Lead The Way Open House Brings Youth, Families, and Community Together

Lead The Way Learning Academy welcomed youth, families, partners, and community members to our downtown space on Wednesday, September 30, for an evening of connection, exploration, and fun. Our Open House offered an opportunity to learn more about the programs, resources, and people helping young people prepare for their futures.

Throughout the evening, families had opportunities to explore college readiness, workforce development, program expectations and documentation, and the intake process through breakout sessions. These conversations helped introduce the support available through Lead The Way and gave families space to ask questions about getting involved.

The evening also featured a panel with Anthony Murphy, CEO, Frederick Lee Jr., Director of Programming, and Lead The Way youth. By bringing leadership and participant perspectives together, the discussion offered a closer look at our work and the importance of supporting young people as they pursue their goals.

Alongside the informational sessions, guests enjoyed food from House Taco and Kitchen Delicious, explored virtual reality headsets, captured memories at the A&K Photo Memories photo booth, and enjoyed caricatures by H&H Luxury Events. DJ Buttah provided music for the evening, while the Vendor Market offered opportunities to connect with participating businesses and organizations.

Our raffle featuring contributions from local businesses added to the excitement and highlighted the generosity of our community supporters.

Thank you to every family, youth, partner, vendor, raffle donor, and staff member who helped make this evening possible. Your participation helps strengthen the connections that support our mission.

At Lead The Way, we believe young people deserve opportunities to explore their interests, build confidence, and develop skills for long-term success. Our Open House was an opportunity to share that mission and welcome our community into the work. We look forward to continuing these conversations and building partnerships that open doors for youth.