Gracie Cedres, President & Chair
Gracie Cedres is a Harlem native who is the founder of G.R.A.C.E. Granting Resources And Community Enrichment Inc. As President and Chair, she oversees executive and operational decisions, including the onboarding, staff and leadership development of staff, overall program and curricula implementation, facilitation of 2022 Summer Internship, budget management, fundraising, and grant solicitation.
Since 2005, for nearly 17 years, Gracie has served as an educator and leader in public, charter, and nonprofit sectors within New York City. During her tenure at a prestigious nonprofit organization in Harlem, NY, Gracie has been blessed with the opportunity to fill multiple positions which allowed her to understand the importance of family and community involvement, particularly in the education system.
She served children and families at a Beacon after-school program and at a DOE public school sponsored by Americorp. She also acted as an Assistant to the Director, Parent Coordinator, and Teacher Assistant. Her time in the classroom pushed her to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a minor in Childhood Education from Lehman College. Gracie led as a teacher for approximately (4) years prior to pivoting her career. With aspirations of becoming a Principal, she later earned her Master’s in Educational Leadership from Pennsylvania State. While Gracie’s intentions were to become a principal, experiences heightened her understanding of the importance of exposing our Black and Brown communities to resources and services.
Gracie began to analyze more than academics, becoming more focused on considering the whole child. She began working in the After-school department first as a Youth Advocate, to Middle and High School Program Coordinator, Assistant Director, and ultimately Director of (2) programs; a middle and high school after-school program and community center. Gracie’s former positions and experience in the nonprofit & charter school sector has allowed her to hold several positions that helped to shape her beliefs around serving the community. She decided to take initiative to develop a nonprofit in honor of the work her grandmother has initiated in Harlem, and within Churches across Harlem and the Bronx. Her dream of starting a nonprofit has propelled her to higher heights of accomplishing her goals as G.R.A.C.E. (Granting Resources And Community Enrichment) Incorporation pivots to providing both in-person and remote programming.
Gracie has been recognized by being presented the City of New York Mayoral Certificate of Recognition for dedication to support Harlem’s students and families. She was also featured in Featured in Ideamensch; page 13 in Harlem Community Newspaper as an Uptown Women in Business for Women’s History Month; and featured on 102.6 The Situations Media.