PDP Alumni Association Gatherings - 2026

October’s PDP Alumni Meetup brought mentors and PDP Alumni Association members together for dinner and a screening of Sketch, recommended by Ben Keller. The film follows a young girl whose drawings come to life after her sketchbook falls into a mysterious pond, unleashing chaos in her town and bringing her family together to stop the monsters.

The evening also featured special guest Shun Lee, PDP mentor and producer of Sketch, who joined the group for the screening and an opportunity to connect with the alumni community. The gathering continued the Film Club’s goal of learning from and studying films together while building relationships across the PDP mentor and mentee community.

September’s PDP Alumni Association meetup brought alumni together in Highland Park for an evening of fellowship and a shared potluck. The monthly gatherings continue to provide a relaxed space for graduates of HPN’s Professional Discipleship Program to reconnect, share about their work and lives, and encourage one another in their professional and spiritual journeys.

This month’s special guests were Patrick Rieger, PDP mentor and head writer, and Maria Haras, Development Exec. The gathering offered another opportunity for alumni to connect with fellow professionals, learn from experienced mentors, and continue building a community rooted in faith, excellence, and mutual support.

HPN’s PDP Film Club launched in September with a special screening of Citizen Kane at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills. Inspired by development executive and PDP mentor Carl Rogers, the new initiative encourages members of the PDP community to watch films more intentionally, studying what works, what doesn’t, and why. The goal is to learn together as a mentor-mentee community, exploring the storytelling, character, and craft behind great films.

The September 23 screening was part of Wednesday With Welles, a monthly film and discussion series exploring the life and work of Orson Welles. The evening featured filmmaker and editor Stanley Sheff, who had worked with Welles on his final completed production. Sheff shared stories and insights before leading a live discussion following the film. Special thanks to Carl Rogers for inspiring the Film Club and Karen Covell for inviting the PDP community to this screening!

August’s PDP Alumni Association meetup continued the new monthly gathering for graduates of HPN’s Professional Discipleship Program. These informal meetups offer alumni an opportunity to stay connected, share what they’re working on, celebrate one another’s progress, and receive encouragement and prayer from fellow professionals.

This month featured Jessica Oyelowo, PDP Alumni Advisory Mentor and Co-Founder of Yoruba Saxon Productions, and Dan Hook, a member of the PDP Alumni Leadership team. Building on July’s conversation about vertical content, Dan shared about a two-minute vertical “grace” project he is producing for his church. Alumni also had the opportunity to share their own projects, wins, and prayer requests while enjoying an evening of fellowship.

July marked the launch of HPN’s PDP Alumni Association, a new community created exclusively for graduates of the Professional Discipleship Program who are living out their faith as professionals of excellence. Membership offers access to socials, events, professional labs, and other activities designed to help PDP alumni stay connected beyond the mentorship program. Open to those who have completed or are actively completing all three parts of PDP, the Alumni Association provides a place to celebrate one another’s wins, find support along the journey, and continue growing in their professional and spiritual lives.

The inaugural meetup took place in Highland Park on July 14, featuring special guests Jessica Oyelowo, Co-Founder of Yoruba Saxon Productions, and John Quinn, editor and new PDP mentor. Jessica shared insights on vertical content and answered questions from attendees, while John joined the group for fellowship and conversation, including discussion around The Chosen. The evening also gave alumni an opportunity to share current projects, wins, and prayer requests, with plenty of time for fellowship and encouragement.