Access Creates Pathways to Opportunities

As an immigrant from Barbados growing up in Brooklyn amid the crack epidemic, having access to mentors made a massive difference in my life.  At the time I didn't recognize the true value of relationships or the wisdom that was being shared.  This insight stopped me from asking the question of Ramon after a Zoom presentation at Peralta Design for 30 students from Access Educational Services in Bridgeport.

Ramon is the founder of Peralta Design in Shelton, we share a common passion for making a positive impact on the lives of young people.  A few years ago I came up with the wild idea of being a 50-something-year-old intern at a design agency at the time I didn't know Ramon, we met through one of my coaching clients.  I presented the idea to Ramon and the rest as they say is history.  

Last week I showed up for what I thought would be an ordinary day at Peralta -(it's never a basic day) and discovered we were having guests, 30 Students from Bridgeport, we were going to be one of three stops on their immersive leadership tour.  Gwendolyn Brantley is the founder of Access Educational Services and the visionary behind the immersive leadership tour.  Here's a recap of the day at Peralta, part of my role at Peralta is content creation.  

Ramon and Gwen are examples of ordinary people who are doing some EXTRAordinary things within their communities and they understand that having access creates pathways to future opportunities.