- Arts
- Autorino Center for the Arts
- USJ Digital Stage
Autorino Center Digital Stage
MLK Jr. Day Celebration
His Dream Had a Plan
The live stream will begin when the event starts
February, 1, 2021
12:00 p.m.
This year’s program will explore King’s lesser-known economic justice movement, The Poor People’s campaign. We are honored to welcome guest speakers, CT State Treasurer Shawn Wooden and Reuben McDaniel, President and CEO of DASNY.
Event overview
Program
Treasurer Shawn T. Wooden
Shawn T. Wooden was sworn-in as Connecticut’s 83rd State Treasurer on January 9, 2019, following a successful 21-year career as an investment attorney and service as City Council President of Hartford, Connecticut.
Born and raised in Hartford, Treasurer Wooden participated in a desegregation busing program and attended public school in the suburb of Hartford. After graduating with honors, he earned a four-year academic scholarship to Trinity College. He later attended New York University School of Law before moving back to his hometown of Hartford to begin his career at Day Pitney, LLP (formerly Day, Berry & Howard LLP), where he would go on to become a Partner and lead its public pension plan investment practice.
He has been recognized as a Connecticut Super Lawyer for Securities and Corporate Finance, Business/Corporate. Pensions and Investments named him one of the “25 Investment Professionals to Watch” and Savoy Magazine identified him as one of the most influential Black lawyers in the country.
Treasurer Wooden is the sole trustee of the $37 billion Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds, administers a $26 billion debt management program, manages over $25 billion in annual cash transactions and has a seat on 25 quasi-governmental authorities, boards and commissions related to housing, finance, student loans, air and water ports, venture capital, the lottery, private sector retirement security and a hosts of other areas.
He is the only Black elected State Treasurer in the country and the only Black elected official serving statewide in New England. He was also recently elected by his peers to serve as the Senior Vice President of the National Association of State Treasurers
Reuben R. McDaniel, III
Reuben R. McDaniel, III is the President and Chief Executive Officer of DASNY. Mr. McDaniel is responsible for the overall management of DASNY’s administration and operations. Mr. McDaniel joined DASNY in 2019 as an accomplished investment banker with more than 30 years of experience in financial services, including public finance, personal wealth management, corporate finance and private equity.
During his career in public finance, he participated in more than $75 billion in tax-exempt bond issuances throughout the country. Mr. McDaniel also founded an investment advisory firm, where he managed more than $50 million in investment portfolios and business assets for a variety of professionals.
Prior to, Mr. McDaniel served as Chair of the Atlanta Board of Education for Public Schools, where he led a diverse group of constituents and served as a voice for the community of parents. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.