Capital Workforce Partners Names Kyle Wright in Leadership Role as Director of the Hartford Opportunity Youth Collaborative
Alexa Lopez
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Rowena White
Cell: (203) 257-0031
Capital Workforce Partners Names Kyle Wright in Leadership Role as Director of the Hartford Opportunity Youth Collaborative
Hartford, CT (March 31, 2026) - Capital Workforce Partners (CWP), in partnership with the City of Hartford and community leaders, today announced the appointment of Kyle Wright as Director of the Hartford Opportunity Youth Collaborative (HOYC), effective March 31, 2026.
The
Hartford Opportunity Youth Collaborative is a citywide initiative focused on improving outcomes for young people ages 14–29 who are disconnected from school and work. Bringing together more than 30 organizations, HOYC aligns programs, services, and resources
to create clear pathways to education, training, and employment. The director’s position has been made possible through funding provided by Greater Hartford Gives, the City of Hartford, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, the Aspen Opportunity
Youth Forum, and the Nutmeg Foundation. As Director, Wright will lead this effort by strengthening coordination across partners, advancing the Collaborative’s strategy, and ensuring young people do not fall through gaps in the system, by building clear pathways
to success.
“HOYC exists to make sure no young person in Hartford slips through the cracks,” said Alex Johnson, CEO of Capital Workforce Partners. “This role is about bringing organizations together, aligning the work, and making sure the system actually works for young people. We are confident Kyle has the leadership, judgment, and commitment to take this on and move it forward in a meaningful way.”
Wright brings a background in business leadership, strategic growth, and building partnerships that drive results. A Hartford native, he understands the challenges young people face and is committed to creating real pathways to opportunity.
As Director, Wright will lead implementation of HOYC’s Action Plan, which focuses on strengthening career pathways, expanding access to holistic support, improving data alignment and accountability, elevating youth leadership, and advancing policy and systems change. He will work closely with community partners, public agencies, and stakeholders to align efforts, track progress, and ensure the Collaborative delivers measurable results for Hartford’s youth.
"I'm excited to welcome Kyle Wright as the new director of the Hartford Opportunity Youth Collaborative” said Mayor Arulampalam of Hartford. “HOYC's services are critical in our efforts to cut the number of disconnected Hartford youth in half over the next five years, and I look forward to working with Kyle to serve our young people and continue to invest in the boundless potential of Hartford's next generation of leaders."
“After a series of inclusive conversations and planning with stakeholders across sectors—nonprofits, city agencies, philanthropy, and community voices—and this funding partnership between the City of Hartford, the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, the United Way of Central and Northeastern CT, and the Aspen Institute, the Hartford Opportunity Youth Collaborative is becoming more responsive, coordinated, and centered on the needs and aspirations of Hartford’s youth,” said Greater Hartford Gives Senior Community Impact Officer Joel Hicks-Rivera. “Advancing equitable outcomes for opportunity youth requires aligned systems, shared accountability, and sustained leadership capacity. Greater Hartford Gives is pleased to be able to support the hiring of a director to coordinate the effort to implement the organization’s new action plan to ensure that every young person in Hartford has access to a youth workforce system that is built for them—one that is equitable, empowering, and aligned with their potential.”
“United Way is pleased to welcome Kyle Wright as Director of the Hartford Opportunity Youth Collaborative. His leadership will strengthen outcomes for young adults, align resources across partners, and drive systems-level change to help reduce poverty,” said Eric Harrison, President and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. “This appointment builds on the long-standing systems coordination collaboration between United Way, Capital Workforce Partners and the City of Hartford - in partnership with young adults - to close employment gaps and create opportunities for more young people to gain access to quality careers.”
“I’m honored to step into this role at such an important time for Hartford,” said Wright. “There is already strong work happening across the city. The opportunity now is to connect it, strengthen it, and make sure it leads to real outcomes for young people.”
With Wright’s leadership, Capital Workforce Partners and its partners aim to deepen coordination across the youth-serving ecosystem and accelerate progress toward a more equitable and effective system of support.
##