Changing of the guard at ADSL

All Dorchester Sports & Leadership (ADSL), a youth-focused organization in Dorchester, Massachusetts, will transition leadership on June 1 as Candice Gartley steps down after 13 years as executive director. Gartley, who joined ADSL in 2010, transformed the organization from a small youth sports group with 150 participants into a year-round community hub serving over 2,300 children annually. Her leadership expanded ADSL’s mission beyond athletics to include tutoring, fitness, and nutrition education, reinforcing its role as a unifying force in a historically divided neighborhood. ADSL was founded in 1983 amid racial tensions in Dorchester, and Gartley emphasized its enduring mission to bring together children of different backgrounds. Originally a New Jersey native, she moved to Dorchester in the 1970s and recognized the need for cross-neighborhood connections. By 2008, ADSL had evolved into a multi-service center, though Gartley continued pushing for growth. Upon arrival, she repainted the organization’s logo on the building exterior to raise visibility, then focused on maximizing the use of the 5-acre underutilized park. Gartley’s vision included activating the park to serve the underserved community better, though progress was gradual due to safety concerns. She credited her 12-year collaboration with Jamie Buckley, now interim director, as key to ADSL’s success. Buckley, who has worked closely with Gartley, expressed excitement about continuing the organization’s legacy while acknowledging Gartley’s foundational impact. Gartley, now 65, plans to shift focus to grant writing and personal time, including spending more time with her grandkids. Despite her departure, she remains committed to ADSL’s future, ensuring her contributions are embedded in its ongoing work. Buckley’s appointment marks a new chapter, with the organization poised to build on its history of fostering unity and opportunity for Dorchester’s youth.