Meet Our Trailblazer
Representative Tammy Exum
We are excited to announce the 2025 Trailblazer Award, celebrating individuals who show an unwavering, long-term commitment to a more just and equitable system for young people. This award honors visionary leaders who profoundly improve young lives and marginalized communities, create space for partnership, and encourage others to lead. We are incredibly proud to present this year's Trailblazer Award to State Representative Tammy Exum.
State Representative Tammy Exum is a dedicated public servant committed to community betterment and youth well-being. A former elementary school teacher with a master’s in business administration, her leadership on the West Hartford Board of Education and involvement with groups like the West Hartford Special Education PTA highlight her community focus.
Since her 2019 election to represent the 19th District, Representative Exum has become a powerful voice in the Connecticut legislature, serving as Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, a member of the Human Services Committee, and Deputy Majority Leader.
She has championed transformative legislation, notably co-authoring HB 5001, “An Act Concerning Children’s Mental Health,” ensuring critical mental health support for children. Her advocacy extends to the disability community, where she introduced legislation in 2021 to expand workforce and career opportunities, creating a groundbreaking disability workforce pipeline.
Beyond legislative achievements, Representative Exum is known for her genuine care and effective action on community concerns. Her personal advocacy for heart health awareness, inspired by the loss of her husband, has driven her to promote coronary calcium scans and save lives.
We also deeply appreciate Representative Exum’s invaluable contributions as Co-Chair of our Transforming Children’s Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee. Her empathy, leadership, and relentless pursuit of a more just and equitable world make her an inspiration. We are honored to present her with the Trailblazer Award.
“I am not an expert in behavioral health; I am a mom who has experienced the entire spectrum of the behavioral health service system, and what I found was broken, and that children and families were falling through the cracks at every conceivable point along the way. As a legislator and a Tri-Chair, I am laser-focused on operationalizing the 2022 legislation that will build the best, most comprehensive system we can.”
"If I had the opportunity to share a message with other youth, I would tell them how rewarding it is to embrace your authenticity and to share your story. "
Meet Our rising Trailblazer
Oluwaseyi Oluborode
We are thrilled to announce a new addition to our 2025 Pathways to Success conference: the Rising Trailblazer Award! This prestigious award recognizes a young changemaker who demonstrates exceptional potential and a strong dedication to driving positive change within their community. It is with great pleasure that we announce Oluwaseyi Oluborode as the inaugural recipient of our 2025 Rising Trailblazer Award. Oluwaseyi embodies the spirit of this award through her profound commitment to social justice, her intellectual curiosity, and her active engagement in creating a better future for young people.
Oluwaseyi Oluborode is a remarkable young leader driven by her passion for Political Science and Urban Studies. These subjects resonate deeply with her as they illuminate human relationships and societal complexities, directly informing her advocacy. She’s currently researching the impact of limited transit access on at-risk youth.
Her commitment to social justice is clear through her leadership roles as President of Mock Trial and Vice President of the Social Justice League, alongside her involvement in student council, Black Student Union, and National Honors Society. Oluwaseyi also volunteers with Hartford City Mission and engages in youth advocacy through the SpeakUp group and Youth Action Hub. After high school, she plans to pursue a Political Science degree followed by law school, aligning with her dedication to justice.