The Connecticut Opportunity Project, a Dalio Education initiative, invests in and helps strengthen youth-serving organizations in Connecticut so they can work effectively, reliably, and sustainably with severely off-track or disconnected young people ages 14 to 26 in order to help them re-engage in and complete secondary education or a credential, then transition successfully to a post-secondary pathway leading to satisfying employment at a living wage that supports their self-sufficiency. | | |
Opportunity Project Quarterly Newsletter:
Q1 2026
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Learning How Thoughts, Emotions, and Behaviors Can Catalyze Behavior Change
Last year, the CTOP team engaged the Community Psychiatry PRIDE team at Massachusetts General Hospital to train our team and grantee partners' staff in the Thoughts, Emotions, and Behaviors curriculum. This cognitive-behavioral skills-based curriculum was developed for non-clinicians to teach young people how to better regulate their emotions, build resiliency, and interrupt negative thought and behavior cycles.
Now, over six months into this engagement, grantee partners' staff members continue to participate in weekly coaching sessions with staff from PRIDE to develop their competencies in delivering the 5 core skills to young people so that young people can make better decisions.
As a result of this engagement, each organization will develop the internal capacity to deliver the TEB curriculum with fidelity to their participants. Soon, CTOP and PRIDE will begin to certify select members from each organization as TEB coaches so that they can develop their fellow staff members to deliver TEB continuously.
| | COMPASS Revisiting Their Theory of Change | | |
CTOP recommends that every few years high-performing organizations step back and revisit their Theory of Change. A Theory of Change is a roadmap of how to operationalize an organization's mission. Over a multi-day workshop series, organizations articulate their mission statement, target population, long-, intermediate-, and short-term outcomes, as well as the program activities necessary to ensure young people achieve the articulated outcomes.
COMPASS last went through a Theory of Change Workshop series in 2019, and over the course of first quarter of 2026, CTOP Senior Portfolio Director Samantha Miller facilitated a Theory of Change review series with the COMPASS team, represented by a mix of leadership and frontline staff members. As a result, COMPASS has revised their target population definition, clarified their outcomes, and refined their program activities that will help young people build the skills needed to succeed in workforce and education.
We are excited to support the COMPASS team in implementing these changes and continuing to strengthen their organization to interupt violence in Hartford.
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A New Partnership in Pathways to Careers
For the last two years, CTOP has been supporting grantee partners to operationalize a Pathways to Careers framework that is designed to help young people who are severely disconnected from education and employment reconnect not just to jobs, but to meaningful career paths that promise upward mobility for themselves and their families.
In 2026, we are excited to announce that a new partnership between COMPASS Youth Collaborative and Our Piece of the Pie (OPP) is in the pilot phase. Last year, CTOP facilitated multiple workshops with COMPASS and OPP to create a seamless continuum of programming across the two organizations, where COMPASS delivers its specialized services such as relentless outreach, crisis response, initial cognitive behavioral skill development and foundational building of employment skills to cultivate a young person's readiness to transition successfully into one of OPP's many employment pathways.
Now, this Pathways to Careers partnership between COMPASS and OPP is streamlining operations and improving communication and collaboration beteween the two organizations that share nearly 30 young people so that the youth have more opportunities to access careers that lead to long-term success and self-sufficiency.
| | Our Grantee Partners' Work | | Senator Blumenthal Visits Roca with COMPASS | |
In April, U.S. Senator Richard Blumental visited two CTOP grantee partners, Roca Inc. and COMPASS Youth Collaborative, in Hartford to join a prevention roundtable about the challenges these organizations face in combatting gun and community violence in Connecticut's capital city. The organizations represented pointed to a shortage of reliable, multi-year funding as a major challenge in implementing their work and keeping Hartford safer.
| | | We gave young people enrolled at OPP disposable cameras to capture a day in their life and share their stories. Then, we interviewed them to hear how OPP has helped them set and achieve their goals to succeed in education and work. | |  | OPP released its 2025 Annual Report, which celebrates their 50 years of impact in Hartford. In 2025, they served 873 youth and provided $2.4 million in wages for young people via paid work experiences. | | | Cross-Cohort Learning & Presenting | |
Domus x Forge City Works:
Building a Trauma-Responsive Culture
In January, Domus visited Forge City Works for a two-day workshop series to train Forge City Works' staff in the Sanctuary Model of trauma-informed care. The Sanctuary Model's goal is to create a trauma-informed organization that reduces the stress and adversity on young people in the program and on the organization itself. This training was an important step for the Forge City Works team to continue their efforts to become a trauma-responsive organization as they work with more and more young people.
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COMPASS x StreetSafe Bridgeport x CTVIP: Presenting on
Community Violence Intervention
In March, the Connecticut Department of Public Health hosted a Community Violence Intervention Summit in Hartford in partnership with Connecticut's Children's Hospital. At this event, staff members from COMPASS, Catalyst CT's StreetSafe Bridgeport, and CTVIP spoke on panels, sharing core components of their approach and their work.
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BDO Certified Nonprofit Professionals
Congratulations to COMPASS's CEO Jacquelyn Santiago and Vice President of Finance and Administration Lynwood Patrick and MATCH's Board President Marcia LeFemina and Executive Director David Feinberg on becoming Certified Nonprofit Professionals through BDO's multi-day course. This certification will support both organizations in managing their financial health.
| | | COMPASS Circulating at Conferences! | | Nonprofit Technology Conference | COMPASS attended the Nonprofit Technology Conference in Detroit, where their team led two sessions on aligning decisions with frontline insights and making data engaging. They shared strategies for building a data-driven culture and using data as a strategic tool to drive informed decisions and meaningful change. | | Northwell Health's Gun Violence Prevention Forum | COMPASS CEO Jacquelyn Santiago attended Northwell Health’s Gun Violence Prevention Forum in New York City, joining national leaders and advocates addressing this public health crisis. Featuring voices like Gabby Giffords and policy experts, the event inspired collaboration, dialogue, and action to reduce gun violence. | |
Congrats to Dr. Bianca Shinn at Domus | Congratulations to Dr. Bianca Shinn, recipient of the Stamford Public Education Foundation's Leadership Award on April 23. As Director of Family Advocacy for Middle Schools at Domus Kids, she champions young people in the Stamford community with passion and purpose, uplifting youth and families daily. We are proud to celebrate her impact and leadership! | | | | | |
At the start of 2026, Dalio Education announced an investment in the Manufacturing and Technical Community Hub (MATCH) in New Haven through CTOP, its social investment fund. In this CT NewsJunkie article, learn how we will support the design and implementation of a program that prepares youth to build the professional and technical skills needed to succeed in manufacturing.
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In support of their program, MATCH recently purchased a new building in the Fair Haven neighborhood of New Haven. This space is a 56,000 sq ft industrial space and with this added space, MATCH will be able to increase the number of trainees as well as upgrade their equipment to train participants in the most up-to-date manufacturing technology and work in a real-world factory environment.
| | Manufacturing is the 2nd largest industry in Connecticut, employing more than 150,000 people. Our state faces two crises - first, that most manufacturers report struggling to find and retain talent and second, that 119,000 youth are at-risk or disconnected from work and school. This op-ed proposes that connecting at-risk and disconnected youth to careers in manufacturing through programs like MATCH would bolster the state's economy and provide a pathway to the middle class for Connecticut's young people. | |
Hartford Deserves a City Where Lives Are
Not Lost to Violence
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| In this op-ed, COMPASS CEO Jacquelyn Santiago discusses a particularly violent February in Hartford, where in the span of 8 days, three young people were shot and two tragically died. COMPASS's Hospital Violence Intervention Program responded to each incident at the hospital to support victims, families, and reduce the risk of retaliation. Yet despite this critical work, COMPASS does not receive enough public dollars to fully fund this program that helps keep Hartford safer. | | | | Learning While Earning: DomusWorks Program Model Presentation at NYEC | | |
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In March, Domus's Executive Director Mike Duggan and Associate Executive Director Julie DeGennaro traveled to Houston, Texas to present on the DomusWorks model at the National Youth Employment Coalition's Annual Forum. In this presentation, they focused on how young people learn the skills needed to successfully obtain and maintain unsubsidized employment on a path to self-sufficiency through their social enterprises, where young people work 25 hours a week and earn a paycheck.
In FY25, 100% of DomusWorks program graduates were still employed at the one-year mark following program completion.
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COMPASS Program Director Honored by Hartford Court of Common Council
COMPASS Program Director Liz Giannetta was honored at the Hartford Court of Common Council Women's History Month event in March. The award recognized Liz's countless contributions, selfless dedication, and continuous leadership in the Hartford Community. Liz was celebrated at Hartford City Hall with her proud family, friends, and colleagues.
| | | Support Our Grantee Partners at their Events | | |
RSVP to Domus Kids' Cocktail Event at Belle Haven Club on
April 30, 2026.
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RSVP to Roca Inc's Annual Fundraiser Breakfast in Boston on
May 1, 2026.
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Enter COMPASS's Raffle for a Trip on Southwest Airlines
COMPASS is raffling off TWO round-trip tickets to any of Southwest's domestic destinations. Valued at $800 and limited to 500 tickets, don't miss your chance for a vacation!
Drawing will be on May 12 at 7PM at The Russell in Hartford.
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Exploring Manufacturing Careers with
New Haven High Schoolers
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In February, MATCH hosted students from local New Haven high schools to show them around their facility and talk to them about potential careers in the manufacturing industry.
Throughout the day, high schoolers tried various machines and tools at MATCH, including a press break, plasma cutter, the Bridgeport, driving a fork lift, welding, and soldering. These hands-on experiences will hopefully help young people see themselves in manufacturing careers.
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OPP to Launch a Pilot of the
New Haven Youth Service Corps
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In 2025, through a planning grant awarded by Dalio Education, OPP in collaboration with consultant Dillinger RAD examined the Hartford Youth Service Corps model and identified core components that could be transferred to other municipal ecosystems; created a robust readiness assessment to guide the landscape scan across the state; and constructed a funding prospectus that balanced municipal investment with contributions from philanthropic partners to enable the generation of a sustainable revenue stream. In parallel to this process, OPP engaged New Haven's Community Services Administration to explore opportunities for bringing the Youth Service Corps model to the Elm City.
In January 2026, OPP and the Community Services Administration finalized a plan for launching a pilot program of the New Haven Youth Service Corps at Riverside Education Academy, the only alternative education high school in New Haven, to serve over 50 young people in workforce development programming and be placed at employer partner sites upon program completion. In this soon-to-launch pilot, OPP will co-locate their program with another CTOP grantee partner, MATCH, at their recently purchased building in Fair Haven. With the support of a $50,000 grant from Dalio Education to offset the start-up costs, OPP and the City of New Haven will launch a New Haven Youth Service Corps pilot in the coming year. This effort will serve as the vehicle for a larger roll out of the New Haven Youth Service Corps model beyond Riverside in 2027 and will hopefully inspire more municipalities to bring a youth service corps model to their municipality to prepare their young people for gainful employment.
| | Join the StreetSafe Bridgeport Team at Catalyst CT | | |
Outreach Worker
A StreetSafe Outreach Worker engages young people through street outreach, mentoring, and case coordination to support long-term positive outcomes.
If interested, send your resume to:
Hrresumes@catalystct.org
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StreetSafe Supervisor
StreetSafe Outreach Supervisor to lead and support a team of Outreach Workers engaged in street outreach, crisis response, and case management.
If interested, send your resume to:
Hrresumes@catalystct.org
| | | Senior Portfolio Director Samantha Miller on the Mic | | |
| Senior Portfolio Director Samantha Miller joined journalist Paul Bass on WNHHLP's Dateline New Haven show to discuss Dalio Education's recent investment in MATCH. The conversation focused on how supporting organizations to build necessary infrastructure is critical to the successful delivery of the program model to young people. | | Congrats to RISE for 10 Wonderful Years! | | |
Congratulations to the Connecticut RISE Network, another initiative of Dalio Education's, for 10 incredible years supporting school districts and teachers to use data and reaseach-backed practices to promote Grade 9 and postsecondary success.
Our team joined theirs at the 10th Anniversary Celebration in Bristol in March. We look forward to the next 10 years of RISE in Connecticut!
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