Almost 3 million children living in the United States have a parent currently serving a prison sentence. As chief operating officer of a Boys & Girls Club of America affiliate servicing over 3,000 at-risk youth in the South Bronx, Sharon Content saw a need for specialized support for kids experiencing the trauma and social stigma of having an incarcerated parent. Children of Promise, NYC (CPNYC) was founded to provide holistic services to children and families in desperate need of intervention, advocacy and support through after school programs, summer camps and one-on-one mentoring.
Since 2007, CPNYC has serviced hundreds of children with academic enrichment, mentoring and mental health services. With all that on-the-ground impact, it might be surprising that Sharon’s resume didn’t begin in education or social work, but rather in finance. Seemingly disjointed, Sharon asserts that the variety of her person and professional experiences is a critical component to the success of her vision. As she puts it, the road to fulfilling her vision has just as much value as the goal itself.