Richard Souto has spent years passionately serving youth and families in NYC’s most underserved communities with engaging and effective educational programs. Prior to joining LEAP, Rich was the Chief Operating Officer of Harlem RBI and DREAM Charter School, a community-based organization and school serving over 2,000 young people from pre-k to college. Rich was previously Executive Director of New Heights Youth in the Bronx and Associate Executive Director of Groundwork in East New York, Brooklyn. Rich also volunteers time to many initiatives important to him both in the city and his upstate home and he was an Adjunct Professor at the New School University. Rich spends his free time biking, gardening and hanging out with friends and family.