LEAP Year Event 28 Years & Counting Join us for an exciting LEAP Year Event on Thursday, February 29th, 2024, where you’ll have the chance to engage in a variety of meaningful conversations. Additional conversations will be held on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with members of the community and deepen your knowledge! LEAP Year Event is our annual fundraiser when the community comes together to make LEAP's free after-school and summer programs for youth from underserved New Haven neighborhoods possible. This year our event will be on Thursday, February 29, 2024 with additional dinners on Saturday, March 2nd. The evening will begin with an in-person cocktail reception at the Dixwell Community Center (Q House) that will include a welcome from Henry Fernandez, LEAP's Executive Director, and an opportunity to hear from LEAP counselors. Guests will then go to the dinners, in-person or virtual, with their choice of topic and Guests of Honor. ​ LEAP Year Event is LEAP's most successful fundraiser with over 500 philanthropic donors, business professionals, and community leaders from the Greater New Haven area attending. In 2023, you helped us raise over $350,000 to make LEAP's free programs possible. Please email Alison Bonds at abonds@leapforkids.org if you are interested in supporting the event this year as a Host, Sponsor, or Guest of Honor. With your partnership, we will continue to Create a New Haven for Our Children. JOIN US AS A SPONSOR! There are many roles that make the LEAP Year Event possible each year. We would love for you to join in any capacity you feel comfortable. ​ Sponsor: Looking to support a great cause while getting unmatched publicity with prominent business leaders and community members in the New Haven area? Become a Sponsor at one of the many levels available, from Neighbor (contributing $500) to Superhero (contributing $50,000). Your name and logo will be shared in multiple print and digital materials which are distributed to our database of over 5,000 people. Click here for a more detailed description of the sponsor levels and benefits. ​ Attendee: Join the event by purchasing tickets to the conversation of your choosing, including in-person and virtual options. Have a wonderful evening knowing that you are supporting an amazing cause. Ticket sales will open mid-January. Dinner Host: If you're interested in hosting a conversation in your home or at a local restuarant, please contact Alison Bonds at abonds @leapforkids.org. . Hosts generously cover the cost of food and drinks for approximately 20 guests as a contribution to LEAP. ​ Interested in any of these roles? Contact Alison Bonds, LEAP Year Event Coordinator, at abonds@leapforkids.org. Thank You to Our LEAP Year Event 2024 Sponsors Superhero Hero Roger Ibbotson Leader Carol Sirot Educator Marcus McFerren and Miriam Gohara Cynthia Mann, MD Jacqueline Koral Athlete Ruby Melton and Gail McAvay Celeste Suggs and Joel Zackin Robert Alvine and Joann Thompson Miles and Elizabeth Lasater Partner Alison Bonds and Larry Levine John S. Nussbaum Friend Deb and Ron Nudel Marian Chertow and Matthew Nemerson Neighbor 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 Thea Moritz Sydney Perry Michaela Seales ​ ​

See more information about our upcoming LEAP Year Event! CLICK HERE Check Out the Dixwell Q House Website! VISIT HERE CREATING A NEW HAVE N FOR OUR CHILDREN L eadership E ducation & A thletics in P artnership We teach children how to learn and young adults how to lead. Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership, Inc. (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 Enroll a Child in our Fall After-school Program! Our after-school program is back in session ! This is an excellent way for kids to make friends, learn new skills, and receive mentorship. We offer a variety of activities, including a literacy-based curriculum, arts and crafts, and sports. Our counselors will help your child learn and grow in a safe space. Sign up today by clicking here ! Site-based Thankful Dinners will be held on Thursday, Nov. 21st! Thanksgiving is around the corner! Our Thankful Dinners are a time for our LEAPers to have fun, enjoy meals with their counselors and friends, and share what they're most thankful for. This year Thankful Dinners will take place at their designated school sites. Join Us for a Winter Wonderland Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 23rd! Mark your calendars for the Winter Wonderland Celebration on Dec. 23rd from 5:00 - 8:00pm at the Q House! There'll be a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, live music, prizes, pizza, hot chocolate, and, best of all, a free toy giveaway! Bring your children and enjoy a fun and festive evening with the community! Featured Videos All About LEAP LEAP's Summer Program 2022 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's Financial Information For more information about ways to donate, go to the For Donors section of our website. To learn more about why donating to LEAP matters now more than ever, see our Reasons to Donate to LEAP page. Tax Status, Legal Name & Fiscal Year LEAP is a nonprofit corporation, incorporated in the State of Connecticut as "Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership, Inc." LEAP is tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Please contact us if you need a copy of our determination letter. LEAP's fiscal year runs from September 1 to August 31. Donor Privacy Policy LEAP does not share, sell or trade our donors' names or other personal information with any other entity, nor do we contact our donors on behalf of other organizations. Brokerage Information (for stock donations) Firm Name: Fidelity Investments DTC: 0226 Account #: 657-221430 Account Name: LDRSHP, EDU, & ATH IN PRTNRSHP Financial Reports and Statements 2021-22 Annual Report 2020-21 990 Report 2020 Financial Audit Report 2020-2021 Financial Audit Report Past 990 Reports 2021-22 990 2014-15 990 2020-21 990 2019-20 990 2013-14 990 2018-19 990 2017-18 990 2016-17 990 2015-16 990

Senior Counselors LEAP Senior Counselors (SCs), partnered with their Junior Counselors, lead groups of children and teenagers as teachers, mentors, and positive role models to help our youth develop both academically and socially. SCs are college students who are paid members of the LEAP staff, and each works under the supervision of a Site Coordinator who guides and mentors them. LEAP employs approximately 100 SCs each year, full-time during the summer and part-time during the school year. Apply for our Spring 2024 Program Here! Senior Counselor Spring 2024 Application About the Position LEAP Senior Counselors must be college or graduate students in good academic standing at a 2- or 4-year college or university. We also accept applicants who are currently attending a trade school or who are in military training and have an open schedule to work during our program hours. ​ LEAP counselors are at the center of the LEAP experience for our young people and they must demonstrate the highest level of commitment. They receive extensive training to prepare them for the tremendous responsibilities of teaching, inspiring, and caring for children as well as mentoring the Junior Counselors with whom they partner. Their preparation includes training in literacy education, CPR, conflict resolution, classroom management, trauma-informed education, and even how to take their kids camping. SCs also have the opportunity to take workshops to help them develop for any future career on topics such as resume writing, public speaking, and financial literacy. Through our unique model, SCs receive genuine leadership opportunities with support from their supervisors. During the summer program, LEAP provides SCs with free housing in the neighborhood in which they work. We do this so that counselors are accessible to children, can learn about the neighborhoods’ strengths and weaknesses, and children can have their college student role models as neighbors. *Application does not automatically save; if you refresh or leave the page, any entered information will be lost.* Still in high school? Apply to be a Junior Counselor! Apply Here!

Kelly Turner Jr. Finance Coordinator kturner@leapforkids.org Kelly (he/him/his) I'm the Finance Coordinator at LEAP. I joined LEAP back in the summer of 2016 as a Senior Counselor. I graduated from Central Connecticut State University in 2018 with a major in Accounting. I joined LEAP because I wanted to be a positive role model to kids that grew up in my community. Some of my hobbies include writing music, playing video games, working out, trading (stocks), cleaning, and cooking.

Rachel Kline Brown Director of Development rklinebrown@leapforkids.org Rachel (she/her/hers) Rachel Kline Brown is LEAP’s Director of Development and Communications. She earned a B.A. in European History from the University of Pennsylvania and a M.A. from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Rachel has been an educator for over 25 years in many capacities, including as an Outward Bound instructor, a Spanish teacher at a New York City public high school, a high school English teacher in Lesotho as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and as a teacher trainer to help students access college. She was also a consultant for both the World Bank and the New York City Department of Education. In 2016, Rachel joined the LEAP Development and Communications team, directing and overseeing all aspects of fundraising and communications for LEAP’s $3 million budget. When she is not at LEAP, Rachel is spending time with her family and their dog, Brooksie, hiking or biking, making art, or reading. She loves that LEAP is a place where young people learn about their amazing abilities and gifts through great training, incredible mentors, and being given a great deal of responsibility in taking care of others.

Summer Choate Director of Training and Curriculum schoate@leapforkids.org Summer (she/her/hers) She joined LEAP in June 2021 as the Director of Training and Curriculum. Summer has a master's degree in Urban Education Policy from Brown University and a degree in Justice and Peace Studies from Georgetown University. Prior to working at LEAP, Summer was a second grade teacher for four years, which she absolutely loved. Her belief is that education exists to compliment the power that each person is already born with. Her hobbies include playing basketball and reading. She is originally from Nashua, New Hampshire. She loves LEAP because she values the importance of community and encouraging youth that they are entirely capable of owning their own power and being models for one another. She also loves that LEAP promotes learning in many different areas of life.

Junior Counselors Our Junior Counselors (JCs) are high school students who are paid members of the LEAP staff, and each works under the supervision of a Senior Counselor who guides and mentors them. LEAP Junior Counselors must be New Haven high school students 16 years old or older. LEAP employs approximately 100 JCs each year, full-time during the summer and part-time during the school year. Our JCs also receive resources such as professional development, financial literacy workshops, and academic coaching. Our goal is to prepare our young adults for successful futures, and part of this is ensuring that they can pursue higher education. Apply for our Spring 2024 Program Here! Junior Counselor Spring 2024 Application About the Position LEAP Junior Counselors must be New Haven high school students 16 years old or older. In addition to working with children, you are required to participate in your own development including college access opportunities and tutoring when needed. The application for this position is at the bottom of this page. ​ Our college access programming includes writing workshops focused on college essays, career fairs, college advising, a week-long out-of-state college tour, and financial aid training for parents. On our free college tour, JCs visit colleges along the East Coast, touring at least ten different colleges each year. LEAP also awards $13,000 worth of scholarships to our JCs entering college, rewarding them for their dedication and service to our LEAP community. ​ All staff must receive the COVID-19 vaccine and receive their Booster once they are eligible to do so in order to work for LEAP's 2023 Fall Program. LEAP will help you get the vaccine if you have not already. *Application does not automatically save; if you refresh or leave the page, any entered information will be lost.* Younger than 16? Apply to be a LIT! Apply Here!

At Home Educational Activities The New Haven Public Schools are providing packets for kids to do school work from home. But that may still leave a lot of time in the day when we kids can be doing fun learning activities. Here are some options: ​ If your child is in LEAP and needs some help with their homework, do not hesitate to contact their counselors or site coordinator via phone or email. Site coordinators can be emailed through the About/Staff section of this website. ​ Scholastic offers activities for children from pre-K through grades 6 and up. ​ The American Federation of Teachers has a wealth of resources to help with learning at home from Pre-K through high school. They also have materials on social-emotional learning and an online discussion community for people to share ideas, lesson plans, and resources. This is a resource that is useful for educators and community youth workers. ​ The New Haven Free Public Library has a wonderful list of free activities, including many that do not require a library card. ​ The State Department of Education and educational consultants in English, Social Studies, Science and Math have gathered resources for families to support their children’s learning. These resources and materials are broken down by grade level (Pre-K through 12th grade). ​ Khan Academy has a variety of rich educational resources and video lessons that parents, teachers, and students can use to structure each day of learning in core subjects and offer introductions to new topics not typically taught in school. ​ Khan Academy is also offering free PSAT and SAT test prep materials and lessons. ​ Attached you will find activities to do at home, courtesy of New Haven Park and Recreations Department. ​ Check out this Calendar of Virtual Field Trips . See the Louvre in France, Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, or Polar Bears in the Tundra! The Calendar is from April/May but the trips have not expired. Sportsometry is helping 2nd-4th graders with math homework ​ Gather New Haven has compiled online resources for students focused on the natural environment and science. Internet Needs Talking to Kids about COVID-19 Medical Needs COVID-19 Updates Food & Unemployment Free Online Books At Home Activities LEAP Activity Videos

Henry Fernandez Executive Director hfernandez@leapforkids.org Henry (he/him/his) Henry Fernandez is LEAP’s Executive Director. He co-founded LEAP in 1992 and served as Executive Director from its founding until 1997, returning to the position almost two decades later. Henry came to New Haven in 1990 to go to Yale Law School, following a short stint teaching high school English and math in Zimbabwe. He served for five years as Economic Development Administrator for the City of New Haven (a deputy mayor position in our form of government). He has been a senior fellow at a think tank in DC, testified as an expert before Congress, and served on President Obama’s transition team. Aside from his work at LEAP, he owns a firm that completes quantitative and qualitative research on issues including health policy, civil rights, elections, criminal justice, and civic engagement. He has been interviewed by media including MSNBC, the NY Times, USA Today, NBC News, the BBC, Black Enterprise, and the Washington Post. Henry grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York. He scuba dives and spends time with his family for fun. LEAP is important to him because he gets to see new generations of young people take on the fight to make our country and city more just.

Staff Only Leap 2020 ​

Zalma Vivanco Curriculum and Training Coordinator zvivanco@leapforkids.org Zalma (she/her/hers) Hi everyone! I'm the Curriculum and Training Coordinator at LEAP, which means I'm in charge of creating lessons and activities for our 7-12 year olds and training our counselors on how to facilitate curriculum sessions. I recently graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in Psychology and joined LEAP shortly after, in the summer of 2020. While at Yale, I ran a three-year academic mentoring program at Wexler-Grant Community school, volunteered at New Haven Works, and worked as a research assistant in the Education Studies department. I'm from New York, and I enjoy running, cooking, art, and reading! I love LEAP because we see the inherent value in every child and do our best to make them feel loved and supported. The LEAP community is a special one and I feel lucky to be a part of it!