7-Year Leadership Summit
Access by Design — Building Networks That Change Trajectories
Reach & Growth
Talent is everywhere. Access is not — so we built a room for it.
215
Attendees
Students, families, mentors, and community leaders in one room
125
Youth & Students
Young people directly touched by the Summit
16
Speakers
Sharing experience across industries and careers
Relive the Day
Joe La Puma
SVP of Content Strategy, Complex Networks
Our keynote was headlined by Joe La Puma — the creator and host of the Webby Award-winning YouTube show Sneaker Shopping. In a fireside chat, Joe shared how curiosity, relationships, and storytelling built a career at the intersection of culture, media, and business, and why access and authenticity open doors for the next generation.
The Summit Journey
From access to action — moment by moment.
Owning Your Story
Resilience, identity, leadership, and turning obstacles into opportunity.
Raishaun McGhee, Terrell Huff & Devontè Dillion
Building the Foundation
The leadership, systems, and partnerships required to create opportunity intentionally.
Health & Education Panel
Media, Business & Entrepreneurship
Exposure expands possibility, and relationships expand opportunity.
Joe La Puma & Delroy Ross
Youth Voice
Mentorship and access strengthen confidence, leadership, and future vision.
MTA Scholar-Athletes
Mentorship in Action
Mentorship develops leaders who return to create access for the next generation.
DT Cares Mentors
Parent Perspective
Supporting young people also means strengthening their families and support systems.
Community & Families
Feel the Room
Voices That Shaped the Day
Joe La Puma
SVP of Content Strategy, Complex Networks
Joshua Boyd
Moderator — Manager, ESPN Research
Tyler Coyle
Former NFL Defensive Back
Rebeca Frisk
Academy Operations, Hartford Athletic • Assistant Coach, Post University
Nnamdi Obukwelu
Principal, Blue Ridge Partners
Delroy Ross
Moderator — Global Business Continuity Director, Cigna
Dr. Melissa Ross
Board-Certified Pediatrician, Kaiser Permanente
Thea Montañez
Senior Fellow, The Connecticut Project
Leonard Lockhart
Education Leader • Fire Department Captain
Tracy Stefano
Moderator — K–12 Health & PE Supervisor, East Hartford Public Schools
Kayla Monroe
Moderator — CSR Manager, STEM Initiatives, RTX
Alicia M. McKenzie
Director, H. Fred Simons African American Cultural Center, UConn
Raishaun McGhee
President, DT Cares
Terrell Huff
Executive Director, DT Cares
Devontè Dillion
Vice President, DT Cares
Community Reflections
I saw at least three generations come together and share experiences with a message of resilience and perseverance borne via pain and growth.
The event was especially on theme as the panelists shared information that was not just theoretical but practical, giving attendees insights they could directly apply to their day-to-day lives.
Access was the key point. Allowing people the opportunity to actually meet folks who have lived what these students are hoping to achieve. The passing of knowledge and first-hand accounts is a game changer.