Courtesy of Police Athletic League
Carlos Velazquez, Executive Director of the Police Athletic League (PAL), has been named to the 2024 City & State Responsible 100 List for his transformative leadership.
MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
Carlos Velazquez, the Executive Director of the Police Athletic League (PAL), has been named to the 2024 City & State Responsible 100 List, a prestigious recognition that honors New York’s most impactful leaders across a range of sectors. The Responsible 100 highlights individuals who demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility through actions that promote charity, community engagement, equity, and ethical leadership.
Velazquez’s inclusion on the list underscores his transformative work in New York City, particularly in the areas of youth development, community engagement, and law enforcement. Since taking the helm of PAL in 2022, Velazquez has been instrumental in advancing the organization’s mission of providing recreational, educational, and social activities to underserved youth in the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods.
In response to the recognition, Velazquez expressed his deep belief in the power of social responsibility and the ripple effect of meaningful action.
“The impact you make on one individual will have a ripple effect on all those they touch. Respect that power, embrace the power and create waves with those ripples,” Velazquez said. “I take a holistic and practical approach to program-building. My leadership focuses on working with partners within the youth development, education, law enforcement and justice systems to make a lasting impression on our communities. The ability to impact thousands of young people and their families inspires me and keeps me going. Using my platform to be a voice for so many that are often silenced or misunderstood is what makes the work so special. There is no better feeling than watching young people grow. I am blessed to have an amazing staff and supporters who make our work possible.”
With a career spanning two decades in public service, Velazquez’s leadership at PAL has been marked by his focus on mental health, social-emotional well-being, and providing the youth of New York City with the tools they need to succeed.
“Social responsibility is the heart and soul of the mission of the Police Athletic League,” he said. “We spend every day making an investment in the future of our city by investing in the future of our children. We make the educational and career dreams of our young people become a reality by identifying their individual needs, encouraging their academic advancement, building on their life skills and addressing their social and emotional well-being. We stand firmly beside our young New Yorkers as they face obstacles in their day-to-day lives, growing up in neighborhoods that can present many challenges.”
Velazquez’s recognition as a Responsible 100 leader adds to a series of honors this year, including his inclusion in City & State and New York Nonprofit Media’s 2024 Nonprofit Trailblazers list. His vision for the future of PAL includes expanding its programs to further support New York City’s youth, ensuring they have access to the resources and mentorship they need to overcome challenges and thrive.
“Success was always about leaving your neighborhood. But then we end up missing our neighborhood, so why not come back and make your neighborhood better and teach the future of our city that it’s not about leaving the city, it’s about gaining world experience, and coming back and giving back?” Velazquez said in an interview earlier this year.
Velazquez’s passion for community service stems from his own experiences growing up in East Harlem. As a young person, he benefited from supportive programs and role models that helped him navigate the challenges of city life, experiences that now guide his leadership philosophy.
“When you see a young person you work with achieve a goal or the staff that you have develop, take their skill and their career to the next level, or you see the impact you have in a community, those are the things that I am the proudest of,” Velazquez said.
Under his leadership, PAL has continued to innovate, launching initiatives like a new indoor baseball training facility in Washington Heights and expanding mental health resources for youth. His efforts to build bridges between communities and law enforcement, as well as address the unique challenges faced by youth in underserved neighborhoods, have made PAL a cornerstone in New York City’s nonprofit landscape.
Founded in 1914, the Police Athletic League serves over 12,000 children and teens annually through its diverse programs. With Velazquez at the helm, PAL continues to foster positive relationships, provide mentorship, and create safe spaces for youth to build relationships, develop leadership skills, and achieve their full potential.
To learn more about the work of PAL or to support their mission, visit www.palnyc.org.
Under his direction, PAL has expanded programs that support underserved youth, focusing on mental health, education, and building positive relationships with law enforcement.
