For The People

A lot of people don't think much about libraries ...until they can't get reliable, factual answers they need asking their mobile device or smart speaker. So, we're catching up with the outgoing president of the CT Library Assoc. talking about these vital localized or specialized resource centers and the professionals who staff and stock them. Then we'll conclude our June Pride Month focus chatting with the CT Healthy Living Collective whose CT LGBTQ+ Moveable Senior Center Program has expanded to 24 senior centers across Connecticut now offering events specifically designed for LGBTQ+ community members. And we'll kick off the first weekend of summer with a quick briefing from the CT Dept. of Transportation. We'll cover a few basic summer travel and safe operating reminders, remind you about expanded emergency roadside assistance service, and a new program monitoring speeding and issuing warnings if you're speeding through state road work zones.

For victims of interpersonal violence, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, the Center for Empowerment & Education provides support services while empowering individuals to find their voice and choose their path toward healing as they rebuild their lives. Tune in and hear all about it. Then we're going to check-in with our partners at AARP-CT to learn about a number of successful initiatives they supported going into the 2023 state Legislative Session. These are programs of importance to many - whether you're old enough for AARP membership or you love and care for someone who is. And if you live in the lower Naugatuck Valley, and you'd like to know more about - or talk about - transportation challenges and proposed solutions, we'll preview an upcoming info session coming up in Shelton that you might just want to be part of...

We're continuing our Pride Month focus showcasing a unique collaboration between Wilton Pride and the Norwalk River Valley Trail and the upcoming Push N' Pull Pride Month celebration. Tune in and find out how to be part of this first of its kind events at one of Fairfield County's newest recreational destinations. Then it's time for one of Connecticut's premier activities - the global cultural and community celebration that is the International Festival of Arts & Ideas opening this weekend and continuing through June 25 with dozens of ticketed - but mostly free concerts, exhibits, talks, and way too much to even pack into this segment. June is also Pollinator Month, so we're welcoming back the National Wildlife Federation to talk about the critical importance of sustaining and growing our regional population of pollinators utilizing a host of native plants that are easy to get, plant, and grow right in your own yard.

We're wrapping up our 2-part series focusing on United Way of Western CT and its partnership with Nuvance Health on an innovative "Food Farmacy" - a community-based site designed to increase access to and consumption of healthful foods for those individuals across western and southwestern Connecticut diagnosed with obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and/or hypertension. Then we'll be putting some Pride Month focus on a new and unique collaboration between Westport Pride and the Westport Museum for History & Culture - an Oral History Project aiming to fulfill the museum's mission to "make history whole" by bringing to light the hidden narratives of marginalized groups, with a specific focus on the LGBTQ+ community. And we'll close with the Education Diversity Coordinator from the CT Dept of Education - discussing a multi-faceted and well-funded commitment to fortify our state's teaching force, while expanding the diversity of educators for the benefit of all the children and youths who will learn from the

We're kicking off the first of a two-part series focusing on United Way of Western CT and Nuvance Health which just opened their Food Farmacy - a community-based site increasing access to and consumption of healthful foods for those across the region diagnosed with obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and/or hypertension. Then we're heading down to Bridgeport to chat with representatives from Career Resources about their efforts to fortify area businesses and their workforces through a May 31 Second Chance Re-Entry Job Fair specifically supporting second chance citizens. And we'll close inviting everyone ahead of Pride Month to the June 3 Bethel CT Pride Celebration - a street parade and family-friendly party featuring 50+ vendors, food, a kids’ craft tent, and health stations offering confidential HIV and Hepatitis-C rapid testing along with monkeypox and Covid vaccinations.

A lot of really exciting things happen when Junior Achievement is part of your kid's education. So For the People is Bringing in a former educator - now the leader of Junior Achievement of Southwest New England to learn how JA is inspiring students and young people to be productive contributors to Connecticut's communities and near-future workforce. Then we'll stay with the workforce theme — and find out how the clean energy sector is not only providing tons of opportunities for a growing number of diverse workforce candidates, but why clean energy is also critical to the state's economy, and even our public health. And we'll close connecting with Histoury — a unique nonprofit helping folks in Fairfield County show off or learn about styles of architecture and community development, while introducing its guests to the events and people that shaped the places where we live.

While April was Alcohol Awareness Month, health and safety issues tied to alcohol use and consumption are affecting our communities 365 days a year, so we're circling back with McCall Behavioral Health to talk about how they are carrying alcohol awareness initiatives into the summer, along with some other exciting news involving this regional health agency. Then we're going to have a candid chat with a local traffic safety scientist from the Preusser Research Group covering the importance of Connecticut's new all passenger  seatbelt law, the uptrend in wrong-way highway collisions, the latest issues involving teen drivers, and UConn's Crash Data Repository. And since the free 2023 Yoga In Our City program is about to begin across numerous Connecticut Communities, we'll replay our 2022 segment on the initiative to familiarize you and hopefully inspire you to try out this health no-cost activity for yourself!

As Connecticut's recreational cannabis market continues to flourish, and the date for legal home grown cannabis approaches, the award-winning For the People hit the floor of the Mohegan Sun convention center to chat with the organizer and a number of vendors at the recent XPOCANNA Connecticut Cannabis Expo to learn more about cannabis pharmacology, obtaining a medical cannabis card, cannabis testing, lighting, its CBG component, and how folks are tying cannabis consumption into community-building activities. So sit back and get ready to roll along with us as we explore the Expo.

Since May is National Foster Care Month, we're opening with the director of the Annie C. Courtney Foundation, to learn how this nonprofit is supporting and promoting positive, empowering, loving and healthy communities for vulnerable children, youth and families with the goal of preventing the need for foster care.  Then it's off to UConn to learn a thing or two about preventing serious sports injuries and death with its Korey Stringer Institute, one of the recently announced partners in the NFL's Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which is advocating for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based policies that will prevent fatal outcomes from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) among high school students. And we'll close inviting you to get to know and support the CT Breast Health Initiative, a state-wide non-profit organization making a significant impact in the quest to find a cure for breast cancer by providing grants to support education and research in Connecticut.

We're circling back to the Wheeler Health network to help celebrate the recent CT Community Foundation grant supporting Wheeler's Walk With Me program -  creating a safe, affirming, and inclusive array of outpatient services for LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones. Then head back up the mighty Housatonic to catch up with the Housatonic River Commission - the decades-long driving force behind a recent federal 'Wild & Scenic' designation that was provided for one of the most pristine stretches of that western Connecticut waterway. Finally, we'll lead you from the river to the forest, to catch up with the Aspetuck Land Trust and invite you to explore the 2100-plus acres they manage in southwestern Connecticut — while learning more about their Green Corridor initiative and other cool activities for the spring and summer.

We're at the midpoint of April - Sexual Assault Awareness Month - so we're highlighting a couple of agencies providing support to victims beginning with the Susan B. Anthony Project - celebrating 40 years of service in Torrington and communities in central Litchfield County. Then we'll head to Meriden to chat with folks from the Women and Families Center, which provides sexual assault support services, as well as a number of other critical programs focusing on youth homelessness and workforce development. Their first ever Walk for Hope to End Homelessness is coming up, so we'll clue you in on that as well. Finally, we're taking the long road up to Ashford to let everyone know Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is back following a devastating fire - and is ready to re-open better than ever for the kids and volunteers who support them.

Meet the new CEO of LifeBridge Community Services, a Bridgeport agency partnering with individuals, youth, and families to improve well-being, strengthen resilience, and create a brighter future. They've got an exciting event coming up called 'Creating from the HeART' - so we'll invite you to that while learning about the agency's recent designation as an Urban Trauma Center. Then, we'll welcome a panel of individuals putting the power of two wheels behind a drive to create legislation that will help greatly improve the lives, health and mobility of the thousands of folks across Connecticut who either temporarily or permanently utilize wheelchairs to get around. Finally, you've heard about the increasing levels of PFAS and forever chemicals in our environment and especially in our water supplies, so we're turning to an expert from  Aquarion Water Company to learn what that public utility is doing to better identify and filter these potentially harmful chemicals from their numerous state water systems.

For the People is pleased to introduce two new officials in our state government beginning with our newly elected State Treasurer Erick Russell who will get us up to speed on what his office is up to - as well as discussing programs like the Baby Bonds initiative and the state's Unclaimed Property Fund. Then, For the People will chat with the recently appointed leader of the CT Paid Leave Authority. There are some really important dates and deadlines both employers and employees need to be aware of, so our guest will remind you about them as well as all you need to know about this innovative workforce benefit. Finally, For the People visits with ARI of Connecticut, Inc. which has intentionally remained one of the smallest providers of services for adults with developmental disabilities in the state enabling the agency to provide a “family like” environment and a more individualized approach to services and supports. Their annual Walk For Independence is coming up later this month, so we'll clue you in about

As we celebrate the first full week of Spring it's appropriate that we also celebrate the return of the Northeast Organic Farming Association Connecticut Chapter's 41st Winter Conference that concluded with the first in-person event since 2020, and like we have been for decades, For the People was on scene to bring you interviews with CT NOFA leadership, reps from the FDA, the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund, and vendors talking about seeds, alpacas, sustainable appliances, and environmentally safe products and practices. So stay tuned and join The award winning For the People as we plant ourselves on the Weslyan University campus to experience everything CT NOFA.

We're going to get inspired to try and keep more of Connecticut's young people out of the often defeating and damaging environment of incarceration as we meet the leader of CTJA - The Connecticut Justice Alliance - bringing a diverse set of voices together to lift up and protect kids facing challenges that can't be helped behind bars. Then we'll hear about The East Coast Greenway - stretching 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida, and how far along Connecticut is in in completing its section of this project offering a safe place for bicyclists, walkers, runners, and more - of all ages and abilities - to commute, exercise, and visit new destinations. And we'll close replaying an early January visit with New Reach, to learn more about this locally based nonprofit organization, and how its dedicated staff is committed to making homelessness in Connecticut rare, brief and non-recurring.

We're looking back on National Consumer Protection Week with Connecticut's Commissioner of Consumer Protection and bringing you some important reminders about how to best protect yourself and the ones you love from scammers and situations designed to rip you off or steal your identity. Then we'll work up your appetite with our friends from Jersey Mike's Subs. We are smack in the middle of Jersey Mike's Month of Giving and working our way toward their March 29 Day of Giving, so we'll chat with a company representative about this effort, and then welcome Make-A-Wish Connecticut - this year's Month of Giving philanthropy recipient. And we'll close by saying farewell to Eric Jacobsen - the soon-to-be departing director and conductor of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony. We'll reflect on his journey over the past nine years, hear about a couple of exciting upcoming performances, and what's in store for this talented musician in the months and years to come.

We'll open transporting you to the Glebe House Museum in historic Woodbury's village center, and invite you to learn about one of the earliest historic house museums in the nation offering authentic architecture, an outstanding regional furniture collection and Gertrude Jekyll Garden. Next, we'll welcome the National Smart Solar Director for the American Farmland Trust. to help clue us all in on that agency's Smart Solar policies and continued investment in farmland protection - and invite you to be part of a March 8 webinar entitled: "Building a Resilient Future: Connecticut’s Smart Solar Opportunities."  Then, we'll be introducing you to AgingCT — a statewide network of coordinated information, supports, and services to help Connecticut's older and vulnerable adults and everyone else navigate their aging journey based on their care setting, preferences, and needs.

We've got exciting news for farmers, gardeners and those who love our land resources - The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut (NOFA-CT) is with us previewing the 41st Winter Conference coming up in March and culminating with an in-person gathering and celebration at Wesleyan University. Then, we'll tell you about CONNIE - the CT Health Exchange that's required to implement by May. There are more than a few serious concerns about it and a lot that consumers aren't aware of — so we'll call on the President of the CT Psychological Association to help unpack some of the key details you need to know. And we'll close with more good environmental news - a 41-mile section of the Housatonic River just received federal Wild and Scenic designation, which should lead to better protections for the waterway. So we'll chat up a leader from the Housatonic Valley Association - one of the two organizations that helped Connecticut earn this high profile national designation to learn more.

We're checking in with the founder of UR Community Cares, one of the state's coolest and under promoted community building nonprofits. We'll let you in on where this service organization has been popping up lately connecting neighbors to neighbors and providing support to seniors and others who may need an occasional hand around the house. Then we'll resume our series looking at the health and quality of life in the lower Naugatuck Valley using the Valley Community Foundation's latest Index as seen through the eyes of the regional Chamber of Commerce leader. How does the quality and health of Valley commerce affect the welfare of everyone living in the region? Stay tuned and find out! And we'll close catching up with Abilis, which is continuing to expand its network of partnerships providing even more opportunities for alternately-abled residents of lower Fairfield County inclusive employment opportunities to help make everyone involved feel productive and welcome in their community.

We're opening where we left off last week - with the second of a two-part chat featuring the CEO of Connecticut Housing Partners, to hear about how this nonprofit has been working for over 30 years to end housing insecurity, address income inequality and prevent homelessness by creating and preserving safe, affordable housing, and resident services for people across the state.  Then we'll check-in with the CEO of the Connecticut Community Foundation - to celebrate the organization's 100th Anniversary, and to help kick off the foundation's next century of supporting important and critical community efforts across their service area including the launch of its Second Century Fund. And we'll close with AARP Connecticut - inviting local organizations and governments to apply for the 2023 AARP Community Challenge grant program. These grants fund quick-action projects that help communities become more livable in the long-term by improving public spaces, transportation, housing, civic engagement, diversity and inc