In 2014, Danny Hairston decided to combine his love for snowboarding and his passion for youth development to create SHRED. SHRED’s mission is to provide life skills and career paths for underserved and BIPOC youth through snowboarding. Today, the organization serves over 200 youth in New York’s Hudson Valley and Capital District.
With over 25 years of working in youth development and 15 years being snowboarding focused, Danny has created, managed and implemented board sports-based youth development programs. He has worked as Burton Snowboards’ Chill Foundation’s Fundraising and Event Coordinator, Stoked Mentoring’s Senior Program Manager, and Hoods to Woods’ Program Director.
This year, drawing inspiration from utilizing snowboarding in his own mental health management, Danny created “SHRED the Stigma.” A partnership with regional healthcare provider CDPHP and the YMCA of the Capital Region, this initiative enhances SHRED’s programming and focuses on mental health education, destigmatization and wellness through mindfulness and yoga. The initiative also provides access to mental health services for SHRED youth and their families.
An avid snowboarder himself, Danny is an advocate for diversifying both snowboarding and its industry. He has been interviewed in The Snowboarders Journal, and on the Black News Channel show, “AMplified with Aisha Mills.” Danny was a featured speaker at last year’s Snowbound Expo and, most recently, was a participant and panelist at Burton’s Culture Shifters event in Aspen.
Danny holds a degree in Public Administration from New York University.
He can be contacted at [email protected]