Daniel A. Rabuzzi joined Mouse (www.mouse.org) in 2013 as Executive Director. Prior to joining Mouse, he served as Senior Director, Operations & Strategy for Year Up New York, as National Program Director for The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, and as CEO of the Kentucky Virtual Campus, one of the first public sector online schools created to bring web-based services to less advantaged citizens. 

He also served as a vice president at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company.  Daniel earned his B.A. from Harvard University, M.A. from The Fletcher School at Tufts University, and M.A. and Ph. D. in History from Johns Hopkins University. Daniel lives with his wife, the artist Deborah Mills, in New York City.

Why do you work on behalf of urban youth?

Creativity, collaboration and mindfulness are everyone's birthright.  Unfortunately, urban young people are denied full access to the tools and spaces where they can let their innate talents take flight.  Mouse exists to provide the space for thoughtful creation, for the use of technology with purpose, for young people to solve problems they identify in their own communities -- communities that receive fewer resources than others. 

What is your biggest challenge?

Getting society at large to understand the urgency of our work and to appreciate just how talented and success-oriented urban young people are.  The ideas and actions of urban young people are utterly necessary for the vibrant growth of and innovation within our entire country-- this work affects everyone, is a private-sector equivalent of the New Deal or the moon shot.

Can you share a story of a youth that has directly benefited from your organization?

In 10th grade, Navisha watched her W.C. Bryant classmates repair technology at Mouse Squad meetings during lunch. Interested and inspired, she applied and was later accepted to her school’s Mouse Squad in 11th grade and to Mouse Design League, an after school design and technology program for NYC Mouse students. “I was never interested in technology before, but as a result of Mouse, I chose computer engineering as my major.”

Navisha had her first experiences with technology at age 14 when she moved to New York from India. “I never touched technology in my country. With Mouse, it was all new for me. I never did coding. I had no clue how to join wires. It was a really good and new experience.” Through her involvement with Mouse, Navisha has greatly advanced her technology skills from repairing her school’s technology to teaching the web as a mentor to NYC youth. Additionally, Navisha credits Mouse for boosting her confidence. “Mouse made me feel more comfortable speaking with confidence.”

Navisha plans to study computer engineering in college because of her involvement with Mouse. In addition to her college ambitions, Navisha hopes to encourage other women to explore careers in technology. 

How can people help?

Come visit The Mouse House (55 Broad Street, near Wall Street & the NYSE), to see Mouse learners and mentors in action.  If you are inspired by what you see (I think you will be!), then I invite you to contact me at Daniel@mouse.org. We'll talk about how Mouse might with gratitude make best use of your time and talents.

I am deeply grateful to Daniel and Mouse for their participation. Please consider connecting with them today on Facebook, Twitter,YouTube, Linkedin, Google+, and flickr. 

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