Finding Purpose Through Service: Two NJCDC Students, One Shared Commitment to Community

Every year, NJCDC celebrates remarkable young people as they reach important milestones — graduating, earning scholarships, and preparing for bright futures. But sometimes, the most inspiring stories aren’t defined by a single achievement. They’re about the years of growth, encouragement, and community that help shape who a young person becomes.

For Alyson Betancourt and Ashly Gaibor, that journey has unfolded through different NJCDC programs and opportunities. One discovered her passion for serving others through years of volunteering alongside her family. The other found her voice through civic engagement, environmental stewardship, and youth leadership. Together, their stories illustrate what can happen when young people are empowered not only to dream about making a difference, but to begin doing it.

A Foundation Built on Showing Up

When Alyson Betancourt leaves for Northeastern University this August, she’ll pursue a combined major in international affairs and human services, along with a minor in film and communication. While film has long been one of her passions, she hopes to use storytelling, journalism, and advocacy to amplify the voices of others. For Alyson, those aspirations are deeply connected to the experiences that shaped her in Paterson.

A Paterson native and recent graduate of George School, a boarding high school in Pennsylvania, Alyson has distinguished herself academically while also emerging as a compassionate leader. But even while away at school, she remained deeply connected to home, returning every holiday break to volunteer with NJCDC’s Neighborhood Help Center (NHC). Since 2022, she has contributed more than 100 volunteer hours supporting food distributions, coat giveaways, and toy collections. This summer, she’s been back once again, volunteering several days each week to assist with outreach and administrative efforts at the NHC.

Whenever an opportunity to volunteer comes along, she doesn’t hesitate. “Whenever I would hear there’s an event happening, I’m immediately like, ‘Guess who’s coming home?’” Alyson said.

Beyond serving the community, those experiences have also strengthened her own family. “NJCDC has brought my family closer together,” she said.

Those same experiences ultimately pointed her toward a career. “Working with NJCDC has really shaped what I want to do with my life,” she said. “It made me realize I always want to be helping people and giving back to communities.”

Her choice of major reflects that commitment. “Human services connects directly back to Paterson and the work I've done with NJCDC,” Alyson said. “International affairs comes from wanting to help not only people here, but also people internationally.”

One holiday event, in particular, helped crystallize that calling. While helping distribute gifts during an NJCDC Christmas celebration, Alyson recalled a little boy who came up to her and said “Thank you for making my Christmas so special.” “That moment has stayed with me ever since,” she said — and it helped her understand the kind of difference she wanted to make.

Cristina Tone, NJCDC’s Assistant Director of Community Outreach, has watched Alyson grow from a young volunteer into a compassionate leader.

“Alyson has always been someone who shows up — not because anyone asks her to, but because she genuinely cares about her community,” Cristina said. “Watching her grow into such a thoughtful, service-minded young woman has been incredibly rewarding.”

Finding Her Voice — and Inspiring Others

Like Alyson, Ashly Gaibor has embraced every opportunity to grow through NJCDC.

As a member of NJCDC’s Paterson Youth Council and participant in NJCDC’s Youth Inclusion Initiative in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Ashly has spent the past year exploring civic leadership, environmental stewardship, and community service. Along the way, she visited the United Nations and Washington, D.C., toured Ivy League campuses, and met with community leaders.

This spring, Ashly won the New Jersey Hall of Fame’s 2026 High School Essay Contest. Her winning essay honored Cristina Tone, recognizing the impact Cristina has had on her own growth and on young people throughout Paterson. She wrote that seeing a woman like Cristina lead with purpose taught her that success is measured by the impact left on a community, not by personal achievement alone.

Her own experiences have inspired her to become that kind of leader for others.

“I feel more prepared to talk with people in the community about why protecting the environment is important,” Ashly said, a few weeks into this summer’s environmental program. “I think everyone can make a difference in their community, and I want to be someone who encourages others to do that.”

For Cristina, Ashly’s recognition was deeply meaningful. “I've seen Ashly grow and shine with us. We supported her, listened to her, and she supported us back on so many occasions,” Cristina said. “Seeing her recognized this way makes me incredibly proud and happy for her.”

Growing Leaders, Strengthening Community

Although their paths have been different, Alyson and Ashly share something important: each has embraced opportunities not simply to succeed personally, but to lift up the people around them.

Whether it’s returning home from school to volunteer at a holiday event, encouraging neighbors to protect the environment, or inspiring others through service, both young women embody the values that NJCDC strives to nurture in every young person.

Their stories are reminders that a community’s investment in its young people comes back many times over. Through service, leadership, and a willingness to keep showing up for others, Alyson and Ashly are already helping strengthen Paterson today while preparing to make an even greater mark on it tomorrow.