James Stratford

As the Executive Director of the NYC Young Men’s Initiative, can you share insights into your role and your key responsibilities in day-to-day operations?

I am a product of the Bronx, New York. I grew up in and out of poverty and received assistance through programs like the NYC Young Men's Initiative (YMI), and at this time, I am in a role where my personal and professional worlds collide. My journey allowed me to step into this role seamlessly and be able to provide guidance, leadership, strategic vision, and oversight of a $30 million organization. I oversee the development of new programs and policies designed to address disparities between young men of color and their peers. YMI is an office within the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice, a public-private partnership addressing disparities among young men of color, aged 14-26. My focus and goal is to understand the needs of our constituents.

Being in my position, it is important that I understand the culture I am supporting. I must have an understanding of the needs on the ground. In order for me to do so, I need to be informed of qualitative and quantitative data. With YMI’s $30 million program budget, the goal is to ensure that YMI-funded programs advance in a timely manner and achieve intended outcomes across a range of agency partners.

What motivated you to pursue a career in this field, and how did your experiences at Wagner contribute to this decision?

Growing up, having experienced government support programs, and seeing how successful they can be firsthand, I always knew I wanted my career to have an impact like that. We need to leave things better than we found them. That said, I have worked in City government for a total of eight years. I was a Child Protective Specialist with the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). I served as a Program Manager at the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD)  and worked in the nonprofit sector for over a decade.

Being accepted into the NYU Wagner Executive MPA program was one of the major milestones in my life. Wagner offered a real-time application to the work that was being done. Even though I've been a learner for as long as I can remember, Wagner has far exceeded any other professional development or educational programs I have had access to. The real-time application allowed me to grow in this field and inherit my current role when the time was right. Wagner professors were extremely knowledgeable—I was able to build strong relationships. They also validated me, which was really unique to NYU Wagner. I felt like I could be my full self in any space. I remember vividly being excited about going to school after work because of the magic that was Wagner. Being from New York, it often feels like there is an invisible veil around spaces that most people who look like me don't have access to. Being on the other side of it, being welcome, and being positioned to succeed in this space was so powerful and life-changing for me.

What specific coursework from your time at Wagner has been the most instrumental in furthering your career aspirations?

Honestly, I would retake every course. A few come to mind: branding communications, negotiation strategies, and building effective organizations were classes that had real-time applications for me. If I was in class on a Saturday night, I could implement some of those insights at work on Monday morning. That was something I truly valued about NYU Wagner. In our mindfulness seminar, we focused on the work of our true North: core values that ground us in our profession. It included understanding our community to make changes and highlighting the difference between intention and impact. One thing I learned is that positive intent doesn't always lead to a positive impact. These are just some of the things I took away that directly spearheaded my growth, helping me get where I am today.

What advice would you give to a current student hoping to make an impact in community engagement and advocacy after their time at Wagner? 

They should leverage their current Wagner networks—engaging with professors and adjuncts, taking mentorship and collaboration opportunities, using the alumni network to connect with other professionals in the field, and participating in student-led groups are super important. Refining your skills is important. Taking classes such as policy analysis, strategic communication, and program evaluation provide critical tools for advocacy and community engagement. My advice to students is to be open to learning and adapting. I teach my team and mentees not to be married to any idea, because you close yourself off to feedback. Instead, engage the work, engage the content, and be open to learning. Lastly, stay true to yourself. Dare to show up as your full self at Wagner. Hold on to your dreams and believe in yourself.

As a New York native, how has your personal experience impacted your work in the NYC community? 

I was born and raised in the Bronx. When I went to public school, I experienced a public support program firsthand. I was a Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) participant. I also went to publicly funded after-school programs and summer camps. I have a 15-year-old son, and it's my goal that he has access to opportunities that will have a positive impact on the world. In doing so, my goal is to ensure all young men in NYC have opportunities to grow and have access to resources that are necessary for their development. Having a “why” has served as a guiding light for my career mission, bringing me to YMI. I don't look at my role as being monolithic. Instead, I view it as a myriad of other stories. I believe in the power of storytelling. For me, remembering my “why” has kept me grounded and reminds me daily why I'm doing this work. At the end of the day, the goal and the focus are larger than me. If I’m leading with my actions, no one ever has to question my words.