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EMERGENT WORKS INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 851197743 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE P99 · Human Services · Small ($100K-$1M) · emergentworks.org
revenue
$425K
expenses
$791K
net assets
$52K
employees
5
volunteers
20
program ratio
55%
mission · from form 990

PROVIDE POST-INCARCERATION JOB-TRAINING AND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES TO FORMERLY INCARCERATED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Emergent Works helps justice-impacted youth and adults access economic mobility through digital education, creative expression, and workforce development. The organization offers two primary programs: T.RAP, a creative workforce program for youth that combines music production and social-emotional learning, and TECK, a virtual mentorship program in digital literacy and tech skills for system-impacted adults. Programs are delivered in New York City and nationally through virtual and partner-based models.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $491K
    EMERGENT WORKS' T.RAP (TECHNOLOGY RHYTHM AND PASSION) IS AN AUXILIARY PROGRAM OF EW'S 1:1 VIRTUAL MENTORSHIP UNDER THE AUSPICES OF OUR BIGGER THAN THE BLOCK PROGRAM. FOCUSING ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ARTISTS IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, OUR COHORTS ARE COMPRISED OF YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16-24 WHO ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING HOW TO USE THEIR CREATIVITY AS A MEANS OF HEALING AND A LIVELIHOOD.
  2. #2 $391K
    LEAP IS A ONE-YEAR FELLOWSHIP THAT GIVES SYSTEM-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE EMBEDDED ON EMERGENT WORKS' ENGINEERING TEAM. THROUGH COLLABORATIONS WITH THE ENGINEERING TEAM AND OUR CLIENTS, FELLOWS LEARN DATA LITERACY, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, DIGITAL LITERACY, AND REMOTE COLLABORATION, CULMINATING IN A CLIENT PROJECT OR FEATURE THAT THEY OWN. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO COUNTER LACK OF EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS AND REDUCED EARNING POTENTIAL AMONG RETURNING CITIZENS BY FILLING THEIR TOOLKIT WITH WIDELY APPLICABLE, HIGH-VALUE SKILLS FOR ANY TECH-FORWARD CAREER.
named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

T.RAP
Free creative workforce program for NYC youth ages 16-24 that blends music production, songwriting, recording, civic engagement, digital literacy, social-emotional learning, and career readiness. Participants earn milestone-based stipends and develop original music and career pathways.
TECK
Free 12-week virtual mentorship program for system-impacted individuals 18+ that provides one-on-one support in digital literacy, coding, UI/UX, and tech career exploration. Participants build portfolio-ready projects and gain confidence in the digital landscape with mentor guidance.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Tech Skills Training for Underserved Groups 2 activities
    • Operate TECK: Virtual Tech Mentorship Program for System-Impacted Adults
      Runs TECK, a free 12-week virtual mentorship program for system-impacted individuals aged 18+ across the U.S., pairing participants with industry professionals for one-on-one training in digital literacy, coding, UI/UX, and AI. Participants develop personalized learning roadmaps and complete portfolio-ready projects, supported by weekly mentorship and hands-on skill building.
    • Run LEAP Fellowship for Real-World Tech Experience
      Operates a one-year LEAP fellowship program that provides system-impacted individuals with training in data literacy, product development, and project management, culminating in ownership of a client project or feature, equipping participants with practical tech industry experience.
  • Nonprofit Capacity Building Services 1 activity
    • Deliver Programs via Fee-for-Service to Partner Organizations
      Provides T.RAP and related programming directly to partner organizations through official Fee-for-Service contracts, expanding program reach and institutionalizing delivery models beyond direct participant cohorts.
  • Alumni Leadership and Career Support Programs 1 activity
    • Employ Alumni as Instructors and Mentors
      Trains and employs alumni of T.RAP and TECK programs as paid teaching assistants, facilitators, and mentors within Emergent Works programs, creating leadership pathways and work experience opportunities through initiatives like Train the Trainer.
  • Youth Workforce Readiness Programs 1 activity
    • Operate T.RAP: Creative Workforce Program for NYC Youth
      Runs T.RAP (Technology, Rhythm, and Passion), a free creative workforce development program for justice-impacted youth aged 16–24 in New York City, integrating music production, songwriting, recording, civic engagement, digital literacy, social-emotional learning, and career readiness. Participants earn milestone-based stipends and complete a collaborative album and professional digital assets, culminating in a public showcase.
  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • Provide Workforce Readiness and Job Placement Support
      Supports program graduates in securing employment, internships, and paid contract roles through career readiness training, resume development, interview preparation, and connections to certification programs and educational pathways.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$425K
Contributions & grants$377K89%
Program service revenue$44K10%
Investment income$3K1%
Other revenue$450
expenses
Total expenses$791K
Program expenses55%
Admin / overhead36%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$458K
Grants paid out$34K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$54K
Cash$36K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$52K
Liquid reserves0.5 mo
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue -82.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
KENNITH ARMSTEAD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $98K
board members · 4
  • ASHLEY CHEN — SECRETARY
  • DION RIDLEY — DIRECTOR
  • JERONE HSU — DIRECTOR
  • ROSALIND ZAVRAS — PRESIDENT & TREASURER
relationships · 12

Who they work with

  • Big Than The Block Partner — Hosts the T.RAP program under its auspices as part of a broader mentorship initiative.
  • Center for Community Alternatives Partner — Partner organization that has integrated Emergent Works' T.RAP program into its NextGen Network reentry initiative.
  • Center for Community Alternatives Partner — Partners through the NextGen Network, a CCA reentry initiative, to support community reintegration and workforce development.
  • Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Partner — Strengthened partnership with Emergent Works as part of scaling strategy.
  • Community Justice Exchange Partner — Strengthened partnership with Emergent Works as part of ecosystem collaboration.
  • Industry Professionals Partner — Volunteer mentors from the tech industry provide one-on-one guidance to program participants.
  • StartSmall Fund Funder — Provided significant philanthropic support to Emergent Works.
  • Staten Island Justice Center Partner — Collaborates to deliver music programming for youth on Staten Island, creating safe spaces for creative expression.
  • Staten Island Justice Center Partner — Partner organization that collaborated with Emergent Works to deliver music programming to youth on Staten Island.
  • The Walt Disney Company Partner — Employer of TECK graduate Maria, indicating a workforce placement or partnership connection
  • Workforce 1 Harlem Partner — Collaborates on programs that provide resources, support, and education to individuals impacted by the justice system.
  • Workforce 1 Harlem Partner — Partner organization that has collaborated with Emergent Works on programming.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Arts-Based Social-Emotional Learning with Clinical Integration
    methodology: arts_based_social_emotional_learning
    By using music production, audio engineering, and arts-based workshops as vehicles for clinical mental health support, the organization strengthens emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience, because creative expression provides a non-stigmatizing, engaging pathway to therapeutic growth.
  • Integrated Skill and Confidence Building for Economic Mobility
    methodology: integrated_career_development
    By integrating digital literacy, technical skills, and creative arts with mentorship and applied project work, the organization improves career readiness and long-term economic stability, because combining skill development with confidence and identity work produces more sustainable workforce entry and advancement for justice-impacted individuals.
  • Lived-Experience-Led Holistic Development
    methodology: lived_experience_led_blended_learning
    By combining technical training, creative expression, and social-emotional learning within programs led by mentors with lived experience, the organization fosters deeper engagement, resilience, and identity development, because shared experience builds trust and relevance, enhancing both personal and professional growth.
  • Participatory Action Research for Community-Driven Change
    methodology: participatory_action_research
    By engaging participants in civic research and data-driven creative projects through Participatory Action Research (PAR), the organization develops leadership and critical thinking while addressing community-identified issues, because co-creating knowledge fosters agency, ownership, and real-world impact.
  • Tech-for-Liberation and Project-Based Mentorship
    methodology: tech_for_liberation
    By framing digital and AI fluency as tools for liberation and embedding them in project-based mentorship with industry professionals, the organization builds real-world technical skills and professional confidence, because applied, purpose-driven learning with expert guidance increases relevance and employability in tech-forward careers.