Randy Mason’s Story at Thrive Collective, Leadership Foundations’ Mentoring Partner in New York City
When Randy Mason talks about music, he talks about possibility. Raised in the Bronx, his first encounter with professional music in an elementary school gym planted a seed that would later grow into a life dedicated to arts, mentorship, and leadership development.
Today, through Thrive Collective, Leadership Foundations’ mentoring partner in New York City, Randy is helping create the very kinds of spaces he once needed, and ensuring the next generation has access to creativity, belonging, and opportunity.
Where it Began…
Born and raised in the Bronx, Randy Mason was in 5th grade when he encountered music in a way he had never experienced before. A DJ was invited to perform at a school function, and he was immediately captivated by the rhythm and the passion. For the first time, Randy was introduced to the possibility of pursuing art beyond the classroom.
With his interest piqued and a natural gravitation toward music and movement, Randy continued to explore different expressions like hip-hop, breakdancing, and graffiti. But as he moved into middle and high school, he was faced with a discouraging reality: these creative outlets were often punished and pushed to the margins. Many students were left to pursue them in unsafe and unwelcoming spaces—an unspoken message that their creativity wasn’t valued in academic settings.
As Randy recalls these moments, he emphasizes how formative they were in shaping the path he is on today, a personal and professional life built around the arts.
Creating the Spaces He Once Needed
Today, Randy is helping create the kinds of spaces he once searched for, places where creativity is welcomed and cultivated. Through his work with Thrive Collective, Leadership Foundations’ mentoring partner in New York City, Randy now walks into classrooms with a nuanced perspective and role: a teaching artist, and someone who understands what access, affirmation, and opportunity can mean for a young
Thrive Collective works in schools across all five boroughs, serving students from elementary through college with a simple yet powerful mission: to create hope and opportunity through arts-based mentoring. The organization primarily partners with underserved communities, where schools are impacted by budget cuts and limited access to arts programming.
While the arts might seem niche, the impact of having access to creative learning spaces for young minds is vast. Artistic experiences help develop skills beyond creative fields, like communication, public speaking, collaboration, and developing and working toward a shared vision. Particularly for students transitioning from high school into adulthood, growth in these areas can create pathways to vocational opportunity and gainful employment.
Turning Art into Opportunity
One of the many ways Randy brings this mission to life is through RHYME—Rhymes Help Young Minds Excel—a program he founded to intentionally connect music with mentorship and real-life application. What began as a way to teach mic skills has become a space where students can also build life skills, confidence, communication, and collaboration, learning how their creativity can translate into leadership and opportunity beyond the classroom.
For Randy, music is more than performance. It’s also a bridge, a way of making sense of the world and connecting with others. He shares, “It has been a way God has graced me to understand things, to interpret ideas, and to communicate.” Through RHYME, that same approach to creativity becomes a tool for students to better understand themselves and their place in the world.
To hear more from Randy in his own words, we invite you to watch a short spoken word piece he recently shared, painting a powerful picture of what Leadership Foundations’ impact looks like through his eyes.
Along the way, Randy has also been shaped by strong mentorship. He credits Thrive Collective’s Executive Director, Jeremy Del Rio, as a mentor whose influence has been critical to his growth—both personally and professionally. Through Jeremy’s leadership and guidance, Randy has continued to deepen not only his creative practice, but his calling to invest in young people and the communities they come from.
Growing the Next Generation of Leaders
Randy’s own journey with Thrive began the same way many students and families first connect: through volunteering. He initially showed up with his children at an event where Thrive partnered with Clorox to clean up their new headquarters in Harlem. That first day of service led to conversations, then to work as a subcontractor, and eventually to a full-time role. Today, in addition to teaching, Randy also helps curate and produce events, write grants, and pursue partnerships that help sustain and grow Thrive’s impact.
That pathway, from showing up, to growing, to leading, is one Thrive intentionally creates for young people as well. Over time, students who once participated in programs like RHYME are stepping into leadership themselves, serving as paid interns, teaching artists, and mentors for younger students. It’s a powerful cycle of growth, where those who were once learning are now helping others find their voice.
For young adults who are ready to deepen their leadership skills, Thrive also leads a cohort in Leadership Foundations’ Barnabas Project, a multi-year leadership and spiritual formation program that combines training with hands-on service in schools and community spaces. Participants engage with a robust curriculum while gaining real-world experience, helping them grow not only as leaders, but as thoughtful, grounded young professionals finding their place in the world. This year, Thrive Collective is launching its first pilot of the program with 11 eager participants.
As Thrive Collective approaches its 15-year anniversary in 2026, the impact of this long-term, relationship-centered approach is evident not only in classrooms, but in the lives of young people who continue to grow into artists, leaders, and community builders. It’s a testament to what’s possible when creativity, mentorship, and sustained investment come together to support the next generation.
Thank you for being part of this community. Your financial contributions help make spaces of hope and opportunity possible for young people across New York City, and beyond.
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