Milton Webster, Program Coordinator for the BronxWorks Learn and Earn Program at Frederick Douglass Academy III, has worked with students since he was a student himself in high school. Milton grew up in Harlem, where he coincidentally attended Frederick Douglass Academy I and eventually graduated high school from Frederick Douglass Academy II. While in high school, Milton started working at Harlem Children’s Zone, where his passion for working with students began. Milton continued to work at Harlem Children’s Zone for over a decade, while he graduated high school and attended Syracuse University before transferring to the University of Bridgeport to study Business Administration.  

Milton originally wanted to be a gym teacher and worked with youth basketball teams in Harlem, until he realized his true passion for nurturing students as a whole. Milton says his time in after-school programs as a youth made him passionate about providing that kind of support to other children. 

“Growing up in after-school settings, I’ve seen both sides, being a participant and a staff member, so I know exactly what to do in certain situations.”

Milton joined the BronxWorks Learn and Earn Program at Frederick Douglass Academy III as a Youth Worker in 2018, before quickly being promoted to Case Manager. In November of 2021, he became the Program Coordinator for the BronxWorks Learn and Earn Program, and now leads programming for dozens of juniors and seniors to prepare them for life after high school. The Learn and Earn Program provides activities and workshops to help students learn more about the careers and colleges they are interested in pursuing. The program also continues to support participants for a year after they graduate high school.  

“I’m really proud to say I’ve gotten a lot of kids to go to college. Yes, they can have it in their minds to go, but when they come to our program, we really instill in them that we want them to have either a job or attend college right after high school. And we can say like 80-85% of our students have a job or are attending college after they graduate.”

Milton says his ultimate goal is to run his own nonprofit of after-school programming for students in his community. In his free time, Milton enjoys music and works as a DJ throughout the city, and he also enjoys watching anime. 

Milton Webster, Program Coordinator for the BronxWorks Learn and Earn Program at Frederick Douglass Academy III, has worked with students since he was a student himself in high school. Milton grew up in Harlem, where he coincidentally attended Frederick Douglass Academy I and eventually graduated high school from Frederick Douglass Academy II. While in high school, Milton started working at Harlem Children’s Zone, where his passion for working with students began. Milton continued to work at Harlem Children’s Zone for over a decade, while he graduated high school and attended Syracuse University before transferring to the University of Bridgeport to study Business Administration.  

Milton originally wanted to be a gym teacher and worked with youth basketball teams in Harlem, until he realized his true passion for nurturing students as a whole. Milton says his time in after-school programs as a youth made him passionate about providing that kind of support to other children. 

“Growing up in after-school settings, I’ve seen both sides, being a participant and a staff member, so I know exactly what to do in certain situations.”

Milton joined the BronxWorks Learn and Earn Program at Frederick Douglass Academy III as a Youth Worker in 2018, before quickly being promoted to Case Manager. In November of 2021, he became the Program Coordinator for the BronxWorks Learn and Earn Program, and now leads programming for dozens of juniors and seniors to prepare them for life after high school. The Learn and Earn Program provides activities and workshops to help students learn more about the careers and colleges they are interested in pursuing. The program also continues to support participants for a year after they graduate high school.  

“I’m really proud to say I’ve gotten a lot of kids to go to college. Yes, they can have it in their minds to go, but when they come to our program, we really instill in them that we want them to have either a job or attend college right after high school. And we can say like 80-85% of our students have a job or are attending college after they graduate.”

Milton says his ultimate goal is to run his own nonprofit of after-school programming for students in his community. In his free time, Milton enjoys music and works as a DJ throughout the city, and he also enjoys watching anime. 

Matthew Henry is a soon-to-be high school graduate and has been both a participant and a Youth Worker with BronxWorks. He currently attends Bronx Legacy High School, where he will graduate in June as Valedictorian. Matthew is also a recent graduate of the BronxWorks Work Learn and Grow employment program, which has helped him prepare for the next steps in his life after high school.

“The program was basically trying to teach me different life lessons [that will help me] get into the workforce when I grow older. It was a very important lesson for me since I’m 17, turning 18 in June.”

Through the BronxWorks Work Learn and Grow program, Matthew was connected to the BronxWorks Community Health Programs as an intern, and he was then hired to be a Youth Worker. Matthew worked with our intergenerational programming, where he facilitated cultural cooking classes, nutrition education classes, and technology classes for Bronx children and older adults. BronxWorks intergenerational programming works to create deeper cross-generational bonds to strengthen our community. While teaching these classes, Matthew has been able to make lasting connections with his Bronx neighbors.

“It was a lot of work, but it was fun. The seniors have amazing discussions with me and the kids. The kids, they’re amazing. They’re so smart and they’re so educated. I’m so proud to say that they are the new generation. These experiences that I’ve been through, it really helped me to shape into the type of person that I want to become.”

Because of his accomplishments, we proudly welcomed Matthew to speak at the BronxWorks 2024 Lifting Lives Gala about his experiences with BronxWorks. In the fall, Matthew will be attending Syracuse University to study Aerospace Engineering. In his free time, he loves to read sci-fi and fantasy books.

Matthew Henry is a soon-to-be high school graduate and has been both a participant and a Youth Worker with BronxWorks. He currently attends Bronx Legacy High School, where he will graduate in June as Valedictorian. Matthew is also a recent graduate of the BronxWorks Work Learn and Grow employment program, which has helped him prepare for the next steps in his life after high school.

“The program was basically trying to teach me different life lessons [that will help me] get into the workforce when I grow older. It was a very important lesson for me since I’m 17, turning 18 in June.”

Through the BronxWorks Work Learn and Grow program, Matthew was connected to the BronxWorks Community Health Programs as an intern, and he was then hired to be a Youth Worker. Matthew worked with our intergenerational programming, where he facilitated cultural cooking classes, nutrition education classes, and technology classes for Bronx children and older adults. BronxWorks intergenerational programming works to create deeper cross-generational bonds to strengthen our community. While teaching these classes, Matthew has been able to make lasting connections with his Bronx neighbors.

“It was a lot of work, but it was fun. The seniors have amazing discussions with me and the kids. The kids, they’re amazing. They’re so smart and they’re so educated. I’m so proud to say that they are the new generation. These experiences that I’ve been through, it really helped me to shape into the type of person that I want to become.”

Because of his accomplishments, we proudly welcomed Matthew to speak at the BronxWorks 2024 Lifting Lives Gala about his experiences with BronxWorks. In the fall, Matthew will be attending Syracuse University to study Aerospace Engineering. In his free time, he loves to read sci-fi and fantasy books.

John Weed started at BronxWorks in 1989 as an intern. He grew up in Queens and spent his college years in New Mexico. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of New Mexico. After graduating, John joined the Peace Corps and spent two-and-a-half years in the Dominican Republic.

My Peace Corps experience was first and foremost lifechanging for me. I learned a language, learned a new culture. I was a volunteer alone in a small town and I loved every moment of it.”

-John Weed, Assistant Executive Director

After he came to the U.S., John taught a bilingual program in California for eight months before moving back to New York City and enrolling at the Hunter College School of Social Work. He came across the BronxWorks (then CAB) Immigration program and recalls meeting his former colleague and fellow Assistant Executive Director, Scott Auwarter, and asking him about the organization.

It was because of Scott that I decided it was a good internship for me. Picture this: the agency was so small at the time, we only had the 2070 Grand Concourse office and two others.”

John stayed at BronxWorks full-time after graduating with his Master’s in Social Work. He helped run the Avenue St. John walk-in office, adding needed programs for the community such as a family childcare network, after-school and youth programming, and more. During his 34 years at BronxWorks, John has worked as a Program Director, Department Director, and, of course, Assistant Executive Director, overseeing all of the community programs at BronxWorks.

What we were able to do at Avenue St. John thrilled me. The community was tiny and there was a lot of devastation in the Bronx when I started. It looks a lot different now than back then, and we were able to make this community work through a variety of programs. I would say my professional accomplishment is to fill a need where it is and work with the community to do that.”

Outside of work, John loves to hike. He’s looking forward to a once-a-year hiking trip with his Peace Corps friends in the Adirondacks. He also loves to garden and travel, and he enjoys spending time with his family and adult children.

(Edited April 2026) John is now the Senior Vice President at BronxWorks. 

John Weed started at BronxWorks in 1989 as an intern. He grew up in Queens and spent his college years in New Mexico. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of New Mexico. After graduating, John joined the Peace Corps and spent two-and-a-half years in the Dominican Republic.

My Peace Corps experience was first and foremost lifechanging for me. I learned a language, learned a new culture. I was a volunteer alone in a small town and I loved every moment of it.”

-John Weed, Assistant Executive Director

After he came to the U.S., John taught a bilingual program in California for eight months before moving back to New York City and enrolling at the Hunter College School of Social Work. He came across the BronxWorks (then CAB) Immigration program and recalls meeting his former colleague and fellow Assistant Executive Director, Scott Auwarter, and asking him about the organization.

It was because of Scott that I decided it was a good internship for me. Picture this: the agency was so small at the time, we only had the 2070 Grand Concourse office and two others.”

John stayed at BronxWorks full-time after graduating with his Master’s in Social Work. He helped run the Avenue St. John walk-in office, adding needed programs for the community such as a family childcare network, after-school and youth programming, and more. During his 34 years at BronxWorks, John has worked as a Program Director, Department Director, and, of course, Assistant Executive Director, overseeing all of the community programs at BronxWorks.

What we were able to do at Avenue St. John thrilled me. The community was tiny and there was a lot of devastation in the Bronx when I started. It looks a lot different now than back then, and we were able to make this community work through a variety of programs. I would say my professional accomplishment is to fill a need where it is and work with the community to do that.”

Outside of work, John loves to hike. He’s looking forward to a once-a-year hiking trip with his Peace Corps friends in the Adirondacks. He also loves to garden and travel, and he enjoys spending time with his family and adult children.

(Edited April 2026) John is now the Senior Vice President at BronxWorks.