YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAM
Finding Inspiration in Every Generation
Inherent in SOAR Together's mission of ending epidemic levels of loneliness and social isolation is a fundamental aim of helping support our next generation of inspired leaders who are already sparking positive social connections and increasing a sense of belonging in their communities. Through our Young Leaders Program, we help mentor, guide, and provide platforms for young adults to reach larger audiences, practice skills, and step into their shoes as creators, connectors, change agents, and entrepreneurs.
One is never too young or too old to take an idea and bring it to-life to benefit others while launching new and uplifting products and perspectives into the world. We know the cure for ending this epidemic of a lack of social engagement is to shine a light on those who helping us connect through their joy of creating shared goodness.
Meet SOAR's Young Leaders
Sophie Ferrante
Sophie's Creative Mentoring and Social Sparking
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Sophie Ferrante is a student at Fairfield Ludlowe High School and member of the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club. She has been passionate about art as long as she can remember, and loves using arts and crafts as vehicle to engage with others. Throughout high school, Sophie has mentored younger students of all ages, often connecting through art projects -- from sharing friendship bracelets to building teamwork through shared paintings, drawings, and posters.
Through SOAR's Youth Flower Power Programs, Sophie aims to share more moments of art, design, and color with her community while building her leadership skills in public speaking and leading groups. She also hopes to contribute her art and design skills to visual elements of SOAR Together and be a "Spark" to help others engage.
In Sophie' words, "Moving to Connecticut from Seattle during COVID, with all of the life adjustments, certainly made me understand feelings of loneliness. What helped the most was immersing myself in my new community as soon as I was able to do so. The social connection has helped me feel like I belong, and I want to make sure others feel the same."
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Learn more about SOAR's Youth Flower Power
Layla Gerster
Layla's Social Sparking and Chatty Benches
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Layla is a rising senior at Berlin Brandenburg International School in Berlin Germany. When she is not at school she resides with her family in Norwalk CT. Layla loves volunteering with SOAR and connecting with new people. Layla’s positive energy and friendly personality lend perfectly to helping individuals feel comfortable and included at events such as Social Seats and SOAR Strolls. Layla will work her senior year in Germany to be a SOAR ambassador bringing Chatty Benches to her school to ensure all students feel they have a place to feel connected in their community.
Learn more about Chatty Benches.
Aidan Lapatine
Aidan's "The Stick Together Cookie"
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Aidan Lapatine is a student at Staples High School. He has always had a passion for baking and cooking since he began preparing meals and baking for his family at a young age. Aidan created a cake business in middle school and continued it by bringing back the baking program at "Circle of Friends" to share his love of baking with teens and adults with special needs.
Aidan is sharing his baking expertise to help SOAR Together end the epidemic of isolation and loneliness while honing his entrepreneurial business skills in a win-win. Aidan has the opportunity to learn and grow through the collaborating mentorship of the SOAR Founder while giving back to his community and gaining both concrete skills and leadership experience he will take to college and beyond.
In Aidan's words, "SOAR's Young Leaders Program is the perfect opportunity to build my business and leadership skillset while doing something I love and giving back to those who need social connection. Something as seemingly simple as a molasses cookie is connecting us."​
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Nayuli Estevez Lara
Nayuli's Youth Mentoring and Community Engagement
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Nayuli Estevez Lara is a student at Bullard Havens Technical High school. She is passionate about helping young children in her church congregation and making a positive impact on their lives. She is an active member of her church community and participates in various church-related events such as concerts and fundraisers.
Nayuli is always eager to help others and be involved in her community. She is looking forward to being a young SOAR leader and assisting people in need of support and comfort. As a SOAR Young Leader, she has a desire to enhance the happiness of individuals throughout the various communities in Connecticut.
In Nayuli's words, "I have seen the joy Flower Power brings to those who participate in the program as well as the uplifting of SOAR's program at Homes For The Brave, and look forward to helping touch many more lives in my community along the way."
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Learn more about SOAR's Youth Flower Power
Supriti Saravana
Supriti's Let's Chat Leadership & Meaningful Connections
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Supriti is an 8th grader at East Ridge Middle School,Ridgefield,CT, but she’s far from your average middle schooler. This caring, determined young woman isn’t just captivating audiences with her singing and violin skills—she’s also a math whiz and a fierce fencer!
Beyond academics, Supriti finds true purpose in giving back to her community. She’s a dedicated volunteer at places like SPHERE, the Ridgefield Guild of Artists, the Aldrich Museum, and the Ridgefield Playhouse.
Supriti feels especially grateful to be part of the SOAR Together team, where she enjoyed participating in the Flower Power events, which fuels her commitment to kindness and community impact.
Inspired by this experience, she’s hoping to introduce the "Let’s Chat" initiative in both Ridgefield middle schools and, eventually, the high school, creating spaces for meaningful connection and support for her peers. With a big heart and a bright vision, Supriti is ready to make her positive mark on the world.
Helena Zima
Helena's Program Facilitation and Nonprofit Management
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Helena Zima is a Senior at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, CT, where she is passionate about social wellness issues in her community, specifically eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health and working to increase community connections. This passion led Helena to spearhead the Senior Connections program with her local chapter of the National Charity League, linking Barlow Seniors with Senior citizens in Easton. She also leads the Barlow Youth Mental Health First Aid program, and as a student-athlete on several high school teams, helped bring mental health programming to Barlow athletes to address mental health in their respective sports training programs.
As a Young Leader Intern at SOAR Together, Helena is involved with running hands-on events such as Flower Power and Social Seats programs, as well as the internal side of the organization through observation of legal policy and social work executed by SOAR Together’s founder Ginger Smith. She will work to develop skills in program facilitation, nonprofit management, and legal advocacy.
In Helena’s words: "SOAR Together provides the perfect opportunity for helping the community through a combination of first-hand philanthropy and legal structure observation. I am grateful to be able to be a part, in my own unique way, of the incredible work SOAR Together creates in the community. The chance to provide a tangible difference to others while building my own knowledge base is invaluable."​