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Eight New LEADers Ready to Share Their Skills

 

Back Left: Ryan Ng, Gio Pascal, Timothy Mantalvanos, Matthew McCarthy (Peer Mentor, former LEAD graduate), Samantha Grimaldo, Michael Rodrigues (Thrive President & CEO), City of Marlborough Mayor Arthur Vigeant. Front Left: Caitlyn Kline, Jackie McCarthy, Kristen Camacho, Paula Cezar.

Graduation season is in full swing and Thrive recently honored an important group of graduates. The eight graduates – Kristen Camacho, Paula Cezar, Samantha Grimaldo, Caitlyn Kline, Timothy Mantalvanos, Jackie McCarthy, Ryan Ng, and Gio Pascal – recently completed Thrive’s year-long LEAD (Leadership Experience And Development) initiative. After honing their leadership skills over the last nine months, these young adults are now prepared to bring their know-how out into their communities.

LEAD prepares and empowers prospective young leaders who live with intellectual and developmental challenges and possess the desire to better the world. Supported by LEAD staff and mentors, young adults (ages 17-25) gain the knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to become leaders. Prospective LEADers apply to the program in early August. Weekly meetings run from October through May where student and community mentors come in to share their knowledge and discuss leadership qualities. Future LEADers then identify and implement a community service project with their mentors that demonstrate the skills they’ve learned. The program then culminates with a graduation and celebration to welcome the new LEADers into the community and encourage them to share their abilities.

Congratulations to all the LEADers, we are so proud of all that you have accomplished and look forward to seeing all that you can achieve.