lewis is the Associate Executive Director for Children, Youth, and Family Services. She has a master's degree in nonprofit leadership from Fordham University and has served in the field of youth development for over ten years. Desiree joined Riis Settlement in 2016 as the program director for Riis Academy - PS 111Q. Before joining Riis, she rose through the ranks at the Police Athletic League of Greater New York (PAL), from volunteer, to group leader, to resource coordinator, to assistant director. During her tenure with PAL, she was honored as a “Woman of Inspiration” by AIG for the work that she and the Youth Council did to support Hurricane Sandy relief. More recently, in March 2022, she was honored with a prestigious PASEsetter award from the Partnership for Afterschool Education. Ms. Lewis believes that all children can learn and succeed, and aims to give young people the confidence and resources to better themselves and become strong leaders.
