More Than An Athlete Mentorship Program applications are open for rising 9th graders — apply today!
Event Recap
215
Attendees
Students, families, mentors, and leaders in one room
125
Youth & Students
Young people directly touched by the Summit
16
Speakers
Sharing wisdom across industries and careers

SVP of Content Strategy, Complex Networks
Creator and host of the Webby Award-winning YouTube show Sneaker Shopping, Joe La Puma headlined the Summit with a keynote fireside chat — sharing how curiosity, relationships, and storytelling built a career at the intersection of culture, media, and business.





SVP, ESPN

CEO, QuAIL Technologies

Pediatric Hospitalist, Kaiser Permanente

CEO, Hartford Fence Company

Studio Host, ESPN
We are thrilled to welcome five distinguished leaders to DT Cares' inaugural Advisory Board. Their expertise spans sports media, technology, healthcare, and business, bringing invaluable guidance as we scale our mission to empower more young people across Connecticut. Learn more about our Advisory Board →
Through the lens of "exponential divergence," the President of DT Cares reframes mentorship as infrastructure: a system intentionally designed to expand imagination, belief, and long-term trajectory. Because when access is engineered early, entire futures are rewritten.
Speaker: Raishaun McGhee, Co-Founder & President of DT Cares | Stanford GSB MBA '26 | Harvard B.A. '17
Our team brings specialized training that strengthens how we support the social, emotional, and developmental needs of youth and families.

Training that strengthens our team's ability to recognize, understand, and appropriately respond to mental-health needs while helping connect young people to appropriate support and resources.

Credentialed training that strengthens our team's preparedness to support young people with consistency, care, and appropriate resource connection.

Group Leader Training that strengthens our capacity in relationship-centered engagement, communication, family engagement, and culturally responsive facilitation.
Maria del Mar Hurtado, Psy.D., LPC, LMHC
Doctorate-level, bilingual behavioral-health advisory expertise strengthening mental-health literacy, culturally responsive engagement, facilitator readiness, and appropriate resource connection.




Hundreds of middle school students in Hartford County are chronically absent, academically behind, or facing behavioral challenges—putting them on a path toward long-term disengagement.
Impact: Students falling behind academically are 3x more likely to drop out without intervention.
Gap: 157 Connecticut schools lack onsite mental health services, leaving thousands of students without support.
Reality: Economic hardship and safety concerns create barriers to education, affecting student performance and well-being.
DT Cares delivers school-based mentorship and wellness programs designed specifically for middle school students facing academic, behavioral, and emotional challenges. We provide early, structured interventions when the stakes are highest.
DT Cares stands apart through our comprehensive, culturally responsive approach that addresses the whole student
"Physical and mental well-being enhance leadership potential and academic success."
"Trust and understanding built through shared lived experiences."
"Real-world skills for Hartford County career opportunities."
By combining holistic wellness, cultural relevance, and practical life skills, we create lasting change that empowers students to succeed academically, emotionally, and socially.
Comprehensive mentorship and wellness programs designed to meet students where they are—mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
Join us for inspiring events that bring our community together and celebrate our shared commitment to youth empowerment

Be who you needed growing up. Join us every Saturday morning for Speed School, a dynamic program designed to develop athletic skills, build confidence, and foster community connections.
Our Speed School program provides youth with structured training sessions that focus on speed, agility, and athletic development while emphasizing the values of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. Open to all skill levels.
Dynamic and experienced leaders with strong ties to the Hartford County community
Raishaun McGhee is a Windsor native and growth-focused leader committed to expanding opportunity through mentorship, wellness, and community infrastructure. He is a co-owner of Dilligence Training and leads growth strategy for DT Cares, helping scale programs, partnerships, and long-term impact across Hartford County.
A Harvard University alumnus (Class of 2017), Raishaun was a starting defensive back for the Harvard Crimson, earning three Ivy League championships and All-Ivy honors. He later built a career in finance as an investment banker at Credit Suisse and a growth equity investor at TPG RISE, the world's largest global impact fund. He is currently an MBA candidate at Stanford Graduate School of Business (Class of 2026) and serves as Vice President of the Harvard Varsity Club Executive Board, where he supports student-athletes and alumni leadership initiatives.
Terrell Huff is a Windsor native, coach, and nonprofit founder dedicated to helping young people live with purpose. As co-founder of DT Cares, Terrell leads program expansion and member engagement, overseeing school-based mentorship, wellness, and leadership development initiatives that support hundreds of students across Connecticut each year, including the organization's flagship More Than an Athlete program.
Rooted in a whole-child approach, Terrell's work focuses on strengthening identity, mental health, academics, and leadership both on and off the field. He holds a BA from Central Connecticut State University, an MBA from Assumption University, and is a Doctoral Candidate in Educational Leadership and Social Justice at the University of Hartford. Terrell is also Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Windsor High School, co-founder of Dilligence Training, and serves on multiple advisory and executive boards.
Devontè Dillion is a Windsor native, nonprofit leader, public health professional, and educator recognized for his leadership in community health and youth development. He is a 100 Men of Color honoree, West Hartford Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year, a six-time Hartford Courant Best of Hartford recipient, and recipient of the Urban League of Greater Hartford's 2026 MOVE Exum Award for Service to Community Health.
As Vice President and Co-Founder of DT Cares, Devontè leads strategy, fundraising, partnerships, and organizational development, helping expand mentorship, leadership, wellness, and opportunity for youth and families. He also serves as Founder and CEO of Dilligence Training, where he has built partnerships across schools, municipalities, higher education, nonprofits, and businesses throughout Greater Hartford.
Devontè holds a graduate degree from American International College and is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid, SMART Recovery, SMART Recovery Family & Friends, and Strengthening Families, strengthening his work across prevention, family engagement, behavioral health, and community wellness.
Measurable results and community recognition for our transformative work
Connecticut in Color Feature
"Gym Owners Work to Mentor & Empower Community"
White House Partnership
Collaboration with Office of Public Engagement
Boys & Girls Club Partnership
Community Director endorsement
We're seeking support to expand our reach and impact 1,000+ students! Your support will contribute to:
Ready to make a difference? Contact us to learn how you can support our mission.