Community Access

We spoke with Brianna Dunlap from South Park Inn, a 40-year-old homeless shelter in Hartford, about their services, including emergency shelter, veteran programs, and respite care for hospital discharges. The shelter currently operates at 80% capacity, rising to 100% in winter. They emphasize holistic support, including documentation assistance, sobriety programs, and mental health services. Brianna highlighted the importance of community support, especially with rising food costs, and shared a success story about a guest named Harold who has been successfully housed and is thriving.

We spoke with Nadine Thomas from Underground New England, an organization combating human trafficking in Connecticut since 2012, about the prevalence of trafficking across the state and the services they offer, including mental health, medical care, and housing for survivors. Donations directly support these services, helping survivors rebuild their lives. The organization also provides resources for reporting trafficking and encourages support through their website.

We spoke with Father Jeffrey Romans, Chairman of the Pastors Advisory Committee for the Archbishop's annual appeal, explains the Archdiocese of Hartford's role in supporting 93 parishes and over 160 local charities through the Vicaria Outreach Program. Last year, the appeal distributed over $1 million to these charities. Donors are encouraged to make their contributions before Sunday to receive the bonus match.

We spoke with Janice Castle from the Clay Arsenal Community Development Corporation (CDC) at the Travelers Championship. Janice explains that Clay Arsenal, a neighborhood in Hartford, is named after its historical significance and soil. The CDC, certified under the Governor's Poverty Reduction Act, aims to eradicate concentrated poverty by focusing on access to opportunity, including education, jobs, and housing. They also invest in neighborhood improvement to enhance quality of life without displacing residents.

We spoke with Harry Bellucci, Executive Director of Hartford PAL, at the Travelers Championship. Hartford PAL, which stands for Police Activities League, provides free after-school and summer programs for youth in Hartford, focusing on sports, education, and community engagement. Harry highlights the success of their programs, including a STEM program, a culinary program that has become very popular, and a theater program run by Hartford Stage. He also mentions their efforts to bring PAL to local elementary schools to make their services more accessible. Donations to Hartford PAL help fund these programs, ensuring children have access to opportunities similar to those in suburban areas.

We spoke with Donna Palomba, founder of Jane Doe No More, about her organization's mission to support victims of sexual crimes. Started 20 years ago, the foundation aims to improve societal reactions to victims and educate on consent and bystander intervention. Donations fund free programs in schools and self-defense classes for women and girls. Donna highlighted the removal of the statute of limitations on sexual crimes with DNA evidence in Connecticut, thanks to her case. She emphasized the importance of normalizing conversations about sexual crimes and empowering victims.

We spoke with Bridget Quinn from the Hartford Public Library about the Birdies for Charity program, which offers a 15% bonus on donations to charities, including the Hartford Public Library, thanks to Webster Bank and Aetna. The library uses the Library of Congress classification system and has expanded its digital collections and services, including HPL Studios for podcasting and video production. They offer educational programs, workforce readiness, and community resources like the Hartford History Center. Donations support these initiatives and are matched by the Zachs Family Foundation.

We spoke with Cody Foss from Kind Works Inc. about their mission to inspire kindness through community art at the Travelers Championship. Kind Works, a nonprofit from Bethel, Connecticut, aims to connect communities and promote self-kindness. They emphasize the importance of kindness in combating social isolation and mental health issues, highlighting the ripple effect of small acts of kindness. Cody shared their initiatives, including educational workshops, mural campaigns, and community art projects like kindness tokens. They also announced upcoming events: a bell hanging on July 16, a stepping stone workshop on July 30, and a Teacher Appreciation Day on August 19.

We spoke with Emily about Northeast Opportunities for Wellness (NOW). NOW, a nonprofit since 2011, provides free sports opportunities and scholarships for youth in the Northeast 395 Connector area, serving 10 towns. They offer life skills, social-emotional support, and programs like Mindful Munchkins for young children. Donations support scholarships and low-cost programs, including soccer clinics and nutrition courses. Upcoming events include a Tuesday night soccer clinic and a best soccer clinic in July.

We spoke with Dawn Saczynski from RJ's Goals, a foundation created in memory of Dawn's son RJ Giammattei, who passed away at 27. RJ's Goals aims to provide soccer balls to children, having donated to various organizations including the Brantford Soccer Club, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, and New Haven Parks and Rec. Dawn shares that the foundation has grown through word of mouth and community outreach, and they are currently participating in Birdies for Charity. They also plan to collaborate with American Outlaws, a soccer fan group, for World Cup watch parties.