Hear from the people most impacted by LEAP in these testimonials. Testimonials “These past years at LEAP taught me to be self-seeking, determined, and how to be a leader. My long term plan is to work with kids as a physician assistant, and LEAP taught me how to work with kids.” As a Junior Counselor at LEAP, Kimberly received the Stiefel Williams Family Scholarship and Jay Bovilsky Scholarship. She attends Johnson and Wales University. KIMBERLY ANIVEA “We do math games so we could go back to school and be smarter than we were the other year. When I was at school I used to get a lot of math questions wrong but now that we do math games, I know how to do them.” Anivea has participated in LEAP during both the summer and the school year, and is excited to become a Leader in Training. “The main things I took from LEAP were social interaction skills and then whatever topics my counselors were teaching us at the time. Being a Junior Counselor and Senior Counselor, I gained a lot of motivation and saw how much work is put into working with the kids. I was tasked with educating the kids and planning lessons and I realized how many things go into making a kid a kid and keeping them on the right track.” Darnell is majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Gateway Community College. He started LEAP at 7 years old, went through the Children's Program and was a Junior Counselor before becoming a Senior Counselor. DARNELL WILLIAM “LEAP changed me to be good. When I wasn’t in LEAP I used to mess around and get in trouble but now it's helping me not get in trouble and get As and Bs. When I was in [the Children's Program] my counselor and I had a really good relationship. We used to have fun a lot and we had some of the same issues and obstacles to face. He helped me because he would tell me that whenever I need a break I could just tell him and I could go walk around.” William has been a part of LEAP since he was 7 years old. His favorite activity is swimming and his favorite LEAP memory is of him and his friends dancing at Community Day. “My favorite part of LEAP is that we do a lot of fun trips and I can meet new friends and I can go here to feel like myself. LEAP has taught me to be respectful to others and treat people the way you want to be treated.” Tarique's favorite parts of LEAP have been Community Day, the camping trip and his visits to the art gallery. He wants to be an inventor when he grows up. TARIQUE KAYLA “LEAP taught me about my culture and to love myself for who I am. LEAP also taught me the importance of giving back to my community. Shout out to Ms. Keita – My site coordinator when I was a LEAP kid!” As a Junior Counselor at LEAP, Kayla received the Regina Winters Scholarship and the Jay Bovilsky Scholarship. She attends Howard University. “My favorite book I’ve read at LEAP is a history book about the Titanic and how it sunk. I liked it because it didn’t just say the Titanic sunk, it actually gave facts about what was on the Titanic, how many passengers were saved, how many passengers weren’t saved.” Jeremiah's favorite part of LEAP is doing community service. Jeremiah likes science, math and reading, and wants to be an artist when he grows up. JEREMIAH (left) DARIUS “Before LEAP I was very reserved, I was more of a follower, and I would let people dictate what I did. Now, as a counselor, I find myself being more vocal. People come to me with questions about anything, not just about the program, but about life in general. This growth is something I can attribute to LEAP and is what anyone who steps through these doors can expect to get.” Darius is a senior counselor at LEAP, and was previously a Junior Counselor and Leader in Training. He attends Central Connecticut State University and is studying Journalism. “I like science because I get to explore new things and I get to learn about different chemicals and stuff. LEAP teaches me how to share and just explore new things” Danasia's favorite part about LEAP was her trip to the Connecticut Science Museum in Hartford. She wants to be a doctor when she grows up. DANASIA In our 31 years, LEAP has worked with over 10,000 youth! Here's what some of our alumni had to say. “LEAP offered such a solid foundation for me as a social worker and manager in Chicago. The training and network of LEAP is amazing! LEAP offered me so much just as a counselor. I learned key values like being passionate, modeling, working tirelessly for a cause, and leadership skills that have aided me in every position since I worked for LEAP.” Christy Beighe-Byrne, Center Director at Chicago Youth Services and former LEAP Senior Counselor and Statewide Director of LCLC, involved from 1992-2002 “I was born and raised in a low-income situation. If it weren't for LEAP, I would not have been exposed to things that show that life expands beyond CT. I still have close friends that I met in ‘93 that were in my group. Being a counselor shaped my desire to become a part of the growth for our community and to teach others. There's so much credit that I can give to LEAP and what it's done to put me in the position that I'm in today. LEAP helped me with self-awareness and leadership skill-enhancement, giving me the ability to speak and work well with others at all levels." Mo Edwards, New Haven firefighter, former LEAP child, Junior Counselor, Senior Counselor, and Assistant Site Coordinator of Dwight-Kensington, involved from 1993-2008 “LEAP taught me how to interact with people, how to be a leader, listener, problem solver and teammate! It's still the best job I have ever held. Working in the community to bring children and families closer together developed a sense of pride that I take with me everywhere I travel. The whole time I thought I was doing something for the kids and it turned out that they did more for my development than I probably did for theirs. My old senior counselor is still one of my best friends! LEAP for life!” Anonymous, Former counselor and staff in New London from 1995-2000 "I learned a lot during my time at LEAP -- both during training and during work! Living at Church St. South was a special experience and I carry the memories of my girls and their families with me all the time!" Margot Anderson, Pediatric Hospitalist at Tulane Medical School and former LEAP Senior Counselor 1993-1994 "LEAP was a life changing experience for me. Before LEAP I was going to major in Anthropology. After LEAP I changed my major to psychology and started the path to becoming an educator, eventually receiving my Masters in Education from Harvard. LEAP taught me the importance of really being a part of the community that you serve. When I became a teacher in Brooklyn, I chose to live on the same block as my school. This was directly because of LEAP. I made life long friends at LEAP, and even met my husband there, when we were working as counselors the summer of 1995. I still stay in contact via Facebook with several of my LEAP kids. It's nice to see them doing well." Michele Stein, Head Start Program Manager and LEAP Senior Counselor 1995-1997

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

LEAP is committed to having significant impact on all of the young people we serve. Learn how here. LEAP's Impact LEAP provides academic support, social enrichment, and leadership development to more than 1,000 youth each year. Using our unique mentoring model, LEAP empowers high school and college students, giving them the training, education, and resources they need to work as counselors for younger children. With their counselors’ support, these children engage in literacy activities and learn to swim, code, camp, dance, garden and much more — all free of charge. Leap by the Numbers 1,202 Children in LEAP's Afterschool and Summer Programs 6 Neighborhood Based Sites 150 Young Teens as LEAP Leaders in Training 19 Books Read on Average per LEAPer during the Summer 211 Young People Employed and Trained at LEAP Annual Reports See our annual reports for information about LEAP's yearly statistics and a performance overview! Testimonials See our testimonials for student and counselor feedback on their experience in LEAP! How Can I Make an Impact? By Mail Make checks out to "LEAP" and send to: 31 Jefferson Street New Haven, CT 06511 Online Make a tax deductible donation‏. Click to Give Over the Phone It's easy to donate offline too. Tel: 203-773-0770

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

Líderes en Entrenamiento (LITs) Regreso a clases 2025 quÉ Líderes en formación (LIT) apoyan a los consejeros senior y junior ofreciéndose como voluntarios con niños más pequeños. También obtienen su propia programación única apropiada para su edad, que incluye apoyo académico, educación para la salud, servicio comunitario y exploración laboral. qui É n El programa LIT de LEAP (después de la escuela y durante el verano) está disponible para adolescentes de 13 a 15 años. A diferencia del programa para niños, los LIT pueden provenir de cualquier vecindario de New Haven. Los LIT reciben un pequeño estipendio y muchos avanzan a otros puestos en LEAP, incluyendo los consejeros juveniles y los instructores de natación. cuándo y dónde El programa después de la escuela funciona de lunes a jueves de 3 pm a 6 pm. El programa de verano es de lunes a viernes de 8 am a 1 pm. Durante el año escolar y el verano, el programa LIT se lleva a cabo en el centro comunitario de LEAP (31 Jefferson St., New Haven CT 06511) Formulario de Aplicación * La aplicación no se guarda automáticamente; Si actualiza o abandona esta página, se perderá cualquier información ingresada. * 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 summer program for children ages 7 to 12. Summer Children's Program LEAP's summer program includes literacy, athletics, arts, computer science, cooking, and gardening. Children also go on field trips around New Haven and camping trips. All programs are overseen by an experienced Site Coordinator with trained counselor pairs drawn from local colleges and high schools. LEAP's summer program is free for participants. what who LEAP's summer children's program is available for children ages 7 to 12 who live in one of our five neighborhoods (what matters is where the child lives, not where he or she goes to school): Dixwell Fair Haven The Hill Dwight-Kensington (including West River) Quinnipiac Meadows The program operates Monday-Thursday from 8 AM-4 PM, Friday from 8 AM-1 PM. LEAP operates in seven neighborhoods at these locations: TBA when & where Summer Program 2026 Mandatory parent meeting dates will occur in June for accepted families only. The time and location will be disclosed to accepted parents. Required summer documents for full acceptance into LEAP's Program: 1. Completed Child Application (you can now add more than one child to one application) 2. Copy of child's physical (not older than 36 months) 3. Copy of child's insurance card or copy of insurance letter confirming child is covered by insurance. Dates of Summer Programming: June 26th - August 4th, 2026 Mondays - Thursdays: 8 AM- 4 PM; Fridays; 8 AM - 1 PM Submitting an application through the portal does not mean that your child has been accepted into the program. Pre-acceptance into the program will be confirmed via phone call by one of our Site Coordinators within seventy-two hours of portal submission. Please note that you will not be enrolled in the program until you submit a fully signed (doctor and legal guardian both need to sign!) physical examination document. If your child has asthma and needs an inhaler or allergies that require the use of an EpiPen, you will need to request for your doctor to fill up and sign an action plan. *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.* Ver en español/Read in Spanish

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.”

LEAP is committed to sharing the information that helps our community be strong, just, and supportive of one another. Learn more here. Community Resources COVID-19 Important information for kids, parents & families regarding COVID-19, as well as online educational materials and activities for children. COVID-19 MORE Important information for kids, parents & families regarding COVID-19, as well as online educational materials and activities for children. Racial Justice & Social Change Educational materials, tips, and healing resources meant to support Black youth and their non-Black peers who are trying to learn how to navigate the culture of racial injustice and police brutality in our nation. Racial Justice & Social Change MORE Educational materials, tips, and healing resources meant to support Black youth and their non-Black peers who are trying to learn how to navigate the culture of racial injustice and police brutality in our nation. College Lifesavers Scholarship opportunities, financial aid information, guides on college essay writing, and other resources to help high school and college aged counselors. College Lifesavers Scholarship opportunities, financial aid information, guides on college essay writing, and other resources to help high school and college aged counselors. 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

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 Alyssa Parrott Quinnipiac Meadows Site Coordinator aparrott@leapforkids.org Kenneth Jeffery Newhallville Site Coordinator knotarino-jeffrey@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 Shanice Maxwell LIT Manager smaxwell@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 Destiny Galeano Grant Writer dgaleano@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

Professional Skills Resources Resume Workshop Handout View As you prepare to apply for internships or jobs, use this resource to develop and strengthen your resume so you are putting your skills front and center. Cover Letter Workshop Handout View Cover letters are one of the ways you can show an employer the detail in your skills and interest, so use this resource to learn the basics of preparing a strong cover letter for every application. Professional Communications Workshop Handout View Every organization, company and work environment uses various means of communication. This handout will break down the types of communication you can expect when entering a workplace and how to be effective in speaking to your potential employer, colleagues and supervisors.