PROGRAM TITO’S HANDMADE VODKA PRE-SHOW 5:45 PM WELCOME 6:00 PM Jonathan Roberts Urban League of Greater Hartford Board Chair Jay Harris ESPN Sports Anchor OPENING REMARKS Greg Toczydlowski, Event Honorary Chair Richard Blumenthal, US Senator John Larson, US Congressman Susan Bysiewicz, Lieutenant Governor Luke Bronin, Mayor A SEASON OF HOPE Urban League of Greater Hartford Staff AWARDS & RECOGNITION Jay Harris PERFORMANCE Hiplet Ballerinas KEYNOTE CONVERSATION Judith Jamison Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Direct Emerita MY URBAN LEAGUE STORY Viris Blackwood Financial Opportunity Center CLOSING REMARKS David Hopkins Urban League of Greater Hartford President and CEO
President and CEO
80 Pine Street, 9th Floor New York, NY 10005
www.nul.org
December 2, 2021 Good Evening Urban Leaguers! It is my pleasure to join you in celebrating the Urban League of Greater Hartford’s 2021 Equal Opportunity Day. The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in significantly underserved communities. While at its inception in 1910, the vision was clear, the events of 2020 crystalized the purpose of the National Urban League and its 90 affiliates located in 36 states and the District of Columbia, as this nation’s premier economic first responder. Our development and execution of programs, public policy research and advocacy help balance the moral compass and social responsibility of decision-makers, as we provide direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 1.6 million people nationwide. Since opening its doors in 1964, the Urban League of Greater Hartford has provided services to thousands of individuals and families, enriching their lives and making Hartford a better place in which to live and work. Urban League of Greater Hartford’s Equal Opportunity Day Celebration is the culmination of a year of accomplishments and recognition of outstanding business, community, and corporate support. I congratulate tonight’s award recipients, each of whom is worthy of such recognition. Best wishes to the Board of Directors, President and CEO David Hopkins, and his team for continued success. With so much to celebrate, not the least of which is the more than 1,000 residents financially impacted by COVID-19 that you have helped apply for over $4 Million in renters assistance, the work to restore Connecticut’s economic footing requires your perseverance and fortitude. As Urban Leaguers, I know you will do what it takes to lead the way.
I’m proud of the way our movement has risen to these challenges. Empowering Communities and Changing Lives is more than a tagline— it is encapsulates the tireless fight for equity for communities throughout Greater Hartford. Keep Pushing!
Urban League of
Empowering Communities.
Good evening, Urban League Family and Friends. It is my honor to greet you on behalf of our staff and thank you for joining us for the 2021 Equal Opportunity Day Celebration. Our theme, A Season of Hope: Reflect. Reset. Restore., is intended to recognize what we have all experienced of the past 18 months, prepare ourselves for what is next, and courageous carry on. We will not forget, nor dismiss, but we will also be strengthened. As we continue to reap the benefits of experts and professionals working so diligently to make our shared spaces safe from the continued spread of the coronavirus and its variants, and grow collectively from the relentless effort of advocates and allies championing social justice and racial equity, we cannot help but to be hopeful. Because that work inspires hope. And that inspired hope leads to more work. We all have a part to play. The Urban League is uniquely positioned to touch our communities in the most pivotal ways,. Whether it is getting our teens ready for college, work and life; helping adult learners obtain their GED; working with justice involved young adults to fulfill their goal of being contributing members of the community; strengthening families through stable employment, secure housing, and building assets; or addressing disparities in health and social justice that have a painful history rooted in racial inequity. These are things the Urban League has been doing for over 111 years nationally, and fifty-seven years locally. Urban League fights for you! We appreciate all of you who have likewise done your part. Black America’s needs are driven by historically structural and systemic barriers that must continue to be dismantled. Together, private and public, community and family, system and policy, justice and equity. All share in moving this country forward. To my staff, and especially the EOD Committee, thank you for sacrificing your time and committing to our work of empowering communities and changing lives. Thank you again for being with us for this special celebration. Enjoy this season of Hope.
David J. Hopkins President and Chief Executive Officer
HONORARY CHAIR and TITLE SPONSOR
Greg Toczydlowski President | Business Insurance Travelers Greg is Executive Vice President and President of Business Insurance at Travelers. Since joining Travelers in 1990, Greg has held various positions,
including
responsibilities
within
systems,
finance,
underwriting, product, marketing and business development.
Deeply committed to serving the communities in which he lives and works, Greg is a member of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Central and Northeast Connecticut, a trustee of Springfield College, and serves as a director on a number of local non-profit boards, while being instrumental in leading Travelers’ annual employee giving
campaign.
ULGH BOARD CHAIR
Jonathan W. Roberts EVP | Head of Retail Banking and Consumer Lending Webster Bank Jonathan is an Executive Vice President at Webster Bank, overseeing retail operations and the banking center network. He joined Webster in 2017 and was most recently Executive Vice President, Consumer Deposits and Retail Network Management. He has served in several executive leadership positions during his 27 years in banking and financial services industry.
In just his second year as a Director on the board of the Urban League of Greater Hartford, Jonathan was nominated and elected Chair in June 2021. His short tenure has already seen the agency to new heights as both fulfill their goal to make a positive impact on the community.
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Jay Harris Sportscaster | ESPN
Jay Harris joined ESPN in February 2003 as a SportsCenter anchor, and is most often seen as anchor of the Saturday and Sunday morning editions of the program. Harris came to ESPN from WPGH-TV in Pittsburgh, PA. where he was a news anchor/reporter. With more than 30 years of experience in television and radio news, including morning news anchor at WAMO-FM and national news at American Urban Radio Networks, both in Pittsburgh and at WOWI-FM in Norfolk, VA, Harris’ work outside of sports include the trapped coal miners near Pittsburgh, and the fatal USS Iowa battleship explosion. A native of Norfolk, Va., Harris graduated from Old Dominion University with a bachelor’s degree in speech communication. In 2003 he was honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University. In 2004, he was the keynote speaker for Old Dominion’s 100th commencement ceremony. Among his other honors, Harris was part of SportsCenter’s Sports Emmywinning efforts in 2004 and 2005, and a recipient of the Silver World Medal from the New York Festival Awards, Robert L. Vann Award from the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, and an EXCEL Award from the Hampton Roads Black Media Professionals. Harris enjoys playing bass guitar and is an avid golfer. He scored an ace in a charity tournament in Las Vegas in 2014, winning a car in the process. 2021 is Jay’s second year serving as the Master of Ceremonies for the Urban League’s Equal Opportunity Day Celebration.
ENTERTAINMENT
Hiplet Ballerinas | Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center
The Hiplet (Hip-lay) Ballerinas are a performance group based out of the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center in the USA. Hiplet™ was created by Artistic Director Homer Hans Bryant & evolved from the "Rap Ballet" of the 1990's. Specifically designed to make Ballet accessible to all people, Hiplet™ is a fusion between classical pointe technique, Hip-Hop, and a variety of other dance styles.
Hiplet™ fuses classical pointe technique with African, Latin, Hip-Hop and urban dance styles that are rooted in communities of color. It was specifically designed to
make ballet accessible to all, by mixing it with current popular songs that will be familiar to audiences who don’t normally attend ballet performances. Performances may incorporate the rhythms of African drums with Tchaikovsky, arabesques and beat-boxing or even Tango en pointe - all while showcasing Hiplet's trademark sass, hip movements, and struts against popular music audiences will recognize from Black Violin to Beyonce. After features on Good Morning America, Buzzfeed, and The Huffington Post the new art form went viral in spring 2016 and has now amassed over a BILLION views. Since then partnerships with
Mercedes Benz, Vogue's Anna Wintour, New York and Paris Fashion Week, W Magazine, Versace, and Old Navy to name a few, have culminated in an incredible worldwide demand for a live show featuring Homer Bryant's innovative technique.
KEYNOTE CONVERSATION
Judith Jamison Artistic Director Emerita | Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Judith Jamison is a living legend of the arts. An iconic dancer, choreographer and Artistic Director Emerita of the internationally acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. In 1965, Judith quickly became an international star when the world renowned Alvin Ailey selected her to be a part of his dance company and the rest is history. Ailey created some of his most enduring roles for her, most notably the tour-de-force solo Cry, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. During the 1970s and 80s, she appeared as a guest artist with ballet companies all over the world, starred in the hit Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies, and formed her own company, The Jamison
Project. In 1989 Mr. Ailey asked her to succeed him as Artistic Director of his dance company. In the 21 years that followed, she brought the Company to unprecedented heights – including two historic engagements in South Africa and a 50-city global tour to celebrate the Company’s 50th anniversary. Ms. Jamison is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, among them a prime time Emmy Award, the Kennedy Center Honor, a National Medal of Arts, and the Handel Medallion. She has been listed in Time Magazine as one of the “The World’s [100] Most Influential People.” She became the 50th inductee into the Hall of Fame at
the National Museum of Dance. Her autobiography, Dancing Spirit, is a must read. Ms. Jamison continues to dedicate herself to asserting the prominence of the arts in our culture, and she remains committed to promoting the significance of Alvin Ailey’s legacy—using dance as a medium for reflecting on the past, resetting to embrace present, and fearlessly reaching into the future with restored hope and focus.
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD
Jim Loree President & CEO | Stanley, Black & Decker
Jim Loree is Chief Executive Officer of Stanley Black & Decker, a $14.5 billion global diversified manufacturer. He leads more than 56,000 employees across 60 countries who deliver on the company’s purpose, delivering tools, products and solutions, For Those Who Make The World. Under his leadership , the company continues to gain recognition for operational excellence, responsible business practices, and as a best workplace for innovators and diversity and equality.
Jim works with the Business-Higher Education Forum and with Governor Ned Lamont’s Workforce Council to bring digital credentialing systems that make manufacturing skills more accessible to students and mid-career employees. He sits on the Board of Directors of AdvanceCT, a non-profit that works to engage, retain and recruit business and advance economic competitiveness in the state, and is a member of UCONN’s President’s Advisory Council, a small group of CEOs and thought leaders from private, public and non-profit organizations. Jim also serves as a director of the Jim and Rebecca Loree Foundation.
TRAILBLAZER AWARD
Shawn Wooden, Esq. Treasurer | State of Connecticut
Shawn Wooden was sworn-in as Connecticut’s 83rd State Treasurer on January 9, 2019, following a successful 21-year career as an investment attorney and service as City Council President of Hartford, Connecticut.
Born and raised in Hartford, Treasurer Wooden participated in a desegregation busing program and attended public school in a suburb of Hartford. After graduating with honors, he earned a four-year academic scholarship to Trinity College. He later attended New York University School of Law before moving back to Hartford to begin his career at Day Pitney, LLP, where he would go on to become a Partner and lead its public pension plan investment practice.
He has been recognized as a Connecticut Super Lawyer for Securities and Corporate Finance, Business/ Corporate. Pensions and Investments named him one of the "25 Investment Professionals to Watch” and Savoy Magazine identified him as one of the most influential Black lawyers in the country.
Wooden is the sole trustee of the $37 billion Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds, administers a $26 billion debt management program, manages over $25 billion in annual cash transactions and has a seat on 25 quasi-governmental authorities, boards and commissions related to housing, finance, student loans, air and water ports, venture capital, the lottery, private sector retirement security and a hosts of other areas.
He is the only Black elected State Treasurer in the country and the only Black elected official serving statewide in New England. He was elected by his peers to serve as the Senior Vice President of the National Association of State Treasurers.
CULTURAL HERITAGE AWARD
Cheryl Smith Co-Founder |The Artists Collective
Cheryl Smith passed away this summer and was selected to be honored posthumously.
In 1970, after meeting Artists Collective Founder, Jackie McLean and Dollie McLean, Founding Executive Director, Cheryl was invited to become a co-founder of the Artists Collective.
She taught dance and later became the Director of the Dance Department. Ten years prior to her appointment in 2005, Cheryl functioned in a leadership position as Program Director.
Studying dance with Phyllis Stone and Angela Bowen-Peters, Cheryl went on to become the Director of Dance at Westledge School in Simsbury. She also taught at the Watkinson School in West Hartford, the University of Connecticut, Trinity College, as well as numerous public schools.
As an early exponent of African Dance in Hartford and under the tutelage of “Aca” Lee Thompson, Artists Collective’s master choreographer, she was a role model to generations of Hartford dancers of all ages and the inspiration for the development of numerous dance ensembles now performing and teaching in Greater Hartford. A native of Connecticut, Cheryl taught and performed throughout the state since the 1960’s.
COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD
Tiffany Young Executive Director | Hartford Yard Goats Foundation
Tiffany Young, Executive Director of the Hartford Yard Goats Foundation, is driven by a personal passion to help others and motivated to develop greatness in those with whom she works. She embodies the quote, “For it is in giving that we receive!”
Tiffany Young has been the Director of Community Partnerships with the Hartford Yard Goats since its inception. In 2019 she was promoted to Executive Director of the Foundation, making her the first woman and person of color in a senior management role of the organization. In these roles, she has worked diligently to develop strategic community partnerships and enhance the public image of the Yard Goats organization.
Under Tiffany’s leadership, The Hartford Yard Goats organization was awarded the 2018 Commitment to Charity Ballpark Digest Award. Tiffany was subsequently honored with the first MiLB Presidential Citation Award for Excellence in Building Community, Diversity & Inclusion in December 2018. In April 2019 she was honored with the 100 Women of Color Award for her work in the Greater Hartford community. In October of 2019, Tiffany was featured in Forbes where she explained the importance of first validating yourself. Most recently, Tiffany received The 2020 Oprah Winfrey Award for Leadership & Exposure presented by the Scribe’s Institute for Literacy.
Tiffany’s continued desire to cultivate growth in others led her to the launch of TIFFANYYOUNG From Pain to Purpose, LLC.
A people and community driven organization that fosters growth through life coaching,
motivational speaking and successfully proven community engagement strategies.
Curtis Rodriguez-Porter Program Manager | CREC School Choice
Curtis Rodriguez-Porter, resides in the great city of Hartford. Curtis is the program manager for the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) School Choice Department and has been at CREC for 3 years. One year in his current position and two years as the Family Engagement Specialist for the Hartford Region Open Choice Program. As program manager, he leads marketing and programming strategy for CRECs 16 magnet schools and 29 Open Choice partnering districts.
Prior to him transitioning to CREC he worked at Hartford Public Schools as a Para Educator, Community Specialist, and Program Coordinator working in neighborhood and magnet schools utilizing his skills gained as a Project Management Consultant at a full-service multi-cultural marketing agency prior to transitioning into education.
Curtis serves as the Social and Cultural Co-Chair for Young Professionals of Urban League of Greater Hartford, Chair for the City of Hartford’s LGBTQ+ Commission, President of the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective, Vice President for Educational Resources for Children in Enfield, and Vice President for the Latino Leadership Foundation. He is also a proud brother of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc.
Curtis received his associate degree in general studies from Gateway Community College, his bachelor’s in Communication from Central Connecticut State University, and his master's in public administration from Walden University.
In September 1964, William “Bill” Brown became the first Executive Director of the 66th Affiliate of the National Urban League, the Urban League of Greater Hartford. Affectionately called “Mr. Urban League,” Mr. Brown was widely known in the neighborhoods he walked and the churches in which he worshipped. He was a leader who connected with the community on every level, building strong relationships with corporate leaders in the boardroom, community alliances in the streets, and unabated admiration from politicians and government officials with whom he astutely negotiated. These are but a few of the qualities he embodied in service to the greater Hartford community. Known as the “Dean of the East Coast” among regional Urban League affiliate leaders because he was equal parts leader, coach, and mentor, Mr. Brown possessed the uncanny ability to balance the needs of various stakeholder communities. At the height of the Civil Rights Movement and beyond, he masterfully garnered consensus and promoted collaboration. With passion and unwavering commitment, Mr. Brown built bridges between communities that, at times, drifted apart, but reunited because of his abilities as an authentic leader with high levels of integrity, humility, and courage.
Exemplifies the belief that their first responsibility is service to the community; challenging and contentious Personifies a “moral arc” bent towards social justice; and Inspires a sense of pride and dignity among all people.
;
WILLIALM “BILL” BROWN LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Patricia E. Kelly Chief Executive Officer | Ebony Horsewomen
Pat Kelly, CEO of the Ebony Horesewoman, is the first woman to receive the Bill Brown Leadership and Service Award.
Patricia Elaine Kelly was born and raised in Hartford, CT. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Southern New Hampshire College and a Masters in Non-profit Management from St. Thomas University. She is a United States Marine Corps veteran serving during the Vietnam War and received training in Military Intelligence with Top Secret clearance.
She is certified as an Urban Riding Instructor, Equine Husbandry Instructor, and Master Urban Riding Instructor.
In 1984, Pat founded Ebony Horsewomen, Inc., a nonprofit community-service organization, operated by African-American female equestrians whose mission is to encourage and empower youth toward positive and successful lives through the use of horses and Equine Assisted Therapy.
With members across the United States, the organization is the only African-American operated facility that trains and certifies mental health professionals in the modality of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy in the nation.
Pat has received a number of awards including being a CNN Top Ten Hero, induction into the National Cowboys of Color Hall of Fame and National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Connecticut African American Affairs Woman of the Year, Leadership Greater Hartford Polaris Award, Aetna's Champions for Change Award. She also appeared on ABC's Good Morning America, Dr. Oz Show, and MSNBC.
December 2, 2021
Dear Friends,
I
LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING, SUITE 4100, HARTFORD, CT 06106-1591
PHONE: (860) 240-8489 EMAIL: MATTHEW.RITTER@CGA.CT.GOV
It was through the vision and dedication of these five individuals that the Urban League of Greater Hartford was founded in 1964. Their leadership has fostered the growth of the League from its humble beginnings at 53 Allyn Street to its present location at 140 Woodland Street. The League remains committed to their original vision of improving the lives of the underserved in Greater Hartford.
Let us continue to carry on the legacy of our Founders!
Marion Grant Rachel Milton Judge Norris O’Neill
James S. Peters II, Ph.D. Olcott Smith Urban League of
100%
Thank you for supporting our 2021 EOD
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion Sirius XM/Pandora
Brian Foley Commissioner’s Aid State of Connecticut Police Department President
President, ULGH Young Professionals
Director
Chief Executive Officer Urban League of Greater Hartford
Sr. Director, Supply and Demand Pratt & Whitney-UTC
Treasurer/Finance Committee Chair
Director
Private Bank Team Lead Key Private Bank
VP, Financial Advisor Merrill Lynch (BofA) Director
Chief Strategist of Academia Government and Healthcare for Ready Global
Pratt & Whitney-UTC
Audit Committee Chair
Director
Tax Director Barnes Group, Inc.
Senior Council Aetna/CVS
Communications and Fund Development Committee Chair
Director
Nominating Committee Chair Associate Director NAI Global, NAI Elite, LLC
Director Senior Advisor Fairview CapitalPartners
URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER HARTFORD TEAM
Chief Executive Officer
Manager
Administrative Services Coordinator
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UPCOMING EVENTS 2021 Dec 2
ENGAGE
57th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Virtual Celebration Live streaming bi.ly/ulgh2021eod
Dec 18 Holiday Toy Giveaway
Hartford City Hall | Hartford, CT
2022
EDUCATE
Feb 17 A Legacy Revealed
Annual Black History Celebration | Hartford, CT
May 12 Employment Empowerment Expo Annual Career Fair | Hartford, CT
Jun 15 Annual Meeting
St Francis Innovation + Learning Center | Hartford, CT
Jun 19 Juneteenth Jul 20
ENRICH
National Urban League Conference
4-day annual convention | Washington DC
Aug 11 Annual Back to School Community Day Urban League of Greater Hartford | Hartford, CT
Sep 14 ULGH Founders Day
Urban League of Greater Hartford | Hartford, CT
Oct 28 Trunk or Treat
Urban League of Greater Hartford | Hartford, CT
EMPLOY
Nov 17 Thanksgiving Giveback
Urban League of Greater Hartford | Hartford, CT
Dec 08 58th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Dinner & Celebration
Hartford Downtown Marriott | Hartford, CT
Dec 17 Holiday Toy Giveaway
Hartford City Hall | Hartford, CT
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