For the People

As we head into a big holiday party week, everyone is sure to be sampling salads, munching burgers, and enjoying plenty of picnic items from local gardens and farmers. So John Voket is dishing up a replay from CT NOFA​'s 2018 Organi-CONN farm & garden conference. 

With a new Farm Bill just ratified and FarmAid coming to Connecticut for the first time this September, it's a perfect opportunity to plant yourself somewhere cool and learn about small farm startup funding, why seaweed is a big new cash crop, and how you can support local farmers while helping protect the state's environment year round.

This week John Voket opens with an encore of a chat with Goodwill about the stuff you have piling up around your house. The space you make donating unwanted and unused stuff to Goodwill can help fund important programs and put folks with disabilities and other challenges to work.

Then we'll dive into a chat with a scientist from UConn and the Mystic Aquaium celebrating National Ocean Month to learn how everyone can be better stewards of Long Island Sound and the global ocean network beyond.

And if you are or are hoping to become a small business owner, we'll close replaying a visit with Connecticut's Small Business Development Center and rediscover how the agency's statewide network can help small businesses achieve greater success with game changing support, guidance and resources.

This week John Voket heads out to Ability Beyond to learn how their brand new Transition Toolkit is helping young adults with developmental disabilities and their caregivers shift between school and community serices.

Then, we'll chat with a representative from the Citizens Campaign for the Environment about the status of the Connecticut Water Plan and how state residents can be more involved protecting & preserving our precious state water supplies.

And we'll close discussing a nationwide study on STEM education, and why Connecticut and other states are challenged in motivating students to consider careers in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math.

This week host John Voket heads to Canton to chat with the founder of the FOCUS Center for Autism to learn how it's helping students stay social this summer, and we'll invite you to the upcoming FOCUS Rocks benefit.

Then we'll refocus with an expert leading workshops around the state educating seniors, their loved ones &caregivers about the pervasive dangers of opioids in their homes

And we'll close with a new voice representing a valued resource - the new president & CEO of the Kennedy Center in Trumbull - working to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities.

This week host John Voket takes to the waters of Norwalk Harbor for an onsite interview celebrating the Norwalk Seaport Association and the 150th birthday of the historic Sheffield Island lighthouse.

Then we'll hit you with everything you need to know to take full advantage of all the free and ticketed activities that make the 22nd International Festival of Arts & Ideas in and around New Haven a global destination for entertaining and inspiring programs.

And we'll close with an encore re-play from a check in with the United Way of Connecticut we did back in March about their latest ALICE Report: The Consequences of Insufficient Household Income, to learn how being income restrained is taking a toll on so many families in our state.

This week host John Voket opens Memorial Day Weekend diving into the topic of swimming lessons, and an upcoming lesson program that's part of a huge season of activities at Sterling House - serving more than 10,000 children, teens and families in Greater Bridgeport.

Then it's off to Rocky Hill to chat with CERC, the Connecticut Economic Resource Center about their latest InformCT Consumer Confidence Survey. 

And we'll visit with one of the world's renowned authorities on seaweed - right here at UConn. We'll learn how common kelp kelp is revitalizing aquaculture jobs while improving the environmental health of Long Island Sound and our global waters.

This week host John Voket catches up with Rebecca Kowalski and invites all bikers to support the work her CMAK Sandy Hook Memorial Foundation to support the health and wellness of children and their families. 

Then we're heading to Danbury - one of Connecticut's legacy Tree Cities - to chat with mayor and a DEEP forest expert about why the Tree City USA program are so important to the environmental health of the entire state.

Then we'll keep the envornmental theme going by learning how the Aspetuck Land Trust is partnering to significantly expand the Hudson to Housatonic Regional Conservation Partnership greenway.

This week host John Voket visits with a spokesperson from AARP on location at an AARP Fraud Watch seminar to discuss the important components of this free program.

Then we'll hear about all the awesome happenings going on throughout the spring and summer at various Connecticut Landmarks historic properties and museums.

And we'll close talking with a financial fraud expert from Wells Fargo Advisors, who will remind us all about how we can better protect our loved ones from elder financial abuse.

This week host John Voket takes a look back on the 2018 SAVE Youth Summit with the co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise and talks about the organization's Know the Signs programs. 

Then we'll shout out every 2018 Relay for Life happening in Connecticut this year, and hear about these important fund and awareness raisers that are helping achieve a world without cancer.

And we'll wrap with the director of the Children's Environmental Health Center at Mt Sinai, and why the critical children's and public health research being done there is benefiting from the 10th Annual Greening Our Children benefit luncheon happening in Greenwich this week.

This week host John Voket celebrates Call Before You Dig month by reminding anyone planning any excavation - even simple yard work - about why it's the law to call 811 before you dig.

Then we'll catch up with the founder of Connecticut's Women's Business Development Council to learn about their annual gathering of women business owners at the state capital this week, and a ton of free cources the WBDC is prepping to help start or grow your business.

And we'll close talking to the founder of New England Young at Heart, to chat about all the events, activities and services they are planning and providing for Connecticut's seniors.