All Stars Project

All Stars Project, Inc.1 (ASP), founded in 1981, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting youth development through an innovative performance-based model. The ASP CREATES extracurricular educational and performing arts activities for tens of thousands of poor and minority young people. It sponsors community and experimental theatre, develops leadership training, and pursues volunteer initiatives that build and strengthen communities. The ASP actively promotes supplementary education and the performance-learning model in academic and civic arenas.

Youth Development Programs

The All Stars Project sponsors four youth development programs for inner-city youth – the All Stars Talent Show Network, the Development School for Youth, Youth Onstage! and the Production of Youth by Youth; and is home of the Castillo Theatre, a community oriented theatre in the heart of New York City, that often puts on plays written by youth.

The All Stars Project’s performing arts and development center on W. 42nd Street in Manhattan serves as its national headquarters. In addition to New York City, the All Stars Project sponsors programs in Chicago, IL, Newark, NJ, and the San Francisco Bay Area in California. All Stars is also produced by local organizations in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, and internationally in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The All Stars Project is a not for profit under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Leadership

Gabrielle L. Kurlander has been the president and CEO of the All Stars Project, Inc. since 1990. An innovative producer, Kurlander has expanded and established the All Stars Project as one of the country’s leading youth development efforts and has raised over $50 million for its performance-based development programs.

2004, PBS, America Beyond the Color Line

2004, Channel 13, NY Voices/Help Wanted: Black Male and Unemployed, John DeNatale, Executive Producer

2000, Cable News Network, Business Unusual

2000, PBS//A Production of The Institute for Play and InCA (Independent Communications Associates Inc.) Promise of Play, Episode I: The Mother of Invention, Filmmaker: David Kennard, Stuart Brown and The Institute for Play

2006, The American Photo Mission Series Roots of Compassion: Social Entrepreneurs in New York City, David Schonauer – Editor in Chief/Phil Borges – photographer

Awards/Recognition

2005, All Stars Project volunteers were each honored by the Points of Light Foundation with Daily Points of Light Awards.

June 2003, The Institute for Urban and Minority Education (Teacher's College, Columbia University) published a study on the All Stars Talent Show Network (ASTSN) and the Joseph A. Forgione Development School for Youth (DSY). The study concludes that both programs represent "exemplary" supplementary education efforts that exceed national standards for after school programs set forth by the Carnegie Corporation.

2001, the Peter F. Drucker Foundation Innovation of the Week Award for the All Stars Project's Joseph A. Forgione Development School for Youth.

2001, New York City's Mayor's Voluntary Service Award presented to All Stars Project youth leader, (Silver Apple)

And in 2000, All Stars Project received the Mutual of New York (MONY) Award as the "Best Volunteer Site for Working People" (First place) $5,000 cash award.