About Off the Block
see it to be it
Our motto is “See it to Be it,” a philosophy rooted in the belief that exposure changes trajectories. We harness the cultural, educational, and civic richness of New York City to create immersive experiences that broaden horizons—and now, we pair those experiences with the academic and navigational support students need to reach the next level.
We focus on middle school students from NYCHA and other underserved communities who are preparing for the SHSAT and beginning to chart their high school, college, and career paths. By combining experiential learning with test preparation, school choice guidance, and family engagement, we help students see, believe in, and ultimately pursue a future filled with possibility.
We are proud to partner with New York City Public Schools, local community organizations, and NYCHA housing developments as we deepen our work across the city—building authentic bonds and pathways to opportunity.
Our Mission
Break the cycle and shatter generational poverty.
Our Vison
Inspire and Empower kids to achieve their dreams
What We Do
Embracing our "See it to Be it" philosophy, Off the Block harnesses the unparalleled cultural, educational, and natural resources of New York City and the tri-state area. Our highly-curated, immersive, and educational experiences not only broaden horizons but allow the children of The Taft Houses and other local community groups that share our mission, and eventually other underserved communities, the opportunity to witness and engage with the world's richness, empowering them to dream without limits.
Board
Linsey Davis
Linsey Davis is currently an anchor for ABC News Live Prime, which is ABC News Live’s first-ever streaming evening newscast, and weekend “World News Tonight” on Sundays. She is a correspondent filing reports for “World News Tonight,” “Good Morning America,” “20/20” and “Nightline.”
Throughout the 2020 presidential election cycle, Davis was at the forefront of ABC News’ coverage, beginning with all eight nights of the Democratic and Republican National Conventions to co-anchoring major political events such as two presidential debates, the vice presidential debate, presidential election coverage and Inauguration Day. She showcased her tough, but fair moderating skills at ABC News’ Democratic presidential debates in September, 2019 and February, 2020, holding candidates accountable on racial inequality and other key issues. See full Bio
Board
Roxanna Ayers
Roxanna Ayers brings over two decades of expertise in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and community engagement, with a career dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices and driving systemic change. As the founder of Ethos Consulting Group, she has guided nonprofits across 20+ countries, raising over $250 million globally. A nonprofit attorney with a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School and a Master’s in Philanthropy from Indiana University, Roxanna also holds her CFRE designation and certifications from Columbia Business School. Her career highlights include partnering with the United Nations on anti-trafficking efforts and spearheading historic electoral wins for underrepresented candidates. Roxanna is currently a doctoral candidate at the Lilly School of Philanthropy, where she is developing a comprehensive and multi-modal training for nonprofit professionals. Beyond her professional achievements, Roxanna is deeply committed to ethical leadership and sustainability in the nonprofit sector. We are incredibly proud to have Roxanna’s strategic insight, leadership, and unwavering dedication guiding Off The Block’s mission and growth.
Board
Mike Soffer
Mike Soffer is the Founder and CEO of Spread Love Consulting, a boutique consulting firm that specializes in connecting non profit organizations with corporate partners. Prior to Spread Love, Mike was the Chief Revenue Officer at PSP Sports, the nation's largest sports publishing and media network. In Mike's 20+ years at PSP, he was responsible for hundreds of millions in sponsorship revenue and saw the company grow over 1,000% under his guidance.
Dedicated to helping those in the greatest need, Mike has lent his expertise to leading organizations from the Alzheimer's Association to the Chesapeake Conservancy, and has made an immediate and lasting impact in process.
Mike was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY during hip-hop's Golden Age ("spread love it's the Brooklyn way"), and has witnessed the inequality that exists in New York City and beyond, and has always been drawn to Solutions-Now's vision and mission to get kids off the block and see the world around them. It's literally what dreams are made of.
Board
Dr. Kamala Greene Genece
Dr. Kamala Greene Génecé is a NY state-licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience in the design and implementation of addiction treatment programs and the utilization of cognitive-behavioral techniques for the treatment of co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. Dr. Génecé received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Boston University, completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Boston Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), and completed post-doctoral work at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University (now known as Partnership to End Addiction). Dr. Génecé has taught and supervised graduate students, psychiatry residents, and Addiction Fellows on the process of disseminating cognitive-behavioral treatments to diverse treatment settings, in addition to conducting specialized trainings for professionals in motivational interviewing and CRAFT therapy techniques. Dr. Génecé’s current position is as the Vice President, System Innovation & Quality at the Partnership to End Addiction, where she drives development of program and organizational technical assistance products for the addiction treatment system. Prior to this role Dr. Genece served as the Chief Clinical Officer of Phoenix Houses NY/LI. In this role, Dr. Génecé worked to develop and implement best practices in residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment throughout NYC and LI. Prior to joining Phoenix House, Dr. Génecé served as the Deputy Director of the Division of Substance Abuse (DoSA), Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Montefiore Medical Center, where she was the Chair of the Quality Committee and provided administrative and clinical leadership to over 200 staff members serving 3000 patients annually. In addition, Dr. Génecé has served as the Administrative Director of Addiction Treatments at Bronx Lebanon Health Center (BLHC), where she oversaw five levels of ASAM addiction care, and as the Director of Program Design and evaluation at the Institute for Community Living (ICL), both in New York City.
Board
Shawn Sabin
Shawn Sabin is a Director at the Sabin Metal Corporation, focusing on finance and the precious metal markets. He previously led the company’s international expansion in Asia, the Middle East, and India.
Shawn is a founding Board Member of the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation. The foundation gives over 200 grants/year that focus on protecting our environment, strengthening our communities, and advancing healthcare research. He is also on the President’s Council at the Children’s Scholarship Fund, which has provided over $1 billion in scholarships to expand educational opportunities for K-8 students.
During his eight years in China, he co-founded both Qkuts (children’s lifestyle brand) and Accent Mandarin (corporate training).
He is a graduate of the University of Michigan.
