Westchester Reporter

Westchester County Executive George Latimer has appointed Ernest McFadden as the new Executive Director of the Westchester County Youth Bureau (WCYB). He will succeed Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden, who served in that capacity since 2018. McFadden, who has been serving as the WCYB Program Administrator, has been overseeing the organization’s youth development programming, fund development, and impact evaluation since 2018.

McFadden’s career includes an executive position with the local student and career development nonprofit, Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers, and senior positions with Fortune-500 ranked companies Alcoa Inc. and PepsiCo Inc., where he held the titles of Director of Workforce Equity and Inclusion and Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Relations, respectively.

McFadden has also led several youth programs throughout his career, including as Director of the Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) at SUNY Purchase College, managing a team of educators and providing comprehensive year-round academic services to combat the rising dropout rate among New York’s youth.

Latimer stated: “Ernest McFadden is an accomplished leader in both the nonprofit and corporate sectors that has demonstrated throughout his career a true passion for youth and community empowerment. Having worked at the intersections of government, education, and nonprofits for over two decades, we believe he will serve the WCYB, Westchester’s vital network of nonprofit partners, and the needs of our youth well.”

McFadden expressed: “I am deeply honored and grateful to the County Executive for the opportunity to take on this new role at the WCYB. I look forward to working with all of our community partners to grow impact, look for new ways to drive innovation and help meet the unique and changing needs of Westchester’s youth. I have seen throughout my career that when you invest in young people, you not only change lives but you strengthen communities and create future leaders. I am excited to get started.”

WCYB Youth Board Chair Dr. Alexandra Connally remarked: “On behalf of the Youth Board, I am thrilled to welcome Ernest McFadden as our new Executive Director. We are confident that his leadership and vision will deepen our community relationships, drive our mission forward, and create a positive impact on Westchester’s youth."

The Westchester County Youth Bureau is situated within the Office of County Executive George Latimer. Grounded in the Positive Youth Development (PYD) framework, it serves as a resource for children, youth, and families in Westchester County.

The Youth Bureau deploys financial, technical, and relevant resources promoting social-emotional physical psychological educational well-being among young people throughout Westchester County. Using evidence-based strategies evaluative tools it increases access programs initiatives responding needs problems children youth birth twenty-one their families partnering local bureaus educational institutions non-profits units government faith-based organizations businesses ensuring cross-system approach improving outcomes particularly special populations runaway homeless LGBTQIA economically disadvantaged risk placement foster care.

With resources from New York State Office Children Family Services Westchester County Tax Levy Department Social Services funds more than 115 programs annually offered through nonprofit organizations municipalities government agencies leveraging relationships between stakeholders staff afford training wide range topics best practices emergent matters program evaluation staff development grant writing PYD.

Learn more by visiting https://youth.westchestergov.com/youth-bureau

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