The dictionary defines legacy as a gift that is en-
dowed or conveyed from one person to another.
Many times a legacy originates from an ancestral
source and is spread amongst a number of people.
While a legacy is much about what is passed on
through death, it is even more about what is gifted
through life; learning from the past, living in the pre-
sent and preserving and building for the future. Lega-
cy is what drives us to decide the nature of life we
want to live and the type of world in which we want
to live.
It’s the same drive that allowed Septima Poinsette
Clarke, educator and civil rights activist of the 1920s
to play a major role in the voting rights of African-
Americans, Medgar Evers to fight for desegregation
of public schools, during the 1950s, and Whitney M.
Young to become a powerbroker and advisor to Pres-
idents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon during the civil
rights struggle of the 1960s.
It is because of their struggle and roles as advocates
for change ,that we today are able to vote, attend
desegregated schools and can sit at the table to make
powerful decisions, ideals that were once thought of
as unimaginable. It is with gratitude that we cele-
brate the struggles of those before us, honoring their
legacy and fortitude as a catalyst to leave our own
imprints on the nation.
Winter 2015: Special Edition
HONOREES
Cheryl Smith Pg.3
Vaeyanna Lettman Pg.4
Xavier Arriaga Pg.5
Kyle Anderson Pg.6
Thea Montanez Pg. 7
SPONSORS Aetna Pg. 8
CBIA Pg. 9
Aviator Nathaniel Moore III Pg. 9
Shipman and Goodwin Pg. 10
SUPPORTERS
Urban League of Greater Hartford Young Professionals Pg. 11
The Klaizanne Experience Pg. 11
Dr. Roy Kellerman, Sr. Pg. 11
Nixon Realty Pg. 11
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Pg. 11
Anita, Ava House for Women, Inc. Pg. 11
A LEGACY REVEALED IN PHOTOGRAPHS
Event Photos by Odell Powell Pg. 12
What does SELMA mean to you? By Natasha Ruiz Pg. 14
What does SELMA mean to you? By Xavier Arriaga Pg. 14
Youth Department Programming Pg. 19
Urban League Board of Directors Congratulations Pg. 24
Cheryl L. Smith, the Artists Collective Co-Founder,
Dance Director for nearly 25 years and Program Di-
rector for several years, has been an inspiration and
role model to generations of young dancers in
Hartford. She is a native of Connecticut and has
taught and performed throughout the state, partic-
ularly in the African American community.
Ms. Smith studied dance with Phyllis Stone, Angela
Bowen-Peters, and at the Alma Lewis School in Bos-
ton. She served on the staff of Westledge School in
Simsbury as the Dance Director for several years,
has taught at the Watkinson School in West
Hartford and at numerous other public and private
schools, as well as the University of Connecticut.
Ms. Smith has performed in Boston, New York,
Washington and throughout Connecticut.
Currently, Ms. Smith is the Associate Director of the
Artists Collective. She continues to inspire hundreds
of Greater Hartford youth and adults. She is an inte-
gral part of the leadership of the Artists Collective.
Imprints in Cultural Enrichment
From Bloomfield CT, Vaeyanna Lettman is a writer and poet who aims to inspire young women like herself. She began performing poetry after going through a life changing high school experience, and now performs around the state of Connecticut. In addition to these events, Vaeyanna has also assisted with and performed at a few events hosted by the Permanent Commission on the Status of Hartford Women.
Although she is a recent high school graduate, Vaeyanna’s work never stops. She continues to perform and inspire at local church-es, women’s events, and other forums throughout the state of Connecticut.
Vaeyanna is currently a student at Manchester Community College and plans to transfer to the
University of Saint Joseph or Clark Atlanta University. Her ultimate academic goal is to major in
Social Work and minor in Psychology. Vaeyanna’s long term career goals are to become a Li-
censed Clinical Social Worker, a Licensed Cosmetologist, to write a collection of books with her
poems and stories, and to continue to inspire young women around the world to have confi-
dence, love themselves, and strive through hard times and adversity. Her motto is that “minor
setbacks are a set up for major comebacks.
In 2012, Vaeyanna was awarded Young Philanthropist of the Year by the Aurora Foundation, an
organization whose mission is “to be a catalyst for positive change in the lives of women and girls
in Greater Hartford.” She also won the 2012 Kids' Court TV Competition for the high school divi-
sion at the state capitol. In 2013, Vaeyanna took first place in the 2013 Omega Psi Phi Talent
Hunt Competition. Additionally, Vaeyanna served as President of “Young Women Creating
Change”, an organization devoted to community service, and holds an annual conference to up-
lift young women in the Greater Hartford area.
Imprints in Leadership
Xavier Luis Arriaga was born on December 9th, 1997 in the South End of
Hartford, Connecticut. Growing up on Jefferson Street for most of his life,
he moved to the North End of Hartford during his senior year of high
school. Xavier was able to avoid the negative influences surrounding both
neighborhoods with the help of his mother. His mother, originally from a
harsh area of Puerto Rico, moved to Bronx New York for a better life.
Unfortunately, she would endure even harsher living conditions. Having her
first son at the age of 16 made her life even more challenging,. Fortunately
she would later overcome those tribulations. It is this strength and resili-
ence that Xavier admires most and propels him to excel in life. Xavier cur-
rently attends the Law and Government Academy at Hartford Public High
School and his dream is to attend the University of Connecticut, where he would like to major in Political Sci-
ence, Philosophy or Economics, with a minor in English.
A turning point for Xavier was being selected to go to the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in
Warsaw, Poland. Prior to the trip Xavier was unmotivated and skeptical of the opportunity. He did not believe
the world was making any strides to become a better place, which led him to lose faith. Xavier applied for this
trip with the mindset that he would not get selected. Nevertheless he did and was also the only male and the
youngest out of five high school students accepted nationally. On this trip he attended conferences and work-
shops where he heard from some of the brightest motivational speakers in the world, and was moved by their
plans to help change the world. He also toured Auschwitz where he saw remnants of the abuse people en-
dured in concentration camps during the Nazi regime. This trip taught Xavier humility and respect for the
hardships endured during that time. One gentleman in particular persuaded him to step up and help make
the world better a better place. Since then Xavier has made it his duty to become a global citizen, which has
influenced his academic and career aspirations.
Xavier’s long term educational and career goals are to receive a PhD in Philosophy, and eventually es-
tablish an organization that helps underprivileged urban youth eradicate negative influences from their com-
munities and aid them in excelling academically. This organization would also help youth gain the skills to be-
come successful adults and teach that altruism benefits society as a whole. While first being a local initiative,
his goal is to ultimately become a national program helping those in need around the world and to create an
economic system (similar to the program founded by Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur,
banker, economist and civil society leader who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize) that teaches social and
economic responsibility. Xavier’s ultimate dream is to become the U.S. Senator from the state of Connecticut
and to eventually become the President of the United States of America.
Imprints in Youth Achievement
Born and raised in Hartford, Councilman Kyle Anderson is no
stranger to our community. Kyle has spent his life engaging with the
people of our city as a community activist, small business owner,
and now a member of the Court of Common Council. The son of
Wilfred Anderson, Jr. and Councilwoman Jacqueline Anderson, pub-
lic service is in his blood.
After graduating from Weaver High School and then Virginia State
University, Kyle returned home to dedicate himself to Hartford. He has been a board member of
Hartford Communities That Care, the John E. Rogers African American Cultural Center, and the Doc
Hurley Scholarship Basketball Tournament. He has also been recognized for his volunteer work by
the Urban League of Greater Hartford, Hartford North End Little League, and the YMCA of Greater
Hartford.
His most recent community endeavor is the Greater Hartford Male Youth Leadership Program, which
he founded in 2007. This program, along with its community partners, teaches various life skills and
promotes higher education to all of its participants.
Kyle is currently an employee of the State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. He is
the father of three children, and lives in his childhood home in the North End. He is a member of
Metropolitan AME Zion Church, where he also serves on the Usher and Greeter ministries. In all that
he does, Kyle continues to strive to improve the quality of our community.
Imprints in Advocacy
Imprints in Philanthropy
Thea Montanez is the founder and managing director of Montanez Con-
sulting, LLC, a social impact marketing, communications and strategic
planning firm specializing in advising public and private sector clients on
driving innovative, impactful and inclusive social change within under-
served communities.
Over the past 10 years, Thea has worked on both sides of the not-for-
profit arena and served in several professional leadership roles including
as the manager of philanthropy and community relations at The Hartford
Financial Services Group. In this role, Thea managed the company’s char-
itable sponsorships and giving, design and execution of community outreach programs, and employee
volunteer engagement initiatives. She has a proven track record for successfully leading the planning
and implementation of large-scale community based initiatives on behalf of the private sector, includ-
ing The Hartford Financial Services Group’s $7M Asylum Hill Community Investment Strategy.
As a community advocate and civic leader, Thea has served - and continues to serve - on
numerous Boards of not-for-profit organizations, including the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving,
Connecticut Women’s and Education Loan Fund, and The Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Foundation.
Her leadership in the community has earned her several awards and recognitions, including being
named CT Magazine's "40 under 40" in 2014, CT Latino News “Champions of Change” in 2014 and CT
Women’s Alliance’s “Woman of Distinction” in 2012.
Thea is a contributor to The Huffington Post and a graduate of Syracuse University.
Thanks to Our Sponsors
Supports Urban League of Greater Hartford in
Proud to support the
Urban League of Greater Hartford
as we celebrate Black History and the
imprints made on our nation!
Celebrating Black History with Urban
League of Greater Hartford as they
reveal legacies throughout our nation!
-Dr. Roy Kellerman, Sr.
Thanks to Our Supporters
Proud to support Urban League of Greater Hartford
Black History Celebration!
To view more photos from our night of celebration, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/ulgh64?_rdr
WHAT DOES SELMA MEAN TO YOU?
The movie Selma, demonstrates how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders peacefully protested to advance the voting rights of all. Their nonviolent actions, use of peaceful means and private but persistent negotiations on the part of Dr. King, lead to President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. After view-ing this movie, I can see how far we have come in our efforts towards equality, but I can also see how much work needs to be done. Dr. Martin Lu-ther King is an inspiration to me to advocate for change, not by hurting one another or physical efforts, but by using our voices to talk to one an-other and communicate change. As Dr. King most famously stated, “We must learn to live together as brothers or we will perish together as fools”. I agree wholeheartedly with Dr. King when he says we must learn how to live together. If we do not, where will we end up?
The march to Selma displayed the bravery of Americans, both black and white, who stood up to injustice and marched for their basic, but most important right - the right to vote. Their bravery is something to be modeled, as they did not know whether or not they would make it home that night. That just shows the courage and the passion they had towards creating change for individual freedom, which was guaranteed to everyone in the Bill of Rights, but was not exercised towards African Americans at that time. Their drive helped them work towards what they wanted in order to protect individual freedom and self-determination. In this same respect, we, meaning the national community, need to work together. Unity is the key factor for affecting change. The national community has to be willing to step up, not be afraid, and speak out against social injus-tice and discrimination. We cannot just sit back and watch or continue to retaliate using violence against violence. This will continue to exacerbate the seemingly never-ending cycle of violence and hatred that has increasingly permeated America.
Today, we see social injustices on various levels. Racism continues to exist; even in 2015 gender inequality through pay exists and has been a primary measure of President Obama. Why are women still viewed as weak even after many great female leaders, like Harriet Tubman, Shirley Chisholm, Edna Negron Rosario, Maria Sanchez, Oprah Winfrey, and Hilary Clinton have made strides to break these barriers. They worked to make justice in women’s rights a reality, and we need to follow these great examples to continue to eliminate the injustices that still exist today for everyone to become equal.
To prevent further casualties based on discrimination in employment, schools, communi-ties and so on, first we must reflect. We must be-lieve that it can be done. As Dr. King said himself, “Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase”. He states that you don’t have to see the whole staircase. You just have to take the first step. That first step is to speak up. Although I am not at the age where I myself can vote, I will use other resources such as protesting, starting campaigns, spreading awareness, attend-ing school, and whatever is in store to help me fix this societal perspective that people of color are different; that a woman is supposedly different from a man, thus non-deserving of equal pay. Or, that someone white is more deserving of a better education than non-whites. We are all the same, living on the same Earth, but somehow receiving different benefits. How can this be?
It’s time to take a stand! We can no longer allow privilege, race and gender to domi-nate hard work, or unequal treatment to force us not to strive towards excellence. Frederick Douglass stated it best that “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it nev-er will.” It is up to us, the people, to bring about change. What will you do? Will you stand to advo-cate for change or will you remain silent in the face of injustice?
Natasha Ruiz
Project Ready Scholar Law and Government Academy Scholar
The YOUTH ANTI-VIOLENCE Initiative is a
collaboration amongst local organizations: the
YMCA of Metropolitan Hartford, Inc., Hartford
Knights, Hartford Communities That Care, and
Faith Congregational Church which aims to
mitigate youth violence in the city by educating
youth and families and providing alternative
activities that are more conducive to becoming
productive members of society. The ultimate
goal of this program is that every program
participant witness an improvement in the
quality of his/her life during this six month
program. Participants will receive training in
our Workforce Fundamental Course which
focuses on: employability skills,
life skills, basic reading and math
skills, self-assessment, career
exploration and soft skills.
PROJECT READY NATIONAL MENTOR PROJECT is
based upon three primary cornerstones: 1) a
mentor/youth relationship building model, 2) core
work readiness and academic activities leveraged
from NUL’s existing programs (Project Ready and
the Youth Development Framework and Guide),
and 3) wraparound activities such as community
service learning and financial literacy that further
engage the youth and demonstrate meaningful
connections to society and the economy.
Project Ready Mentor intentionally links youth and
positive adult role models in a ONE TO ONE
situation in order to help youth develop a sense of
accomplishment and connectedness, a sense of
self-worth and possibility and a
relationship that allows the youth
to contribute to their community in
substantive ways.
Project Ready is a Signature program of the National Urban League which
assists 9th-12th grade students in making academic progress, benefitting
from cultural enrichment opportunities and developing important skills,
attitudes and aptitudes that will aid in their transition from high school and
position them for post-secondary success. Participants receive academic,
social and cultural support and are able to take part in digital literacy service
learning projects. Key strengths of Project Ready are flexibility, local
innovation and customization, and its potential to impact whole families and
communities. The Urban League of Greater Hartford’s Project Ready Program
consists of Project Ready Mentor, Youth Anti-Violence Program, Manage Your
Future., Comcast Digital Literacy and Summer Youth Employment and
Learning Program.
The MANAGE YOUR FUTURE program provides case management for 50
youth, ages 14 to 18, with leadership and skill-building opportunities. The
program emphasizes positive development components
to help youth mature into healthy, well-rounded
adults. Youth experience approximately two hours of
instruction per week on financial literacy, life skills, job
readiness and the importance of planning and
motivation. Youth learn how to prepare job applications, write resumes,
cover letters and how to use these tools effectively. Youth also have the
opportunity to participate in a paid work experience.
The COMCAST DIGITAL LITERACY program trains high
school students (grades 9-12) to become proficient in basic computer
and internet skills. Once students complete training, they participate in
planning and executing a Digital Literacy Service Learning Project;
teaching digital literacy skills to members of the community.
As a result of participating in this program, students will
gain enhanced problem solving, team-work, and planning
skills, as well as enhanced civic engagement skills.
The SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND
LEARNING PROGRAM provides summer
internship experiences for students’ ages 14-19
residing in the Greater Hartford region. The
focus of this program is to provide job readiness
skills with an emphasis on Personal Branding,
Financial Literacy, Networking and
Communication skills, Professional Etiquette,
Resume Writing, Interviewing Skills and College
Readiness. After training in these topics,
students are provided with career competency
development through real-world work
experiences that offer exposure to career paths
within the business
industry aligned with
their interests.
For more information regarding youth programs, please contact
Natasha Moore - Harris, Youth Program Manager (860) 527-0147 ext. 294 | [email protected]
These programs are made possible in part by the following funders:
YOUTH PROGRAM SNAPSHOT
HAS SEGREGATION REALLY ENDED?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended segrega-tion in the United States. However, as a young man and a student, my experiences suggest that segregation is still very much alive. Even though segregation is illegal today, our society is still suffering from its direct and indirect effects. Segregation is detrimental to the ad-vancement of the human race, particularly for the younger generations of today.
The most meaningful and sustainable ap-proach to end segregation and its issues is through education. Nothing is more powerful than ignoring the color a person’s skin and ex-ploring the content of one’s heart. This helps create unbreakable bonds, from doing coloring books with each other, to competing to get the highest test scores, to eventually graduating college. While this seems easy to establish, we still lack this type of schooling. The case of Brown vs. the Board of Education happened more than sixty years ago. Yet if you walk into an urban public school like mine, you’d be able to count the number of white students on one hand. We become comfortable with what we have grown familiar with. So, after 12 years of schooling, going to college with white students can be quite overwhelming. Because of the lack of diversity in our education, this could lead to further segregation in college. This is a never-ending cycle of segregation that needs to be stopped.
In my state we give more funding to mag-net schools than public schools, which, in my experience, has only increased segregation. The idea of magnet schools was to allow urban black/Hispanic students access to the education of suburban towns. Despite its intention, this leads to public schools losing funding and more social segregation. As a student from a strug-gling public school, I see firsthand just how much we lack. For example, our school can’t afford the technology necessary, yet the mag-net school down the street has a fountain in its
entrance. With the lack of funds we are unable to always hire the highest quality teachers. This means we aren’t getting the education we de-serve. In fact, I go to school in the state with the highest achievement gap in the nation.
I worry not only for what this means for my community, but all other communities in similar situations. If students aren’t receiving an equal education, than they have a decreased chance of being successful in college. If stu-dents in my community aren’t going to college, this damages the success my community can have. This means lower paying jobs, and the cycle continuing into the next generation. Mar-tin Luther King once said, “The function of edu-cation is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.” If we are truly striving to continue his legacy for achiev-ing civil rights, we must live up to this standard. Having a damaged community will not help the desegregation process and taking money away from public schools will not help the desegrega-tion process, but having a strong educational community will.
We can’t only point the finger of blame at politicians. We too must take responsibility and certainly, must also take action. We must strive to educate ourselves and those around us about the inequalities that still continue to stain our community and put us at risk. This is a call to action for us all-the parents, politicians, teachers, students and other members of the community to come together and help solve this issue of social segregation through educa-tion. We must stop pulling money from public schools to fund magnet schools. Everyone should be entitled to quality education, and public schools should not be seen as the lesser choice. In doing this, we will see more success-ful students, higher achieving schools, brighter communities, and, of course, a more equitable America.
Xavier Arriaga
Project Ready Scholar Law and Government Academy Scholar
To become a mentor and help shape
the lives of tomorrow’s leaders
CONTACT TIEASHA GAYLE
URBAN LEAGUE OF
GREATER HARTFORD
140 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860)527-0147 x 276
MENTORS MUST:
Be at least 21 years old
Commit to a youth for 1 year
Interact with mentee for 2 hours per
week, including one face-to-face
meeting per month
Complete Mentor training
(in-person and online)
Pass a screening interview and
criminal background check
Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) Classes
Pre—Closing Education Class
Three-hour or Eight-hour homebuyer class provides steps towards
homeownership
Helps participants become mortgage ready and achieve affordable home-
ownership
Post Commitment Class
Three-hour class provides an overview of financial and practical topics a
homebuyer should understand before completing the homeownership
process.
Financial Literacy
Financial Planning and Money Management
Credit
Saving and Investing
Banks and Other Financial Institutions
Taxes and Insurance
VITA ( Volunteer Income Tax Assistance)
Call 211 to register
For class schedules, registration and information visit www.ulgh.org
Call today for more information (860) 527-0147
Project Ready Scholars along with scholars from the Greater Hartford area met with Senator Chris Murphy at his
office on Constitution Plaza before viewing the movie SELMA together at Spotlight Theatres.
Tieasha Gayle, Youth Development Specialist from
Urban League of Greater Hartford, conducting a
session on the importance of Personal Branding.
Pamela Golchin, Branch Manager from American Eagle Financial Credit
Union in Newington, presenting on the importance of saving for College and
the future. Manage Your Future participants were able to open bank ac-
counts .
Project Ready participants from Bulkeley High School performing in the school band.
Youth Anti-Violence, and Manage your Future participants at the premiere of Diamond Ruff.
Youth Anti-Violence program participant, Jamelia Coburn reading Tears of a Tiger, by
Sharon Draper, a fiction story about a teen who is consumed with guilt for driving his
friends home after a long evening of drinking and partying ; one teen is subsequently
killed in a car accident.
Project Ready Scholar, Natasha Ruiz, interviewing Adrianne Baughns—
Wallace , the first African American newscaster in New England via
skype. Natasha was so excited to interview Mrs. Baughns-Wallace who
is a great inspiration to us all.
EARN YOUR High School Diploma
FREE GED Classes !
Weekly Schedule Monday –Friday
VISIT Urban League of Greater Hartford
140 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105
Call (860) 527-0147
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY!
Visit Urban League of Greater Hartford TODAY!
140 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT 06105
Phone: 860-527-0147
Fax: 860-244-0794
Website: www.ulgh.org
Email: [email protected]
Urban League of Greater Hartford, Inc.
is an affiliate of the National Urban
League. Founded in 1964 by Rachel
Milton, Marion Hepburn Grant, Dr.
James S. Peters II, Judge Norris
O'Neill and Olcott Smith, the Urban
League is a community based not-for-
profit. It is one of the largest direct
social services agencies in New Eng-
land. Urban League of Greater Hart-
ford is a direct services agency provid-
ing services in four programmatic are-
as: Adult Education, Youth Develop-
ment, Workforce Development and
Training, and Economic Enrichment.
Our Mission:
To promote the self-empowerment of
individuals in the Connecticut Capital
Region to achieve educational, occupa-
tional and economic equality for them-
selves and their families.
Our Values:
Focused on helping people in need
change their lives
Committed to personal and team
accountability for excellence
Committed to creating and
delivering innovative solutions
Caring, respectful and honest in all
that we do
We teach what we value, and we
live what we teach