Three high school students, including a first-generation immigrant and an Immaculate High School junior, represented Connecticut on April 15 at an official United Nations side event tied to the 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum, one of the U.N.’s leading annual platforms for youth engagement in global sustainable development.

Allison Daniels and Michael O’Hare, both of Immaculate High School in Danbury, joined Gabriella Payne of Newtown High School as youth discussants for “Igniting Change Through Youth Social Entrepreneurship: Scaling Impact for 2030.” The event was held at Hunt Hill Farm and The Silo in New Milford and aligned with the United Nations’ call for equitable, innovative action to advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Payne, a first-generation immigrant and military child, spoke about the need for stronger leadership and role models among her peers. “My generation is experiencing a crisis in leadership,” she said. “A leader needs to be a servant at heart — continuously putting the needs of others before their own.”

Daniels, a youth entrepreneur since age 6 and a youth ambassador for The Silo at Hunt Hill Farm since 2022, urged panelists to move beyond rhetoric and identify practical ways adults can mentor the next generation. O’Hare, drawing on his experience managing a chronic illness, emphasized that self-leadership — grounded in discipline and self-awareness — is the foundation for effective community leadership.

The panel featured international leaders, including Anna Louisa Bezerra, a Brazilian scientist and U.N. Young Champion of the Earth. Her solar water purification technology has delivered clean water to more than 50,000 people in Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Morocco. Students engaged directly with Bezerra on challenges facing young entrepreneurs in developing countries, underscoring the global scope of the discussion.

Other panelists included Tom Chernaik, representing impact investor Frank Raffaele, who is leading a $300 million youth and affordable housing initiative with the Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens; Dr. Stephanie Szolt, director of special needs and social-emotional learning for Hunt Hill Farm Trust; and representatives from CUFA, a global nonprofit focused on youth social entrepreneurship operating in 67 countries, and Barco Sorriso, a volunteer-led organization providing free medical and dental care to underserved communities in Brazil.

Robert Payne, co-founder and president of the AGORA Leadership Development Program, also served as a panelist. He presented data on a widening leadership gap and emphasized the importance of early access to leadership training. “It requires deliberate effort with our younger generation to cultivate these young minds into the leaders we need tomorrow,” Payne said. “AGORA seeks to do that by developing young leaders today — at no cost to the families we serve.”

AGORA Leadership Development Program is a New Milford-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering a tuition-free curriculum focused on critical thinking, communication, disciplined planning, physical and mental wellness, and servant leadership. The program is open to high school students across southwestern Connecticut, regardless of background or financial means.

AGORA is accepting applications for the Fall 2026–Spring 2027 academic year. Students from Danbury, Newtown, New Milford, and surrounding communities are encouraged to apply. More information is available at www.agoraldp.com.