CitizensNYC Announces Ernest Lyles, CEO of The HiGro Group, as Newest Board Member
Lyles and his wife Princess discuss what the honor means to them on the organization’s podcast CitizensNYC: LIVE
NEW YORK – Citizens Committee for New York City (CitizensNYC) announced today the newest edition to its board Ernest “Ernie” Lyles. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The HiGro Group, a mission-driven New York-based private equity firm founded in 2016. Prior to founding the HiGro Group, Lyles served as an investment banker with UBS Investment Bank for over a decade. Lyles’ current civic engagement includes serving as a board member of Scan-Boys and Girls Harbor, a trustee of the West Harlem Development Corporation, and as a trustee of Manhattan Country School. In addition, Ernie is a member of the Council of Urban Professionals and The Economic Club of New York. Ernie is a graduate of Shepherd University in West Virginia and Howard University School of Law in Washington DC.
“It is an honor to bring Ernie onboard as part of the CitizensNYC team. He is the type of leader that we need. Ernie and his wife Princess are deeply connected to the Harlem and broader New York community whether through their business ventures, their children’s schooling, their family’s church, and their civic engagement,” said Dr. Rahsaan Harris, CEO of CitizensNYC.
“Having met my new partners on the board, I know we have the talent to be able to continue to be an incredible leader in an incredibly unique and interesting time for New York City,” said Lyles about the new role. “I couldn’t be more excited about the challenge that we are going to face, to really drive the improvement of New York. Sort of phase 2, coming out of COVID.”
The announcement was made on the second episode of the organization’s podcast CitizensNYC: LIVE. Ernie Lyles was joined by Princess Lyles who is the Vice President of External Affairs at Democracy Prep Public Schools. Dr. Rahsaan Harris and his wife Elizabeth sat down with the Lyles couple to discuss their NYC love story, HBCUs and the important role that faith and community plays in their lives. The couple met at Howard University School of Law.
During the interview Lyles expressed his eagerness to get started. “There’s nothing against anyone who may have left but I grew up with that [understanding], you sort of fight. You stick around for a fight you don't run,” said Lyles. “It’s the passion for New York and being able to create impact, and getting exposed to the richness of all of New York. That’s what’s so exciting to me.”
One of the nation’s oldest micro-funding organizations, CitizensNYC has a longstanding history of celebrating and supporting civic leaders. They have provided residents in the city’s most underserved neighborhoods with community, education and business improvement grants for the past 45 years. In 2020, CitizensNYC provided 402 projects with nearly $1.2M in direct cash grants, impacting more than 87,685 residents in 122 neighborhoods across all five boroughs.
CitizensNYC will launch its 2021 campaign The New Yorkers for New York later this month.The five-month long campaign kicks off Women’s History Month by honoring five extraordinary women who are working to rethink, rebuild, and reimagine New York City.
About Citizen Committee for New York City:
Citizens Committee for New York City’s mission is to help New Yorkers - especially those in low-income areas - come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Residents are uniquely situated to define and act on the issues affecting their communities. When provided with modest support, neighborhood and school groups can effectively mobilize with the assistance of grants, skills-building workshops, project planning assistance and an equipment share library. In 2020, CitizensNYC provided 402 projects with nearly $1.2M in direct cash grants, impacting more than 87,685 residents in 122 neighborhoods across all five boroughs. Since 1975, we have promoted the spirit of volunteerism, local engagement, and social justice that drives our work. Go to citizensnyc.org to learn more.
Additional Information:
Webpage: https://www.citizensnyc.org/
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