Leadership Greater Hartford Welcomes Marsha McCurdy Adell as New Director and Announces Open Recruitment for Class 18 of the Third Age Initiative™

Hartford, CT – 2024–Leadership Greater Hartford (LGH) is thrilled to announce Marsha McCurdy Adell as the new Director of the Third Age Initiative™. With a remarkable 24-year career in public service and firefighting in West Hartford, Marsha brings invaluable experience and passion to the program.

Marsha was the first Black woman to graduate from the Connecticut Fire Academy and has served as a first responder, Fire Inspector, and Deputy Fire Marshal. A West Hartford native, she lives there with her twin daughters. Marsha has also been a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging consultant for 17 years, having founded her own consulting agency in 2007. Her dedication to community service makes her an exceptional addition to the LGH team.

“We are thrilled to welcome Marsha McCurdy Adell to LGH,” said Doe Hentschel, LGH Leadership Preceptor and founding director of the Third Age Initiative™. “Her extensive experience and passion for community support align perfectly with the mission of the Third Age Initiative™. We look forward to the positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to our program and the broader LGH network.”

LGH is also pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the upcoming Third Age Initiative™ program, starting this fall. This year-long program, designed for retired individuals seeking to make a meaningful impact in their community, offers personal development and collaborative community action. Thanks to the generosity of program sponsors, there is no fee to participate.

The Third Age Initiative™ features interactive workshops that help participants understand their values, motivations, and strengths. Participants work in a collaborative™ setting while learning about the Greater Hartford region’s strengths and challenges.

Participants form teams to design and implement impactful community action initiatives in partnership with local organizations. Past projects have addressed issues like children’s literacy, hunger, reducing polarization, intergenerational  mentoring, neighborhood redevelopment, reentry of formerly incarcerated individuals, children’s mental health, and employment for intellectually and developmentally disabled young adults. These projects have significantly impacted the community and provided participants with a rewarding experience of shared learning and community building.

“We are thrilled to open the application process for Class 18 of the Third Age Initiative™ Program,” said Marsha Adell. “This program empowers individuals to use their life experiences and skills to address important issues in our region, fostering a sense of community and driving positive change. I am eager to lead Class 18 and look forward to meeting with prospective participants who are passionate about making a difference in our community.”

Interested individuals are encouraged to attend an information session, offered both in person and virtually on Zoom. Attendance is limited to ten participants per session. For more information and to apply, please visit www.leadershipgh.org/third-age-initiative or contact Marsha Adell, Director of Third Age Initiative, at marsha.adell@leadershipgh.org or 860-206-5066.

Leadership Greater Hartford is dedicated to developing, connecting, and inspiring diverse and effective leaders to build inclusive, vibrant communities. Through a variety of programs and initiatives, LGH fosters leadership skills, encourages civic engagement, and facilitates community collaboration.