Nassau County, New York JoyFest 2026 Complete · Planning 2027

BUILDING
SAFER
COMMUNITIES.
STRONGER
YOUTH.

Reducing violence, strengthening families, and creating safer neighborhoods through intervention, mentorship, wellness, and meaningful community engagement.

See Active Projects
500+
Youth
Engaged
2,400+
Community Members
Reached
$117K
Community
Investment
4
Years of
JoyFest
✓ JoyFest 2026 — Successfully Concluded
JoyFest 2026
A Juneteenth Event
June 19, 2026 · Roosevelt HS · Roosevelt, NY · Free for All
400+
Attendees
Free
Admission
7
Activations
2027
Next JoyFest

JoyFest returns June 19, 2027 — bigger, with the City Helpers community infrastructure launching alongside. Sponsorship and vendor applications are open now.

Just Concluded
JoyFest 2026 — Nassau County's Juneteenth Celebration · Thank You!
JoyFest returns June 19, 2027 — sponsorship & vendor applications open now
Plan for 2027 →
The Invisible Hand of Economics

Total Economic
Impact &
Projection

Every dollar SRIC invests in Nassau County doesn't stop at its program destination. It circulates — through food vendors, performers, local businesses, transportation, and the long-term value of reduced violence and increased workforce participation. This is the invisible hand of community economics.


Using a conservative 1.7× local economic multiplier (standard for nonprofit community event spending in urban/suburban NY), SRIC's verified $115K–$117K investment generates significantly more in total local economic activity — before accounting for the lifetime value of youth diverted from criminal justice pathways.

Local Economic Multiplier Applied
1.7×
For every $1 SRIC invests in Nassau County, approximately $1.70 circulates in the local economy through vendor activity, supplier chains, attendee spending, and workforce effects — a verified methodology from Urban Institute and Vera Institute benchmarks.
💵
Direct Investment
$116K
Verified 2025–2026 investment across 3 programs and 6 major community events in Nassau County
🔄
Local Economic Circulation
$197K
Total estimated local economic activity at 1.7× multiplier — vendor payments, supplier spend, attendee consumer activity
🧑‍🤝‍🧑
Human Capital Value
$280K+
Estimated lifetime earning gain for 10–12 youth diverted from criminal justice pathways ($23K–$28K avg. per participant, RAND Corp benchmarks)
🏪
Local Business Activation
30+
Local vendors, food trucks, photographers, AV, print, and supply businesses engaged across 6 events — direct small business revenue
🎤
JoyFest Local Spend
$51K
Estimated total local spend by 400+ JoyFest attendees on food, transportation, and retail before/after the event ($25–$50 avg. per household)
⚖️
Justice System Savings
$120K
Conservative estimate of avoided Nassau County juvenile justice costs for youth served through intervention programming (Vera Institute benchmark: $10K–$15K per youth diverted)
Estimated Total Community Economic Impact · 2025–2026
Direct spend + multiplier effect + human capital value + justice system savings + local business activation
$648K+
Projected Total Community Economic Impact — Nassau County Initiative (City Helpers Partnership)
2026 — Launch
$700K
Programs + JoyFest + Initiative soft launch
2027 — Build
$1.4M
Ghost kitchen · Library SBRCs · Tech center open
2028 — Scale
$3.2M
All 4 pillars running · 2,500+ JoyFest · 200+ businesses
2030 — Sustained
$8M+
Full ecosystem self-sustaining · Suffolk County expansion

* Economic projections are illustrative estimates based on standard nonprofit community development multiplier methodology (Urban Institute, Vera Institute, NY nonprofit economic impact studies). Not investment or financial advice.

Active Work on the Ground

Projects
in Progress

This is what SRIC is actively building right now — core intervention programs, pilots scaling up, and the Nassau County Community Impact Initiative taking shape in partnership with City Helpers.

01
Active · 2025–2026
🎬
Documentary Violence Intervention & Workforce Program

10–12 Nassau County youth and families are creating a documentary on gun violence — accessing legal professionals, career exposure at Quad Studios in music and media, and concluding with a celebrated recognition event mentored by celebrity guests.

10–12 YouthQuad Studios$20,000Violence PreventionWorkforce Exposure
02
Active · Scaling to 25 Pairs in 2026
🤝
Mentoring Pilot Program

10 youth currently matched 1-to-1 with 10 community mentors based on individual goals, interests, and developmental needs. Stipends, transportation, and food provided. Demonstrating the model ahead of a 2026 scale to 25 pairs anchored by expanded funding.

10 Active PairsStipends ProvidedScaling 2026$5–7K Budget
03
Funded · Expanding to 3 Sites 2026
💪
Exercise & Wellness Intervention Program

10 youth engaged through fitness, martial arts, and wellness activities as vehicles for violence prevention and mentorship. The Wellness Studio is an active community partner seen at JoyFest 2026. Programming expands to 3 partner sites in 2026.

10 YouthThe Wellness StudioMartial Arts$15,000Expanding 2026
04
Launching · City Helpers MOU in Progress
🏗️
Nassau County Community Impact Initiative

In partnership with City Helpers (led by Shai Vaughan), SRIC is formalizing a four-pillar permanent infrastructure partnership — ghost kitchen, tech innovation center, library-based SBRCs, and arts & music fundraising series — for Nassau County. MOU being finalized.

Ghost KitchenTech CenterLibrary SBRCsArts SeriesCity Helpers
The Next Chapter

2026 Vision &
City Helpers
Partnership

"JoyFest proved the community will come. Now we're building something permanent — infrastructure that serves Nassau County not just one day a year, but every single day."

Through our partnership with City Helpers, SRIC is evolving from a community events and intervention organization into a full community development platform — deploying four infrastructure pillars that create jobs, build businesses, educate youth, and sustain the cultural work that JoyFest started.

🍽️
Ghost Kitchen & Food Truck Hub
Black-owned food business incubator · Debuting at JoyFest 2027
Phase 1
💻
Tech & Innovation Center
STEM, coding, media, esports for Nassau County youth year-round
Phase 2
📚
Library-Based Small Business Resource Centers
Legal, financial & business support in Nassau County libraries
Phase 2
🎵
Arts, Music & Fundraising Series
Annual gala + quarterly events sustaining all four pillars
Phase 3
SRIC
Community Authority
×
City Helpers
Program Infrastructure

City Helpers brings the operational model, grant infrastructure, and program design validated in Las Vegas and Birmingham. SRIC brings the community trust, platform, and Long Island relationships built over four years of JoyFest.

🤝
Shai Vaughan
Project Lead & Program Operations Partner · City Helpers · Nassau County Initiative
2026 Funding Strategy
Nassau County CDBG / OED$50–150K
NY State REDC CFA$100K–$2M
HUD / SBA Federal Programs$75–500K
Long Island Community Foundation$25–150K
JoyFest Sponsorships$35–100K
Nassau County's Juneteenth Celebration

JoyFest 2027 —
Planning Starts Now

JoyFest 2026 concluded on June 19th — 400+ attendees, 7 activations, and a community that showed up with joy and pride. Now we look ahead. JoyFest 2027 will be the biggest yet, launching alongside the City Helpers Nassau County Initiative.

Countdown to JoyFest 2027
360
Days
0
Hrs
0
Min
🏫
Secure the Venue

Confirm Roosevelt HS or identify a larger site to accommodate 800+ projected attendance for JoyFest 2027. Early booking locks preferred dates and costs.

Deadline: September 2026
💼
Sponsorships Open Now

2027 sponsorship tiers range from $1,000 (Freedom Builder) to $10,000 (Legacy of Joy Presenting Sponsor). Early sponsors receive maximum visibility across all 2026–2027 materials.

Open Now — Apply Today
🍽️
Ghost Kitchen Launch

JoyFest 2027 debuts the City Helpers ghost kitchen and food truck hub — Nassau County's first Black-owned food business incubator, launching at the event as a community proof of concept.

City Helpers · Phase 1 Debut
🎤
Entertainment & Programming

Vendor applications, performer submissions, nonprofit exhibitor spots, and community organization booths are being accepted for JoyFest 2027's expanded program.

Applications Open: January 2027
📣
Community Outreach Campaign

JoyFest 2027 awareness campaign launches in January 2027 across Nassau County schools, churches, community orgs, and local media — targeting 800+ attendees.

Campaign Launch: January 2027
🤝
County & Civic Partnerships

Outreach to Nassau County Executive's Office, local legislators, and Nassau County Public Library System for co-sponsorship, site support, and SBRC pilot launch tied to JoyFest 2027.

Begin: August 2026

"JoyFest doesn't just celebrate freedom — it's building the infrastructure for a community to be truly free."

Become a 2027 Sponsor Volunteer for 2027
Who We Are

Rich in More
Than Money.

So Rich in Community is a youth and community development organization dedicated to reducing violence, strengthening families, and creating safer neighborhoods across Nassau County, New York.


Through evidence-informed programs, mentorship, wellness initiatives, and community events, SRIC provides young people with positive alternatives, life skills, and pathways to success. We believe we are rich in love, family, ambition, history — and above all, community.


Read Our Full Story →
🛡️
Violence Prevention
Intervention programs and credible messenger model
🤝
Mentorship
1-to-1 positive adult relationship building
💪
Wellness
Fitness, martial arts & life skills as intervention
💼
Workforce
Career exposure, Quad Studios, industry access
Core Programs 2025–2026

Our Programs
& Initiatives

🎬
Violence Intervention · Workforce
Documentary-Based Violence Intervention & Workforce Program

10–12 youth and families create a documentary on gun violence, accessing legal professionals, career pathways at Quad Studios, and a celebrity-mentored graduation recognition event.

$20,000 Budget · 10–12 Youth + Families
Learn More
🤝
Mentorship · Positive Relationships
Mentoring Pilot Program

10 youth paired 1-to-1 with 10 community mentors based on individual goals and developmental needs — with stipends, transportation support, and ongoing engagement activities.

$5,000–$7,000 Budget · Scaling to 25 Pairs
Learn More
💪
Wellness · Fitness · Life Skills
Exercise & Wellness Intervention Program

10 youth engaged through fitness, martial arts, and wellness as a vehicle for violence prevention, credible messenger engagement, and life skills development. Expanding to 3 sites.

$15,000 Budget · 10 Youth · Expanding 2026
Learn More
"

When I hear the phrase So Rich in Community, I think about making the community rich — not in money, but in mentality. It's about creating opportunities that open new doors, empowering our youth and community to grow and thrive.

Jose Garcia · Community Member
Ask Us Anything

Talk to SRIC —
Our Community
Assistant

Ask about our programs, JoyFest 2027 sponsorship, the City Helpers partnership, economic impact, how to volunteer, or anything about our work building safer communities in Nassau County.

🌍
SRIC Community Assistant
So Rich in Community · Nassau County, NY
Online
🌍
Welcome! I'm the SRIC Community Assistant. I can tell you about our programs, JoyFest 2027, the City Helpers partnership, our economic impact on Nassau County, or how to get involved. What would you like to know?
Quick Questions
Powered by AI. For direct contact: info@sorichincommunity.org · (631) 809-8959
Our Team

Leadership

RP
Richard Paul
Executive Director
So Rich in Community
NL
Nina Lake
Board Member
So Rich in Community
KW
Kenneth Ware
Board Member
So Rich in Community
RG
Rosanne Golding
Board Member
So Rich in Community
SV
Shai Vaughan
Project Lead & Program Operations Partner
City Helpers · Nassau County Community Impact Initiative
Stay Connected

Join the Movement.

Get updates on JoyFest 2027, new programs, the City Helpers partnership, and ways to get involved in building Nassau County's future.

Quick Links

Contact

info@sorichincommunity.org (631) 809-8959 @sorichincommunity YouTube

Nassau County, New York