For the People

This week host John Voket and the award-winning For the People open with IRIS - Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services. We'll hear about the realities and challenges being faced by displaced, often desperate refugees and immigrants - families, children, even military liaisons who served and saved the lives of many U.S. service members during foreign conflicts.

Then we'll head to Simsbury to learn about an ongoing project being handled primarily by high school students and supporters at the Simsbury Free Library - promoting the little know details of two summers that Dr Martin Luther King Jr spent in Connecticut.

And we'll close wishing the 2019 class of Connecticut's Parent Leadership Training Institute good luck as their significantly pared down PLTI launches with extremely limited funding - in the hope aspiring participants in this proven community-building program for parents, grandparents, and caregivers will see it fully restored in 2020.

This week host John Voket and the award-winning For the People roll into 2019 talking about the physical and financial health of Connecticut's young people and what may be in store for our entire state under the Ned Lamont administration.

We'll open with the Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union's CEO discussing programs they offer to help get young people off on the right foot when it comes to handling their money.

Then, ahead of the opening of the state legislative session, we'll welcome Senator Tony Hwang to talk about top issues he and his fellow lawmakers will be dealing with in 2019 and beyond.

And we'll close visiting with the Child Guidance Clinic for Central CT to learn about the growing health threat our young people face from eCigarettes, vaping, and other addictive temptations.

Last weekend, we featured an encore presentation of the first two parts of our Special Report from Connecticut's first Farm Aid. Since 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $53 million to help family farmers thrive all over the country while inspiring millions of people to take part in the Good Food Movement. Today, we'll wrap up with an encore replay of the third segment of our report straight from Farm Aid Hartford on the first day of autumn, where we talked with farmers, organizers, and artists, as well as attending an informative and inspiring pre-show press conference.

Then we're going to catch up with Scarlett Lewis who lost her son Jesse in the Sandy Hook tragedy, and who is leading the 'Choose Love Movement' to expose schools, households, and entire communities to the nurturing, loving benefits of Social Emotional Learning. Stay tunes to learn how you can bring the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement into your home or community.

As we gather with loved ones this holiday season, chances are it will be around a meal. But what would that meal be without farmers?

Connecticut hosted its first Farm Aid on the first day of autumn and the Award-winning For the People was there to cover it from top to bottom. Each year, Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews gather a wide variety of artists, farmers and fans for one mission: keeping family farmers on their land. 

So we're bringing you this replay of Part 1 & 2 of a three-part 'Special Report' straight from Farm Aid in Hartford where we talked with farmers, organizers, and artists, as well as attending an informative and inspiring pre-show press conference.

This week host John Voket and the award-winning For the People opens the show celebrating more than $2.7 million in grants awarded to the EPA and the Long Island Sound Futures Fund. We'll learn how these grants are helping preserve and protect Long Island Sound along Connecticut's shores, and how grants awarded as far afield as New Hampshire and Vermont are also benefiting our state's environment and public health.

Then we'll connect with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities to cover a busy agenda of subjects this historic agency is handling - from protecting individuals from discrimination in housing, to programs affecting students, immigrants, and Connecticut's LGBTQ community, and those returning from incarceration.

And we'll close with the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, which is accepting applications right now for a variety of grants serving 20 communities in the region.

This week host John Voket and the award-winning For the People checks in with the team from Eversource on a wide agenda of issues from protecting yourselves from utility scams, to saving HUGE amounts of money on your energy bills.

Then we'll tap an expert from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for important reminders about holiday season and winter fire safety. This segment could save your life - especially if you have or plan to get a live Christmas tree.

And we'll close with the founder of Harmony4Kidz, as the grassroots nonprofit heads into its 10th year of connecting underserved children with engaging exposure to the arts, instruments and music lessons. And we'll invite you to the group's upcoming Holiday concert.

This week host John Voket and the award-winning For the People talks with the Connecticut Epilepsy Advocate, and discusses new research findings and therapies with a local neurologist as we close out Epilepsy Awareness Month.

Then we'll check in with the Aspetuck Land Trust for some great tips on winter walking, hiking, snowshoe, and recreational opportunities - and meet a UConn professor who just completed a study on the state's expanding Black Bear population.

And we'll wrap with the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters - revealing high hopes for the upcoming legislative session and enhanced environmental leadership under Governor-Elect Ned Lamont.

This week host John Voket and the award-winning For the People hears from Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County about a couple of recent national surveys just in time for National Entrepreneurship Month, and we'll hear about 'Launch Lessons' that will bring local entrepreneurs out to speak with students about opportunities in our gig economy.

Then we'll visit with a national spokesperson for the American Lung Association. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and we'll learn about a new and groundbreaking screening that can help save the lives of nearly 3,000 people diagnosed with this deadly disease every year in Connecticut.

And we'll close heading to Hartford to invite you to explore or re-acquaint yourself with the Mark Twain House and Museum - and consider attending the The Friends of The Mark Twain House & Museum’s 38th Annual Holiday House Tour coming up December 2.

This week host John Voket and the Award-winning For the People visits with New Horizons Village to hear about the exciting developments happening there and to invite you to their upcoming Art Celebration at Hartford's Infinity Hall featuring a performance by the Blind Boys of Alabama.  

Then we'll touch base with one of the state's premier nonprofits taking care of our furry friends - Animal Haven And we'll let you know how you can help the organization, or adopt one or more furry friends of your own.

And we'll close on the theme of workforce development and the opportunities that employers can explore by tapping into the talents of able individuals with disabilities seeking employment through Ability Beyond.

This week host John Voket and the Award-winning For the People reaches out to Access Health CT to review a bunch of important points if you are renewing coverage you already contracted under the Affordable Care Act, or you're a newcomer to the AccessHealthCT exchange.

Then, we'll welcome and chat with a long time leader at the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA about programs and opportunities that meet the needs of today's young people, families and the communities served by 'The Y'.

And we'll close inviting students, parents, educators and residents to the free annual STEM / Advanced Manufacturing & Technology Expo hosted by the Waterbury Regional Chamber on November 30 at Naugatuck Valley Community College.