For The People

Our on site visit to this year's Green Village Initiative Harvest Fest was bittersweet. While it preceded a major change for this urban agricultural nonprofit that has done so well supporting equity, community, anti-racism, wellness, knowledge-sharing, and youth mentorship, along with responding hunger and promoting food justice - the festival also provided an opportunity to meet and learn about numerous individuals in greater Bridgeport who have learned from and benefited as a result of their ties to GVI.  So stay tuned and get ready to meet some of these enterprising individuals as well as hearing about the coming changes from the nonprofit's leadership.

The Child Health and Development Institute's latest research produced a blueprint for strengthening Connecticut's behavioral health workforce for our children, so tune in and be among the first to learn how this report can help fast-track the help our kids need!  Then....we'll hear how grants from the Connecticut Health Foundation will support advocacy efforts to expand health care coverage to more immigrants and to ensure that those who are eligible can get covered. And hey, it's National Adoption Month. So, if you think you can be the best part of a child's challenging life, For the People is welcoming a rep from Wheeler’s Foster Care programs to discuss the options, support and benefits you can receive.

Since 1966 the nonprofit Continuum of Care has been serving adults diagnosed with mental illness and severe developmental and intellectual disabilities. The agency is preparing for its Holiday Bazaar that will help fund a brand new and comprehensive program that will save taxpayers millions addressing homeless individuals diagnosed with one or more of these issues - so tune in and see how you can help. Then, we're bringing in the Managing Director, Public and Government Affairs for AAA Northeast to get you up to speed on issues from pedestrian and driving safety post Daylight Saving - to a new addition to our 'Slow Down, Move Over' law, a new mobile EV emergency charging unit, and what to know if you'll be traveling this Thanksgiving. And we'll celebrate the recent opening of the western Connecticut 'Food Farmacy' by replaying part of a spring series focusing on a first-of-its-kind collaboration between United Way of Western CT and Nuvance Health on this community-based site designed to connect folks diagno

Hear from the leader of SCORE of Western CT about all the free and confidential resources for you whether you are a business owner who wants to take things to the next level, you're ready to break out on your own as an entrepreneur, or if you are a business person who's willing to share your talents and expertise as a mentor or coach. Then, we'll connect with Connecticut's Agriculture Commissioner and a state Ag Ambassador to talk about how easy, healthy, and economically feasible it is to 'Put CT Grown On Your Plate' for the fall and winter holidays - and every day! And we'll close with a rep from Eversource addressing the cost of energy and how that utility is offering a range of programs to assist folks with paying their energy bills.

Meet the CEO of Waveny LifeCare Network and hear how this regional nonprofit is delivering a comprehensive continuum of healthcare to seniors with diverse therapeutic programs, services and living options. Waveny is celebrating 50 years of service and an important new partnership going into 2024, so tune in and learn all about them. Then it's time to check in with our source at the CT DOT on subjects from Halloween traffic safety, to enhancements and fare increases on state bus and rail lines, a couple of important construction updates, and how the DOT will be making state roads more friendly for all  through the 'Complete Streets' initiative. And we'll close with Gifts of Love - a regional nonprofit supporting struggling working families by responding to provide  basic living needs including food assistance, household items, and clothing; and fighting food insecurity. We'll also let you know how to support Gifts of Love, including attending their upcoming 'Fall In Love' fundraiser.

We're closing out our 3-part series 'AARP & You' - tapping expert sources from the national AARP network to provide critical information to better protect everyone in Connecticut. In this segment, you'll learn the 3 most important things to immediately do if you are the victim of fraud. Then we're circling back with CT Housing Partners CEO and one of their developers to provide some insight into Connecticut's much maligned 8-30g statute related to affordable and workforce housing. And we're connecting with the Commissioner of Connecticut's Dept. of Developmental Services to hear more about the recently launched STEP (Supporting Transformation to Empower People) program to shift and expand the continuum of supports to serve as many individuals in the most independent settings possible.

Meet Impact Fairfield County - a women's collective giving organization funding large transformational grants for qualified nonprofits. The next application period opens October 16, so if you are involved with or volunteer for, get services from a nonprofit that operates or programs in Fairfield County, listen in and learn more. Then we're introducing Thin Line Peer Support Team, Inc, a non- profit providing peer-to-peer mental health assistance to first responders, active military, and veterans as well as facilitating access to more comprehensive mental health resources including drug and alcohol programs. Hear about their first major fundraiser - Walk the Line - and how you can help or come out and support the cause in person. Then, we're circling back with the CT Women's Hall of Fame - delivering educational resources bringing Connecticut women’s history to life for current and future generations. The Hall is planning its Induction Ceremony and 30th Anniversary Celebration October 26 - so check out our c

During International Overdose Awareness Week we featured the first of a two-part interview with the leader of Liberation Programs, which serves about 1,000 people a day in our region with addiction recovery and mental health support initiatives. Now, we're continuing that conversation. Then we're turning our attention back to ALICE - Asset Limited Income Constrained & Employed. United Way of Connecticut has just released its latest report focusing on several key points involving ALICE households...maybe yours is one of them. Then, we'll initiate a spirited conversation with The Greater Bridgeport Symphony's new guest conductor Eduardo Leandro talking about his musical journey and next week's 78th Season Opening concert - themed 'Connecting Communities.'

Can you believe veterans, active-duty service members and their families are nearly 40% more likely to lose money to scams and fraud? So, for the 2nd part of our latest series "AARP & You" we'll go to a veteran and AARP expert to help share how to identify and combat veterans-related scams.  Then we'll connect with the CT Office of the Arts to tout the October 7 READI Set Music Conference, a dynamic one-day event in New Haven celebrating the state's vibrant music scene and empowering artists and musicians with industry knowledge, networking opportunities, and a platform to showcase their artistry. Finally, we'll reconnect with Connecticut's Social Equity Council, which recently announced the launch of a community reinvestment survey that will use information in conjunction with feedback from upcoming community conversations, to develop a reinvestment plan that will bring much needed resources back into communities negatively impacted by the War on Drugs.

AARP has something for everybody - and we'll prove it as we kick off our latest series 'AARP & You' - a three-pert deep dive into issues that could affect us all, including ways to help protect yourself from imposters stealing your identity, supporting our veterans, and a few important things you need to know regarding gift cards. Then we'll reconnect with the Valley Community Foundation and pick up on a conversation with the Valley Health District as those agencies collaborate on an upcoming free health & wellness forum. And we'll close circling back with the CT Data Collaborative, which just released a surprising and concerning new report about the upward trend of multigenerational households. Why is that so important? Stay tuned and find out!

The Connecticut Technology Council's Women of Innovation event is the state's first women in tech awards, which now includes over 800 women as winners and finalists. So we'll touch base with CTC's new Executive Director to get the latest on how the CTC can help if you are in a tech or STEM field - and how you can help support Connecticut's Women of Innovation. Then, we'll welcome back Cindi Bigelow to talk about this year's Bigelow Tea Community Challenge and meet representatives from one of the nonprofits this 35-plus year tradition helps fund - Bridge House, a supportive and empowering community for adults with persistent mental illness. And we'll wrap with two spokespeople from Norwalk's Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America, promoting its research and services to improve life now for people living with lupus, and touting  the upcoming fund and awareness-raising Walk to End LupusNow, coming to Norwalk in October.

This morning we're reconnecting with Children in Placement to discuss their critical work with young people. Since 1979, CIP has advocated for the best interests of Connecticut’s abused and neglected children throughout the child welfare and judicial systems by securing them safe homes, supportive services, and a stable transition into adulthood. Then we'll meet a representative From The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs organization - which grew out of the Sandy Hook tragedy to bring these truly exceptional animals into the lives of people who need them most. We'll hear about how Exceptional Sidekick is now partnering in a growing program to serve young patients and their families at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital. And we'll close catching up with the CEO of Abilis, inviting you to their upcoming Walk/Run for Abilis, and explaining how this nonprofit has been serving people with disabilities in lower Fairfield County for over 70 years.

We're welcoming back Rebecca Kowalski who co-founded the CMAK Sandy Hook Memorial Foundation to honor her son Chase Michael Anthony Kowalski - one of the 20 student victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School. We'll hear about how their programs have been ramping back up since the COVID era, and remind you about how to get your kids involved, or to support the cause at a couple of cool upcoming events. Then we'll have an important and informative chat with Dr Deidre Gifford who runs Connecticut's OHS - the Office of Health Strategy. She will be unpacking a number of the enlightening rankings - good and bad - about our state's healthcare delivery systems and related issues that affect and impact the health of everyone across Connecticut. And we'll close on this first day of International Overdose Awareness Week with the first of a two-part interview featuring the leader of Liberation Programs, which serves about 1,000 people a day in our region with a range of addiction recovery and mental health support initiat

Meet the founder of the nonprofit JoeAbate  Foundation, and learn how it's supporting families with babies in the Yale New Haven Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, as wll as creating micro-internships to help students discover career possibilities. We'll also invite you to the nonprofiit's upcoming Light Up the Night fundraiser. Then we'll be inviting you to join or support the Probus Club of Greater New Haven, which is seeking new members to support an incredible variety of service projects the club takes on. We'll also explain how the Probus Club can help you get rid of unused bicycles and musical instruments that might be cluttering up your closets, garages, or storage areas. Then we'll hear about Energize Connecticut's Green STEP Summer Training Program, which just graduated 100 young people credentialed and prepared to go to work in Green commerce. We'll let you in on how to get your school system involved, and about Energize Connecticut's fall plans for expanding this program to after school.

This week, we're introducing the CT Violence Intervention Program - CTVIP. This nonprofit practices trauma-informed care and unconditional care with every youth they come in contact with, providing a one-stop shop for at-risk youth and generally at-risk victims of violence throughout the New Haven region. Then we're checking in with State Senator Tony Hwang to discuss some of the most important outcomes from the 2023 General Assembly session, as well as a couple of issues still simmering that are likely to come up again in 2024. And we'll close replaying a segment featuring a unique nonprofit called Histoury - this organization hosts fun and educational tours helping folks in Fairfield County show off or learn about styles of architecture, community development, and the events and people that shaped these places.

If you are a small or medium size business, a start-up or entrepreneur who is ready to rock and roll, we've got a representative of the CT Small Business Development Center to let you in on everything the SBDC can do for you. Then we'll help parents, friends and loved ones of adolescents and teens facing possible mental health challenges access an important new resource from the CT Council of Family Service Agencies - free youth mental health screening and fast-track referrals for support to anyone who may need it across the state. And we'll close as Black Philanthropy Month arrives this August by bringing in the founder of Waterbury's Black Giving Circle, which is ramping up recruiting and is seeking a whole new group of younger new members who want to to cultivate charitable giving within the Black community.

We're inviting you back out to the Reservoir Community Farm to attend next weekend's Green Village Initiative (GVI) First Urban Farming Extravaganza connecting farmers and gardeners to engage in beginner and intermediate hands-on workshops with the goal of growing knowledge and interconnection, rooted in our shared goal to feed our loved ones and communities. Next — are you aware that right now, Connecticut lacks about 89,000 units of housing that are affordable and available to its lowest income renters, and the toll an escalating eviction crisis is taking on our economy, workforce, public health, education systems and quality of life? To get a better scope on the damage, we're bringing in a key research fellow at CT Voices for Children to unpack their latest report on the eviction crisis and how we'll need to address it. And we're closing introducing the CEO of the Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center network to talk about how they are delivering a wide range of physical, mental, dental and wellness services

This morning we're going to bookending our show promoting programs that will be directly or indirectly addressing two key recent Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action and student load debt.  We're opening by briefing educators, nonprofit representatives and community members about the upcoming Sacred Heart University symposium on Creating Antiracist Solutions, that will be addressing the recent SCOTUS decision on affirmative action. Then we'll help celebrate 190 years of supporting and helping local young people address and overcome challenges that may have life-altering implications as we visit with the Children's Center of Hamden. And we'll wrap with a chat focusing on anyone saddled with student loan debt who just saw a planned student loan debt forgiveness program struck down by SCOTUS. We'll also provide some highly valuable advice and assistance courtesy of AAA Northeast Bank's Director of Student Lending.

Check out the second of our two-part discussion with the Connecticut Food System Alliance about their recent collaborations and report to help inform all of New England as they pursue the goal of producing and consuming 30% of New England’s food needs in the region by 2030.  Then, we'll focus on communities across Connecticut receiving AARP Community Challenge grants. This year, five Connecticut projects were chosen from over 3,000 applicants, so stay tuned nd learn about each of these community building initiatives that will all be completed by the end of this year. And we'll close chatting with the founder of Visionary Physical Therapy about the unique issues and needs facing first responders, and how he and several Sacred Heart University PT students will be providing free treatments to first responders at an upcoming event in Fairfield.

We're going to do a lot of talking about food and the environment this week starting with the first of a two-part discussion with the Connecticut Food System Alliance. We'll begin unpacking a recent report they helped produce to inform consumers, state governments, farmers, and the food industry in pursuit of producing and consuming 30% of New England’s food in the region by 2030.  Then we'll tap our partners at the USDA for a deep dive on summer food safety. Barbecues, parties and picnics have great potential to spread foodborne illness, so we'll walk you through everything you need to know to keep your family and guests safe - from the market, all the way to packing up your leftovers. And we'll close with the CT League of Conservation Voters recapping some of the wins and losses coming out of the 2023 state legislative session. While 2023 reflected a number of advances, you'll learn how lawmakers fumbled when it came to continuing Connecticut's pattern of progress on addressing climate change and food was