The 9th Annual RTS Success Summit: Where Dreams Meet Direction

On July 25th, 2025, Roads to Success transformed St. Francis College in Brooklyn into a hub of boundless possibility. Our 9th Annual Roads to Success Summit brought together over 800 young visionaries aged 14-24 for a day that would reshape how they see their futures, and themselves.

Three Voices, One Powerful Message

The day's energy was anchored by three extraordinary keynote speakers who each brought their unique perspective on success, service, and breaking barriers:

Kevin Riley, Council Member for District 12, opened the morning by challenging our youth to see civic engagement not as a distant concept, but as their immediate pathway to creating the change they want to see in their communities.

Cesar Vargas of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps took the afternoon stage, sharing his journey from immigrant to advocate to military leader, proving that every obstacle can become a stepping stone when met with determination and purpose.

Imani J. Wallace, international award-winning poet and Black American educator. closed the evening with words that didn't just inspire, they ignited. Her message resonated through every corner of the venue:

Your voice matters, your story has power,and your time is now.

Beyond the Stage: Where Learning Comes Alive

While the keynotes set the tone, the real magic happened in the breakout sessions. Over 30 professionals opened their worlds to our students through hands-on workshops that went far beyond traditional career exploration.

Students dove into practical skills like résumé building, public speaking, and professional image marketing alongside sessions on law and finance, immigrant rights advocacy, and launching freelancing businesses. The creative energy was equally powerful, with workshops on arts and activism through canvas painting, photography and imagery, edible flower making, and fashion modeling.

The STEM and social impact sessions drew packed rooms, covering everything from innovation and women in leadership to social-emotional learning, self-care practices, therapeutic crafts, and expanding higher education access for BIPOC students.

These weren't passive presentations, they were dynamic exchanges where ideas sparked, networks formed, and futures took shape in real-time.

The Ripple Effect of Possibility

What struck us most wasn't just the number of students who attended, but how they engaged. Questions flew from every corner. Conversations continued long after sessions ended.

RTS CEO Sheila Duke witnessed this transformation firsthand. She said,

"Today I watched 800 young people step into rooms they'd never imagined themselves in, and claim their space with confidence and curiosity. The RTS Success Summit proves what we've always believed, that when you combine access with mentorship and wrap it in genuine belief, you don't just change career trajectories, you change lives. These students aren't just preparing for their future, they're actively creating it, one bold question and one new connection at a time."

Every workshop attended, every speaker heard, and every connection made planted a seed. And if the energy in those rooms was any indication, we're about to witness an incredible harvest. After witnessing the passion, intelligence, and determination in those rooms, it's clear:

The future is something they're actively building, starting right now.

The event saw our partners and supporters come together to create impact for NYC Youth. Thank you to everyone for helping make a difference.