Where We Live

Universal Basic Income, a program popularized --by presidential candidate Andrew Yang, might be coming to a Connecticut city. 

This hour, we talk with members of a task force that are working to create a pilot program in Hartford, providing UBI to a select group of single parents. Universal Basic Income test programs have popped up in California and other parts of the globe - we talk about who benefits and who will pay for it.

Could Universal Basic Income become the core part of government programs in the future? Would it mean ending SNAP, Medicaid, unemployment insurance and other government assistance programs?

Later, we hear from the founders of the Hartford Poetry Bus.

We want to hear from you.

GUESTS:

• Dr. Gina Rosich - Assistant Professor at University of Saint Joseph Department of Social Work and Equitable Community Practice
• Steven Ross - Professor of Economics at University of Connecticut
• Sarah Holder - Staff Writer at Bloomberg City Lab
• Melanie Faranello - writer and teaching artist at Charter Oak and founder of Poetry on the Streets
• Susan Mazer - Director of the Youth Arts Institute at Charter Oak

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Universal Basic Income, a program popularized --by presidential candidate Andrew Yang, might be coming to a Connecticut city. 

This hour, we talk with members of a task force that are working to create a pilot program in Hartford, providing UBI to a select group of single parents. Universal Basic Income test programs have popped up in California and other parts of the globe - we talk about who benefits and who will pay for it.

Could Universal Basic Income become the core part of government programs in the future? Would it mean ending SNAP, Medicaid, unemployment insurance and other government assistance programs?

Later, we hear from the founders of the Hartford Poetry Bus.

We want to hear from you.

GUESTS:

Dr. Gina Rosich - Assistant Professor at University of Saint Joseph Department of Social Work and Equitable Community Practice

Steven Ross - Professor of Economics at University of Connecticut

Sarah Holder - Staff Writer at Bloomberg City Lab

Melanie Faranello - writer and teaching artist at Charter Oak and founder of Poetry on the Streets

Susan Mazer - Director of the Youth Arts Institute at Charter Oak

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut's unemployment rate has hovered above 8 percent, more than double the rate pre- pandemic. But now that the job market is picking up, why are business owners having such a hard time hiring? 

This hour, we talk about what employers are doing to get people back to work. We hear from a local landscaper who is navigating hiring during the pandemic. 

What will the job market look like after the pandemic? We want to hear from you.

GUESTS:

• Eric Nelson - Owner of Garden Paths, Inc. 
• Patrick Flaherty - Director of Research, Connecticut Department of Labor
• Gary Burtless - Senior Fellow, Economic Studies at The Brookings Institution 

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut's unemployment rate has hovered above 8 percent, more than double the rate pre- pandemic. But now that the job market is picking up, why are business owners having such a hard time hiring? 

This hour, we talk about what employers are doing to get people back to work. We hear from a local landscaper who is navigating hiring during the pandemic. 

What will the job market look like after the pandemic? We want to hear from you.

GUESTS:

Eric Nelson - Owner of Garden Paths, Inc. 

Patrick Flaherty - Director of Research, Connecticut Department of Labor

Gary Burtless - Senior Fellow, Economic Studies at The Brookings Institution 

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women, on average, make 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. And women of color make even less than that.

This hour, we take a look at the role greater pay transparency can play to address the wage gap in our country. Advocates in Connecticut say that listing starting salaries publicly for open positions is a step towards evening the playing field.

We want to hear from you, too. Do you have salary transparency at your workplace?

GUESTS:

• Maya Raghu - Director of Workplace Equality and Senior Counsel at the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC)
• Madeline Granato - Policy Director at the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF)
• Tyler Falk - Reporter covering public radio for Current, an independent trade publication that covers public media

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women, on average, make 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. And women of color make even less than that.

This hour, we take a look at the role greater pay transparency can play to address the wage gap in our country. Advocates in Connecticut say that listing starting salaries publicly for open positions is a step towards evening the playing field.

We want to hear from you, too. Do you have salary transparency at your workplace?

GUESTS:

Maya Raghu - Director of Workplace Equality and Senior Counsel at the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC)

Madeline Granato - Policy Director at the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF)

Tyler Falk - Reporter covering public radio for Current, an independent trade publication that covers public media

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, we speak with Connecticut Comptroller Kevin Lembo on his public option proposal to give more people the chance to join a health insurance program overseen by the state.

The Connecticut Partnership Plan is already offered to municipal workers and school employees. 

But how would he pay for it?

And how would he avoid frightening away insurance companies that are big employers in the state?

Guests:

• Connecticut Comptroller Kevin Lembo
• Kaiser Health News Senior Correspondent Mary Agnes Carey

We want to hear from you.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, we speak with Connecticut Comptroller Kevin Lembo on his public option proposal to give more people the chance to join a health insurance program overseen by the state.

The Connecticut Partnership Plan is already offered to municipal workers and school employees. 

But how would he pay for it?

And how would he avoid frightening away insurance companies that are big employers in the state?

Guests:

Connecticut Comptroller Kevin Lembo

Kaiser Health News Senior Correspondent Mary Agnes Carey

We want to hear from you.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wonder why you were required to learn algebra, but not how to balance a checkbook and file your taxes? Although personal finance and accounting are offered as an elective in many high schools, they're not often required for graduation.

This hour, we talk to Nan Morrison - President and CEO, Council for Economic Education about teaching our children to be more financially literate. The secret is starting them young! 

Do you wish you had the chance to learn subjects like investing, credit, and even just basic budgeting? We want to hear from you. 

GUESTS:

• Nan Morrison - President and CEO, Council for Economic Education
• Lew DeLuca - Coordinator, Student Financial Literacy & Advising at Southern Connecticut State University

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wonder why you were required to learn algebra, but not how to balance a checkbook and file your taxes? Although personal finance and accounting are offered as an elective in many high schools, they're not often required for graduation.

This hour, we talk to Nan Morrison - President and CEO, Council for Economic Education about teaching our children to be more financially literate. The secret is starting them young! 

Do you wish you had the chance to learn subjects like investing, credit, and even just basic budgeting? We want to hear from you. 

GUESTS:

Nan Morrison - President and CEO, Council for Economic Education

Lew DeLuca - Coordinator, Student Financial Literacy & Advising at Southern Connecticut State University

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.