Connection is our superpower.
It was the theme of Wyman’s 2026 Amplify Gala and you could feel it in the room. At Wyman, connection is at the center of everything we do: we connect teens to their voices, their strengths, and their futures through proven programs and supports.
The 2026 Amplify Gala brought together friends, champions, alumni, and partners to celebrate what’s possible when young people are surrounded by support. We listened, we celebrated, we reflected – and we left reminded that connection can change the trajectory of a teen’s life.
Here are a few moments we’re still thinking about (in the best way).
Highlights from the 2026 Amplify Gala
Teen speaker: London
London is a high school senior who has participated in all three of Wyman’s proven programs: Teen Outreach Program, Teen Connection Project, and Wyman Leaders. Her Wyman journey began in 7th grade when she returned to in-school learning after COVID, a tough transition for her and her peers. London shared:
“Before Wyman, I struggled with feeling isolated and making new friends. After participating in the programs, I now feel that I can just talk to people easily. I’m open-minded and not afraid to meet new people, and I advocate for myself. Being a Wyman teen has helped me with my confidence, academic success, leadership skills, and helped me focus on life after graduation. With the opportunities and information that Wyman gives for post-graduation, it feels like I have more support and direction. Because I have this support, I have the drive to explore opportunities and career options I didn’t know were available.”
London’s story is exactly why we gather: to celebrate youth voice and to make sure more teens have access to the support, relationships, and opportunities that help them thrive.
Keynote speaker: Orlondo Williams
Wyman alum and 2026 honoree Orlondo Williams delivered a keynote that was equal parts inspiring and grounding, sharing how Wyman helped shape the leader he is today.
A member of the Wyman Leaders Class of 2019, Orlondo now serves as Principal of his alma mater, Cardinal Ritter College Prep, and is the youngest high school principal in Missouri.
He shared that the leadership skills he uses every day as Principal were developed during his time with Wyman, starting with the Teen Outreach Program in middle school:
“Every week, Wyman facilitators came into our Social Studies class and they didn’t just teach lessons, they built relationships. They talked to us about leadership, peer pressure, community, and decision-making – life skills we didn’t even realize we needed at the time.
And they made it engaging. But more importantly, they cared. They understood us. And they invested in us. Wyman also gave me opportunities to step outside of my comfort zone through new experiences that challenged me to grow as a leader. They trusted me to lead my peers and in doing that, they sent me a message: We believe in you. And that belief changed everything.”
That message – we believe in you – is something we want every teen to hear from as many caring adults and peers as possible.
Honoring community leaders who amplify hope and opportunity
We also celebrated people and organizations who live this work every day.
Our alumni honorees were Karina Arango, Sandrea Cogio, and Orlondo Williams. These three alumni have gone on to build meaningful paths forward. Today, they continue to amplify hope and opportunity for others in their communities.
Our community partner honorees were The School District of University City and The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis. These organizations show what it looks like to put hope into action by creating vision, building pathways, and helping young people shape their futures. Through their leadership and collaboration, Wyman’s work is possible
You can read more about these honorees here.
Reflections: Hope is something we build
Wyman’s President and CEO Allison Williams shared reflections on hope and a simple truth: hope isn’t just a wish. It’s something we can practice. Something we can strengthen. Something we can build together.
We think Wyman’s founders had that kind of hope and it’s one reason we’re still here 128 years later – learning, listening, and showing up for teens. And our supporters are part of that story. You stand on the shoulders of 128 years of believing in young people and coming together to support this work. That’s exactly why hope and connection matter.
We want to leave you with one takeaway from the night: a simple three-part “recipe” for building hope.
- Have a vision and goals. Where do we want to go? What are we working to achieve?
- Create pathways to get there. Include flexible routes and Plan B’s.
- Build a sense of agency. Strengthen the belief in your ability, and our collective ability, to achieve those goals.
At Wyman, our goal is to increase positive impact for teens, with a focus on educational and career success, life and leadership skills, and healthy behaviors and relationships.
We build pathways through our three proven programs: Wyman Leaders, Teen Connection Project, and Teen Outreach Program, which will continue to evolve as the needs of young people change.
At Wyman, we fortify our ability to create hope by walking alongside young people and our partners as we create change together. Together we activate our superpower of connection.
Watch this short video from Wyman President and CEO Allison Williams to hear more about these takeaways.
Thank you for being part of the evening
To our 2026 Amplify Gala sponsors: thank you. Your generosity made the evening possible, and your support helps ensure more teens have the relationships and opportunities they deserve.
A special thank you to our Elevate Level Gala Sponsors for their generosity and unwavering support of Wyman teens: BCLP, John Sandberg and Celeste Vossmeyer, Harvey Wallace & Madeleine Elkins, and PARIC.
And thank you for standing with us as champions and partners, helping connect teens to their voices, their strengths, and their futures through proven programs and supports.
If you’re feeling inspired, we’d love for you to stay connected:
- Share this post
- Follow Wyman on social media
- Explore our website for ways you can support teens
Together, we’re moving forward with hope and a shared purpose, rooted in the belief that every young person deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. We’re so glad you’re part of it.
Note: The definition and recipe for hope above are informed by C.R. Snyder’s Hope Theory. You can learn more in his research, including “The Psychology of Hope: You Can Get There From Here” (1994) or “Handbook of Hope: Theory, Measures, and Applications” (2000)