Two of New York City’s leading youth organizations – The Door and The CityKids Foundation – welcomed Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for a tour and youth performance, including original song, dance and theater pieces, during their first official visit to New York City.
Additionally the Duke and Duchess sat down for a private meeting with eight young people from The Door and The CityKids Foundation to learn more about their experiences growing up in New York City, the obstacles they faced, and the steps they took to shape who they are today.
Through their Royal Foundation, the Duke and Duchess have shown clear interest in the wellbeing of young people, including health and mental health issues, education and access to opportunity. Their visit to The Door/The CityKids Foundation provided a chance to witness first-hand New York City’s innovative, effective models for supporting young people in need.
Assisting more than 10,000 young people aged 12-24 every year, The Door is New York City’s premier youth development organization offering a unique range and breadth of services found nowhere else. The Door empowers young people to reach their greatest potential by providing fully integrated and supportive services including health and mental health care, education, job training, legal services (with a focus on immigration), support for homeless youth, nutritious meals, and vibrant arts programming – now made more robust with the addition of CityKids’ nationally-recognized theater arts training. All services are offered for free and under one roof.
“It’s safe to say that there is no place like The Door in New York City, offering the range of services that we do, the way we do it,” states Executive Director Julie Shapiro. “I’m incredibly honored to have been chosen, along with our newest partner, The CityKids Foundation, as one of the sites for this momentous visit with the Duke and Duchess and I’m so delighted that we were able to offer them a glimpse of the magic that takes place and the opportunities we create within these walls.”
“Throughout the last 30 years The CityKids Foundation has touched the lives of tens of thousands of young people in New York City and the nation, giving them a voice and an outlet for expression,” states Laurie Meadoff, founder of The CityKids Foundation. “By experiencing the deep and meaningful work and words of the youth of The CityKids Foundation and The Door, the Duke and Duchess will not only catch a deep glimpse into the lives of these young people but also see what amazing results happen when you give young people a safe space to process the world around them.”
Source: PR Newswire
