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OUR HISTORY

Founded in 1989, Global Kids has been at the forefront of developing and implementing culturally relevant, anti-racist youth development and academic enrichment programs for over three decades. Our reach has grown steadily over time. In 2010, our programming expanded to also serve Washington, DC.

Award-winning educator Carole Artigiani founded Global Kids in 1989 and incorporated it in 1991. Carole’s vision was to address the urgent need for young people, particularly those in under-resourced schools and neighborhoods, to develop the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to participate in the democratic process and achieve leadership in an interdependent, technology sophisticated global society. As the program grew over subsequent years, receiving national recognition for exemplary practices in international education, digital media programming, experiential learning, and youth development, it reached more than 100,000 young people through both direct services and peer education activities. In 2009, through a grant from the Robin Hood Foundation, Global Kids undertook an in-depth strategic review and planning process with the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. One of the primary outcomes of this process was to set the goal of expanding to another city. In 2010, Carole Artigiani stepped aside and Evie Hantzopoulos, former Deputy Director and Director of Programs for the previous 14 years, was appointed. Ms. Hantzopoulos initiated GK’s expansion to Washington, D.C. that year. Following extensive research, planning, and on-the-ground collaboration as well as consultation with stakeholders in Washington, D.C, Global Kids launched the Global Kids in Washington, D.C program (GK-DC) in September 2010.

Most recently, Global Kids was pleased to welcome its new Executive Director, Dominique Jones, in October 2021. With 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and public sectors, and recently named one of the Women Power 100 by City and State New York, Ms. Jones oversees a range of youth development programs that engage more than 13,000 youth and educators across the five boroughs of New York City and DC. Prior to taking leadership at Global Kids, she spent more than six years running Boys & Girls Club of Harlem, where she led in the diversification and expansion of its programs in NYC public schools and the organization’s COVID-19 response.