For the People

ALS is a life altering diagnosis for individuals and their loved ones who are also typically deeply affected - and it usually strikes those in their prime. So, we'll open talking with folks from ALS United CT who are working to raise critical funds to support those affected, as well as research to end ALS in our lifetime with the upcoming ALS Fest: United Thru Music.

The, if you didn't know - May is Mental Health Month - so we'll connect with someone on the front lines of mental health support at Bridges Healthcare. We'll hear about the things mental health workers and our communities are facing, and invite you to support Bridges at Rock the Dock for Mental Health, coming up on Thursday, May 28 in downtown Milford.

And we'll wrap things up introducing you to the new boss at the Connecticut Forest & Park Association. He and the group's Trails Director will be chatting up all kinds of exciting opportunities to get out into Connecticut's diverse outdoor recreational spaces - and give you a few tips on making the most of the upcoming Connecticut Trails day weekend in early June.

Connecticut recently moved the needle in a big way with committed funding to agencies supporting rural health initiatives. So, we'll reconnect with the leader from the New England Rural Health Assoc. to learn how our state is setting the pace on a number of public health fronts impacting our rural communities, as well as how our neighboring states are coming to grips with similar challenges.

Then we'll celebrate a new program out of the University of Bridgeport that is placing Honors Civic Fellows into Bridgeport schools to lead interactive workshops for students focusing on civic responsibility, leadership, and community engagement. 

And we'll close continuing our celebration of 2026 - the International Year of the Woman Farmer - by introducing Kies Orr-LaVack, a fourth-generation dairy farmer and co-owner of Fort Hill Farms in Thompson who was a former CT Outstanding Young Farmer, and whose farm was the 2025 New England Green Pastures award winner! 

As we roll into the last few days of Fraud Prevention Month here in Connecticut, we will pursue efforts to protect you from fraud and bad actors who are expert at ripping people off. So, we're bringing back the national spokesperson from AARP Fraud Watch to talk about ways to recognize you're being targeted for one of the latest - or most effective fraud schemes.

Then we'll re-connect with our friends at reSET - whose mission is advancing the social enterprise sector and providing inclusive entrepreneurial support across Connecticut. Their exciting Beyond Business As Usual event is happening soon, and we want to clue you in on how to get involved and be there.

And we'll close with another exciting preview - the first  of a pair of conversations about the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. Things will start hopping across New Haven's neighborhoods as a prelude to the 'main event' in June - so stay tuned and we'll tell you how to get in on all the fun - which is virtually all free!