Where We Live

A new exhibit at Yale’s natural history museum is highlighting a culture with deep ties to many in the state.

It’s called “¡Taíno Vive!” or “Taíno lives,” and it’s all about the native people of the Caribbean.

Today we celebrate the history and contributions of Taínos. It’s a culture with roots in Puerto Rico, Haiti, Jamaica and other ancestral homes throughout the Caribbean.

We’ll learn about legislative efforts to recognize Taínos and examine the ongoing question of identity for Taínos both in the past and today.

Guests:

• Rachel Iacovone: Connecticut Public Puerto Rican Communities Reporter.
• Stephanie Bailey: Archaeologist and member of AraYeke Yukayek, a New York based Caribbean Indigenous Taíno community.
• Geraldo Reyes: Democratic state representative representing Waterbury
• Matunheri Angel Sibakuyali: Representative from Higuayagua Taíno of the Caribbean
• Victor Piñeiro: Author of "The Island of Forgotten Gods"

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How will you preserve your family history? Maybe through journaling or family movies? What about grabbing an audio recorder?

Today, we’ll hear all about oral history projects in Connecticut that are recording stories for posterity. Later on, we’ll also hear how the Yiddish language and its dialects are being preserved.

Guests:

• Katie Heidsiek: Director of Exhibitions for the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
• Jamil Ragland: writer for the New Haven Independent, Hartford community member and Hartford bureau chief for "Midbrow"
• Elizabeth George: Doctoral student at the University of Connecticut and an instructor for “My Story, Our Future.”
• Christa Whitney: Director of the Yiddish Book Center's Wexler Oral History Project

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Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner. But it’s been a rough winter for those growing crops and raising livestock.

Today, we hear how this winter season has impacted Connecticut agriculture and farms.

More Connecticut farmers are working to bring new products to market and maybe inspire your tastebuds along the way. We hear from one farm doing just that.

Find your local farm by visiting www.ctgrown.org.

GUESTS:

• Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt: Connecticut Department of Agriculture
• Mackenzie White: Diversified Livestock Extension Field Based Specialist at the UConn Extension College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources
• Spencer Lord: Owner of Oracle Mushrooms Company in Kent, Connecticut
• Matt Went: president of the New Connecticut Farmer Alliance

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Before I Forget, a novel by Tory Henwood Hoen.

At some point in life, there is a good chance that you might become a caretaker.

“Before I Forget” is the story of life, love, memory loss and all the ups and downs of caregiving. It was inspired by author Tory Henwood Hoen’s own experience with caregiving.

The story follows a young woman named Cricket. As her father’s Alzheimer's progresses, she decides to make a major life pivot, quitting her job and moving back home to be with him fulltime.

Hoen shares her story. Later this hour, we'll hear how one Connecticut organization is working to make audiobooks more accessible.

GUESTS:

• Tory Henwood Hoen: author of two books including her latest, “Before I Forget”
• Barrie Kreinik: actor, singer, writer and audiobook narrator
• Matt Geeza: director of the Connecticut Library for Accessible Books

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In an age of increased isolation and loneliness, what does it mean to be a good neighbor, and build community?

Today, we hear from groups across Connecticut working to organize, support their neighborhoods and inspire change.

We’ll also get local reactions to the unfolding situation in Iran and the Middle East.

Guests:

• Farhan Memon: Chairman, CAIR Connecticut, the state chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations
• Provash Budden: Deputy Senior Vice President of Emergency Programs, Americares
• Janti Soeripto: Save the Children U.S. President & CEO
• Ra Carter: Founding member of Mutual Aid Hartford
• Jim Chapdelaine: Founder of Indivisible CT

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Connecticut is facing a historic decline in public school enrollment, with enrollment dropping below half a million for the first time in two decades.

This effect is especially pronounced in Hartford, which saw a 5% decline in student enrollment amid a $45 million dollar school deficit. Now, city officials are looking to bring students back — and decrease the deficit.

Later on, we’ll hear from the Connecticut Education Association on the effects of federal cuts and the current legislative education committee hearings.

GUESTS:

• Arunan Arulampalam: Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut
• Theo Peck-Suzuki: Education reporter for the Connecticut Mirror
• Andraé Townsel: Superintendent of Schools for Hartford Public Schools
• Caitlin Richard: Chief Financial Officer of Hartford Public Schools
• Kate Dias: President of the Connecticut Education Association

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Speaking at the State of the Union, President Donald Trump demanded a full restoration of funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, has carried out raids in major cities across the nation resulting in mass arrests, violence and the deaths of two people in Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Today, we break down what was said at the State of the Union. Later, experts join us to talk about immigration reform and ICE presence in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter, CT Public and the Connecticut Mirror
• Maureen Abell: Staff Attorney at New Haven Legal Assistance Association and Visiting Clinical Professor at Yale Law School with the Immigrant Rights Clinic
• Sarah Pierce: Director of Social Policy at Third Way, a national think tank and advocacy organization

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It’s been four years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Recent peace talks concluded without bringing the region any closer to peace.

This war has displaced millions and killed thousands of civilians. Russian armed forces recently attacked district heating systems leaving thousands of civilians without heat. 2026 has been the coldest winter in Ukraine since the initial invasion.

Today, we get an update on this conflict. We hear from U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal about his recent visit toUkraine.

Plus, Connecticut residents with ties to Ukraine have organized to send aid overseas. We hear from them.

GUESTS:

• Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
• Larissa Babij: Connecticut native and writer, translator and dancer living in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her book is “A Kind of Refugee: The Story of an American Who Refused to Leave Ukraine”
• Carl Harvey: Organizer with the New Haven Connecticut Ukrainian American Humanitarian Aid Fund
• Myron Melnyk: Organizers with New Haven Connecticut Ukrainian American Humanitarian Aid Fund

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This hour, we’re exploring the history of tap dance in America.

Tap was first developed as a fusion of footwork styles with roots in Africa and Ireland. Over the decades, tap legends like Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Eleanor Powell, and Gregory Hines popularized the artform and brought it to the national stage.

Local dancers, choreographers, and teachers join us to discuss how they are keeping the rich legacy of tap dance alive in their work today.

GUESTS:

• Kevin Ramsey: Chair of the Theater Division, University of Hartford

• Ralph Perkins: Associate Professor of Dance and Music Theater, University of Hartford 

• Katie Cavenagh: founder of the Connecticut Tap Collaborative

• Jillian McNamara: founder of the American Dance Collaborative

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

This episode originally aired on December 2, 2024.

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Seeing yourself in a book can open a world of possibilities.

But diverse books need more than diverse characters, they need diverse stories.

Although many efforts have been made to expand the books and curriculum used to teach Black history, African American children’s literature can still be quite limited.

Today, Black authors join us to talk about expanding Black literature and Black stories.

GUESTS:

• Nichole Hawkins: Youth and Family Services Early Literacy Coordinator, Hartford Public Library
• Gwendolyn Wallace: children’s literature author, Ph.D. student and public historian
• Dhonielle Clayton: Board Chair of We Need Diverse Books, a nonprofit working to improve literacy and turning diverse manuscripts into published books. She is also New York Times bestselling author
• Valerie Bolling: long-time educator and author of books for children and educators

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