Leadership Capital Region

Truly the Best Class Ever - LCR Class of 2026

Thank you LCR Sponsors: Founding Sponsor: M&T Bank and Presenting Sponsor: CDPHP

LCR class of 26’ enjoyed a visit to Capital Area Council of Churches and heard about the Capital Regions long history of churches collaborating together!

The class was joined by local organizations that were started through churches and partners collaborating including Family Promise of the Capital Region, the Capital Region CROP Hunger Walks, the Ignatian Volunteer Corp, the Festival Celebration Choir, Faith Leaders and Stakeholders (FLASH), and the Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs!

On June 9, the Leadership Capital Region Class of 2026 celebrated the completion of its Sojourn House Transformation Project, a collaborative effort to revitalize a transitional residence operated by the Schenectady Community Action Program (SCAP) that supports mothers and children experiencing homelessness in Schenectady County.

Over the course of several months, LCR participants worked alongside community volunteers, sponsors, local businesses, and project partners to complete meaningful improvements throughout the property, creating a more welcoming, functional, and supportive environment for residents. The celebration brought together community leaders, elected officials, and supporters who toured the renovated space and participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the project's successful completion and the lasting impact of community collaboration.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this transformation possible, including Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara, Senator Jim Tedisco, SCAP CEO Adelaide Haberbush, Capital Region Chamber President and CEO Mark Eagan, and Joy Rodriguez of Arrow Bank for helping celebrate this milestone.

Together, we're building stronger communities and brighter futures.

A huge thank you to our generous sponsors who helped bring the Leadership Class of 2026 Class Project at Sojourn House to life. Your support, partnership, and encouragement made this transformation possible!

Join us tomorrow and celebrate what we’ve built together:
Class Project Ribbon Cutting | Schenectady Community Action Program
Tuesday, June 9 at 1:30 p.m. | Sojourn House
1567 Union Street, Schenectady

A special thanks to our Premier Sponsors:
Broadview Federal Credit Union |
lighting.greateralbany
Price Chopper Supermarkets |


United Way of the Greater Capital Region |

One Week to Go! 🎉As we count down to June 9, we're making one final push to reach our fundraising goal. We still need about $1,000 to help complete the last few items for the project and maximize our impact for the families of Sojourn House.

If you've been following our journey, please consider making a donation or sharing this link with friends, family and coworkers. Every dollar brings us closer to the finish line: https://givebutter.com/c/lcr-class-project-schenectady-community-action-program-6afanq

Join us for the Class Project Ribbon Cutting | Schenectady Community Action Program at the Sojourn House, 1567 Union Street, Schenectady Tuesday, June 9 | 1:30 p.m.

Thank you for helping us finish strong! 💙🏠

We’re just a few weeks away from our Class Project Ribbon Cutting | Schenectady Community Action Program for Schenectady Community Action Program's SCAP’s Sojourn House!

Were you part of making this project possible? Whether you supported, sponsored, or cheered us on along the way, we’d love to celebrate with you.

Join us on Tuesday, June 9 at 1:30 p.m. | Sojourn House
1567 Union Street, Schenectady

We are so thankful for everyone who has helped support our fundraising for Schenectady Community Action Program —your generosity means so much to us!

We wanted to share a quick update on our progress and how far we’ve come because of you.

If you’re still interested in contributing, we do have a little more to go to fully complete everything. Any additional support is greatly appreciated—please consider donating through our Givebutter: https://givebutter.com/c/lcr-class-project-schenectady-community-action-program-6afanq

Arts & Culture Day gave our LCR class the opportunity to explore how creativity, collaboration, and diversity, equity, and inclusion drive vibrant communities and economic vitality across the Capital Region. 🎭✨

We started at WMHT Public Media with a behind-the-scenes studio tour, a WEXT radio experience, and an interactive showcase from Hettie Barnhill of the Barnhill Movement Collective. A panel moderated by Jason Benitez—featuring Jean-Remy Monnay, Rae Frazier, Tony Iadicicco, Dr. Ellen McHale, Wei Qin, and Elizabeth Reiss—highlighted how the arts foster belonging and strengthen our region.

After lunch from Caribe Spanish Restaurant and Sports Bar, we experienced cultural performances, including music by Veena and Devesh Chandra of the Dance and Music School of India and performances from Asian Arts New York.

In the afternoon, we headed to Capital Repertory Theatre for a tour and a panel on arts as an economic engine, moderated by Phil Quindara with Debby Goedeke, Maeve McEneny-Johnson, and Melissa Mangini. We also participated in a drumming experience led by Jordan Taylor Hill and heard from Deborah Emmons-Andarawis of Historic Cherry Hill.

We closed with a conversation on Albany and the intersection of arts, culture, and economic development. Moderated by Christian Jones, the panel featured Miriam Weisfeld, Kristen Broschinsky, and Brian L. Jones Photography, who shared perspectives on storytelling, creative spaces, and investment shaping Albany’s future.

Thank you to our speakers, performers, and host organizations for an engaging and impactful experience. ✨

WMHT Public Media | WEXT Radio | Barnhill Movement Collective - BMC | Black Theatre Troupe | Albany Center Gallery| New York Folklore| Asian Arts New York | The Arts Center of the Capital Region | Dance and Music School of India | Capital Repertory Theatre | Discover Albany| Albany Business Review | Historic Cherry Hill

Steering Committee
Karla Jaime-Benitez LCR ’24 | Phil Quindara LCR ’23 | Christian Jones LCR ’25 | Kyla Philbrook LTV ’21