On their first day the Encore!Connecticut Fellows learned about each other and their passions for moving into employment in the nonprofit sector. The Fellows also engage in a vibrant morning panel with Encore!Connecticut Alumni who are now leaders in the Connecticut nonprofit world: Amber Anthony, Development Manager of the Aurora Women and Girls Foundation; Mary Murano, Grant Writer for Career Resources, Inc.; Scott Kemp, Chief Operating Officer of Connecticut Foodshare; and Billie Scruse, Executive Director of Hartford Food System. They learned lessons on transition and resilience in working in the nonprofit sector.

In the afternoon, the Fellows were joined by Fernando Muniz of Community Solutions, Dr. Monette Ferguson of the Alliance for Community Empowerment, and Richard Sugarman of Hartford Promise for an engaging CEO roundtable discussion moderated by David Nee. Here the Fellows learned first hand on the challenges, opportunities, condition of the Connecticut nonprofit sector, and lessons in leading a nonprofit organization.