Page 17 - 2025 April Report

Hope Ignites Leadership Event report
From: SherrySalwayBlack
Re: Hope Ignites Leadership Conference Dated: April 2, 2025
I had the opportunity to attend a part of the Boys Hope Girls Hope – now Hope Ignites – Leadership Conference held in Baltimore, MD March 26-28. I had personal business in the area earlier in the week so I arrived at the event around noon on Thursday, March 27 at a beautiful location in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The view from my room was spectacular. The conference events were held about a block away at the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Museum.
I had checked the agenda beforehand and wanted to be sure to make it to the Alumni Panel at 2 pm Thursday afternoon. What an amazing group of young people. I got to meet each of the five on the panel beforehand and talk with them for a few minutes. Below are their names and some information about each. The panel was moderated by one of the alums, Ruben Lugo, who asked each of the panel members questions so they could share their stories with the group.
Ruben Lugo – From Detroit – is currently a Risk Portfolio Analyst at TD Bank.
Glenn Fraychineaud – originally from New Orleans now in Cleveland, works for the Cleveland Clinic as a Sourcing Analyst
Brooke Slaughter – At Metropolitan State University in Denver as an Aviation and Aerospace Science Major.
MeYani McDonald – Based in Cincinnati working in Business Management related to aviation
Josh Fitzgerald – Has a Mechanical Engineering degree from Tufts and is from Baltimore. Was in the residential program.
Each alumni’s responses included: how they can help their communities, how to help the generation behind, paying it forward for what they received, giving or igniting hope in others. All shared how Boys Hope Girls Hope was a cornerstone or a foundation upon which they are building their lives.
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