Check out articles on LEAP through the years. Press Archive For the Latest News, check out our News page here ! 20 22 100s Turn Out for the Nutcracker at the Q December 6 2022 | New Haven Independent LEAP holds 'thankful dinner' for New Haven children November 22 2022 | WTNH News 8 New Haveners Celebrate the Spookiest Night of the Year November 2 2022 | Yale Daily News Q House Halloween Lets Kids Be Kids October 31 2022 | New Haven Independent What's Right With Schools: New Haven students continued learning over the summer September 6 2022 | WTNH News 8 New Haven High School Grads LEAP Forward July 25 2022 | New Haven Independent Read-In LEAPs Into Summer on the Green July 18 2022 | The New Haven Arts Paper LEAP Reading event held on the New Haven Green for kids July 15 2022 | WTNH News 8 LEAP Read-In Combats Summer Slide July 15 2022 | New Haven Independent LEAP Exec. shares info on Annual Read-In Event July 14 2022 | WTNH News 8 Biden Administration Visits New Haven's Progress on Building More Equitable Access to Healthy Foods July 8 2022 | WSHU Public Radio Q House Farmers Market Launches, With New Mac & Cheese Twist June 23 2022 | New Haven Independent $194K Seed Planted in Dixwell Food Desert June 20 2022 | New Haven Independent New Farmers Market Coming to New Haven to Help Feed City Residents June 20 2022 | WTNH News 8 27th LEAP Year Dinners Raise $320K For Youth March 7 2022 | New Haven Independent Dream House February 16 2022 | Daily Nutmeg LoveBabz LoveTalk with Henry Fernandez February 10 2022 | LoveBabz LoveTalk with Babz Rawls-Ivy LEAP Leaps into Quinnipiac Meadows February 3 2022 | New Haven Independent "LEAP Year" Dinner-Convos Loom, Some In Person, Some Zoomed February 2 2022 | New Haven Independent 2021 27th LEAP Year Dinners Raise $320K For Youth March 7 2021 | New Haven Independent Hopes High As New Q House Ribbon Cut November 6 2021 | New Haven Independent New Haven's All-New Q House Set to Debut October 29 2021 | New Haven Register New Haven's Iconic Q House to Return After Nearly 20 Years October 22 2021 | NBC Conneticut As Opening Nears, Q House Qs Answered October 22 2021 | New Haven Independent Rally Readies Return to School, In Person August 16 2021 | New Haven Independent LEAPers Travel the Globe in Summer Showcase August 10 2021 | New Haven Arts Paper Summer Camp Spotlights Biking ABCs July 28 2021 | New Haven Independent What’s Right With Schools: New Haven LEAP Program prepares kids to go back to the classroom July 22 2021 | News 8 WTNH At Read-In, Students and Symphony LEAP Back Into Books July 19 2021 | New Haven Arts Paper Q House-LEAP Contract Approved July 8 2021 | New Haven Independent LEAP-Q House Contract Advances May 11 2021 | New Haven Independent LEAP-Q House Contract Proposal Submitted April 5 2021 | New Haven Independent LEAP Tapped to Manage Q House April 1 2021 | New Haven Independent LEAP Celebrates With First-Ever Virtual Fundraiser March 1 2021 | New Haven Independent LEAP’s Famous Fundraiser Goes Virtual January 29 2021 | New Haven Independent 2020 Academic and Social Enrichment with Henry Fernandez of LEAP for Kids December 14 2020 | Comcast Newsmakers New Haven LEAP program continues helping at-risk kids with schooling during pandemic September 15 2020 | WTNH LEAPers Reimagine Dixwell Avenue July 23 2020 | Arts Council Greater New Haven LEAP, National Dairy Council Encourage Healthy Eating, Exercise in New Haven Summer Camps July 21 2020 | WTNH How LEAP Salvaged Summer July 15 2020 | New Haven Independent LEAP Counselors See “Breaking Point” On Policing June 10 2020 | New Haven Independent Chromes for Kids June 9 2020 | New Haven Independent Adapting and Responding to Challenging Times April 30, 2020 | WTNH News Nonprofit Fills Covid-Related Gaps For Families April 1, 2020 | New Haven Independent LEAP To Start Video-Based Programs During COVID-19 Mar 19, 2020 | New Haven Independent LEAP Celebrates 25th Anniversary Mar 3, 2020 | New Haven Independent LEAP Year Celeb Dinners On Tap Jan 18, 2020 | New Haven Independent Teen Follows Mom’s College Dream Jan 10, 2020 | New Haven Independent 2019 LEAP: Surrounding Kids With Approachable Neighborhood Role Models is Key to Success Nov 8, 2019 | Kars4Kids Spooky Doings Planned Oct 23, 2019 | New Haven Independent YHHAP to host nonprofit meet and greet Oct 11, 2019 | Yale Daily News New York Life Foundation Awards $1.35 Million in Grants to Out-of-School Time Programs to Help Middle School Students Transition to 9th Grade July 24, 2019 | New York Life Community Connections: LEAP June 2, 2019 | Connect Media Julia’s Run celebrates two decades April 14, 2019 | Yale Daily News 20th Annual Julia’s Run for Children April 14, 2019 | New Haven Register Road race to benefit New Haven’s LEAP, honor Yale student who died in 1999 March 18, 2019 | New Haven Register USA Swimming Foundation Awards $507,461 of 2019 Grant Funding for Make a Splash Local Partners March 25, 2019 | Swimming World Editorial Team Evening Raises Consciousness, 200K For Young People March 3, 2019 | New Haven Independent LEAP Plans Major Fundraiser Feb 24, 2019 | Yale Daily News Learn + Dine Feb 7, 2019 | New Haven Independent 2018 LEAP Book Drive Hits The Suburbs Dec 16, 2019 | New Haven Independent LEAP hosts 10th annual Halloween festival Oct 28, 2018 | Yale Daily News CT LIVE!: LEAP's Halloween Festival October 23, 2018 | NBC CT Trick or LEAP October 22, 2018 | New Haven Independent LEAP re-opens fifth site October 08, 2018 | Yale Daily News LEAP looks to help kids make life-changing choices while learning crucial skills. July 18, 2018 | WTNH News LEAP's Read-In Rocks The Green July 12, 2018 | Arts Council of Greater New Haven LEAP mixes sunny weather with spoken words at Read-In July 13, 2018 | New Haven Register Bookworms swarm New Haven Green for "Leap Read in Green" event July 12, 2018 | WTNH News LEAP Children's Program May 17, 2018 | Comcast Newsmakers Why Are Minority Children In The US More Likely To Drown? May 16, 2018 | WNPR News LEAP receives Hearst Foundations grant May 10, 2018 | CT Post Nonprofit receives grant for swim program April 25, 2018 | Yale Daily News LEAP Awarded $35K Grant to Expand Programs April 17, 2018 | NBC CT New Lifeguards Minted April 15, 2018 | New Haven Independent Despite cold, nearly 250 participate in Julia’s Run April 14, 2018 | Yale Daily News Julia’s run goes into its 19th year April 10, 2018 | Yale Daily News USA Swimming Foundation Awards Over $436,000 in 2018 Grant Funding for Make a Splash Local Partners March 26, 2018 | US Swimming Foundation Chris Murphy Visits Wakanda March 18, 2018 | New Haven Independent Kids LEAP into Wakanda March 05, 2018 | New Haven Independent Nonprofit presents Black History Month showcase February 15, 2018 | Yale Daily News

Check out our most recent annual reports. Annual Reports Annual Report 2024-2025 Annual Report 2023-2024 Annual Report 2022-2023

Check out photos of LEAP activities for young people. Activities Gallery Gardening 1/8 Literacy IMG_2947 fullsizeoutput_32de fullsizeoutput_413f IMG_2947 1/14 Swimming IMG_8091 IMG_8085 IMG_8097 IMG_8091 1/8 Sculpting A counselor sculpts a portrait alongside her group. 1/8 LEAP Computer Learning Center (LCLC) 1/8 LITs Go to Philadelphia 1/12 LIT Camping Describe your image. Describe your image. Describe your image. Describe your image. 1/9 Adam Krieger Adventure Ropes Course IMG_3501 IMG_3507 IMG_3506 IMG_3501 1/5 Outdoor Corps & Peabody Museum 1/9

Curriculum and Resources for Teaching Children and Teens about Anti-Racism and Social Movements Reflecting on George Floyd’s Death and Police Violence Towards Black Americans (Facing History and Ourselves) This guide from Facing History and Ourselves offers specific tips, materials and conversation starters for you and your students regarding George Floyd’s death and recent protests in response to it. This is an important resource, especially for educators and leaders who have not engaged in these conversations with students in the past. For more teaching guides, resources and advice on discussing the difficult history of racism to students, check out Facing History and Ourselves and their array of materials and events. The 1619 Project Curriculum “The 1619 Project, inaugurated with a special issue of The New York Times Magazine, challenges us to reframe U.S. history by marking the year when the first enslaved Africans arrived on Virginia soil as our nation's foundational date. Here you will find reading guides, activities, and other resources to bring The 1619 Project into your classroom.” Teaching About Race, Racism and Police Violence (Teaching Tolerance) This is a collection of educational materials, lesson plans and multimedia resources for educators to use when teaching their students on the broader and interconnected topics of race, racism and police violence. For more lesson plans and discussion guides on these topics, check out Teaching Tolerance ’s website, as well as the work done by the larger organization they are a part of, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) . Talking About Race Web Portal (National Museum of African American History and Culture) “The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture today launched Talking About Race, a new online portal designed to help individuals, families, and communities talk about racism, racial identity and the way these forces shape every aspect of society, from the economy and politics to the broader American culture. The online portal provides digital tools, online exercises, video instructions, scholarly articles and more than 100 multi-media resources tailored for educators, parents and caregivers—and individuals committed to racial equality.” Educator’s Guide for Reading Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi “This guide suggests a month-long approach to reading and discussing Stamped with middle-school and high-school readers in English, English Language Arts, Social Stud-ies, History, and Humanities classrooms.”

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

Stay up to date on the goings on at LEAP. Join our e-list! Join our Mailing List Fill out the information below to be on our mailing list! Receive newsletters, invitations, and updates on programs and events. First Name Last Name Enter Your Email Enter Your Home Address State Enter Your Phone Number Submit Thanks for submitting! By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive emails from: LEAP Inc., 31 Jefferson Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, https://www.leapforkids.org . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.

Planned Giving & LEAP Legacy Society Planned Giving Options Become a member of the LEAP Legacy Society by including LEAP in your estate plans. Here are a few ways to do so: Bequest: Remember LEAP in your will One of the simplest and most meaningful planned gifts is to remember LEAP in your will, where you can designate either a specific dollar amount or percentage of your estate to LEAP. Countless young LEAPers will benefit from your foresight to include LEAP in your will, and your generous gesture serves as an example of the values you hold dear. Sample Language: “I give and bequeath to Leadership, Education, and Athletics in Partnership, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, with principal offices presently located at 31 Jefferson Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, the sum of _____ (or _______% of my estate), to be used for the accomplishment of its general purpose.” Retirement Plans: Name LEAP as a beneficiary, or transfer directly Naming LEAP as a beneficiary of your 401k, IRA, or other retirement accounts is incredibly impactful for your heirs and for LEAP. Retirement accounts that have grown tax-free over time are generally the most desirable assets for charitable giving, as they are taxable to heirs when inherited. Additionally, with an IRA, you can donate up to $100,000 of your required minimum distribution (RMD) annually for those over 72 years old and retired directly to LEAP through a Qualified Charitable Distribution, reducing your adjusted gross income for tax and Medicare payment calculations. Life Insurance: Transfer ownership of a policy or make LEAP a beneficiary Often overlooked as a method of planned giving, there are many ways for a life insurance policy to benefit LEAP. Adding LEAP as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy, transferring ownership of a paid-up life insurance policy to LEAP, or taking out a policy and making LEAP the owner and beneficiary will greatly benefit LEAP and the children we serve. Charitable Trust: Create income for yourself and transfer assets to LEAP later A charitable trust arrangement will allow you to use your assets to create a stream of income for yourself or your beneficiaries. You can transfer the principal assets to LEAP once the trust has terminated, or you can name LEAP as a beneficiary of the generated income, and return the assets to your family after a specified number of years. Questions: Contact us for more information For more information or to talk further about a planned gift, please contact LEAP’s Director of Development, Rachel Kline Brown, at (203) 773-0770 or rklinebrown@leapforkids.org . Please also consult your financial or legal advisor who understands your specific situation before making a planned gift. If you have already included LEAP in a bequest or other planned gift, we thank you and hope you will let us know by contacting Rachel. Legac Society LEAP Legacy Society Those who make planned gifts to LEAP will receive membership in the LEAP Legacy Society, a community of like-minded individuals who love New Haven and truly care about New Haven's youth. In addition to the satisfaction of making a tangible difference in the lives of thousands of children, admission into the LEAP Legacy Society offers the following benefits: An Annual Lunch at LEAP with select Counselors, Program Staff, Board Members, and Executive Director, Henry Fernandez The opportunity, if you agree, to be publicly recognized as a LEAP Legacy Society Member in LEAP publications Recognition at our Annual LEAP Year Event Reception in printed materials and during the program, if you choose A Legacy Society Pin given only to those supporters who have remembered LEAP in their will or estate plan “LEAP’s values align with mine, so I donate to make their work with young people possible now. I plan to keep supporting them when I am gone because I want my legacy to continue to reflect these same values. That is why I am here on earth - to provide for my family and support organizations with missions that align with my values - now and in the future.” If you have included LEAP in your estate plans and wish to be a part of the LEAP Legacy Society, we thank you and hope you will let us know by contacting Rachel at rklinebrown@leapforkids.org . Bob Alvine LEAP Legacy Society Member

Leaders In Training (LITs) Application Form *Application does not automatically save; if you refresh or leave this page, any entered information will be lost.* Para completar la aplicación en español, cambie el botón de traducción a español en la parte superior derecha del formulario a continuación.

Learn about and complete an application for LEAP's Leaders In Training Program for 13 to 15 year olds. Leaders in Training (LITs) Leaders In Training (LITs) support senior and junior counselors by volunteering with younger children. They also get their own unique age-appropriate programming which includes academic support, health education, community service, and job exploration. what who LEAP's LIT program (afterschool and summer) program is available for teens ages 13 to 15. Unlike the children's program, LITs can come from any New Haven neighborhood. LITs receive a small stipend and many advance into other positions at LEAP, including Junior Counselors and Swim Instructors. The after-school program operates Monday-Thursday from 3 pm - 6:30pm and Fridays 3-5 pm. The summer program is Monday-Friday. when Application Go to Application Ver en español Summer Program 2026 To apply for the LIT program, you must be between the ages of 13 and 15. The hours of operation will be Monday through Thursday from 8 a m to 3:00 pm and Fridays 8 am to 1 pm. We operate out of one location: LEAP COMMUNITY CENTER: 31 Jefferson Street, New Haven CT 06511 Dates Progra mming: June 22nd to July 31st 2026 Parent Meeting: Parent meeting will be held on (TBD) and is held for ACCEPTED LITs only. We will communicate the dates and location when your child is formally accepted into our spring programming. We will let you know then what documentation will be needed from you. Required Documents: Full completed application including essay Physical Health Documentation & Action plan - signed by a doctor and a legal guardian (action plan is only needed if LIT had asthma with inhaler or allergies with Epipen) Disclaimer Notice : Submission of your application does not mean your child has been fully accepted. Acceptance will be confirmed via phone call by our Youth Development Leadership Team within 72hrs of submission. Please note that you will not be fully enrolled into the program until you submit the physical and Insurance ID documents. If you would like to complete an application for the program, please scroll down to the bottom of the page. You will be contacted by a member of our staff once we have received your application. Thank you! Watch this video to learn more about LEAP's LIT program! Leaders in Training: Where You Discover What Makes You Powerful PURPOSE: Own Your Path: This is your space. A place where you figure out who you are, what you're good at, how to use your voice, and the way to turn your ideas into reality. Whether you're into sports, arts, music, or just figuring things out. This program gives you the freedom to explore what matters to YOU while building the skills to lead your own path forward.  What makes us different?  Real talk, real support: Daily small groups with counselors who actually listen and have your back  Your choice matters: Fridays are 100% yours, pick your vibe from cooking to crafts to open gym to outdoor adventures  Level up your future: Get ready for high school, explore careers, visit colleges, and snag real internships  Create & be heard: Use podcasting, art, social media, and performance to tell your story and make change  Move your body, clear your mind: Daily athletics and wellness to keep you strong inside and out  Discover your strengths. Use your voice. Lead your way. 

Free Online Books You can look for free children's books to read online on google books by going here and typing "free children's books" into the search bar. You can do the same for any kind of book, just put the word "free" first. Project Gutenberg offers 60,000 free e-books. Their website includes how to load these books onto your cell phone, kindle or other devices. Learn more here . People Get Ready is a community book space in New Haven located on Whalley Avenue. They are currently closed to the public, but the owners have been holding virtual, daily storytime sessions on Facebook Live and then saving those videos for families to watch on their page. Their Instagram account also provides daily helpful ideas for engaging with children in reading activities while they are at home or in their community during this period of social distancing. Click here for a list of seven websites that offer free eBooks for children to read. For families with library cards, the NHFPL has several free online resources such as eBooks, audiobooks and movies through apps/websites like Hoopla, Kanopy, and OverDrive. They also offer online skill classes in Microsoft Office, graphic design, arts & crafts, statistics and more through apps/websites like CREATIVEBUG and Lynda.com. There is a long list of kid/teen resources, research sites for students doing projects and free access to the New York Times, as well. See their list of electronic resources here. Internet Needs Talking to Kids about COVID-19 Medical Needs COVID-19 Updates Food & Unemployment Free Online Books At Home Activities LEAP Activity Videos

LEAP's lifeguards and swim instructors teach children to swim and keep our pool area safe. Learn more and find an application here. Lifeguard & Swim Instructors Do you love being in the water? Are you seeking a fulfilling way to give back to your community? Whether you’re a seasoned swimmer or just starting, LEAP is looking for you! We are currently hiring Swim Instructors and Lifeguards for our summer, after-school, and evening programs. We welcome high school and college students to apply—no prior certification required . No problem. We provide comprehensive training to help you become certified and ready to lead. At LEAP , swimming is more than just a sport—it’s a vital life skill. As part of our team, you’ll help make swimming fun, empowering, and accessible for everyone in our community. What you’ll do: Teach & Inspire: Help kids, teens, and adults master water safety and swimming techniques. Build Confidence: Watch your students grow from hesitant beginners to confident swimmers. Be a Leader: Work in an energetic environment with flexible shifts that fit your school schedule. Skills you’ll gain: Water Safety Expertise: Master the fundamentals of aquatic safety and rescue. Communication: Learn how to coach and connect with people of all ages. Critical Thinking: Develop the ability to stay observant and react quickly in a fast-paced environment. How to Apply Ready to jump in? Getting started is easy: Get the Application: Download it at www.leapforkids.org or pick up a physical copy at the LEAP Office. Submit Your Form: Drop off your completed application in person or email it directly to eeden@leapforkids.org . Make a splash this year! Join LEAP Aquatics to grow your own skills while helping others do the same! Apply to become a Lifeguard or Swim Instructor LEAP Swim Instructors and Lifeguards are high school or college students who want to help to save lives by teaching swimming to youth and adults. They should be strong swimmers or want to become strong swimmers. LEAP will provide the training needed to become certified swim instructors and lifeguards. You can download this application or you can pick up an application at the office. Please download and fill out the PDF below, and email to jobs@leapforkids.org . Apply for this Position Here! Lifeguard & Swim Instructor Application About the Position At LEAP, we teach youth to swim and be safe in the pool using a 5-level swimming curriculum. Children, teens and adults all take swimming lessons at LEAP. LEAP’s summer and after-school programs include swimming lessons as part of the curriculum. LEAP also offers community members low-cost swim classes in the evenings. If you are a good swimmer, want to promote swimming safety and help to save lives, then this job could be for you. In this role, you will need to have strong observation skills, the ability to communicate clearly with other LEAP lifeguards and swim instructors, and to react quickly in emergencies. You need to have at least basic swimming skills and the interest in learning to become a strong swimmer. Want to sign up for swim classes instead? See our Programs

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