For the People

We're continuing our month-long Domestic Violence Awareness Month series with The Center for Empowerment and Education - the regional Domestic and Sexual Violence resource for Upper Fairfield and Lower Litchfield county. We'll focus on this year’s theme #Every1KnowsSome1, and hear about The Center's upcoming events and workshops to help spread awareness. 

Then, our midpoint is just going to be a couple of guys sitting around talking seaweed - with the grandfather of the U.S. commercial seaweed industry. Dr. Charlie Yarish back to open your eyes, and maybe make you hungry to learn more about how seaweed can help solve an amazing number of environmental, economic, health and food shortage challenges.

And we're closing highlighting Waterbury Bridge to Success (BTS) bringing over 90 community and civic leaders, educators and organizations together empowering Waterbury’s youth to be successful in school, career, and life. We'll preview their upcoming workshop tour of partners putting the spotlight on access to resources, advocacy and leadership for this generation and the ones to come.

October is here and with it comes National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. So we're launching a weekly series to help promote greater awareness on the subject, as well as reminding victims about the wealth of resources and support professionals out there ready to help you get your life back and stay safe. Today we'll learn about the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC), and how they are focusing on the aspect of financial abuse. Is someone controlling you with their financial capabilities? If so, tune in.

Then we'll chat with two very dedicated representatives who were instrumental in forming the Connecticut American Legion Foundation. We'll discuss the important civic-minded programs the foundation is already supporting, as well as explaining how you or your employer or community group can get behind building and expanding many other American Legion sponsored initiatives.

And we'll close on a musical note with the director of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, which is in the process of choosing a new conductor while continuing to bring the beauty of symphonic music to folks throughout the region, while exposing school-age audiences to the symphony and myriad possible future careers in musical and cultural arts organizations.

We're wrapping up our National Recovery Month coverage with Recovery Network of Programs - not only celebrating their 50th Anniversary - but more than ever,  committed to empowering those who need it get the compassionate, personalized support they deserve to improve their lives.

We're also closing out Suicide Prevention Awareness Month this September with United Way CT and an individual who has lived to talk about his suicide experience. So far in 2022, nearly 112,000 Connecticut residents have reached out to United Way of Connecticut’s 211 mental health crisis team - so we're going to help you get the support you need if you are thinking about suicide.

And we'll close with the founder of Mikey’s Way Foundation - we'll discuss how this nonprofit is helping enrich the lives of children suffering with life-threatening illnesses - and invite you to laugh out loud for the cause at the upcoming Mikey's Way Night of Comedy showcase.

It's National Recovery Month, so in the first of a couple of related segments we're checking in with Aware Recovery Care to remind you about their unique, successful in-home recovery program along with the critical roles played by loved ones as part of the recovery team.

Then, as misinformation continues to pervade conversations about election and voting security, we'll circle back to have another very enlightening, and maybe a bit concerning conversation with our source from the Election Cybersecurity Initiative at USC's Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy.

And then we'll reconnect on the issue of the crisis in nursing staffing here in the state and across the nation, while celebrating the 42nd Annual RN Student Day with the newly consolidated CT Center for Nursing Workforce.

We're going to be touching on three subjects today that could very well involve you or someone you know and love. We're going to open with a representative from Griffin Health to talk a little bit about Long COVID and how that health system is working to diagnose and address it.

Then we'll circle back with our local friends from the Lupus Foundation of America to learn how it is supporting research and the day to day needs of our neighbors grappling with this insidious illness. We'll also tell you how you can help by being part of the 2022 Walks To End Lupus.

And we'll wrap with Wheeler Health, which just opened a groundbreaking outpatient program addressing youth mental health response and care in several of their offices including Waterbury. Could your child or one you know benefit from this initiative? Stay tuned and find out.

As promised earlier this year — we're heading out to help celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo. The only AZA-accredited zoo in the state - it features one of Connecticut's remaining fully operational carousels, a farmyard, picnic areas, a massive antique greenhouse, and so much more. 

As we meander through the  Beardsley Zoo with Director Gregg Dancho and zoo educators, we'll visit and learn about the latest spider monkey residents, the soon-to-open Andean Bear Habitat, we'll learn about the zoo's Sky Hunters program, how its working to save and sustain the endangered monarch butterfly, and we'll preview this fall's coolest evening activity: the massive Beardsley Zoo Glow Wild exhibit.

Meet the the leader of LiveGirl, and and learn how to get your daughter involved with this non-profit empowering girls through year-round leadership development and mentoring that builds self-confidence and fosters diversity.

Then, visit with Cindi Bigelow, and meet a couple of recipients of The 35th Annual Bigelow Tea Community Challenge. We'll tell you how to get yourself and the whole family in on the fun supporting local agencies like Pivot Ministries and the Mercy Learning Center.

And we'll close leaving you dancing - or at least getting you prepared to see some awesome dancing as we visit with Adam's House, which is hosting its Dancing With The Stars event to benefit their program of grief education and peer support for families following the loss of a close loved one.

This morning we're going to get Closer to Free with the first of two planned interviews ahead of the 2022 Closer to Free Ride supporting research and care at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center. We'll speak with the surviving spouse of a Smilow cancer patient who is presenting Beth's Bash to honor his late wife next Sunday with 100% of proceeds going to the Smilow Cancer Hospital.

Then, we'll touch base with the executive director of The Connecticut Association of School Based Health Centers - committed to increasing access to quality health care for all children and adolescents in Connecticut schools. Does your child enjoy the resources of a school-based health center? If not, listen in and find out more.

And we'll close talking financial literacy, community outreach, and financial management with Connex nonprofit Credit Union. We'll hear from one of their top executives about managing your money and credit more effectively, and bring you a few tips that might save your child or college student from getting into financial rough waters.

We're departing from our usual format today to bring you several guests talking about two cool subjects. 

Our first segment brings together a trio talking about the Connecticut Office of the Arts Artist fellowship Program — providing recognition and funding support for Connecticut artists to pursue new work and advance their artistic careers. 

Then we're welcoming back the CEO and founder of Connecticut's Aquiline Drones and the Regional President of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system to discuss how they are partnering to develop a brand new drone career training and licensing curriculum beginning this fall.

How concerned should you be about the global monkeypox outbreak? Connecticut has already seen it fair share of cases, so we're bringing in the state's top doc - Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Manisha Juthani to fill you in on everything you need to know about monkeypox.

Then we're replaying a visit with the coordinator of the Youth Link Mentoring Program at Boys and Girls Village. This important initiative is recruiting mentors who will be trained to support the growing communities of LGBTQ+ youths across the state facing numerous challenges.

And we're closing ahead of August 11 - or as the folks at Call Before You Dig refer to it - "8-1-1 Day," a perfect time to update and remind any private property owner or commercial excavators about the mandated Call Before You Dig protocol here in Connecticut - no matter how shallow or deep you are digging.