For the People

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 that event and how you can help support ARI's good work.

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.