NEW ROCHELLE, NY (June 6, 2025) — The Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle celebrated the first graduates of its Police Career Pathway Program on May 15, a pioneering initiative in partnership with the New Rochelle Police Department and the Mariano Rivera Public Foundation. The program, designed to equip young people with career-readiness skills for law enforcement and beyond, marked a milestone in community-driven workforce development.
The ceremony, held at the newly updated Mascaro Clubhouse Teen Center, honored 16 graduates and two certificate recipients who completed the program. Participants, including Gustavo Morales, Galilea Rodriguez, and Hugo Garcia, engaged in hands-on training, ride-alongs, and workshops led by police officials and career advisors. The curriculum focused on community policing, conflict resolution, ethical decision-making, financial literacy, and workplace communication.
“Programs like this help young people build the knowledge and confidence to pursue careers they may not have otherwise considered,” said Becky Mazzanobile, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle. “Through meaningful partnerships and mentorship, we’re helping teens in our community develop critical life and career skills while exploring the full range of their potential.”
New Rochelle Police Lt. Eddie Hayes led weekly sessions, offering mentees direct access to law enforcement professionals. “This valuable course provided a meaningful introduction to the world of policing and creates a pathway to real careers in law enforcement,” said Police Commissioner Robert Gazzola. “By giving young people the skills, mentorship, and firsthand experience they need, we’re helping to build a more diverse, community-connected police force for the future.”
Graduate Gustavo Morales, 22, shared his experience: “I really got to understand what a police officer was. Sitting in here and being able to talk one on one with the officers felt very real and very normal. I can see myself being a police officer now.”
The Mariano Rivera Foundation, a key partner, emphasized the program’s impact. “It is an honor to support these incredible young men and women as they take the first step in their professional journeys,” the foundation said in a statement. “These graduates represent the heart of our mission: to create meaningful opportunities that shape futures and strengthen communities.”
Workforce Development Program Manager Ajee’ Davis-Burley led personalized training, using interactive games and activities to teach career exploration, mock interviews, and long-term employment strategies. Deputy Commissioner Neil Reynolds, speaking at the ceremony, encouraged graduates to apply their skills broadly. “You don’t have to be police officers,” he said. “You learned a lot of different things, a lot of different skills, a lot of ways to go about things. It’s universal — you can apply it to anything.”
The program’s mentorship team included Gazzola, Reynolds, Capt. Raul Rodriguez, Sgt. Terrance Fudge, and others, fostering a supportive environment for participants. The Boys & Girls Club plans to launch additional cohorts throughout the year, using the Mascaro Clubhouse Teen Center as a hub for future career-readiness initiatives.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.