Tareake Dorill

Tareake Dorill Ramos is the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Dorill Initiative, a grassroots civic arts and culture institution dedicated to fighting creative inequality and creating pathways for At-Promise Youth and Families to thrive through the arts, civic engagement, and community-driven leadership. Born and raised in the Jacob Riis Houses on Manhattan's Lower East Side, Tareake founded Dorill Initiative in 2018 alongside the support and vision of The Ramos Family to address longstanding inequities impacting historically overlooked communities. Under his leadership, Dorill has grown from a small neighborhood-based effort into a citywide movement serving hundreds of young people annually through arts education, youth development, family engagement, and civic arts programming. A nationally recognized arts and community leader, Tareake is committed to building what he calls "the city we deserve"—one where access to creativity, culture, and opportunity is not determined by zip code. Through Dorill Initiative's bold vision to reach 22 neighborhoods across New York City, he is helping reimagine the future of arts and culture as a catalyst for community transformation. Tareake holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he served as Student Body President and a Student Representative to the Board of Trustees. His leadership experience spans public service, arts administration, and community organizing, including serving as Chairperson of Manhattan Community Board 3 and participating in the Coro Leadership New York program. His work has been recognized by civic, cultural, and community institutions throughout New York City for advancing youth leadership, strengthening neighborhoods, and championing the role of the arts in creating a more just and vibrant society. At the heart of his leadership is a simple belief: when young people are given access to imagination, they gain the ability to envision and build a different future - not only for themselves, but for their communities and generations to come.