LEAP trains and employs college and high school students to provide academic and social enrichment and mentoring after school and during the summer for children and teens in New Haven neighborhoods. Kids access swimming, gardening, camping, computer science, dance, music, and so much more. Save the Date: LEAP Year Event 2026 - Thursday, February 26 Become a Sponsor Today SIGN UP Tickets Are Now Available - Click Below GET YOUR TICKETS HERE L eadership E ducation & A thletics in P artnership CREATING A NEW HAVEN FOR OUR CHILDREN We teach children how to learn and young adults how to lead. LEAP was founded in 1992 by educators, students, and community activists to address the historic disinvestment in young people of color in our city. In our two community centers and seven neighborhood-based sites, we provide children with a welcoming place to learn, explore and grow, while offering teens and young adults a platform to find their voice and become leaders and role models. College and high school student counselors teach younger students in literacy, the arts, and athletics. Check Out Our Programs! After-School Program LEARN MORE Summer Program LEARN MORE Leaders in Training LEARN MORE Swimming Program LEARN MORE LEAP Bulletin Board Sign up for FREE Classes at the Q House! Enhance your creativity, physical health, and skill development at the Q House! They offer a range of FREE classes and workshops, from ceramics and art to music production and yoga; there's something for everyone! Unleash your artistic side, harmonize your tunes, or find your zen – all without any cost. Explore, learn, and thrive at the Dixwell Q House’s inclusive and enriching environment. Click here to sign up today! Join Us As a Sponsor For the 2026 LEAP Year Event! Join us for LEAP Year Event on Thursday, February 26, 2026! This annual fundraiser brings together 500+ donors, business professionals, and community leaders for an evening of connection and impact. Last year, we raised over $500,000 to support LEAP's free after-school and summer programs. The evening features a lively reception at the Dixwell Community Center (Q House) with complimentary drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and live music, followed by intimate dinners with renowned guest speakers. Sponsorship opportunities are now available. Your support makes LEAP's programs possible for youth from underserved New Haven neighborhoods. Email Alison Bonds at abonds@leapforkids.org to learn more about sponsorship levels and benefits, or to register for the event. Registration for our Spring Component is now Open! Give your child an incredible spring at LEAP! Our free after-school program provides elementary and middle school students with a safe, supportive space to learn, play, and grow. Through near-peer mentorship from local high school and college counselors, kids enjoy homework help, athletics, creative activities, and leadership development—all in their own neighborhood. Our spring component runs 1/26/26 - 5/7/26. Spots are filling up fast at our seven New Haven sites! Register your child today by clicking here! Sign up for FREE Classes at the Q House! Enhance your creativity, physical health, and skill development at the Q House! They offer a range of FREE classes and workshops, from ceramics and art to music production and yoga; there's something for everyone! Unleash your artistic side, harmonize your tunes, or find your zen – all without any cost. Explore, learn, and thrive at the Dixwell Q House’s inclusive and enriching environment. Click here to sign up today! Featured Videos All About LEAP Support our programs! We are thankful for all of the support that help us keep LEAP running and serve New Haven's youth. SUPPORT

LEAP Year Event 31 Years & Counting See You At This Year's LEAP Year Event! Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026 With Additional Dates: February 28th and March 5th Tickets Are On Sale Click The Button Below To Get Tickets To The Dinner Of Your Choice and The Reception GET YOUR TICKETS HERE LEAP Year Event is our annual fundraiser bringing together the Greater New Haven community to support LEAP's free after-school and summer programs for youth from underserved neighborhoods. Join us on Thursday, February 26, 2026 , with additional dates on February 28th and March 5th. The evening begins with a vibrant reception at the Dixwell Community Center (Q House), featuring complimentary drinks and hors d'oeuvres, live music, and an opportunity to connect with fellow community members . You'll hear welcoming remarks from Henry Fernandez, LEAP's Executive Director, and inspiring stories directly from LEAP counselors. Following the reception, guests will attend an intimate dinner of their choice, each featuring a renowned guest speaker and meaningful conversation. LEAP Year Event is our most important fundraiser, drawing over 600 philanthropic donors, business professionals, and community leaders. In 2025, you helped us raise over $500,000 to make LEAP's free programs possible. We hope you'll join us again for an evening of community, connection, and shared commitment to creating opportunities for young people. Interested in supporting the event as a sponsor or have questions about registering? Please email Alison Bonds at abonds@leapforkids.org . With your partnership, we will continue to Create a New Haven for Our Children. LEAP Year Event '25 Photos Thank you to our 2026 LEAP Year Event Sponsors Superhero Champions with David Moulton Roger Ibbotson Heroes Roz & Jerry Meyer Julie Wilson Joann Thompson & Robert Alvine Leader The Scillia Family Stacey & Hap Perkins with Mentors Jacqueline Koral Dr. Marcus McFerren & Educator Cynthia Mann, MD Marna Borgstrom & Eric Borgstrom Diane Ariker Athlete Jody Ellant with Ruby Melton & Gail McAvay Ellen Shuman & Doug Rae Beverly & John Hodgson Celeste Suggs & Joel Zackin Elizabeth & Miles Lasater Kaaren Janssen & Robert Jaeger Partners Alison Bonds & Larry Levine John S. Nussbaum Allie Perry & Charles Pillsbury Friends Lisa Stanger & Greg Colodner Kathryn Hill & Gerald Kahn Ellen & Robert Scalettar Lynne & Mark Schpero Marian Chertow & Matthew Nemerson Neighbors Apex Security Systems, LLC JOIN US AS A SPONSOR! To Learn More About What Sponsorships We Offer Click Here Thank you to our LEAP Year Event Planning Committee Eliana Arroyo Ann Baker Pepe Alison L. Bonds Rachel Kline Brown Ruofan Chen Jack Ciccolo Judy Clark Susan Kerley Jacqueline Koral Melissa Liriano Cynthia Mann Zehra Patwa Fallon Thomas

Buy Your LEAP Year Event Tickets Thank you for joining us at the 2023 LEAP Year Event! We hope you enjoyed your dinners and conversations. With your help, we raised over $350,000 and welcomed over 500 guests in the Greater New Haven area, New York, and beyond to gather in support of Creating a New Haven for Our Children. Please email rsvp@leapforkids.org if you are interested in supporting the event next year as a Host, Sponsor, or Guest of Honor. The following information refers to the 2023 LEAP Year Event. Please check this page for information about next year's event in January 2024. --- Click here to download a pdf of the invitation . Please reference this page for the most up-to-date information. --- Join us on Thursday, February 23rd for our twenty-eighth annual LEAP Year Event (with additional conversations on Saturday, February 18th and Saturday, February 25th)! LEAP Year Event Virtual Reception - LEAP Year Event virtual reception beginning at 5:30pm. We encourage all to join us at the reception as we recognize this year's honorees, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, State Representative Toni Walker, and Bonnie Scarborough, and hear from LEAP supporters, staff, and counselors. Registration for LEAP Year Event is now closed. Please email rsvp@leapforkids.org with any inquiries regarding registration. Thank you! Option 1: In-Person Dinner Parties A traditional LEAP Year Event dinner located at the homes of LEAP supporters in the Greater New Haven area. Dinner-Included Tickets are required for in-person events, during which the host will provide meals. Each dinner is limited to approximately 20 attendees. Participants may be required to take an at-home COVID test before in-person dinner parties. It is possible that some in-person dinner parties may shift to virtual events if circumstances require. Check here and in your email inbox for changes. Schedule of Events (Thursday, 2/23) *There is a virtual reception with a 5:30pm start time to view in your own home. Please arrive at your hosts' home at 7:00pm. 5:30-6:15pm – Join the virtual reception online from your own home (link will be provided in email before the event) 7:00pm – Guests arrive at hosts' homes or restaurants for in-person conversations and dinner (unless otherwise noted) 9:00/9:30 – Conversations end Note - if your conversation is on a Saturday, you are still welcome to join the virtual reception on Thursday 2/23. Option 2: Conversations on Zoom Join a lively conversation with the Guest of Honor and an open audience Q&A from the comfort of your own home. You may choose a First-Time Attendee Ticket for newcomers (without dinner), a Non-Dinner Ticket to attend the conversation without dinner, or a Dinner-Included Ticket, which includes a three-course meal from a local restaurant for pickup. Click here to view the restaurant menus from the list of local restaurants we are supporting! Conversation sizes vary - some have limited seats, and others are open to all. Book your ticket early to secure your seat at your conversation of choice! Schedule of Events *There is a virtual reception with a 5:30pm start time and Zoom conversations with a start time of 6:30pm . 4:00 - 6:00 pm – Guests with Dinner-Included Tickets pick up meals from local restaurants 5:30 - 6:15pm – Join the virtual reception online from your own home (link will be provided in email before the event) 6:30 pm – Virtual Zoom conversations begin 8:00/8:30 pm – Conversations end Conversation Options Option 1: In-Person Dinner Parties 1. Advocate for Alternatives Did you know the U.S. leads the world in rates of incarceration? Be inspired as you learn about The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to the bail system in NYC. Meet President and Director Nick Turner , who leads Vera's work to end mass incarceration, reduce the use of prisons and detention centers, safeguard the dignity of those behind bars, and support safe and thriving communities. Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Listen to a December 2022 podcast episode from the Great Battlefield podcast titled, "Ending Mass Incarceration with Nick Turner of Vera." Hosted by Celeste & Stephen Myers at the Harvard Club, New York City 2. [SOLD OUT] Hometown Heartbreak Explore The Other Side of Prospect with writer Nicholas Dawidoff , as he reflects on his childhood home of New Haven and how the injustices of racism and inequality reverberate through generations. His beautifully written portrait of life in the Elm City is told through unforgettable people and their intertwined experiences. Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Listen to an episode of Roxanne Coady’s podcast, "Just the Right Book," in which she interviews Dawidoff about his recent book and how inequality impacts multiple generations. Hosted by Christine Kim & Doug Kysar, New Haven 3. [SOLD OUT] Understanding Ukraine Dig into the heroic struggle of the Ukrainian people against the Russian invasion with Marci Shore , Associate Professor of European Cultural & Intellectual History at Yale. Her research focuses on the intellectual history of twentieth and twenty-first-century Central and Eastern Europe, including writings on Ukraine, Russia, and Friendships and Why Ukrainians are Prepared to Fight . Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Watch Marci Shore discuss her 2018 book, The Ukrainian Night: An Intimate History of Revolution , with Marilyn Wilkes, host of the MacMillan Report at Yale University. Hosted by Patricia Rossi & Robert King, New Haven 4. A Delicious Partnership Enjoy the tastes of the Caribbean at this special dinner, a collaboration between Kismet Douglass of Momma Kiss Kitchen Cuisine and Maxine Harris of Je T'aime Cupcakes and Cocktails, who are part of the movement to diversify business ownership in New Haven. Joined by CitySeed Executive Director, Cortney Renton , hear about their experiences as food entrepreneurs based at the commercial kitchen in the newly opened Dixwell Community Q House. Get to Know our Guests of Honor: Read this article from the New Haven Arts Paper which features both Douglass and Harris at the CitySeed Farmer's Market at the Dixwell Q House this past fall. Hosted by Susan Kerley at the Q House, New Haven 5. Talk of the Town Be part of a meaningful conversation with, Michelle Wilde Anderson , former LEAP Grant Writer, Larry Kramer Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, Professor at Stanford School of Sustainability, and author of The Fight to Save the Town: Reimagining America . Her work documents how leaders and residents in four blue-collar communities are facing down some of the hardest challenges in American poverty today. Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Listen to an August 2022 episode of "The Bridge," a podcast from OR36 in which Anderson talks about poverty in southern Oregon. Hosted by Kasia Lipska & Jake Halpern, New Haven *Note: In-person dinner with the Guest of Honor on Zoom & option for 10 guests to join on Zoom 6. [SOLD OUT] Medical Mysteries Prepare for a puzzling evening with stories of medical mysteries presented by Dr. Lisa Sanders who writes Diagnosis for The New York Times Magazine . As Associate Professor and Director of the Writers Workshop at Yale School of Medicine, she leads a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and treating the mystifying symptoms caused by long-COVID. Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Read Dr. Sanders's collection of columns in her 2019 book, Diagnosis: Solving the Most Baffling Medical Mysteries . Hosted by Shelley & Gordon Geballe, Branford 7. [SOLD OUT] Showtime! - 6:45pm start followed by 8:00pm performance Begin a dazzling evening at the Shubert Theatre in conversation with Executive Director Anthony McDonald and Shubert historian Anthony Lupinacci over festive cocktails and gourmet hors d'oeuvres followed by the Shubert performance by Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo , an internationally beloved troupe of male dancers performing a brilliant combination of skillful pointe work and hilarious parodies of classical ballet favorites. Get to Know our Guests of Honor: Read more about McDonald’s history in theater management. Hosted by Ruby Melton & Bill Aseltyne at the Shubert Theatre, New Haven 8. [CANCELED] Take Heart! Your heart will soar when you meet Dr. Erica Spatz , cardiologist and clinical investigator at Yale's Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), and learn about the factors contributing to cardiovascular disease and how to work with your medical team to protect and improve your healthy heart. Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Listen to Dr. Erica Spatz discuss the benefits of shared-decision making regarding patient treatment in this 2021 podcast episode from Health & Veritas . Hosted by Debra & Ron Nudel, Woodbridge 9. [SOLD OUT] Secrets in the Stacks - 5:30pm start at the Beinecke Library, tour to start at 6:15pm Book a special evening when Michael Morand , Director of Community Engagement of Yale's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, guides a private viewing of original W.E.B. Du Bois manuscripts and first editions in the Beinecke Library. Guests will learn of DuBois's impact on civil rights in America and his many ties to New Haven. Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Read this article Morand wrote to promote the Black History Month Pop-Up Exhibit at the Beinecke Library in 2020. Hosted by Andrea & Jeremy Asnes, with dinner to follow at Mory's Association, New Haven 10. [SOLD OUT] I'll Take New Haven Learn new reasons to enjoy New Haven as Lary Bloom discusses his latest book, I'll Take New Haven: Tales of Discovery and Rejuvenation . Travel with the author as he moves from the Connecticut countryside to the city and rediscovers his love of New Haven and its residents. Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Watch Lary Bloom talk about his book on WNHH FM's "Dateline New Haven." Recently, The New York Times selected New Haven as one of the top 52 places in the world to visit in 2023. Hosted by Meg & George Knight, New Haven 11. [SOLD OUT] Picture Perfect Evening - 6 :30pm tour start with dinner to follow Enjoy a private tour with Stephanie Wiles , Henry J. Heinz II Director of the Yale Art Gallery, and Jessie Park , Assistant Curator of European Art, who will guide you through the multidisciplinary exhibit, Crafting Worldviews: Art and Science in Europe, 1500-1800 , examining the relationships among art, science, and colonialism in shaping Europeans' understanding of the world and their place in it. Get to Know our Guests of Honor: Read this 2021 article about Stephanie Wiles's vision for the Yale University Art Gallery. Hosted by Gisela & Richard Goldstein, followed by dinner at Union League Café, New Haven 12. [SOLD OUT] Cosmic Conversation Orbit with Dr. Priyamvada Natarajan , Chair of Astronomy at Yale, to delve into her book, Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific Ideas That Reveal the Cosmos , exploring ever-expanding theories and tools to probe and understand the universe over time. Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Read this 2021 interview from The New York Review with Dr. Natarajan about new understandings of matter. Hosted by Lely & David Evans at Berkeley College, New Haven 13. A Champion for Children Learn about how early life experiences shape our thinking and passions with Allyx Schiavone , Executive Director of Friends Center for Children. Her commitment to quality child care is having a direct impact on the future of our New Haven community and economy. Light piano music will be provided by Andy Rubenoff . Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Read Schiavone's December 2022 op-ed in CTPost advocating for increased state funding for early childhood education centers and strengthening childcare infrastructure. Hosted by Francine Farkas Sears at Taste of China, New Haven 14. Gospel Musicology Rejoice with Reverend Doctor Braxton Shelley , Associate Professor of Music, of Sacred Music, and of Divinity at Yale Divinity School, a musicologist, active performer, and ordained minister who specializes in African American gospel performance. He will share music theory insights from his book, Healing for the Soul: Richard Smallwood, the Vamp, and the Gospel Imagination , and will perform along with Lindsay Wright , Assistant Professor of Music at Yale. Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Read Shelley’s 2021 book, Healing for the Soul: Richard Smallwood, the Vamp, and the Gospel Imagination , which received 4 awards including the Lewis Lockwood Award from the American Musicological Society, the Emerging Scholar Award-Book from the Society for Music Theory, the Ruth Stone Prize from the Society for Ethnomusicology, and the inaugural Portia Maultsby Prize from the Society for Ethnomusicology. Hosted by Patricia & Davis Gammon, Hamden Saturday Dinners The following dinners and conversations are on Saturday, February 18th or Saturday, February 25th at 7pm. If your conversation is on a Saturday, you are still welcome to join the virtual reception on Thursday, February 23rd from 5:30-6:15pm. 15. [SOLD OUT] Give Me Liberty - In-person Saturday, February 18th at 7pm EST Share in the fight for civil rights, civil liberties, and racial justice with Deborah Archer , the first person of color to be President of the ACLU and New York University Professor of Clinical Law, Co-Faculty Director of the Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law, and Co-Director of the Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Program, who will discuss the power and persistence of racial inequality. Archer began her leadership at a pivotal moment for the ACLU, as the U.S. grapples with white supremacy and a long history of racism. Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Read about Archer's presentation of the 64th Annual John R. Coen Lecture at the University of Colorado Law School on The Power and Persistence of Racism in April 2022. Hosted by Miriam Gohara & Marcus McFerren, Woodbridg e 16. Freedom Reads - In-person Saturday, February 25th at 7pm EST Break bread with 2021 MacArthur Fellow Reginald Dwayne Betts , poet, lawyer, and prison reform advocate. Betts is the Executive Director of Freedom Reads , a not-for-profit organization radically transforming access to literature in prisons through the installation of Freedom Libraries in prisons across the country. Betts and Titus Kaphar have just released a book entitled, Redaction . Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Watch Reginald Dwyane Betts speak at the University of Houston's Graduate College of Social Work's 2021 Maconda Brown O'Connor Distinguished Lecture series, Eyes on Abolition: Speaking of Social Justice. In the lecture, Betts discusses his 2019 book, Felon: Poems . Hosted by Roxanne & Kevin Coady and Alva Greenberg, New Haven 17. [SOLD OUT] Crime Time - In-person Saturday, February 25th at 7pm EST History comes to life when Beverly Gage , Professor of History and American Studies at Yale, reflects on the impact of J. Edgar Hoover, FBI Director for 50 years, in her new book, G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century . It was named one of the top ten books of 2022 by The Washington Post and a New York Times Notable Book of 2022. Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Read this November 2022 article Gage penned for Smithsonian Magazine , "How World War II Helped Forge the Modern FBI." Hosted by Cynthia Farrar & Paul Kennedy, New Haven 18. Prescription for Equality - In-person Saturday, February 25th at 7pm EST Join an important discussion about the disparities in healthcare access with Doctors Emily Wang , 2022 MacArthur Fellow and Director of the SEICHE Center for Health and Justice, a collaboration between the Yale Medical and Law Schools, and Dowin Boatright , an emergency medicine physician at NYU Langone. Learn about factors that can improve the health of those impacted by mass incarceration. Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Read about Dr. Wang's Health Justice Lab research program in which she investigates how incarceration impacts chronic health conditions. Most recently in May 2022, Dr. Wang was featured on the podcast, Health & Veritas . Read this interview with Dr. Boatright with the Josiah Macy Foundation about his article, A Roadmap for Diversity in Medicine During the Age of COVID-19 and George Floyd . Hosted by Renu & Dowin Boatright at the Elm City Club, New Haven 19. [SOLD OUT] Music in the Night - In-person Saturday, February 25th at 7pm EST A concert exploring song: The Elm City Quintet journeys from Renaissance madrigals, through Italian opera, the ground-breaking Porgy and Bess, and the Great American Songbook. For over 15 years, the Quintet has been delighting local audiences with music by artists from a range of other occupations who come together in the name of music and the social good. Get to Know our Guest of Honor: Listen to these one-to-two-minute samples of pieces in The Elm City Quintet's repertoire. Hosted by Mona Endicott & Petra Frisell, New Haven Option 2: Group Convers ations on Zo om Thursday, February 23rd at 6:30pm E ST 20. Comfort Food We've got all the right ingredients for a terrific evening with Jennifer Clair , chef and owner of Home Cooking, New York. Cook in community and prepare subtly spiced tomato-cream sauced chicken tikka masala (vegetarian option available), savory homemade garlic naan, and refreshing raita right in your own kitchen. With two decades of teaching in-person and virtual cooking classes, Jennifer will guide you as you prepare your own dinner, with all the ingredients delivered to you. *Note: Dinner-included ticket required. Get to Know our Guests of Honor: Read a list of Jennifer Clair's tasty, beginner-friendly dinner recipes. Hosted by Maureen Weaver & Rob Leighton on Zoom 21. Warming Up...For the Fight Leading the fight to save our planet, passionate environmentalists Bill McKibben and Mary Evelyn Tucker will speak of possible and more affordable solutions to the growing damage from global warming. Recipient of the Gandhi Peace Award, McKibben is an award-winning author, activist, and educator as the Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College. Tucker is a Senior Lecturer and Senior Researcher at Yale School of the Environment and Co-Director of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology Get to Know our Guests of Honor: Read McKibben's December 2022 article "From Climate Exhortation to Climate Execution" in The New York Times. Listen to this October 2022 podcast published by The Great Simplification in which host Nate Hagens talks about "Religion, Ecology, and the Future" with Mary Evelyn Tucker. Hosted by Sue McDonald & Corey Stone on Zoom • Optional dinner from participating restaurants. 22. A Matter of Civility Enjoy that rarest of conversations, one characterized by civility and interest in diverse and divergent opinions with Emily Bazelon , staff writer at The New York Times Magazine , and Ross Douthat , New York Times Op-ED Columnist Get to Know our Guests of Honor: Read about the Prison Letters Project, an initiative started by Bazelon that seeks to highlight the voices of people currently incarcerated. This project is run in collaboration with Reginald Dwayne Betts, who is also a LEAP Year Event Guest of Honor. Read Douthat's December 2022 op-ed in The New York Times , "The Americanization of Religion." Hosted by Allie Perry & Charlie Pillsbury on Zoom • Optional dinner from participating restaurants. 23. The Big Picture Join a conversation with LEAP alumna Shana C. Waterman , Head of Film & Television at Royal Ties Productions, and New Haven native Frank Chi , director of social justice short films, including the recently acclaimed documentary 38 At The Garden about Jeremy Lin's 2012 Linsanity season with the New York Knicks. They will share the challenges and joys of developing commercial entertainment for multicultural audiences. Get to Know our Guests of Honor: Read about Shana Waterman’s involvement in Hollywood in this 2021 article from the Yale in Hollywood Black Filmmakers Speaker Series. Listen to this October 2022 podcast episode from Dear Asian Americans in which Frank Chi discusses his film 38 at the Garden with host Jerry Won Hosted by Clifton Watson on Zoom • Choose dinner from the list of participating restaurants. Zoom Conversations Guest of Honor Books for Purchase This year, a few LEAP Guests of Honor have made a limited number of signed books available for purchase, with proceeds going to LEAP. You will be able to indicate your book selections on the Ticket Purchase Form. A $5 shipping charge will be added for the purchase as books will be mailed to your mailing address. [SOLD OUT] Conversation 2 - The Other Side of Prospect: A Story of Violence, Injustice, and the American City by Nicholas Dawidoff ($17.00) Conversation 5 - The Fight to Save the Town: Reimagining America by Michelle Wilde Anderson ($20.00) Conversation 10 - I'll Take New Haven: Tales of Discovery and Rejuvenation by Lary Bloom ($18.00) Conversation 12 - Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific Ideas That Reveal the Cosmos by Dr. Priyamvada Natarajan ($17.00) Conversation 14 - Healing for the Soul: Richard Smallwood, the Vamp, and the Gospel Imagination by Reverend Doctor Braxton Shelley ($55.00) Conversation 16 - Redaction by Reginald Dwyane Betts and Titus Kaphar ($100.00) Conversation 17 - G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century by Beverly Gage ($35.00) Conversation 20 - Six Basic Cooking Techniques: Culinary Essentials for the Home Cook by Jennifer Clair ($20.00) Books for Purchase Restaurant Options LEAP Year Event Restaurants LEAP is delighted to partner with these local restaurants! Dinner-Included Tickets to Zoom Conversations (except Conversation #20, a virtual cooking class) include a three-course meal from one of the following eateries. Each restaurant will offer at least two three-course dinner choices, including appetizer or salad, entr ée , and dessert. To view the full list of menu options, click here. You will be able to select your meal from a limited menu on the ticket reservation form below. Please plan to pick up your meal on the day of the event between 4-6 pm . Caffé Bravo 794 Orange St, New Haven, CT 06511 Established in 1994, Caffé Bravo offers quality Italian cuisine and other European specialties. September in Bangkok 754 State St, New Haven, CT 06511 Named the best Thai food in New Haven. Sandra's Next Generation 636 Congress Ave, New Haven, CT 06519 Flavorful dishes infused with love and a blend of seasonings to create soul food. [FULL] Union League Café 1032 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06510 Named New Haven’s best French Brasserie. Ticket Reservation Instructions Ticket Reservation Instructions Choose your type of ticket. First-Time Attendee Ticket ($75) - does not include dinner Non-Dinner Ticket ($95) - available for Zoom conversations, does not include dinner Dinner-Included Ticket ($150) - available for In-person and Zoom conversations, does include dinner Choose your desired conversation from the conversation options: In-Person Dinner Parties These are limited to Dinner-Included tickets, as dinner will be provided by the evening's host. Group Conversations on Zoom You can purchase a First-Time Attendee ticket, a Non-Dinner ticket, or a Dinner-Included ticket. Dinner-Included tickets include a three-course meal from a local restaurant. Enter the number of guests you are registering for. You can reserve up to 6 tickets to the same conversation and restaurant with each registration form, but you can fill out the form as many times as you want, for as many conversations as you want. (For Dinner-Included Tickets to Zoom Conversations) Follow the instructions to choose a meal for each guest from the fixed menu options. Continue to the next section to have the option of purchasing Guest of Honor books. Continue to the next section to fill out each guest's name and contact information . You will also have the option to make a donation to LEAP. Continue to the payment screen . Guests will receive a confirmation email and a payment confirmation email . Thank you for your wonderful support of LEAP - we can't wait to see you there! Ticket Form FAQ How do I reserve tickets for two different conversations? To reserve tickets for two different conversations, or to choose different restaurants for your party's virtual conversation, you will have to fill out a new reservation form. If you are reserving multiple tickets to the same conversation and restaurant, you will not need to do this - just fill out one form and select the number of tickets you need (up to 6 guests). Be sure to fill out the full contact information for each guest. Can I buy tickets for a friend? You can buy up to 6 tickets in one order. You will need the following information for all guests in your party: their mailing address, email address, phone number, any book purchases, and/or their meal preferences (if Dinner-Included Ticket to a Zoom dinner). How will I know if my spot in a dinner party/virtual conversation is confirmed? Once you submit the form and make the payment, you will receive two confirmation emails to the email address(es) you entered on the form: one confirming your conversation selection and one confirming payment. If there is an issue with your reservation, you will be contacted by a LEAP team member. Tickets to conversations are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so we suggest you reserve your spots as soon as you can! What should I do if I reserve a ticket and I can no longer attend the event? Please contact us at rsvp@leapforkids.org if you can no longer attend, at your earliest convenience. This is especially important for attendees of in-person dinners as hosts plan to provide meals for each attendee. Unfortunately, LEAP is unable to provide refunds for purchased LEAP Year Event tickets - all proceeds will go to support LEAP programs for youth. How can I receive assistance purchasing my tickets? If you require assistance purchasing tickets, please call us at 203-773-0770 or 203-767-7413, and we can complete your reservation with you over the phone. General LEAP Year Event inquiries can be directed to rsvp@leapforkids.org . Ticket Form Ticket Reservation Form Top of Page Conversation Options Zoom Conversations Books for Purchase Restaurant Options Ticket Reservation Instructions Ticket Form

Learn about LEAP's swimming programs and complete an application for a child or adult lesson. L eadership, E ducation & A thletics in P artnership Decemebr 23, 2025 the leap pool is closed tody Decemebr 23, 2025 the leap pool is closed tody Decemebr 23, 2025 the leap pool is closed tody Decemebr 23, 2025 the leap pool is closed tody Next Registration Period: June 16th, 2025 Next Session START Date: June 30th, 2025 Next Session END Date: August 1st, 2025 The LEAP Pool is Open Today, Friday, January 23, 2026 Today’s Pool Temperature is 85°F The LEAP Pool will be closed on Monday, January 26, 2026 Swimming Lessons Community Swim Schedule (2026) Community Swim Winter Session 2: Session Dates: February 9 – March 16, 2026 Registration Period: January 26, 2026 - February 6, 2026 Community Swim Spring Session 1: Session Dates: March 30 – May 1, 2026 Registration Period: March 16, 2026 - March 27, 2026 Community Swim Spring Session 2: Session Dates: May 18 – June 22, 2026 Registration Period: May 4, 2026 - May 15, 2026 Community Swim Summer Session 1: Session Dates: August 3 – September 4, 2026 Registration Period: July 13, 2026 - July 31, 2026 Community Swim Fall Session 1: Session Dates: September 21 – October 26, 2026 Registration Deadline: September 7, 2026 - September 18, 2026 Community Swim Fall Session 2: Session Dates: November 9 – December 18, 2026 Registration Deadline: October 26, 2026 - November 6, 2026 *Schedule subject to change CLICK HERE TO REGISTER LEAP offers swim lessons for children, teens, and adults at all skill levels—whether you’re just starting out or already know the basics and want to build confidence, refine technique, and improve your swimming skills in a supportive, inclusive environment. what Classes run in 5-week sessions, twice weekly for 45 mins. Youth L1 & L3 Mon/Wed; L2 & L4 Tue/Thu (5–5:45 & 6–6:45 pm). Teens/adults L1–2 Mon/Wed; L3+ Tue/Thu (7–7:45 pm). Seniors Fri 5 pm; Toddlers 6 pm; Family Swim (3 max) 7 pm at LEAP, 31 Jefferson St., New Haven. when & where who LEAP Aquatics is an inclusive, community swim program offering classes for families, youth, teens, and adults. Rooted in equity, we provide safe, welcoming access to water skills, confidence, and belonging for all. Cost The 5-week program (10 classes) costs $45 for toddlers/seniors, $80 for youth, $100 for adults/teens, paid online in advance. No refunds; credit can be applied to future lessons. If LEAP closes, make-up classes will be scheduled. Thank you to our Aquatics Program Grantors! LEAP is a proud grantee of USA Swimming Foundation's Learn to Swim program. C lick on their logo to learn more.

LEAP staff members are committed to children, experienced in youth programming, and diverse. Meet our Staff Executive Leadership Henry Fernandez Executive Director hfernandez@leapforkids.org Children's & Youth Development Programs Team Yakeita Robinson VP & Chief of Staff yrobinson@leapforkids.org Stefanie Vargas Director of Programs svargas@leapforkids.org Tina Sapiente Director of Operations tsapiente@leapforkids.org Chantalle Martin Clinical Programs Manager cmartin@leapforkids.org Tamia Scott Dwight-Kensington Site Coordinator tscott@leapforkids.org Jahvon Soto Fair Haven South Site Coordinator jsoto@leapforkids.org Nikilia Reid VP of Programs nreid@leapforkids.org Darcus Henry Dixwell Site Coordinator dhenry@leapforkids.org Emiya Pearse Hill South Site Coordinator epearse@leapforkids.org Alyssa Parrott Quinnipiac Meadows Site Coordinator aparrott@leapforkids.org Elvert Eden Aquatics Manager eeden@leapforkids.org Leadership & Learning Team Summer Choate-Lewis VP of Leadership & Learning schoate@leapforkids.org Kayla Penza Learning Manager kpenza@leapforkids.org Counselor Leadership Team Maithé Ulloa Counselor Leadership Manager mulloa@leapforkids.org Jadah Smith Counselor Leadership Coordinator jsmith@leapforkids.org Alexis Christy Academic Success Coordinator achristy@leapforkids.org Development & Communications Team Rachel Kline Brown VP of Development & Communications rklinebrown@leapforkids.org Jubetsy Minaya-Pérez Director of Development & Communications jminaya@leapforkids.org Ruofan Chen Donor Database Analyst & Prospect Researcher rchen@leapforkids.org Eliana Arroyo Donor Relations & Events Manager earroyo@leapforkids.org Tristin Reeder Communications Coordinator Treeder@leapforkids.org Finance & Business Affairs Team Shadine Alveranga VP of Finance & Business Affairs salveranga@leapforkids.org DJenny Pope Payroll Coordinator dpope@leapforkids.org Q House Team Yakeita Robinson VP & Chief of Staff yrobinson@leapforkids.org Crystal Fernández Manager of the Dixwell Community Q House cfernandez@leapforkids.org Kaussar Rahman Executive Advisor and Assistant for the Dixwell Community Q House Advisory Board and LEAP Grants Manager krahman@leapforkids.org Office Operations Team Marvin Parker Building Management Coordinator mparker@leapforkids.org Robin Williams Reception Coordinator rwilliams@leapforkids.org

LEAP is a great place to work! Here you can find all the resource guides and forms you will need to fill out prior to beginning work. New Hire Information Welcome to LEAP! We are so excited you're joining us! Please see the following resources below for new hire required trainings and forms to complete prior to beginning your work with LEAP. Forms Instructions: Please fill out the Federal W-4 Form, I-9 form, and the CT W-4 form to let us know how to handle your taxes and to show the federal government that you can work in the United States. Please sign and print out these completed three forms and bring them with you to LEAP on your first day. If you do not have access to a printer, you can print these forms at LEAP and fill them out on your first day. You can also email signed and completed pdfs of the forms to payroll@leapforkids.org. Please DO NOT send your tax forms to the counselor development team. 1 Direct Depo sit Form LEAP pays everyone by direct deposit, so you will need a bank account and we need your account information. If you do not have a bank account, please open one. If you do not know how to do so, we are happy to explain. Please email the finance office at payroll@leapforkids.org or the counselor development office at froman@leapforkids.org with any questions. You will need to set up a direct deposit through your bank account or set up a bank account if you do not already have one. Please note, that we do not ac cept Cash App or any online banking apps. ADP only recognizes actual banks. We need an electronic routing number. A routing number is a nine-digit code used by banks to identify other financial institutions. You can find your electronic routing number and your account number by logging into your online banking or by calling your bank. You r account number is not the same as your card number. You have the option to split your direct deposit between yo ur checking and savings account. It can be split 50/50, 70/30, or 20/80; however, you want but it must add up to 100%. 2 Federal W -4 Form The federal W-4 form is used to compute federal income tax. Please find the federal W-4 form here . 3 I-9 The federal government requires that you provide certain documents to prove you can work. On page 3 of the I-9 form is a list of required documents. Due to the rules of the I-9 Form, the Finance Department is required to physically inspect ID's. Please come with your ID's to the office. Please review this list and bring the required documents with you on the first day. Please find the I-9 form here . 4 CT W-4 Form The CT W-4 form is used to compute state income tax. Please find the CT W-4 form here. Questions? Please contact the finance department at payroll@leapforkids.org or the counselor development team at mulloa@leapforkids.org with any questions or concerns. Trainings Sexual Harassment and Mandated Reporter Training We are required to provide staff and interns with Sexual Harassment and Mandated Reporting Trainings in accordance with Connecticut. The state has imposed inclusive mandatory training. Since COVID, these resources are now available online from the state of Connecticut in the form of videos and questions and answers developed by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. In total, both courses are about 3 hours to complete. At the end, you will be emailed a certificate of completing the Sexual Harassment. Please have this email to the Finance Department at payroll@leapforkids.org . If you are experiencing any trouble or have any questions, feel free to email payroll@leapforkids.org . If you are unable to access your certificates, please take a clear screenshot of the final page including your name & date, and email it to payroll@leapforkids.org . Please click here to find the link to the sexual harassment training. Please click here to find the link to the mandated reporter training. Click here for instructions on creating your profile. Guides Click on the image on the left to download the full onboarding guide. This document is meant to help you fill out the necessary new hire forms. Onboarding Guide ADP Registration Guide What is ADP? ADP is a payroll software that LEAP uses. Click on the image on the left to download the full registration guide. ADP Walk Through Here is an instructional video on how to use ADP. Filling Out ADP Timesheets Here is a brief instructional video on how to fill out your ADP timesheet. 2026 Payroll Pay Schedule Click on the image to the left to view the fiscal year pay schedules.

Achieve the Core Fluency Packet - reading fluency. https://achievethecore.org/page/1021/fluency-packet-for-the-2-3-grade-band https://achievethecore.org/page/886/fluency-packet-for-the-4-5-grade-band Scholastic learn at home W.O.R.D Literacy Pro Scholastic at Home 3-5 Digital Brain POP Home Activities Education World Reading Rockets ( Digital, ELA. Includes Special Education) Khan Academy ELA practice Read Write Think http://www.readwritethink.org/parent-afterschool-resources/grade/3-4/ http://www.readwritethink.org/parent-afterschool-resources/grade/5-6/ Newsela Florida Center for Reading Research https://www.fcrr.org/student-center-activities/second-and-third-grade https://www.fcrr.org/student-center-activities/fourth-and-fifth-grade 25 Activities for reading and writing fun Acrostic Poems Word Mover

Children's Afterschool Program Application (ages 7 to 12) Please note that when you are done filling out the application, you must click Submit Form at the end of the application. You cannot save the form and return to it. LEAP is opening a new After-School at King Robinson School (Newhallville) starting on December 8th and ending on May 26th. Please click on the orange button below if you wish to apply to the Newhallville After-School! Afterschool Program Application Spring 2026 (includes Dwight, Fair Haven North and South, The Hill, Quinnipiac Meadows and Dixwell - DOES NOT include Newhallville!) Dates: January 26th to May 7th ( This schedule does not include Newhallville!) *Application does not automatically save. When you complete the form, you must press SUBMIT FORM at the end. If you refresh or leave this page, any entered information will be lost.* Newhallville After-School

Please select the correct class, quantity, participant/guardian info, dates, and age, and complete all * fields. No refunds, but credit can be used for future lessons. LEVEL 2 ADULTS & TEENS FAMILIES & TODDLERS LEVEL 4 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 1

Want to volunteer at LEAP? Maybe your business or school group is looking for a volunteer opportunity? Or possibly, you are a student looking to intern? Learn more here. 2025 Read-In on the Green LEAP's Annual Read-In On the Green Date: Friday, July 11th, 2025, 10:00am -11:15am *The Read-In is happening rain or shine : The location will change if there is rain. If you have already signed up to volunteer, please keep an eye out in your email inbox for updates about alternative plans in the case of inclement weather.* Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Read-In! At this time, we are at capacity for volunteers. Extra, extra... read all about it! The Read-In on the Green is here! Join us for a day of literacy, laughs, and learning. It will take place on Friday, July 11th from 10:00am to 11:15am. During this time, volunteers will read to a small group of children, engage in LEAP cheers, and most of all, inspire a love of reading in the children! Volunteers will receive a small token of our appreciation after the event! See more information on the postcard below! Reach out to rsvp@leapforkids.org with questions. Thank you to our Sponsors!

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