Breakfast with Champions Returns March 28, 2026 — Discover Career Paths You Never Knew Were Possible

Travis Simms serves as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives representing Norwalk’s 140th District. A former world champion professional boxer turned public servant, Travis’s journey from the boxing ring to the State Capitol reflects resilience, discipline, and a deep commitment to his community.

On Saturday, March 28, 2026, 10Am to 2PM, Carver’s annual Breakfast with Champions returns — and it promises to open doors you may not even know exist yet.

This isn’t just breakfast. It’s a front-row seat to possibility at the Carver Community Center.

Students will enjoy a delicious, FREE catered breakfast while meeting and engaging with 10 accomplished local professionals representing a wide range of industries and career journeys. From business and healthcare to creative fields, public service, technology, entrepreneurship, and beyond — each Champion brings a real-world story of persistence, growth, and opportunity.

What makes this morning special isn’t just the titles our guests hold. It’s the honest conversations. The questions you can ask. The insights about setbacks, pivots, risks, and unexpected turns that shaped their paths.

Success rarely follows a straight line — and Breakfast with Champions is designed to show students just how many routes lead to meaningful work and impact.

Whether you already have a dream career in mind or you’re still exploring what excites you, this event is your opportunity to:

• Ask questions you can’t Google

• Hear how real professionals navigated uncertainty

• Discover careers you didn’t know existed

• Build confidence about your own future

Bring your curiosity. Bring your ambition. Bring a friend.

We’ll bring the Champions.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 28, 2026 — and get ready to start your morning inspired.

Creativity Without Barriers: Free Art Classes for Carver Students at Norwalk Art Space

There is something powerful about walking into a studio and knowing you belong there.

For years, The Carver has been proud to partner with Norwalk Art Space — a remarkable community arts hub that makes professional-level art instruction available to students at absolutely no cost. In a region where access to enrichment opportunities can too often depend on zip code, Norwalk Art Space quietly and consistently removes that barrier.

Art for Everyone — No Experience Required

Norwalk Art Space offers free weekly art classes taught by its talented Resident Artists and visiting professionals under the leadership of Executive Director Duvian Montoya and Educational Director Darcy Hicks.

Shorter workshops are led by Korry Fellows and local artists, often connected to current exhibitions — giving students not only instruction, but exposure to the broader creative world.

And here’s the part we love most:

No prior experience is needed.

Students don’t have to “be artistic.” They just have to show up curious.

A Special Opportunity for Carver Students

Some classes are reserved for students from partner organizations such as The Carver, the Norwalk Housing Authority, and Family & Children’s Agency. These dedicated slots ensure that our young people have direct access to high-quality instruction in a welcoming, professional studio environment.

For Carver students, this isn’t just about painting or drawing. It’s about:

• Building confidence

• Developing focus and discipline

• Expressing emotion in healthy ways

• Seeing themselves as creators

• Spending time in a beautiful, inspiring space

Art builds agency. And agency builds futures.

Removing Every Barrier

All classes are completely free, though students must register in advance. If a class fills quickly (and many do), families can join the waitlist to stay connected to upcoming offerings. The Art Space also regularly announces new classes throughout the year.

You can explore current offerings here.

At The Carver, we believe academic achievement and creative expression go hand in hand. Partnerships like this one remind us that when a community invests in its young people — not just in remediation, but in imagination — extraordinary things happen.

To our longtime friends at Norwalk Art Space: thank you for continuing to open your doors, your studios, and your hearts to Norwalk’s students. 🎨✨

Carver Students Stand for Civic Engagement — Because Participation Matters

At Carver, we prepare young people for college, careers, and leadership. And leadership begins with understanding how our democracy works.

Last month in Connecticut, two special elections were held. Of roughly 25,000 registered voters, fewer than 3,500 participated, for about 14% turnout. That statistic is a reminder that civic engagement doesn’t happen automatically. It must be taught, modeled, and encouraged.

Our longtime friend and Carver volunteer, Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, recently shared resources for Civically Engaged Organizations (CEOs — and yes, Carver is proudly one). The state legislative session is underway, and her office has expanded its public toolkit with graphics and sample posts to help residents stay informed and involved.

She is also hosting the Winter Conversation webinar on March 11 from 12:00–1:00 PM to discuss key civics legislation in the 2026 session and how residents can voice their opinions.

Why does this matter to Carver?

Because civic understanding starts young.

This year, more than 10,300 fifth graders from 160 schools across Connecticut voted in the 2026 Kid Governor election. That level of student participation is inspiring. Congratulations to Theresa “Tessa” Hallinan of Green Acres Elementary School in North Haven, who was sworn in on January 23 after running on a platform of “Everyone Belongs,” promoting inclusion for students with disabilities. We also applaud cabinet members Dylan, Alyvia, Ajla, Samuel, Nana, and Myra.

Carver supports a healthy, informed, civically engaged community. And we are proud to stand with leaders like Secretary Thomas who champion participation and inclusion across Connecticut.

Civic engagement is not partisan. It is foundational.

40 Years of Belief: Norwalk Mentor Program Celebrates a Legacy of One-on-One Impact

As communities across the country observe National Mentoring Month, the Norwalk Mentor Program marked a milestone of its own: 40 years of steady, life-shaping relationships between caring adults and Norwalk students.

Founded in 1986 by longtime youth advocate Dr. Susan Weinberger, Norwalk’s school-based mentoring program has quietly become one of the most enduring forces for encouragement and connection in Norwalk Public Schools.

For The Carver, this celebration carries special meaning. Dr. Weinberger has long been a Carver volunteer and advocate, embodying the same belief that guides our own work: that every young person deserves a champion. The Norwalk Mentor Program’s 40-year legacy is a powerful reminder that change often begins with one caring adult, one hour a week, and a promise to show up.

For four decades, trained volunteers have been paired with students in grades K–12, meeting for one hour each week during the school day. Through simple, consistent time together—playing games, talking, listening, and offering perspective—mentors provide something profoundly powerful: presence.

The program’s 40th anniversary was celebrated at the Maritime Aquarium, where mentors, mentees, and families gathered to honor relationships that, in many cases, have lasted years, and even decades. Two mentor-mentee matches were recognized for remaining together for more than ten years, a testament to the program’s commitment to long-term connection rather than short-term intervention.

As Jasmine Prezzie, director of the Norwalk Mentor Program, shared during the celebration:

“All it takes is for one person to truly believe in you to see your full potential. Every child deserves someone other than family to care about them. It can make a world of difference.”

And the difference is clear. Students spoke about mentors who became trusted confidants, steady role models, and lifelong friends. In one particularly moving reflection, a student described a 13-year mentoring relationship that began in childhood and continues today—with plans to stay connected even through college.

Currently, the Norwalk Mentor Program supports 410 active mentor-mentee matches across the district. Yet the need remains significant, especially for male students who are waiting for a mentor to step forward.

National Mentoring Month reminds us that mentoring is a proven strategy for helping young people thrive, particularly those facing barriers in education, employment, or life circumstances. Research consistently shows that mentoring relationships improve academic engagement, strengthen social-emotional skills, and expand young people’s sense of possibility.

Those interested in becoming a Norwalk mentor can contact Jasmine Prezzie at jprezzie@hscct.org or 203-354-1956 to learn more. Because sometimes, the most transformative investment we can make is simply to believe in a child and keep showing up.

Breaking Ground on the Future: Carver Launches Phase II Renovations at the Historic Carver Community Center

L-R: Kathy Poirier, Kathy Poirier Architects, LLC; Kailee Scales, Carver Chief Advancement Officer; Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk); Norwalk Mayor Barbara Smyth; Lefa DeJesus, Building Construction Specialist 1, DECD; Carver CEO Novelette Peterkin; Carver Board President Phil Butterfield; and James LaRosa of LaRosa Construction.

On Thursday, January 22, The Carver celebrated a powerful moment in its history: the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase II renovations at the Carver Community Center, originally constructed in 1975 and a cornerstone of opportunity in Norwalk for five decades.

The morning began with an indoor program filled with gratitude, reflection, and vision. Community members, volunteers, board leaders, and elected officials gathered to mark the next chapter for a building that has served generations of Norwalk youth and families. At noon, attendees moved outdoors for the ceremonial groundbreaking, sledgehammers in hand, standing on the very ground where Carver's future is taking shape.

We were honored to welcome Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), whose leadership in 2024 secured $3.5 million in state funding to make these renovations possible. His commitment ensures that the Carver Community Center will be expanded, modernized, and fully ADA-accessible, with critical security upgrades to better protect students, families, and staff.

“I am beyond thrilled to announce the Carver Center will soon start Phase II of these renovations,” said Senator Duff. “The Carver provides many critical services and educational opportunities for Norwalk children. With these renovations, the center will be able to continue its great work for the next generation of Norwalkers.”

Mayor Barbara Smyth, CEO Novelette Perkins, members of The Carver Board of Directors, and numerous community partners, such as James LaRosa of LaRosa Construction, stood together in celebration of the continuity that this moment represents. Not simply upgrades, but major investments in young people.

The future Carver Community Center—Phase II renovations will expand access, strengthen safety, and modernize interior spaces. These improvements will be followed by major exterior renovations, as depicted here, completing the full transformation of this historic community landmark.

Phase II renovations will expand the center’s capacity, enhance ADA accessibility to ensure inclusion for all, and strengthen security systems to create a safer, more welcoming environment. These improvements reflect The Carver’s commitment to equipping all learners for global competitiveness by leading strategic partnerships that advance excellence and opportunity.

For 50 years, the Carver Community Center has been a place where children discover their potential, families find support, and community takes root.

We are grateful to Senator Duff and our state and local leaders for believing in The Carver’s mission and investing in its future. The work we do inside these walls—serving thousands of students across Norwalk—depends on strong, safe, accessible spaces where learning and growth can thrive.

News 12 Connecticut covered the event with a video feature, “Norwalk Carver Community Center holds ceremony for 2nd phase of renovations.” You can view the segment here.

The next chapter of Carver begins now, and we are just getting started.

Families at the Heart of Carver: A Joyful Evening at Naramake’s After the Bell

At Carver, student success has never been a solo act. It is built on partnership — between students, teachers, and most importantly, families.

Across all 65+ Carver programs, parent engagement is not an add-on. It is foundational. From family literacy nights and student showcases to workshops, conferences, and informal gatherings, we intentionally work to ensure families feel informed, welcome, and connected to their child’s learning journey.

Recently, at Naramake Elementary School, that partnership was on full display.

The After the Bell program hosted a simple yet meaningful celebration: a pizza party that brought together students and their families for an evening of connection and conversation. The cafeteria buzzed with laughter as parents sat side by side with their children, meeting Carver staff, hearing about academic progress, and celebrating the growth happening each day after school.

For many families, Carver provides more than academic support. It offers consistency, extended learning time, and trusted relationships with caring adults. When parents engage in the program — whether through events like this or through daily communication — students feel it. Research consistently shows that students whose families are involved in their education demonstrate stronger attendance, improved academic performance, and greater confidence.

At Naramake, the evening reflected exactly what makes Carver special:

• Students proudly sharing their work

• Teachers and program leaders building relationships with parents

• Families connecting with one another

• A warm, welcoming school environment after hours

These moments matter. They strengthen trust. They reinforce shared expectations. They remind children that school and home are working together on their behalf.

Carver is proud to partner with families across Norwalk — in elementary, middle, and high school programs — because we know that sustainable impact requires more than strong programming. It requires community.

Thank you to the Naramake families who joined us, and to the dedicated Carver staff who continue to make every student and every parent feel seen, valued, and supported.

Together, we build success that lasts.

Carver Partners Spotlight: Building Girls’ Confidence, Leadership, and Community Through Inspire Basketball

For decades, Carver’s strongest partnerships have been built on trust, mentorship, and a shared belief in young people. Our partnership with The Justice Education Center is a powerful example—rooted in community, shaped by lived experience, and brought to life at the Carver Community Center through girls’ basketball.

At the heart of this partnership are two Carver champions from different generations: Doug Peoples, a lifelong advocate for Norwalk youth who helped make this collaboration possible, and Shannon Singleton-Bates, Carver’s Recreation Coordinator, who is leading the Inspire Girls Basketball @ Carver program on the ground every day.

A Partnership Aligned Around Youth, Wellness, and Opportunity

The Justice Education Center’s mission to improve the lives of children, youth, and families through community safety, wellness, and opportunity aligns seamlessly with Carver’s holistic approach to youth development. Through Inspire Girls Basketball @ Carver, that alignment becomes tangible: girls ages 9–17 building skills, confidence, resilience, and belonging through structured, supportive athletics.

Basketball is the entry point. But the outcomes go far beyond the court—strengthened teamwork, emotional regulation, leadership, and self-belief that carry into school, family, and community life.

Doug Peoples: The Connector Who Made It Happen

If you ask around Norwalk who has quietly shaped generations of young athletes and leaders, one name comes up again and again: Doug Peoples.

A Norwalk High School graduate (Class of 1971) and three-sport athlete—basketball, football, and track—Doug has spent more than four decades doing what he has always done best: seeing potential in young people and refusing to let it go to waste.

After college, Doug returned home and began officiating girls’ basketball, where he immediately recognized both the talent and the opportunity gaps facing local athletes. Since then, he has helped countless young people—across sports and across schools—navigate pathways to scholarships, college, and beyond. Even during the height of the pandemic, when opportunities seemed to vanish overnight, Doug stepped up. He worked remotely with student-athletes, helping both secure college scholarships and continuing to show up—literally—to cheer them on once they got there.

Doug’s impact extends well beyond basketball. For more than 40 years, he has been a driving force in Norwalk's martial arts community. After discovering karate while playing football at Central Connecticut State University, he returned home with an idea that would change lives: using karate tournaments at Carver to help young people earn scholarships. That vision eventually led to the founding of Norwalk Tang Soo Do, where Doug has taught discipline, confidence, and self-defense to generations of Norwalk youth—and, in many cases, their parents.

Through it all, Doug has asked for nothing in return. What he has given instead is mentorship, advocacy, and a bridge between institutions and the young people who need them most. His role in connecting Carver with The Justice Education Center is a natural extension of a lifetime spent opening doors.

Shannon Singleton-Bates: Leading Inspire Girls at Carver Today

Every lasting legacy needs leaders who carry it forward. At Carver, that leader is Shannon Singleton-Bates, our Recreation Coordinator and the driving force behind Inspire Girls Basketball @ Carver.

A mentee of Doug Peoples, Shannon embodies the same values that shaped her own journey: discipline, encouragement, and belief in the power of structured recreation to change lives. Under her leadership, the Carver Community Center gym becomes a space where girls are coached—not just in basketball fundamentals, but in confidence, communication, and perseverance.

Shannon ensures that Inspire programming reflects its full mission: physical wellness paired with social-emotional growth. Practices and games are intentionally structured to foster empathy, teamwork, and leadership. Coaches model respect and accountability. Girls are encouraged to set goals, reflect on progress, and support one another—learning that success is built collectively.

Why This Partnership Matters

Inspire Girls Basketball @ Carver is a shared investment in community safety, wellness, and opportunity—values that sit at the core of both Carver and and the program benefactor, The Justice Education Center.

Thanks to Doug Peoples’ vision and advocacy, and Shannon Singleton-Bates’ leadership and execution, this partnership is helping young women discover their strength, their voice, and their place in a supportive community.

This is what Carver partnerships look like at their best: rooted in relationships, guided by mentorship, and focused on long-term impact—one young person at a time.

Save the Dates: Two Signature Carver Events You Won’t Want to Miss in 2026

Carver’s most anticipated traditions are back in 2026, and we invite our entire community to save the dates for two events that make an outsized impact on the young people we serve.

First up is Carver’s signature celebration—the Child of America Gala—on Friday, May 1, 2026. Each year, this unforgettable evening brings together leaders, partners, and friends who share a commitment to Carver’s mission of expanding opportunity for our youth. The Gala not only honors extraordinary individuals who embody Carver’s values, but it also raises vital support for our year-round academic, enrichment, and workforce programs that reach nearly 3,000 students across Norwalk and Bridgeport. From inspiring student voices to community celebration, the Child of America Gala is a powerful reminder of what is possible when we come together for young people.

Then, on Monday, June 15, 2026, we look forward to welcoming supporters to the 12th Annual Carver Golf Classic. This beloved tournament has become a cornerstone of Carver’s calendar—bringing together corporate partners, donors, board members, alumni, and friends for a day of competition, connection, and camaraderie. More than just a great day on the course, the Golf Classic fuels scholarships, internships, and college- and career-readiness programs that help Carver students thrive long after they graduate.

Together, these two events reflect the heart of Carver: community, opportunity, and investment in the next generation.

Additional details—including honorees, locations, registration, and sponsorship opportunities—will be shared in the weeks ahead. For now, please mark your calendars and plan to join us as we celebrate, connect, and make a difference for Norwalk’s youth.

We can’t wait to see you there.

Different Generation, Same Dream: How Carver Youth Engage with Civics Today

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are invited to look back — to remember the courage, sacrifice, and moral clarity of the Civil Rights Movement. But we are also invited to look forward, and to consider how today’s young people understand justice, community, and their role in democracy.

As many observers have noted, the Civil Rights era is no longer the central reference point for how many young Americans think about race, power, and fairness. Most students today are several generations removed from the movement’s defining moments. They are less likely to encounter that history in nightly news broadcasts, and more likely to learn about it through social media, short videos, and conversations shaped by current events.

The result is not indifference — but difference.

For some, that shift has raised concern. Fewer than half of U.S. states require comprehensive teaching of the Civil Rights Movement. At the same time, political battles over how to teach race and history have made civic education uneven across the country.

Yet, even as the way history is taught and remembered evolves, young people remain deeply engaged with questions of fairness, belonging, and community. Their causes may look different, their methods may feel new, and their voices may be amplified through platforms their elders never used — but their desire for a more just world is unmistakable.

At Carver, we see this every day.

Our students are curious, outspoken, compassionate, and keenly aware of the world around them. They care about their communities, their peers, and issues that affect their lives — from local concerns in Norwalk to global events they witness online. They may express that concern through conversation, creativity, service, or simply by showing up for one another in meaningful ways.

Carver’s role is not to tell young people exactly how to think about civics, but to create an environment where they feel safe asking questions, sharing perspectives, and practicing being engaged members of their community. Whether through teamwork in the classroom, collaboration in programs, or participation in community life, our students are learning what it means to listen, to lead, and to care.

Today’s youth may not frame their civic stories the same way previous generations did, but that does not mean they are not “doing the work.” They are doing it in ways that reflect their lived experiences, their digital world, and their moment in history.

On this MLK Day, Carver honors that spirit. We honor Dr. King’s legacy not only by remembering his words, but by believing in the potential of the young people who will carry his dream forward — in their own voices, in their own ways, and in their own time.

Honoring Dr. King’s Legacy: Norwalk Comes Together for a Weekend of Reflection, Service, and Celebration

As the nation pauses to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Norwalk community will come together for a weekend of meaningful events that reflect Dr. King’s enduring call for justice, unity, and opportunity for all.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a moment to reflect on shared values and recommit to building a more inclusive and equitable future. In Norwalk, that commitment is expressed through worship, education, dialogue, and celebration, bringing residents of all ages together in remembrance and purpose.

At Carver, Dr. King’s belief in the transformative power of education deeply resonates with our mission. We see education not only as a pathway to academic achievement but also as a catalyst for personal growth, leadership, and lifelong opportunity, especially for students who may be furthest from access to and resources. Each day, our certified teachers and staff work to cultivate critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and confidence, empowering young people to envision themselves as learners, leaders, and change-makers.

This year’s Norwalk Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations, detailed below, offer opportunities for reflection and collective engagement across the community, from an ecumenical worship service and community breakfast to student-centered programming and a citywide evening celebration. Together, these events honor Dr. King’s vision while uplifting the voices and aspirations of today’s youth.

As we commemorate Dr. King’s legacy, we are reminded that his dream lives on through action, through education that opens doors, communities that come together, and a shared commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive. The Carver community is proud to stand alongside the City of Norwalk in honoring this legacy and continuing the work of building a more just and hopeful future for all.