Where We Live

The pandemic has put public health in the spotlight across the world. But in the United States local public health departments have been chronically underfunded, and Connecticut is no exception.

This hour, we hear from a local health director about the challenges public health departments in Connecticut are facing, even as the state celebrates high vaccination rates compared with other states.

And, we look beyond the pandemic: what should the public health workforce of the future look like?

GUESTS:

• Michelle Smith - Reporter for the Associated Press covering public health and the pandemic
• Jennifer Kertanis - Director of Health for the Farmington Valley Health District and Board President of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
• Fatawu Mahama - Community Health Worker with Southwestern Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in Shelton Connecticut.
• Tim Klufas - Recent public health certificate graduate from UConn Health. He is currently working as a contact tracer and is also a member of the Governor’s vaccine allocation subcommittee.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pandemic has put public health in the spotlight across the world. But in the United States local public health departments have been chronically underfunded, and Connecticut is no exception.

This hour, we hear from a local health director about the challenges public health departments in Connecticut are facing, even as the state celebrates high vaccination rates compared with other states.

And, we look beyond the pandemic: what should the public health workforce of the future look like?

GUESTS:

Michelle Smith - Reporter for the Associated Press covering public health and the pandemic

Jennifer Kertanis - Director of Health for the Farmington Valley Health District and Board President of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)

Fatawu Mahama - Community Health Worker with Southwestern Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in Shelton Connecticut.

Tim Klufas - Recent public health certificate graduate from UConn Health. He is currently working as a contact tracer and is also a member of the Governor’s vaccine allocation subcommittee.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Venture Smith was enslaved when he was just a boy. He was eventually able to buy his freedom and the freedom of his family. His iconic story of will, perseverance and strength, is central to Connecticut’s history.

This hour, we dive into to the biography of Venture Smith and the history of slavery here in Connecticut.  

Connecticut Historian and Connecticut Explored publisher Elizabeth Norman joins us to answer our questions and yours. Later, we talk about the importance of teaching African American and Latino history in the classroom, and what Connecticut lawmakers are doing to make sure it is taught.

We want to hear from you.

GUESTS:

• Elizabeth Normen - publisher of Connecticut Explored. She is also the author of Venture Smith’s Colonial Connecticut. 
• Dr. Benjamin Foster - adjunct faculty member at CCSU teaching African American studies and religion.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Venture Smith was enslaved when he was just a boy. He was eventually able to buy his freedom and the freedom of his family. His iconic story of will, perseverance and strength, is central to Connecticut’s history.

This hour, we dive into to the biography of Venture Smith and the history of slavery here in Connecticut.  

Connecticut Historian and Connecticut Explored publisher Elizabeth Norman joins us to answer our questions and yours. Later, we talk about the importance of teaching African American and Latino history in the classroom, and what Connecticut lawmakers are doing to make sure it is taught.

We want to hear from you.

GUESTS:

Elizabeth Normen - publisher of Connecticut Explored. She is also the author of Venture Smith’s Colonial Connecticut. 

Dr. Benjamin Foster - adjunct faculty member at CCSU teaching African American studies and religion.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world of professional dance is competitive, ruthless and often reserved for a select few talented individuals. 

But since the start of pandemic, many dancers and dance professionals are stuck at home turning to social media as a creative outlet. And this hour, we dance!

Are you spending any time dancing at home? Are you or someone in your family addicted to the latest TikTok Dance Challenge? We want to hear from you.

GUESTS:

• Brian Syms Jr. - dancer with the New England Ballet Theatre
• Margaret Fuhrer - dance writer and editor, editor-in-chief of the Dance Edit Newsletter and Podcast
• Indira Goodwine - Program Director for Dance for the New England Foundation for the Arts 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world of professional dance is competitive, ruthless and often reserved for a select few talented individuals. 

But since the start of pandemic, many dancers and dance professionals are stuck at home turning to social media as a creative outlet. And this hour, we dance!

Are you spending any time dancing at home? Are you or someone in your family addicted to the latest TikTok Dance Challenge? We want to hear from you.

GUESTS:

Brian Syms Jr. - dancer with the New England Ballet Theatre

Margaret Fuhrer - dance writer and editor, editor-in-chief of the Dance Edit Newsletter and Podcast

Indira Goodwine - Program Director for Dance for the New England Foundation for the Arts 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grocery store employees and other essential workers had expected to soon be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Now, Governor Lamont says the state’s vaccination plan will focus on age groups.

Today, we talk with Dr. Deidre Gifford, Acting Commissioner of the state Department of Public Health.  We ask: how does this new plan impact vaccine equity?

Do you have questions about how this vaccination plan affects you or your loved ones?

GUESTS:

• Dr. Deidre Gifford - Acting Commissioner of Department of Public Health and Commissioner of the Department of Social Services for the State of Connecticut
• Dr. Bisola Ojikutu - Infectious disease specialist in the Division of Global Health Equity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her work focuses on addressing disparities in infectious disease risk, prevention, care and treatment.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin discusses coronavirus’ impact on students and businesses in Hartford, and vaccination efforts.  What does the governor's plan to focus more on age in vaccine distribution mean for people of color and low-income people in Hartford?

The mayor also has new responsibilities on his plate: Pushing for high speed rail in the region and leading the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, an organization of cities and towns.

 

Guests:

Luke Bronin -- Mayor of Hartford 

Rebecca Lurye -- Hartford City Reporter for the Hartford Courant 

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Preserving agriculture in our state is important. Farmers have the option to preserve their land as farmland in perpetuity. But this risks pushing potential new residents out of farming communities.

This hour, we talk about how towns across Connecticut are working to balance keeping valuable farmland, while bringing in more affordable housing to farming communities. Farmland in our state is expensive, and certain zoning restrictions can make towns more segregated. 

GUESTS:

• Terry Jones - Jones Family Farm and Winery in Shelton, Connecticut 
• Jacqueline Rabe Thomas - Education, Housing and Inequality Reporter at the Connecticut Mirror
• Sara Bronin - Founder and lead organizer of DesegregateCT

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this month a Yale graduate student was murdered in New Haven’s East Rock neighborhood, leading to widespread media coverage.

This hour, we ask: why do some shootings get media attention while others do not? We take a look at the way race and privilege shape gun violence coverage.

And we talk with journalists and community members. What trends have you noticed in news coverage of violent crime?

GUESTS:

• Kelly McBride - NPR’s Public Editor and Senior Vice President and Chair of Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership at the Poynter Institute
• Paul Bass - Editor of the New Haven Independent
• Reverend Steven Cousin - Pastor at Bethel A.M.E. Church in New Haven
• Harriet Jones - Managing Editor for Connecticut Public Radio

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.