Leyla Bermudez is the Vice President of Youth Services at Elmcor, where she leads critical programs, including the Youth Recovery Clubhouse and a key Drug Prevention Education team in Queens. With a focus on enhancing social justice through youth programs, Leyla has recently been instrumental in securing and licensing a DOE-contracted Free Universal Pre-K in Jamaica, contracted to serve 70 children and families. Her extensive knowledge helped inform a youth change-agent framework to bolster leadership skills among young people.
Before joining Elmcor, Leyla dedicated 20 years to directing several Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD)-funded programs, emphasizing out-of-school education, family support, and a holistic approach to youth development. Her recent achievements include forming the Queens Prevention Community Coalition, aimed at serving migrant people of color, to foster policy and structural changes for community betterment.
Leyla holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master’s in Public Administration with a specialization in Management and Operations from CUNY’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice, reflecting her deep commitment to youth empowerment and community service.
Leyla is motivated by her immigrant parent’s strong work ethic and supporting her latino community through education, cultural respect, and encouraging them to walk in their power!