From Madison Avenue to Rikers Island

Download or read book From Madison Avenue to Rikers Island written by Mark L Goldsmith and published by Advantage Media Group. This book was released on 2022-03-08 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From Corporate Professional to Passion-Driven Retiree Mark Goldsmith enjoyed a 35-year career in the cosmetic business, managing household name brands during Madison Avenue's Mad Men heyday. Looking for new challenges in retirement, Goldsmith took his wife's suggestion to volunteer for the Principal for a Day program, specifically asking to be sent to the toughest New York City school available--which turned out to be Horizon Academy at the city's infamous Rikers Island jail. Goldsmith instantly connected with the men of Rikers, leveraging the skills he'd honed in decades of corporate experience and his strong desire to help. This passion ultimately led to the creation of his not-for-profit organization Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO), which has helped thousands of young men pursue their goals for their education, employment, and emotional well-being to create a new life for themselves beyond the criminal justice system.