Saeeda Lesley Dunston

Saeeda Lesley Dunston was appointed the Executive Director at Elmcor Youth and Services Activities, Inc. in 2014. She is recognized among her peers and human service providers throughout New York State as having the depth and breadth of programmatic and administrative knowledge in developing and implementing culturally competent programs and services.

Ms. Dunston has devoted her career to channeling and directing her commitment to service, unparalleled work ethic, and laser-like ability to ascertain the bottom line to develop and implement strategies that ensure communities, and most specifically communities and populations of color, are provided with the tools to live productive, healthy and aspirational lives.

With her longevity and commitment to working in the nonprofit sector, Ms. Dunston’s leadership will not only secure Elmcor’s position as a vital service provider and advocate on the neighborhood level, but through ongoing capacity-building efforts, she will be instrumental in building collaborative relationships with individual, public and philanthropic communities to support and invest in those around areas of mutual concern and priority.

Prior to Elmcor, Ms. Dunston served in senior management positions in Brooklyn multi-service agencies and served several boroughs and Citywide advocacy and policy-focused coalitions that address poverty, anti-racism, health care needs of marginalized populations and communities throughout New York City. These experiences mobilized and retrofitted Elmcor in developing and enhancing new and existing programs: Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Program, that provides exceptional learning and out-of-school time opportunities to youth to pursue post-secondary education and careers in STEM fields; launched the Queens Community Connection, a borough-wide consortium of service providers, leveraging organizational resources to address the prevailing socio-economic-health disparities that challenge Queens communities; and promote inter- and intra-agency collaborations around issues of behavioral health, health equity, social and economic justice, anti-stigma and community education.

Ms. Dunston is a graduate of York College, and has post graduate certifications in program management, leadership/professional development, and fundraising. She is also a proud wife, mother, and grandmother underscoring her deep personal and familial ties and connections to Queens and, in particular, the East Elmhurst/Corona communities.