For the People

If you are one of the thousands of men and women who have worked in, or are nearing retirement from Connecticut's manufacturing workforce, we'll tell you how to help inspire and mentor the state's next generations of manufacturing professionals through a brand new program from AARP.

Then as we wrap up the 46th annual celebration of National EMS week we'll be speaking with a seasoned EMT and trainer as well as an emergency dept doc about how EMS pros have stepped up more than you know during this COVID-19 pandemic while continuing to answer the call 24/7 and 365 days a year.

Finally, we're going to get you growing naturally and native-ly around your home and garden with a special guest from the National Wildlife Federation inviting you to peruse it's new Garden for Wildlife virtual shop to discover and acquire a selection of the best native plants for you here in Connecticut.

So your sniffling, sneezing, got those itchy watery eyes, yes allergy season is in full bloom here across Connecticut, but could those allergy symptoms be masking COVID-19 - or impacting your cardiovascular health? We're going to tap Dr. Stephen Sinatra, a former state cardiology specialist, to discuss allergies, and how you might be able to tackle those symptoms naturally, while protecting your heart in the process. Then, we're heading to the docks of West Haven to catch up with a trio from Veteran Angler Charters to talk about what this unique nonprofit is planning for 2021. If you know a vet who can use some comradery, or a boat captain who may want to provide some support to our veterans, stay tuned. And as we wrap up National Hurricane Preparedness week - we all know power outages following bad storms are inevitable - but our top source at Eversource is here to explain how the energy utility is working hard to minimize possible storm damage to keep your lights on this hurricane season.

Have you heard that The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) will make health insurance coverage more affordable for many CT residents? If you're ready to take advantage of these savings, Access Health CT has opened a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) running through August 15, and we'll introduce you the the CEO of Connecticut's exchange to tell you all about it. Then we'll hear from the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC) - supporting individuals on their journey to safety by providing support for individuals who are experiencing abuse in personal relationships with free victim services. And we'll invite you to support the cause at DVCC's upcoming 'Voices of Courage' Spring Luncheon. And we'll close celebrating Connecticut educators as we wrap up Teacher Appreciation Week with an ambassador from TEACH Connecticut, who will explain how this program is bringing folks from the workforce to our classrooms, and helping former educators jump back into their calling.

Meet a co-founder of ImmigrationHelp.org and learn how this grassroots organization is making immigrating to the United States easy, safe, and free by combining the power of technology with attorneys to help everyone who is qualified 
achieve the American dream. 

Then get clued in on Connecticut's first statewide LGBTQ+ Survey as we chat up the director of the General 
Assembly's Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity - which aims to enhance an understanding of the number of people that identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, and their needs.

And we're calling on all our For the People listeners to bring a friend and sign up for this year's virtual NAMI Walks - and to put your feet to the street defeating stigmas against those with mental health and related issues while helping  support our loved ones grappling with related challenges.

Early last winter we ran a segment that helped homeowners and excavation contractors get prepared for spring and all the planned outdoor projects involving excavation. Now that April and Call Before You Dig Month has arrived, we're replaying the segment to remind you about a new educational resource and certification program from Call Before You Dig that will help ensure any deep dig projects you are planning in the future at home or on the job - roll out safely.

Then we're tackling the difficult subject of youth suicide and prevention with a couple of expert sources from Connecticut Children's medical system talking about how the risk of suicide is increasing - shockingly among youths as young as 10-years-old. And we'll learn how this statewide healthcare network is doing groundbreaking work identifying suicide risk factors and saving lives as a result.

And address breaking news that state colleges and universities are resuming in-person classes and activities as early as the summer, with a representative of the Connecticut State College and University system who's going to also discuss opportunities available for students of all ages through the state's diverse community college system.

We're introducing a really important subject for the very first time - parentage - and how Connecticut's WECARE Coalition and one Yale professor is championing proposed legislation that will ensure access to legal parenthood for all children, including those with unmarried, same-sex, or non-biological parents. 

Then meet the president of the CT Psychological Assoc. and learn how the COVID pandemic is taking a toll on our mental health by increasing stress, anxiety, and depression - particularly among certain populations - how you can address these concerns immediately and access help or support.

Last but not least, we'll help  young people in our state better map their future careers, and arrive in the workforce equipped to succeed as we tout and tell students and businesses about Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County's upcoming Inspire Virtual Career Exploration Fair.

We're checking in with the executive director at Bridgeport's Green Village Initiative, which is currently working with the city to try and preserve its Reservoir Community Farm and gardens. We'll learn more about progress to that end and all the ways folks can get involved - even if it just means planting a few tomatoes or sending out a few emails.

Then we'll stick around the Park City and meet two individuals heading up the Bridgeport United Coalition who will clue us in on how this organization is helping reduce tobacco, alcohol and other drug use among youth and make Bridgeport a safer, healthier, and drug-free city.  

And we'll wrap inviting you to celebrate women and girls throughout the region as the Fairfield County Community Foundation readies for its annual  Fund for Women & Girls Celebration coming up this week.

We're celebrating Autism Awareness Month with the director of clinical services at Autism Speaks discussing the role of early screening, recognizing the signs of autism, the disproportionate impact it's having among minority populations, and breaking down stigmas around this prevalent condition.

Then we're connecting with Connecticut's DEEP Commissioner to chat up the state's 20By20 initiative, which was launched to improve the transparency, predictability and efficiency of our regulatory processes across 20 targeted areas by the end of 2020.  

And we'll check in with our buddies from BACA - Bikers Against Child Abuse to find out how much heart so many of these rough looking bikers have — and how so many are willing to step up with a proven, safe, and effective intervention and support system that's making such a positive difference for victims of child abuse.

Do you know someone battling lung cancer? Then check our chat with Stamford's Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy to find out about new research on a promising immunotherapy approach to fight lung cancer and other solid tumor cancers.

Then we'll get you hungry to give back during March and especially on March 31 as Jersey Mike's Subs Day of Giving puts your donations to work supporting local charities including Make-A-Wish CT.

And we're closing reminding you about an important environmental practice that Connecticut helped make famous - mattress recycling - as we encore a segment with the Mattress Recycling Council focusing on how the practice makes a positive difference to our communities and our planet!

Today we're celebrating those brave pioneers who are making a go at it as a Connecticut entrepreneur with the founder of the Connecticut Entrepreneur Awards. Find out all about how you can get involved supporting these local enterprisers by voting through April 2 - and attending their virtual award ceremony.

Then we'll circle back with Abilis, which has just expanded its involvement with the Life Skills, Employment, Advocacy and Partnership or LEAP program, which is poised to help young adults with special needs throughout lower Fairfield County and now in the Norwalk area experience a seamless transition into adult life. 

And we'll close hearing from the director of the Connecticut-based Foodshare Institute For Hunger Research & Solutions. Whether you are a casual donor to a local food drive, you volunteer or help run a local pantry, or you visit one - our chat today will focus on a new publication that can help your local food provider address social inequity and food insecurity.