Negocios Now

www.negociosnow.com 42 October 2022 Age: 33 Title: Founder Name of Organization: Oyate Group Tomas Ramos is the founder and president of the Oyate Group, an organization dedicated to provi- ding and distributing critical re- sources across New York City. At the onset of the COVID-19 pan- demic, Tomas temporarily sus- pended his campaign for New York's 15th congressional district to support New York's hardest- hit borough by launching the Bronx Rising Initiative, the first initiative of Oyate Group. Tomas and his team have since expan- ded to serve additional bo- roughs, through Uptown Rising Initiative, and into public safety through A Mother'5 Promi5e. Tomas began his community organizing career as the program director for Children's Arts & Science Workshops at the Bronx River Community Center, brin- ging with him a background in youth education and hospitality. While working in the community center, Tomas fought to secure funding for the first technology center in New York City public housing and secured nume- rous awards and grants for local community centers and families living in low-income housing.He also worked to develop financial literacy, civic engagement, and college and job readiness pro- gramming for residents; planned and organized a conference to empower young men and boys of color, focusing on the negative impact of toxic masculinity; and was appointed to New York State's My Brother's Keeper planning committee, which resulted in the creation of a Young Men's Initia - tive mentoring program at the Bronx River Community Center. Tomas has worked with res- torative justice agencies to faci- litate a diversion program that enables low-level offenders to avoid the legal system and provi- des them with needed support, and he was a pioneer plaintiff of NYC's Fair Chance Act, being one of the first individuals to sue a large corporation for discrimi- nation. A first-generation Domini- can American, Tomas was born in Washington Heights. In the 1980s, while his father was incar- cerated, Tomas and his mother relocated to Pennsylvania. Upon his father's release, the family moved to the Dominican Re- public. Tomas later returned to the United States with his si- blings and went on to finish high school and graduate from Tem- ple University. Tomas has been recognized by various organizations, inclu- ding the New York Yankees, the Dominican Bar Association and through invitations to partici- pate in conferences and events, such as the Dominican Day Parade and the National Lati- no Leadership Conference. In 2020, he was featured on Crain's New York Business's Hispanic Leaders and Executives list. WORDS OF WISDOM: "W hen we empower each other, We Rise Together!" Tomás Ramos Providing Critical Resources

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