Rigaud Noel

With over two decades of experience in youth development, community organization, and advocacy, Rigaud Noel has dedicated his career to cultivating an equitable society and igniting positive change. As Executive Director of New Settlement, he channels his expertise into a hard-hitting organization that chips away at systemic issues and advances racial justice in the Bronx and citywide.

Under Rigaud’s leadership, New Settlement has expanded its reach in Mount Eden, providing more individuals with resources to thrive, ultimately elevating the overall wellness of the Bronx. He spearheaded efforts to reopen New Settlement’s Community Center in July 2021, with a renewed commitment to the health and wellness of Bronx families which included building a food pantry on the first floor, currently serving 600-700 community members monthly. Rigaud also led the charge in restructuring New Settlement’s programs, enhancing financial management practices, and launching a re-brand to strengthen the communication of its services. The re-brand led to the creation of New Settlement’s tagline, “Building Equitable Futures” and a new mission statement.

In addition to overseeing the $12 million budget, Rigaud has successfully raised over $2M of new funding inclusive of public and private grants to expand New Settlement’s critical services, ensuring individuals have agency around education, employment, housing, and creative expression. He simultaneously cultivated relationships with political leaders and key stakeholders and uncovered new avenues for bolstering organizational inclusivity. Rigaud has developed key relationships with new corporate partners including Nike, the New York Yankees, and Ponce Bank.

Previously, he served as Chief Partnerships Officer (CPO) for New York Edge, NYC’s largest afterschool program provider. As CPO, Rigaud was responsible for managing the submission and tracking of all public and private grant funds for New York Edge and its $50 million-dollar operating budget. He was also able to manage and grow its middle and high school College Access Program to $3M to become one of the largest College Access providers in the city. Rigaud is a board member of the Network for Youth Success and United Neighborhood Houses (UNH). As a board member and audit committee chair, Rigaud supports the New York State’s Network for Youth Success’s mission of building a youth-serving system that increases the quality and availability of afterschool and expanded learning programs across the state. United Neighborhood Houses is a policy and social change organization representing 46 neighborhood settlement houses that serve 765,000 New Yorkers from all walks of life. As a current Executive Director of a Settlement House, Rigaud has the unique opportunity to serve as a board member for UNH supporting the critical work being done by settlement houses across the state to
support their communities in need. Rigaud holds a master’s degree with a certificate in nonprofit management from Villanova University and a
bachelor’s degree in political science from Syracuse University. He was previously an adjunct professor at Queens College and taught nonprofit management to prepare the next generation of nonprofit professionals.

In 2021, Rigaud was recognized on Schneps Media’s inaugural Bronx Power List as one of the most influential and impactful individuals in the Bronx. In 2022, he was named on the Non-Profit 40 Under 40 City and State/Nonprofit Media list. Rigaud also serves his community in Rockville Centre, Long Island as a Volunteer Interior Firefighter at Eureka Truck Company #1.