LEAP celebrates MLK day

(WTNH) - LEAP offers programs for enrichment opportunities.

Founded in 1992, LEAP is currently celebrating 20 years of providing exceptional academic and social enrichment opportunities to children and youth from New Haven's poorest neighborhoods.

Currently, the organization serves 250-300 children and youth from low-income neighborhoods within the City of New Haven at two community-based sites, Farnam Courts and Church Street South; and one school-based site, Wexler –Grant Community School. LEAP also runs enrichment programming for children at the Roslyn Milstein Meyer LEAP Community Center.

Martin Luther King Day Celebrations - Sun, Jan 15 and Mon, Jan 16
For the third year in a row, LEAP AmeriCorps is collaborating with Experience Corps, another AmeriCorps agency operating through the Agency on Aging of Southern Connecticut, for the 16th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy of Environmental and Social Justice at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. This is a two-day celebration, free to the public, taking place on Sunday, January 15 from noon to 4 p.m. and on Monday the 16th. LEAP AmeriCorps members will help to create and staff a family-oriented activity with a meaningful lesson about the environment, non-violence, and/or social justice. LEAP AmeriCorps will be on hand on Sunday afternoon, promoting love of learning, education and reading by giving children books donated by New Haven Reads and hosting a bookmarks/crafts table.

Martin Luther King Day, LEAP AmeriCorps will take part in the Martin Luther King Conference at Wexler-Grant Community School. Collaborators include Greek life groups and the United Way, who will be providing attendees with T-shirts. This year’s event features more than 40 workshops, covering such topics as political awareness, cultural dance, healthy eating, Martin Luther King, Jr. recognition, raffles, and more. LEAP AmeriCorps members will be there managing crowd traffic and helping out wherever needed, with the capable assistance of our Leaders-in-Training and College Prep Scholars.

LEAP Year Event 2012 - Wed, Feb 29, 2012
The 17th annual LEAP Year Event is an evening of terrific food, conversations, and culture to raise money to support LEAP’s nationally recognized after-school and summer mentoring programs. Generous LEAP supporters of the Greater New Haven Area open their doors to host dinner parties in their elegant homes. A notable Guest of Honor joins each dinner party, providing a special theme for each gathering.

This year’s event will take place on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 – an actual Leap Year day!