On Saturday, March 27, CUP welcomed the 2010 fellows class at the annual kick-off retreat for a series of high impact leadership training exercises.

“Walking into the CUP retreat was like walking into a combination war room/lecture hall/support group,” said Vincent Harris, Associate, Prudential Capital Group. “The warmth was evident, but it was made very clear very early on that we had been brought together to work. The CUP program is crafted to help fellows sharpen our skills and then train our collective power and influence on the the most pressing issues in our community. The experience was, in a word, humbling.”

The fellows learned about crafting and delivering concise and memorable elevator speeches, building trust with diverse constituencies, and the power behind effective leadership. In addition, the fellows heard from both Assemblyman Jonathan Bing and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. about their personal and professional journeys and offered advice on civic engagement and community involvement.