The Door - A Center of Alternatives

When Joel arrived at his mandatory ICE check-in yesterday morning, he brought his backpack in the hopes of getting to school before his first class. As a minor with approved Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, which has historically offered protections and a path to lawful residency, he has followed every regulation and trusted that doing the right thing would keep him safe. It’s devastating. It’s unjust. Joel's attorney, Beth Baltimore from The Door's Legal Services Center, has been with Joel every step of the way. As she left the courthouse without him, she shared, "I was too hopeful." At The Door, we believe no child should be punished for seeking safety and stability. You can read more about Joel today in an updated The New York Times article. https://lnkd.in/eKUD5XA2 The Door’s Legal Services team, alongside the New York Civil Liberties Union, has filed an emergency petition demanding Joel’s release. We will not stop fighting for him—and for every young person who deserves to be treated with dignity and care, not cruelty and fear. Thank you to Brad Lander, who joined Beth and Joel at his check-in. #DoorNYC #WeStandWithYoungPeople #LegalServices #NYCyouth

Yesterday morning, despite the tireless efforts and advocacy of The Door's Legal Services team, Joel Camas was detained at an ICE check-in appointment. Joel's story was featured in The New York Times piece we shared last week. Joel turned 16 over the summer, he loves soccer and pizza and he's a member of The Door's community. https://lnkd.in/eXZ8kj7D Joel appeared in good faith to meet the government requirements as a minor with an approved Special Immigrant Juvenile Status petition. His detention is unjust and devastating. He may be the first unaccompanied minor detained by the Trump administration in this term. The Door’s Legal Services team, in partnership with the @NYCLU, is pursuing every legal avenue to secure his release and to uphold the protections immigrant youth are guaranteed under the law. We will continue to stand beside Joel — and every young person seeking safety, stability, and the chance to build a brighter future. Support crucial legal services for NYC youth today: https://lnkd.in/d9aCt6zS #DoorNYC #WeStandWithYoungPeople #LegalServices #NYCyouth

What a night to remember! 💫 Recently, our community came together for Together We Thrive: The Door and Broome Street Academy’s 2025 Benefit for NYC Youth. We heard an inspiring story from Door alum who spoke about finding hope and direction through The Door, followed by a moving musical performance by talented Door artists. Change Maker Awardee Javier Muñoz spoke about the revolutionary power of nurturing, protecting, and uplifting the next generation, and the strength found in community. We also celebrated Founder’s Award honoree Pinterest, recognized for their transformative partnership and investment in youth arts and mental health, alongside powerful reflections from Kelsey Louie, who reminded us why centering young people remains at the heart of all we do. A huge thank-you to our incredible host Bashel Lewis for bringing joy, energy, and heart to the stage. The celebration continues through our Charitybuzz auction, featuring luxury travel, exclusive wine experiences, and a once-in-a-lifetime theater experience with Door alum @Lorna Courtney, who shared a special video message during the Benefit. Read the recap and learn more about our auction here: https://lnkd.in/ebAdwprV #TogetherWeThrive #TheDoorNYC #BroomeStreetAcademy #YouthDevelopment #NYCYouth

We're looking forward to celebrating the incredible work of The Door and Broome Street Academy Charter High School at tonight's annual benefit Together We Thrive: 2025 Benefit for NYC Youth. We can't wait to join the stage with our talented Door youth performers, Change Maker Honoree Javier Muñoz, Founder's Award Honoree Pinterest, and Host Bashel Lewis. Thank you to Lorna A. Courtney , former Door member, the original Juliet in Broadway’s hit musical & Juliet, and currently Veronica in Heathers, for stopping by yesterday to support our Door artists ahead of their big night! If you're unable to attend, there's still time to support The Door and Broome Street Academy by visiting www.door.org/donate. #TogetherWeThrive #DoorNYC #NYCYouth #BSA #NYCyouth

We’re proud to stand beside Joel, Mouctar, and Dylan, and so many young people navigating fear, uncertainty, and systems that too often fail to see their humanity. As The New York Times reports, schools and community organizations across New York have become lifelines for immigrant youth—places where teachers, neighbors, and advocates come together to protect and uplift young people in moments of crisis. At The Door, we’re honored to be part of that circle of care—providing legal advocacy, mental-health counseling, education, and belonging for Joel, Mouctar, and so many others. We proudly stand together with our partners to ensure that no young person faces these challenges alone. Click here to read the full story: https://lnkd.in/e2CsYh8m Pictured: Joel and Elvia by Diana Cervantes, and Mouctar by Ahmed Gaber. #DoorNYC #LegalServices

Today, on World Mental Health Day, we reflect with pride and urgency on the momentum we’ve built through our mental health services at The Door, and the conversations we sparked at our recent Opening Doors: A Youth Development Summit. Two weeks ago, our inaugural summit brought together nearly 200 nonprofit, government, and philanthropic leaders to address the youth mental health crisis, not just through dialogue, but with solutions rooted in collaboration, equity, and care. The summit was buzzing with new collaborations and a sense of shared purpose. It was clear to everyone present that it was the beginning of a movement. We invite you to view our new mental health video, which highlights how The Door continues to walk alongside youth every day, with empathy and intention. https://lnkd.in/eP33KrCn In the words of Kelsey Louie, “We are stronger than the storm, because we are in it together.” We look forward to building on the energy and momentum of the summit and remain committed to building a strong, united network that meets youth where they are, honors their unique strengths, and grounds us in our shared humanity. #DoorYNYC #WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealthAwareness #NYCyouth

We are proud to honor Pinterest with the Founder’s Award at Together We Thrive: The Door’s 2025 Benefit for NYC Youth. The Founder’s Award recognizes an organization or individual whose commitment, vision, and partnership have made a transformative difference in the lives of young people. Over the past three years, Pinterest has done just that. Their sustained support—over $400,000 in grant funding—has helped us expand arts programming to the Bronx, integrate mental health supports into creative spaces, and create meaningful opportunities for youth to engage in and prioritize emotional wellbeing. We look forward to celebrating Pinterest’s leadership and partnership on October 15 at Gotham Hall. 📅 October 15 | Gotham Hall 🔗 www.door.org/benefit2025

The Door is honored to have been named the 2026 RISE Up Partner of the Year by the National Retail Federation! Through our partnership with the NRF Foundation, we’ve integrated their RISE Up credentialing program into our comprehensive career and education services, helping thousands of young people acquire both the technical and soft skills that retail employers seek. Read more about our partnership here: https://lnkd.in/er44cGWp

From our CEO Kelsey Louie’s powerful reminder that we are stronger together, to an inspiring keynote from Elisa C., Executive Director of the Stonewall Community Foundation, the day was filled with collaboration, strategies for bold systems change, and a vision for a stronger future. We are deeply grateful to our partners who shared their expertise through panels and breakout sessions: Gregory J Morris, MPA (NYC Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)), Eva Wong (NYC Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health), Beatriz de la Torre (Trinity Church NYC), Laurel Dumont (@Solon E. Summerfield Foundation), Dr. Dana E. Crawford (Crawford Bias Reduction Theory & Training Center), Steph Cadet, LMHC (The Door - A Center of Alternatives), Dr. Carla Smith, Ed.D. (The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center), Dr. Warren Y.K. Ng (Columbia University Irving Medical Center), Jennifer Siaca Curry, Ed.D. & Taejha R. (Change Impact), and Dr. Michael A. Lindsey, PhD, MSW, MPH (NYU Silver School of Social Work). This was more than a summit; it was the start of a movement. Together, we are opening doors to possibility, equity, and wellness for every young person to thrive. Read the highlights here: http://bit.ly/42gkMS3 #DoorNYC #YouthDevelopment #MentalHealthMatters #OpeningDoorsSummit