Mr. Todd Pisani.
Mr. Todd Pisani was recognized by Rutgers University–Camden for his efforts supporting justice-impacted youth throughout the Camden NJ area as part of the Rutgers Youth Success Program now housed at CAIT. Through this initiative, Mr. Pisani has aided young people in the region by providing them with job readiness, career exposure, work experience, educational, and other support services—using transportation and infrastructure to create bridges to youth employment opportunities.
Recognizing his dedication to Rutgers University–Camden and the region, Mr. Todd Pisani has been selected as a recipient of the 2022 Chancellor’s Award for Diversity, Inclusion & Civic Engagement.
As Research Project Manager for the Rutgers Youth Success Program at CAIT, Mr. Pisani provides case management services to youth in Camden, NJ—helping justice-impacted young people access career and professional mentorship opportunities that build stronger pathways to sustainable employment.
He won the award under the category of “Alumni Civic Engagement.” This award specifically recognizes individual alumni or groups of alumni for efforts and projects that benefit communities beyond the Rutgers campus.
“Todd Pisani (GSC’17), who has an MPA from Rutgers–Camden, has played a pivotal role in serving justice-impacted young people through what is now known as the Rutgers Youth Success Program,” Rutgers University–Camden officials stated. “For over seven years, he has immersed himself in the heart of Camden and effectively built up a program serving over 100 of the most vulnerable youth and their families.”
Rutgers–Camden Chancellor, Dr. Antonio D. Tillis, commended the award winners for their dedication to the Rutgers and Camden communities, leadership, and service. Mr. Pisani was honored at a reception on campus where he received his award earlier this year.
Rutgers Youth Success Program (RYSP) has been the premier innovative urban youth development division of Rutgers University, serving out-of-school, disconnected, and justice-impacted youth and young adults across New Jersey. RYSP helps young people improve their quality of life and become productive members of the workforce and society.
Funded by the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development, RYSP is a collaboration between researchers at Rutgers University and the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) that provides state-of-the-art trauma-informed and strengths-based case management services to vulnerable populations in Camden County and statewide.
Recognizing the need to support vulnerable youth in NJ communities as well as the opportunity to support economic recovery in the state, CAIT and RYSP leverages its existing interdisciplinary and cross-sector partnerships to help place under-represented and justice-challenged young people in sustainable transportation careers ranging from positions in shipping and logistics such as truck drivers, mechanics, and forklift operators; to roadway maintenance for a State or County entity; among other opportunities.
The program is designed to introduce young people to viable career options in transportation, provide the training and paid work experience necessary for success, fill system gaps in under-recognized areas of workforce need, develop a more equitable and sustainable transportation workforce, and help youth overcome the barriers that have prevented pathways to success in the past.
Learn more about Mr. Pisani’s work and the Rutgers Youth Success Program here.
