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 Tamia Scott Dwight-Kensington Site Coordinator tscott@leapforkids.org Alyssa Parrott Quinnipiac Meadows Site Coordinator aparrott@leapforkids.org Niki Sturgis-Nash Director of Operations nsturgisnash@leapforkids.org Jahvon Soto Outdoor and Athletics Manager jsoto@leapforkids.org Kenneth Jeffery Newhallville Site Coordinator knotarino-jeffrey@leapforkids.org Shanice Maxwell LIT Manager smaxwell@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 Elvert Eden Aquatics Manager eeden@leapforkids.org Daisha Beauford Fair Haven South Site Coordinator dbeauford@leapforkids.org Yarimarie Robles Fair Haven North Site Coordinator yrobles@leapforkids.org Leadership & Learning Team Summer Choate-Lewis VP of Leadership & Learning schoate@leapforkids.org Counselor Leadership Team Maithé Ulloa Counselor Leadership Manager mulloa@leapforkids.org Alexis Christy Academic Success Coordinator achristy@leapforkids.org Sheraud Wilder Counselor Leadership Coordinator swilder@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 Manager of Development Data & Research rchen@leapforkids.org Eliana Arroyo Donor Relations & Events Manager earroyo@leapforkids.org Tristin Reeder Communications Coordinator Treeder@leapforkids.org Jennifer Lytton-Hirsch Major Gifts and Foundation Relations Manager Jlyttonhirsch@leapforkids.org Finance & Business Affairs Team Shadine Alveranga-Bustillo VP of Finance & Business Affairs salveranga@leapforkids.org Juan Boone AP/AR Coordinator jboone@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 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. Make a Difference for New Haven Youth →Explore LEAP Year Event 2027 Sponsorship Opportunities! 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 Aquatics 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! Thank You Aim-High and Taco bell for your help A heartfelt thank you to Aim High and Taco Bell for investing in young people and in the programs that help them thrive! We are incredibly grateful for the support and commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for middle-school youth. Investments like these give young people the resources, encouragement, and experiences they need to build confidence, stay engaged, and successfully take their next steps toward high school and beyond. Thank you, Aim High and Taco Bell, for believing in the power of afterschool and out-of-school-time programs and for helping make a difference in the lives of young people and their families. Your support truly matters! 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! The Read-in Was A Hit! This year’s Annual LEAP Read-In on the New Haven Green was an absolute hit! On a beautiful summer day, the Green transformed into a giant, open-air library as hundreds of LEAP campers gathered under the trees alongside 70 dedicated volunteer readers. From local leaders and public officials to neighborhood allies, volunteers sat in small circles across the grass to share favorite stories, spark imaginations, and tackle summer learning loss head-on. Thanks to the incredible energy of our campers, staff, and community partners, the event was an inspiring, joyful celebration of youth literacy and New Haven’s shared commitment to its young leaders. Featured Videos All About LEAP LEAP Alumni 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 board of directors combines unique and diverse skills with a commitment to Creating A New Haven for our Children. Board of Directors Tai Richardson Board Chair Ann Baker Pepe Immediate Past Chair Susan Biel Kerley Treasurer Cynthia Mann, M.D. Secretary Roslyn Milstein Meyer, Ph.D. Co-Founder Anne Tyler Calabresi Co-Founder Adriana Arreola Joseph Vice Chair Alexis Smith Board Member Rick Antle, Ph.D. Board Member Marcus A. McFerren, M.D., Ph.D. Board Member Reverend Andre Cortez Gilford Jr. Board Member Kenneth Russell Board Member Tabitha Sookdeo Board Member Deborah Stanley-McAulay Board Member Dottie Weston-Murphy Board Member Clifton Watson, Ph.D. Board Member Tomi Veale Board Member Stephen Wizner Emeritus Honorable William Dyson Emeritus Jerome Harris Meyer Emeritus

LEAP Year Event 32 Years & Counting Save the Date for LEAP Year Event 2027! Thursday, February 25, 2027 with additional dinners on Saturday, February 27, 2027 Celebrating 35 Years of LEAP Thank you for making LEAP Year Event 2026 such a memorable success! Your generosity and commitment helped LEAP raise over $600,000 to continue to create opportunities for New Haven's children and young leaders. We look forward to bringing our community together again on February 25, 2027, as we celebrate 35 years of LEAP. Mark your calendar. More details coming soon! Make an Impact as an LYE 2027 Sponsor Sponsoring LEAP Year Event 2027 is an investment in New Haven's young people. 100% of sponsorship contributions directly support LEAP's year-round programming , providing youth with opportunities to learn, grow, and develop as leaders through literacy, mentorship, enrichment, and paid employment. Explore LYE 2027 Sponsorship Opportunities Click Here LYE 2027 SPONSOR FORM LEAP Year Event '26 Photos Thank you to our 2027 LEAP Year Event Sponsors Superheros Champions Heroes Leaders Mentors Jacqueline Koral Educators Athletes Celeste Suggs & Joel Zackin Partners Alison Bonds & Larry Levine Friends Brenner, Saltzman, & Wallman LLP Neighbors Explore LYE 2027 Sponsorship Opportunities Click Here BECOME A SPONSOR 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 Cynthia Mann Zehra Patwa Fallon Thomas

LEAP Year Event 32 Years & Counting Watch the 2026 LEAP Year Event Reception Livestream below! LEAP Year Event Reception – Looking Ahead to LYE 2027! Building on the incredible energy of last year's gathering, we are excited to gear up for LYE 2027 this coming February! Looking back at our last LEAP Year Event, more than 300 supporters came together at the Dixwell Community (Q) House and raised over $600,000 to keep LEAP’s free, year-round programs thriving for New Haven youth. As we prepare for another extraordinary evening of community and conversation, we want to extend our ongoing gratitude to our inspiring speakers, dedicated counselors and staff, and generous dinner hosts who open their doors across Greater New Haven. We also look forward to honoring our Guests of Honor. The countdown to February is on! Additional details on host dinners, reception timing, and ways to get involved for LYE 2027 will be shared soon. To everyone who attended, hosted, sponsored, volunteered, and gave last year—and to those joining us again this coming February: thank you. Your continued support ensures that LEAP keeps opening doors of opportunity for Greater New Haven youth year after year. LEAP Year Event '26 Photos Thank you to our 2027 LEAP Year Event Sponsors Superhero Champions Heroes Noble Wealth Advisors of Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC Leader Mentors Jacqueline Koral Educator Athlete Celeste Suggs & Joel Zackin Partners Alison Bonds & Larry Levine Friends Brenner, Saltzman, & Wallman LLP Neighbors 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 Tristin Reeder Cynthia Mann Zehra Patwa Fallon Thomas

Staff Only Leap 2020

Staff Only Leap 2020

LEAP is a great place to work. Here you can find the full time positions that we are currently hiring. Full-Time Positions Click here to view our open positions! Looking to volunteer instead? See Opportunities

Reasons to Donate to LEAP COSTS RISING... LEAP is one of the largest youth employers in New Haven. We train and hire over 200 young people as counselors every year, and their salaries are our largest cost, making up a third of our annual expenses. Starting in Oct. 2019, Connecticut's new minimum wage law requires counselor pay to increase an additional $1/hour each year for five years. LEAP supports the new law because it will make a big difference for many of our families. But we will have to raise an additional $1 million over the next five years to ensure that we do not need to make program cuts. ...FUNDS FALLING LEAP has relied on support from the Connecticut State Department of Education since we were founded 27 years ago. However, the government has been decreasing its funding for LEAP over the last five years due to general state budget cuts. Since 2015, our state funding has decreased 63%; state funding went from 40% of our total budget in 2015 to 14% of our budget in 2019. We must continue to diversify our funding sources and rely less on state funding in order to ensure LEAP's future financial stability. $375,000 $300,000 $225,000 $150,000 $75,000 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Additional Costs Due to Min. Wage Increase $281,000 $312,000 $462,000 $620,000 $750,000 $312,000 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 State Funding for LEAP Despite these challenges, LEAP is still growing and improving our programs for young people! LIT PROGRAM Our Leaders in Training (LIT) Program fills a gap in services for young teens by providing 13-15 year olds a safe, enriching environment when they are not in school. Since 2018, LEAP has been growing the LIT Program; we plan to add additional LITs each summer. COLLEGE ACCESS 100% of LEAP high school seniors graduate and are accepted to college; however, as guidance counselors are cut from the public school system budget, LEAP is expanding our college access support to help students ultimately attain an affordable degree, not just get into college. Our services will include: Scholarship opportunities Financial aid counseling PSAT/SAT prep Essay workshops Week-long college tour CHILDREN'S PROGRAM Aquatics: LEAP will continue to teach boys and girls how to swim. We also will expand our swimming curriculum so our own swim staff are Red-Cross certified to train lifeguards. Literacy: LEAP's summer literacy program is a big part of how we make sure students stay on track in school. LEAP plans to hire an experienced educator as a new full-time staff member to improve our literacy curriculum and counselor training. LEAP Computer Learning Center: LEAP kids build robots, code apps, edit videos, and more. We are starting a free Saturday Code Camp for kids who want to learn even more. Resources: From gardening, to cooking, to dancing⁠—LEAP kids get to have fun and explore. Camping: learning natural science by exploring nature Summer Journeys: expanded from 1-day to 3-day out of state trips Kids discover museums, libraries, universities, and more!

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

Staff Only Leap 2020

Staff Only Leap 2020