ABOUT

As a young child, my favorite hobbies were Woodshop (at school and camp) and the most amazing children’s toy Magnatiles (at home). By High School, I knew the Technical Theatre Studio at LaGuardia HS for Music, Art and Performing Arts was a place where I would be able to focus on my passion for building and design.  As a Senior, I plan to spend 3 periods a day on Design, Production, and Stagecraft, along with a heavy load of academic courses.

Outside of school, I run my own company, “Gavin for Hire”, where I spend time at my neighbor’s homes looking after their properties, pets, and/or gardens.  While doing this, I learned a great deal about houses and properties and became interested in the real estate industry.

During the summer of 2023, I completed the embARC Summer Design Academy Program at UC Berkeley where we studied Architecture, Urban Design, and Sustainability. In 2021, I completed the Career Edge Real Estate Summer Program at NYU, and the summer before that (2022), I completed the Fordham Summer Program in Real Estate focusing on “Entrepreneurship and Innovation” and “Building Design and Sustainability”.  Upon completion of those programs, I realized that there is so much more to learn about the industry. I look forward to getting my real estate license when I turn 18 years old to kick-start my career in real estate and urban planning. In addition, I plan to attend a university where I can focus on this area as my major.

Along with my current schoolwork and job experience, I enjoy getting involved in my community. Having lived in NYC all my life, I have seen firsthand how the lack of affordable housing in the city has put many low-income people on the streets.  During the Coronavirus pandemic, the city streets got even worse and I have felt a strong desire to do something to make a difference.

My passion to help the homeless has led me to the non-profits Breaking Ground and Open New York.  My conversations and volunteer work with them inspired me to create my own non-profit, Help Build NYC.  Through my project, I intend to stay connected to the organizations focusing on this work, and I will communicate information, highlight recent developments, plan events, and encourage other people to volunteer.  I plan to grow my Instagram account in order to spread the cause, and I intend to sell NYC merchandise and donate all of the proceeds to those organizations that support low-income housing initiatives.