Founder and Executive Director, Youth Empowerment Mission

At 16, Isis Sapp-Grant was the leader of one of the most notorious girl gangs in New York City, the "Deceptinettes." But after her boyfriend was murdered and she was arrested for robbery, she pledged to turn her life around if given the chance. She started attending classes again and, with the help of two teachers and a policeman from the youth gangs unit, finished high school. She went on to graduate college and earn a Masters of Social Work.

In 1995, Isis began working with girl gang members and at-risk girls in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, empowering them to change their destinies as she had. Gradually, her work developed into the program that is now Youth Empowerment Mission (YEM). In its first year YEM provided comprehensive services to 40 girls. Robin Hood has been there from the beginning and is giving this exceptional leader the support she needs to build a solid, effective organization.