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 | NMoore@ulgh.org

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

TGAYLE@ULGH.ORG

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: nmoore@ulgh.org

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