A Powerful Day of Inspiration, Skills, and Belief
On November 15, 2025, The Laurel Foundation hosted one of our most impactful youth workshops yet, the DREAM IT. DO IT. Summit, a leadership and career-readiness day created to show young people that their future is full of possibilities, purpose, and power.
From the moment the workshop began, the energy in the room was electric. Youth from across our programs came ready to learn, ask questions, and dream bigger, and by the end of the summit, they walked away with the confidence, tools, and real-world knowledge to pursue the careers they imagined for themselves.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Incredible Leaders
This event would not have been possible without the generosity, passion, and leadership of the remarkable individuals and partners who poured into our youth:
Ines Nasri, Mischa Haramia, and Shindale Seale — Executive Board Members of The Laurel Foundation, whose vision made this summit possible. Their dedication to creating opportunities for young people is unmatched.
City National Bank — for delivering an outstanding Financial Literacy for Life workshop that broke down budgeting, savings, credit, and real-world money decisions in a way our youth could understand and immediately apply.
Ari Ruiz and Samantha Rios — for sharing their journeys, the barriers they broke, and the resilience that brought them to where they are today. Their honesty and encouragement helped our youth see that success is possible for them, too.
What Our Youth Learned
Throughout the day, participants gained essential skills and insights, including:
- How to map out career pathways
- Jobs of the future – what possibilities are coming
- How to manage money, build credit, and make smart financial decisions
- How to recognize their strengths, tell their story, and lead with confidence
- How real people in real careers overcame challenges to get where they are today
They also had the opportunity to ask questions directly to our youth professional panel, learning that careers in engineering, finance, public service, tech, advocacy, the arts, and beyond are within reach.
What This Summit Meant for Them
The most powerful impact of the day was seeing our youth realize something important:
They are capable. They are worthy. And they can build the future they dream of.
Looking Ahead
This summit didn’t just teach skills, it opened doors, sparked ambition, and allowed young people to picture themselves as the leaders, innovators, and changemakers they are becoming.
To Ines, Mischa, Shindale, City National Bank, Ari, and Samantha: thank you for making this possible. Your commitment to uplifting our youth continues to transform lives.
And to our amazing youth: keep dreaming, keep doing, and keep believing in the future that belongs to you.
The Laurel Foundation is here to walk with you every step of the way.
