Connecticut Entrepreneur and Author Speaks Out About Youth Experience at Wapping Community Church

After years of silence, Connecticut entrepreneur, author, and business consultant Justin Calabrese is coming forward to share the lasting emotional impact of his experience in a church youth program, citing concerns about leadership conduct and accountability.

Calabrese, who participated in the Senior Pilgrim Fellowship (SPF) program at Wapping Community Church in South Windsor, Connecticut, between 2004 and 2008, states that his interactions with then-youth leader Kristen Kleiman were not marked by support or encouragement. According to Calabrese, those experiences left him feeling embarrassed, dismissed, and publicly humiliated during formative years when guidance and care were expected.

"I can only speak from my own memory and perspective," Calabrese said, "but the way those moments made me feel was clear and lasting. I felt small. I felt targeted. And I felt unsupported by someone in a position of authority."

Calabrese emphasizes that the role of a youth leader carries significant responsibility-one that requires nurturing, listening, and protecting the emotional well-being of young people. When that responsibility is mishandled, he notes, the consequences can extend far beyond the moment itself.

"The emotional effects of leadership failures don't simply disappear," Calabrese explained. "They can shape confidence, self-worth, and personal development for years, even decades. In my case, they did."

He stresses that his decision to speak publicly is not driven by retaliation, but by a desire for honesty and accountability. By sharing his experience, Calabrese hopes to shed light on how unchecked authority and poor leadership practices can deeply affect youth participants in faith-based programs.

"This is about reclaiming a voice that stayed quiet for too long," he said. "It's about acknowledging how leadership-when misused or mishandled-can leave lasting marks on the very people it is meant to serve."

Calabrese says he is sharing his story to encourage transparency and reflection within youth programs and religious institutions, and to remind others who may have had similar experiences that they are not alone.

"No teenager should walk into a church program and leave feeling humiliated by the person meant to support them," he stated. "By choosing transparency over silence, I hope others who felt minimized or dismissed by authority figures understand that their voice matters-and their story deserves to be told."

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Justin Calabrese, MSM is an American entrepreneur, author, digital music creator, and small business consultant from Hartford, Connecticut. His entrepreneurial journey began early and gained national attention in 2008 when he was featured on National Public Radio for his work in eCommerce. Since then, he has built a multifaceted career spanning technology, marketing, business development, consumer behavior, and creative media.
Justin holds a Master's degree in Business Management from the University of Hartford, graduating with top honors and earning rare dual lifetime honors society induction, placing him in the top three percent of business students worldwide. He is the author of Mastering Momentum: Driving Success in Business Management and the creator of the music album Baptized in Regret, which explores themes of personal growth, identity, and religious trauma. As a consultant, he has guided more than 150 small businesses toward sustainable growth, with insights featured in outlets such as the Huffington Post and NewsBreak. Based between Connecticut and Vermont, Justin continues to focus on helping entrepreneurs succeed through strategic vision, technology, and practical execution.

This release was published on openPR.