Where We Live

What better way to get to know a country and its people than through literature?

Today, we talk about Ukraine writers and what we can learn about this country through its poetry and prose.

University of Massachusetts professor, novelist and poet Askold Melnyczuk joins us. His parents were Ukrainian refugees.

He also works as a Ukrainian translator and he’ll talk to us about making Ukrainian literature available to the English speaking world.

Have you read any works by Ukrainian writers?

GUESTS:
Askold Melnyczuk - writer and professor at University of Massachusetts, Boston

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"What would Connecticut do without child care?" Providers and parents are organizing an event across several Connecticut cities on Tuesday to pose an answer to that question.

The Child Care for Connecticut's Future coalition coordinated A Morning Without Child Care to call for $700 million in state funding, and "to bring attention to the impending collapse of the child care industry." This hour, hear from local child care homes and centers about this long-standing crisis, and how they plan to participate.

Plus, the Connecticut Women’s Development Council has partnered with the Office of Early Childhood to provide a support program for licensed child care providers, offering financial relief and training opportunities for these small businesses. 

GUESTS:

• Allyx Schiavone: Executive Director, Friends Center for Children
• Ruben Mallma: Family Child Care Provider
• Fran Pastore: CEO, Connecticut Women's Business Development Council

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The nonprofit sector is in trouble. They serve some of the most vulnerable populations in Connecticut but many organizations are struggling to retain workers and find new ones. 

According to a survey by the Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance, 9 out of 10 nonprofits say it’s difficult to recruit new employees.

Today, we talk with Brunilda Ferraj from the Alliance about what nonprofits are doing to avoid burnout and fill vacancies and we hear from Bloomfield based Community Solutions.

We want to hear from you. Do you work at a nonprofit?

GUESTS:

• Brunilda Ferraj - Vice President of Programs and Operations at Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance
• Sherry Albert - Chief Operating Officer with Community Solutions, Inc based Bloomfield, Connecticut
• Beth Kanter - co-author of The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact without Burnout

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is broad support in the U.S. for Ukraine and global outcry over Putin's increasingly hostile attacks on civilians. This hour, hear more about the geopolitical backdrop and Ukraine's fight for independence from Yale history professor and author of The Ukrainian Night Marci Shore.

Local leaders in Connecticut are organizing, fundraising and speaking out to keep the focus on the crisis in Ukraine. Hear from the Stamford School of Ukrainian Studies and the Ukrainian National Women's League of America.

Plus, Americares is transporting three tons of medicine and critical relief supplies to Ukraine. They "anticipate many shipments will follow in the coming weeks."

U.S. Senator for Connecticut and Foreign Relations Committee Member Chris Murphy also joins.

GUESTS:

• Marci Shore: Associate Professor of History, Yale University
• Chris Murphy: U.S. Senator for Connecticut; Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
• Ulyana Yosypiv: Principal, Stamford School of Ukrainian Studies; Head, Stamford Ukrainian American Youth Association
• Svitlana Levus: President, Stamford Branch of Ukrainian National Women’s League of America
• Kate Dischino: Vice President of Emergency Programs, Americares

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to be American? In Dishwasher Dreams, now playing on Hartford Stage, writer, actor, and comedian Alaudin Ullah explores the “otherization” of brown Muslim Americans in America, and by extension, Hollywood.

Ullah grew up in New York City, playing video games, eating hamburgers, listening to hip hop, and cheering for the Knicks. So when the only roles offered to him in Hollywood were that of a terrorist or a bumbling South Asian, Ullah hit pause. Now, his documentary, In Search of Bengali Harlem produced by PBS, takes a hard look at the soul of the American Dream, the “otherization” of his parents, and the celebration of the strength of one’s roots, and the power of one’s wings.

We also listen to the beat of the tabla played by composer and percussionist Avirodh Sharma, whose parents’ non-Ellis Island journey from the West Indies to India to New York City influenced Sharma to create a tapestry of music from South Asia to Spanish Harlem and to Bengali Harlem in Dishwasher Dreams.

Snigdha Sur, Founder and CEO of The Juggernaut and host of the podcast The Juggernaut Interviews; Author Eshani Surya, working on her debut novel All the Hungry Eyes; and Lakshmi Iyer, author of the children’s book Why is My Hair Curly and mother of three girls, two of whom are Caucasian and adopted, share their stories and the complexity of the non-monolithic South Asian American.        

GUESTS: 

• Alaudin Ullah: Comedian, Writer, Actor, Dishwasher Dreams on Hartford Stage
• Avirodh Sharma: Tabla percussionist, Composer, Dishwasher Dreams on Hartford Stage
• Bandana Purkayastha: Professor of Sociology and Asian American Studies, University of Connecticut

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s no question that academia has been hit hard during the pandemic, from declining enrollment numbers at some institutions, to unprecedented challenges related to COVID 19.

Today, we talk about the future of tenure.

We hear from Colleen Flaherty, Senior Faculty Reporter at Inside Higher Ed.

And later student journalist Madison Hahamy joins us. She explains the complex tenure requirements at Yale, and the morale of staff at one of the country’s most prestigious universities.

Do you teach at a college or university in Connecticut? We want to hear from you.

GUESTS:

• Colleen Flaherty - Senior Faculty Reporter at Inside Higher Ed
• Madison Hahamy - former staff reporter for the Yale Daily News who covered how the university relies on instructional faculty. She is a sophomore at Yale’s Hopper College
• Dr. Jeffrey Ogbar - UConn Professor of History and Executive Vice President of UConn-AAUP

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new settlement in the Sheff V. O'Neill school desegregation case could end court oversight and litigation 33 years after the original lawsuit. The Connecticut legislature has just over two weeks to reject the measure that would continue to expand magnet schools and the Open Choice program in Hartford and around the state. Connecticut Public investigative reporter Jacqueline Rabe Thomas reports that so far, suburban districts have been "slow to help."

This hour, hear from Rabe Thomas as well as John C. Brittain, one of the original attorneys in the case. Plus, Waterbury Bridge to Success and My Reflection Matters are working with local districts and the state to develop a family guide for "Raising Kids With Positive Racial & Ethnic Identities." You can check out the Waterbury guide here.

GUESTS:

• Jacqueline Rabe Thomas: Investigative Reporter, Connecticut Public
• Althea Marshall Brooks: Executive Director, Waterbury Bridge to Success
• John C. Brittain: Attorney; Olie W. Rauh Professor of Law, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law

Where We Live

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The average American woman wears between a size 16 and 18, according to the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education. Yet plus size clothing is still hard to come by.

Today, we talk about size inclusivity in the fashion industry. Alex Waldman joins us, co-founder of fashion brand Universal Standard, that offers sizes 00-40.

And later, we hear how fashion colleges are including subjects like size inclusivity, gender identity and sustainability as part of their core curriculum.

When you walk into a store, how easy is it to find clothes in your size?

GUESTS:

• Kenlyn Jones - Assistant Professor at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in the fashion department
• Gianluca Russo - Fashion Journalist and author Power of Plus coming out in August
• Alex Waldman - Co-founder of Universal Standard

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report from Connecticut Voices for Children examines the hurdles facing young adults transitioning out of the child welfare system in our state, including "obstacles in employment, education, and housing." This hour, we hear from the report's co-author and Connecticut Voices Research & Policy Director Dr. Lauren Ruth, as well as Dr. Linda Dixon, Administrator for Transitional Supports and Success at the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.

Plus, SUN Scholars is a local non-profit led by former foster and adopted youth that's focused on improving education equity. The Center for Children's Advocacy also weighs in on their efforts to prevent homelessness.

GUESTS:

• Whitney Rodriquez: Student Coordinator, SUN Scholars
• Yamia Gibson: Student Coordinator, SUN Scholars
• Dr. Linda Dixon: Administrator for Transitional Supports and Success, Connecticut Department of Children and Families
• Dr. Lauren Ruth: Research & Policy Director, Connecticut Voices for Children
• Stacey Violante Cote: Attorney; Director of Operations, Center for Children's Advocacy

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour on Where We Live, we hear from an economist on the what and why of inflation, including policy implications, and from a chartered financial analyst on how we can protect ourselves financially.

We also talk to Foodshare on how individuals can support food insecure members of their community, and learn about an expanding community program called Fridgeport.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.