Contributed Photos
What do world famous architect Cesar Pelli, renowned author Jelani Cobb, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, poet Reginald Dwayne Betts and Connecticut Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez have in common? If you love New Haven children as much as we do, you can join these and other leaders for a rousing conversation over dinner in two weeks.
New Haven’s great minds will convene once again to support its equally creative LEAP program. On February 25th, the annual LEAP Year Event will kick off with a reception at Hopkins School followed by dinners at 30 different homes and restaurants in and around New Haven. Each dinner has an amazing Guest of Honor who will lead an interesting discussion on a topic of their expertise while you savor the meal and join in the conversation.
You can see a full list of the dinners as well as purchase tickets at www.leapforkids.org/leapyear. Tickets are $150 for the dinner and reception (or $75 for people under 40) and $50 for the reception only.
LEAP, which was founded in New Haven in 1992, served over 1000 young people last year. Operating in five neighborhoods with the city’s highest child poverty rates, LEAP provides academic and social development programs both after school and over the summer. LEAP does so in a unique way, employing over 100 New Haven public high school and college students to act as academic counselors, mentors and role models for younger children.
LEAP Year Event is one heck of a lot of fun, no matter what your interests are. This year we have Thimble Island Brewery founder Justin Gargano providing a beer tasting during one delicious dinner. Bregamos Community Theater founder Rafael Ramos will provide amazing food while actors perform readings from the theater’s upcoming play.
Interested in the world wide refugee crisis? Who better to discuss solutions with than Unni Karunakara, the former International President of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), at the home of Dr. Elizabeth Bradley in New Haven.
Want to learn more about New Haven Civil Rights pioneer Constance Baker Motley (the first African American woman to argue before the Supreme Court and be appointed to the federal judiciary)? Then join with co-chair of Human Rights Watch Joel Motley, as he screens his short award winning documentary about his mother, following a tasty dinner at the home of Yale Law Professor Kate Stith-Cabranes in Bethany.
Why not have a wonderful night and support New Haven children and LEAP at the same time. Check out all 30 dinners here.
