NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (Oct. 14, 2025) — New Rochelle City Council Member Martha Lopez, the Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle and State Sen. Nathalia Fernandez unveiled a pilot program called “How Well Do You Know Me?” on Oct. 13, aimed at empowering young adults ages 17-24 to serve as ambassadors for inclusive change by fostering dialogue, empathy and understanding across diverse racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
The initiative addresses an escalation in hate crimes and the rapid growth of racial and ethnic diversity among youths in Westchester County. Youths who live, work or attend school in New Rochelle or surrounding communities can apply at http://bit.ly/4nEqRji.
“Once upon a time, this program was a dream; now, it is a reality,” Lopez said at a press conference attended by City of New Rochelle, Westchester County government and nonprofit officials and dignitaries. Inspired by the differences and acclimation process she experienced after arriving in the United States as a youth, Lopez said the program will connect young adults “from different paths of life to really get to know each other. We hope to do a lot of great things.”
Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle CEO Becky Mazzanobile highlighted the program’s focus on developing youth ambassadors. “This pilot is extremely important. Participants will ask questions, seek bridges and collaborate from the perspectives of a variety of heritages and experiences to build connections to best understand and respect each other,” Mazzanobile said. She attended international school and embraces the richness of distinct cultures.
State Sen. Fernandez, who represents the 34th District covering Westchester County and the Bronx, secured $20,000 to launch the program. “I believe this program can be truly transformative,” she said. “When young people from diverse cultures come together to talk, listen and learn from one another, they build connections and communities. By creating spaces for dialogue and understanding, we can lift each other up and move toward a future of harmony.”
Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle staff will lead the curriculum, which includes storytelling workshops, history programs and speakers from diverse cultures, as well as educational trips to Washington, D.C.’s United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Participants will network, draw upon others’ experiences and collaborate on strategies to build a community-wide “How Well Do You Know Me?” foundation that endures beyond the pilot and can potentially be replicated across Westchester County.
Initial sessions will start with 20 students, with community outreach including student clubs at New Rochelle High School to ensure broad diversity. Sessions are expected to launch in October 2025 and continue during the 2025-2026 academic year, culminating in a public event where participants share their insights with peers and community leaders.
A New Rochelle resident since 2005, Lopez serves District 1. She served as assistant director of the Washingtonville Housing Alliance in Mamaroneck for 18 years. From 2001 to 2009, she was director for Hispanic Affairs for Westchester County and was appointed as director of minority and women-owned business development in 2018. Learn more at https://www.newrochelleny.gov/95/District-1.
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.
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