Devaughn Branch-el, a scholar from Eagle Academy, practices his networking skills with Astrid Tsang (left), Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at LPL Financial. (Photo by Jay Haas)

Building on the momentum of past success, more than 200 LCLD Fellows Alumni gathered in New York City for three days of service, enrichment, and camaraderie at the Sixth Annual LCLD Fellows Alumni Leadership Symposium.

This year’s symposium began with a community service event, as the Fellows Alumni worked with dozens of young men from the Eagle Academy in Brooklyn on their networking skills.

Hosted at LCLD Member firm Steptoe and Johnson LLP, the high school students got a crash course in self-presentation and other “soft skills” that lead to future success, in a workshop and practice reception with dozens of Fellows Alumni, who were clearly impressed with the students.

Founded in 2006 in the Bronx, the Eagle Academy for Young Men has grown to a network of six schools located in underprivileged New York neighborhoods. According to principal Rashad Meade, the Eagle Academy in Brooklyn serves 627 young men from the surrounding community, providing a rigorous academic environment as well as 24/7 role models for at-risk teenagers.

“Our goal is to educate globally conscious, globally competitive young men,” says Meade. “For our students to come here and actually interact with powerful figures such as the Fellows—this really means a lot.”