GERALD CAESAR
New York,USA
Summary
Dedicated professional transitioning to clinical social work, with over a decade of experience in community engagement, youth development, and volunteer service. As a board member of a West Harlem nonprofit, contributes to empowering middle school youth through the arts. Extensive experience as a substitute teacher in New York City's highest-need public schools enhances the ability to connect with diverse populations. A distinctive background in performance and education informs a trauma-informed, person-centered approach to mental health practice, ensuring compassionate and effective support for clients.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Board Member
The Harlem Stories Project
New York, NY
01.2023 - Current
- Serve on the board of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit empowering West Harlem middle school students to create and perform original theater, supporting youth identity formation and narrative development.
- Advocate for program expansion and resource allocation to serve youth of color navigating complex social and emotional challenges during formative pre-teen years.
- Contribute arts-informed perspective to program design, with focus on building structured, supportive space for student self-expression and emotional processing.
- Collaborate with organizational leadership on strategic planning, community partnerships, and fundraising initiatives.
Substitute Teacher
New York City Department of Education
New York, NY
01.2022 - Current
- Supported instruction across diverse K–12 classrooms in high-need NYC public schools, maintaining composure and consistency in dynamic, often high-stress environments.
- Demonstrated cultural responsiveness and adaptive communication with students from a wide range of racial, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds.
- Built rapport quickly with students and staff, modeling patient, nonjudgmental engagement that reflects the relational foundation of clinical social work practice.
- Gained firsthand exposure to the systemic challenges affecting youth mental health, attendance, and academic engagement in under-resourced communities.
Volunteer
NEW YORK CARES Organization
New York, NY
05.2020 - Current
- Engaged in diverse community programs across New York City, focusing on literacy support, food access, and youth mentorship for five years.
- Examined the intersection of community needs and systemic inequities to inform effective direct service approaches for vulnerable populations.
- Cultivated a supportive environment by promoting empathetic interactions with individuals across different backgrounds and life stages.
Entertainment Professional
Broadway, National Tour, Film & Television
New York, NY
01.2016 - Current
- Sustained a decade-long career in professional performance including Broadway productions (TINA, A Bronx Tale, Choir Boy), national tours, film, and television (Only Murders in the Building, Law & Order, Dear Evan Hansen).
- Developed exceptional interpersonal presence, empathic listening, and the capacity to hold space for complex emotional experience — skills that translate directly to clinical practice.
- Cultivated deep understanding of mental health challenges common among performing arts professionals, including career precarity, identity disruption, and creative burnout.
- Received SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Music Theatre
Elon University
Elon, NC05.2016
Skills
- Youth mental health experience
- Conflict mediation
- Organizational leadership
- Nonprofit experience
Timeline
Board Member
The Harlem Stories Project
01.2023 - Current
Substitute Teacher
New York City Department of Education
01.2022 - Current
Volunteer
NEW YORK CARES Organization
05.2020 - Current
Entertainment Professional
Broadway, National Tour, Film & Television
01.2016 - Current
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Music Theatre
Elon University