For the People

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month —  dedicated to recognizing the warning signs for suicide, encouraging open conversations about mental health, and connecting people to proven treatment and resources including our community partners at The HUB, who will be joining us to discuss these preventable tragedies. Then we'll preview one of the biggest and longest-running fundraising events for regional nonprofits - the 38th Bigelow Tea Community Challenge. We'll hear from its founder and the CEO of Bigelow Tea Company, as well as representatives from two of the nearly two dozen nonprofits supported by this popular activity. And we'll close by bringing in a brand new partner, the Head of Community Strategy for ArtPharmacy - which enables personalized social prescribing services with healthcare, university, corporate, and government partners to address the nation's most intractable health challenges. Learn about this innovative initiative and how you can get involved through an upcoming partnership with the CT Office of the Arts.

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day the world's largest annual campaign to renew our commitment to end overdose and related harms. So, we reached out to our expert resources at McCall Behavioral Health to help us understand how we can address and prevent overdose tragedies in our own famly and community.

We're bringing back our friends from Girl Scouts of Connecticut. Learn how this inclusive organization is preparing and empowering the next few generations of female leaders, how you can volunteer as an adult, and get a young woman or girl you care about involved in Girl Scouts.

Check out an important back to school segment featuring a bunch of tips and advice from a local representative of the American Red Cross to help keep all our kids safer as they head into their next school year.

August 31 is recognized as International Overdose Awareness Day the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those we have lost, acknowledge the grief of families and friends left behind, and renew our commitment to end overdose and related harms. So, we reached out to our expert resources at McCall Behavioral Health to help us understand how we can address and prevent overdose tragedies in our own famly and community. Then, we'll bring back our friends from Girl Scouts of Connecticut. Learn how this inclusive organization is preparing and empowering the next few generations of female leaders, how you can volunteer as an adult, and get a young woman or girl you care about involved in Girl Scouts. And we'll close with an important back to school segment featuring a bunch of tips and advice from a local representative of the American Red Cross to help keep all our kids safer as they head into their next school year.

Tune in and learn about our partners from Bridges, a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, and state-designated local mental health authority. Their biggest community building event and fundraiser is celebrating its 34th anniversary this September - so whether you walk or bike, we'll tell you how to get involved, and why you should.

We're thrilled to introduce you to a nonprofit that is combining cutting edge logistics with addressing food insecurity and nutrition among some of the area's most vulnerable populations as we meet a board member and the founder of Nutrition Security Solutions.

There's always a lot of good going on in the greater Naugatuck Valley and this segment is going to tell you about nearly a half-million dollars in grants that were just announced to help support 16 wide-ranging organizations, agencies and activities with the President of the Valley Community Foundation.

There's always a lot of good going on in the greater Naugatuck Valley and today we're going to tell you all about nearly a half-million dollars in grants that were just announced to help support 16 wide-ranging organizations, agencies and activities with the President of the Valley Community Foundation. Then we're going to introduce you to a nonprofit that is combining cutting edge logistics with addressing food insecurity and nutrition among some of the area's most vulnerable populations as we meet a board member and the founder of Nutrition Security Solutions. And we'll close with our partners from Bridges, a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, and state-designated local mental health authority. Their biggest community building event and fundraiser is celebrating its 34th anniversary this September - so whether you walk or bike, we'll tell you how to get involved, and why you should.

We're bringing back a long-lost For the People partner in promoting and supporting the arts - the Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation. Their 23rd Annual Gala is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 6 featuring The Black Rock All Stars. So, we'll tell you all about how to get involved and support the cause!

The arts may be under fire and facing huge challenges these days, but the nonprofit Connecticut Humanities organization is breathing new life into a number of cool and engaging arts and cultural initiatives through its recent round of grants. So, tune in and find out how CT Humanities is supporting the arts where you live.

We don't do a lot of singing on the award-winning For the People, and when we do it's usually singing the praises of great organizations. This segment is no different as we meet some talented and inspiring singers inviting you to lend your voice to the coed Coastal Mix Barbershop Chorus.

We don't do a lot of singing on the award-winning For the People, and when we do it's usually singing the praises of great organizations. This segment is no different as we meet some talented and inspiring singers inviting you to lend your voice to the coed Coastal Mix Barbershop Chorus. The arts may be under fire and facing huge challenges these days, but the nonprofit Connecticut Humanities organization is breathing new life into a number of cool and engaging arts and cultural initiatives through its recent round of grants. So, tune in and find out how CT Humanities is supporting the arts where you live. And we'll keep that theme going by bringing back a long-lost For the People partner in promoting and supporting the arts - the Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation. Their 23rd Annual Gala is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 6 featuring The Black Rock All Stars. So, we'll tell you all about how to get involved and support the cause!

For the People recently headed to Meriden to visit with a couple of leaders at the Community Economic Development Fund or CEDF. If you are looking to establish your ownn business, we'll clue you in on how CEDF supports the growth and success of small businesses in Connecticut, especially in underserved communities, through a powerful combination of capital, coaching, and education.

There's still a lot of summer left at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo - and there's loads of things to plan for this fall, too. So, come along as we head to the zoo and get a lesson about the beautiful and fascinating Monarch Butterflies. You'll also find out how you can help preserve and rebuild our fragile population of Monarchs, while hearing about other pollinator activities, and so much more.

There's still a lot of summer left at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo - and there's loads of things to plan for this fall, too. So, come along as we head to the zoo and get a lesson about the beautiful and fascinating Monarch Butterflies. You'll also find out how you can help preserve and rebuild our fragile population of Monarchs, while hearing about other pollinator activities, and so much more. Then, it's up the road to Meriden to visit with a couple of leaders at the Community Economic Development Fund or CEDF. If you are looking to establish your ownn business, we'll clue you in on how CEDF supports the growth and success of small businesses in Connecticut, especially in underserved communities, through a powerful combination of capital, coaching, and education. Then our next summer re-run takes us back to our live broadcast from Connecticut Ag Day last spring. As we close out this week's conversations, we'll hear from CT Commissioner of Agriculture Bryan Hurlburt. 

It's time to get reacquainted with a powerful nonprofit workforce development agency - since 1995, Career Resources has been a transformative leader in workforce development, empowering thousands of job seekers across Connecticut with the tools, training, and opportunities they need to build stronger futures. Tune in and help us kick off their 30th year detailing how they might be of service to you - and how to participate in Career Resources' special “$30K for 30” fundraising campaign.

The Valley Council for Health and Human Services and its community partners just released the 2025 Valley Community Index - a powerful tool used by nonprofits, municipalities, funders, and residents to better understand the needs and strengths of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. Why is this report so critical to help everyone understand and respond to the Valley's biggest challenges? We're bringing in one of the report's co-authors to explain!

The Valley Council for Health and Human Services and its community partners just released the 2025 Valley Community Index - a powerful tool used by nonprofits, municipalities, funders, and residents to better understand the needs and strengths of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. Why is this report so critical to help everyone understand and respond to the Valley's biggest challenges? Stay tuned and we'll bring in one of the report's co-authors to explain! Then we'll get reacquainted with a powerful nonprofit workforce development agency - since 1995, Career Resources has been a transformative leader in workforce development, empowering thousands of job seekers across Connecticut with the tools, training, and opportunities they need to build stronger futures. So we're helping kick off their 30th year detailing how they might be of service to you - and how to participate in Career Resources' special “$30K for 30” fundraising campaign. And we'll close replaying a segment from earlier this year with our partners at Call Before You Dig. August 11th (8/11) serves as a natural reminder for residents and contractors to contact Call Before You Dig, Inc. (CBYD) before starting any digging projects. So it's appropriate we encore a great conversation we brought you back in April at the beginning of Call Before You Dig Month.

If you own, or think you own a historic property or home, we'll close inviting you to a very special event next week in Bridgeport hosted by the CT Freedom Trail, the Freeman Center for History, and the Community and the State Preservation Office. Stick with us to hear what it's all about and why you might benefit from attending.

Tune in and hear important details as CT Voices helps unpack the organization's 2025 State of Working Connecticut report focusing on Increasing the Labor Force and Job Growth by Making Wages Fairer across our state.

Our last For the People for July is going to cover a few very hot issues starting with the Women's Business Development Council announcing the next round of their Ignite Grant Program. If you want a shot at grants of up to $10,000 for women-owned businesses - you better stay tuned.

Our last For the People for July is going to cover a few very hot issues appropriately starting with the Women's Business Development Council announcing the next round of their Ignite Grant Program. If you want a shot at grants of up to $10,000 for women-owned businesses - you better stay tuned. Then we'll bring in an important voice representing CT Voices helping to unpack the organization's 2025 State of Working Connecticut report focusing on Increasing the Labor Force and Job Growth by Making Wages Fairer across our state. And if you own, or think you own a historic property or home, we'll close inviting you to a very special event next week in Bridgeport hosted by the CT Freedom Trail, the Freeman Center for History, and the Community and the State Preservation Office. Stick with us to hear what it's all about and why you might benefit from attending.

Meet a couple of our friends from the Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development (CRCD) Area talking about how they are hard at work supporting veteran Connecticut farmers while they prepare for the upcoming Veterans Farmers Market.

As we are still reeling from the devastating flood tragedy in Texas, we'll connect with the Connecticut Insurance Dept. to hear a few of the most important and locally relevant points in their latest report outlining plans for reducing weather-related risks and strengthening our state's weather resilience.

It's been way too long since we checked in with the folks at Sterling  Community Center in Stratford, so stay tuned and hear from the leader of this legacy nonprofit agency and learn about how the Sterling team is creating impactful & inclusive programs and services that engage and cultivate a thriving community.

It's been way too long since we checked in with the folks at Sterling  Community Center in Stratford, so stay tuned and hear from the leader of this legacy nonprofit agency and learn about how the Sterling team is creating impactful & inclusive programs and services that engage and cultivate a thriving community. Then, as we are still reeling from the devastating flood tragedy in Texas, we'll connect with the Connecticut Insurance Dept. to hear a few of the most important and locally relevant points in their latest report outlining plans for reducing weather-related risks and strengthening our state's weather resilience. And we'll wrap things up with a couple of friends from the Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development Area talking about how they are hard at work supporting veteran Connecticut farmers while they prepare for the upcoming Veterans Farmers Market.

We're catching up with the director of Bridgeport's Barnum Museum discussing the museum's recent Emmy Award-winning video, and a number of programs that will help you look at the World's Greatest Showman, and the museum that showcases his life in a whole new and exciting way.

We're excited to be talking about The Wealth Accelerator, an economic justice initiative being led by a group of regional organizations serving Greater New Haven that joined forces to test and scale wealth-building strategies in low-income communities and communities of color. Listen in and learn how they made this innovative project happen, and why it's so important.

We talk a lot about green jobs and how they benefit participating members of Connecticut's workforce. So, in this segment, we're going to bring in a rep from Eversource and a  member of that green workforce who completed and now instructs participants in Energize CT's Green STEP Program to tell you all about it.

We talk a lot about green jobs and how they benefit participating members of Connecticut's workforce. So, today, we're going to bring in a rep from Eversource and a  member of that green workforce who completed and now instructs participants in Energize CT's Green STEP Program to tell you all about it. Then, we'll be talking about The Wealth Accelerator, an economic justice initiative being led by a group of regional organizations serving Greater New Haven that joined forces to test and scale wealth-building strategies in low-income communities and communities of color. Listen in and learn how they made this innovative project happen, and why it's so important. And we'll close with the director of Bridgeport's Barnum Museum discussing the museum's recent Emmy Award-winning video, and a number of programs that will help you look at the World's Greatest Showman, and the museum that showcases his life in a whole new and exciting way.

This segment puts the focus squarely on youth employment challenges and opportunities being offered by The WorkPlace. Tune in and hear how this agency is connecting workers and employers with innovative and successful job programs - and helping young folks get a solid start in our workforce.

We're reaching out to the folks at reSET to hear about their new fall programs aimed at advancing the social enterprise sector and providing inclusive entrepreneurial support across our state. Listen in and learn about fall programs for those with dreams of starting retail and food service enterprises.

We're going to help you steer yourself toward a healthier life and more zen lifestyle as we bring in one of the principal instructors for the Yoga In Our City program. Learn all about these no-cost, accessible yoga classes being offered at parks in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, and Waterbury, and how to get involved.

As we wrap up the holiday weekend, we're going to help you steer yourself toward a healthier life and more zen lifestyle as we bring in one of the principal instructors for the Yoga In Our City program. Learn all about these no-cost, accessible yoga classes being offered at parks in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, and Waterbury, and how to get involved. Then, we'll reach out to the folks at reSET to hear about their new fall programs aimed at advancing the social enterprise sector and providing inclusive entrepreneurial support across our state. And we'll close with a focus on youth employment challenges and opportunities being offered by The WorkPlace. Tune in and hear how this agency is connecting workers and employers with innovative and successful job programs - and helping young folks get a solid start in our workforce.

We're chatting up a point person at the Connecticut Dept. of Labor talking about workforce development, hiring trends, and the ways the DOL can help you - whether you are employed and looking to step things up, or you are seeking employment anywhere across our state.

We're connecting with AARP of Connecticut to get a view of the 2025 state legislative session through experienced eyes. We'll learn about a few of the outcomes that could benefit you - and about some that AARP was hoping for that may not have made it across the finish line.

Meet another new organization into our For the People resource family as we highlight the Women's Mentoring Network - a nonprofit serving all of Fairfield County and beyond providing foundational skills for individuals to secure better employment options and encouraging individuals to seek educational opportunities as they look to become economically empowered. 

We're welcoming another new organization into our For the People resource family as we highlight the Women's Mentoring Network - a nonprofit serving all of Fairfield County and beyond providing foundational skills for individuals to secure better employment options and encouraging individuals to seek educational opportunities as they look to become economically empowered.   Then we'll reconnect with AARP of Connecticut to get a view of the 2025 state legislative session through experienced eyes. We'll learn about a few of the outcomes that could benefit you - and about some that AARP was hoping for that may not have made it across the finish line. And we'll close with a rep from the Connecticut Dept. of Labor talking about workforce development, hiring trends, and the ways the DOL can help you - whether you are employed and looking to step things up, or you are seeking employment anywhere across our state.

The next segment of our Pride Month In Focus series will introduce the leader of Hartford Healthcare's Center for Gender Health at the Institute for Living. We'll hear how the small but mighty team at the Center is working with patients, their families and communities to deliver comprehensive, compassionate healthcare services for gender-diverse individuals of all ages.

We'll be talking about education and the arts as we meet the leader of Arts for Learning CT, which is working hard to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts. Find out how their affiliated artists and supporters are developing strategic partnerships to reach shared goals for young people and our state.

Today we'll open up talking about education and the arts as we meet the leader of Arts for Learning CT, which is working hard to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts. Find out how their affiliated artists and supporters are developing strategic partnerships to reach shared goals for young people and our state. Then, the next segment of our Pride Month In Focus series will introduce the leader of Hartford Healthcare's Center for Gender Health at the Institute for Living. We'll hear how the small but mighty team at the Center is working with patients, their families and communities to deliver comprehensive, compassionate healthcare services for gender-diverse individuals of all ages. And we'll close replaying a segment from earlier this year with Make-A-Wish of Connecticut. Make-A-Wish is still working with dozens of qualified families and local children in an attempt to grant their wishes. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is for you to become a "Wish Maker," so stay tuned and learn how to get involved.

We're continuing our Pride Month In Focus series welcoming back Greater Bridgeport Pride to celebrate their 15th Anniversary, to chat about the Pride Month activities still to come in and around the Park City this June, and how this organization is growing and adapting to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community across the region.

We're bringing in a representative from AAA Northeast and covering a lot of ground as we discuss the 100 Deadliest Days, pedestrian / motorcyclist / bicyclist safety, hot car dangers, and the dangers of inferior fake car safety seats.

Our Father's Day program is focusing on playing it safe and protecting yourself and your family from harm all summer long starting off with the Red Cross to brief us on the latest hurricane and storm season outlook, preparedness tips, and opportunities for you to give back as a disaster volunteer - or even more critically - as a blood or platelet donor.

Our Father's Day program is going to focus heavily on playing it safe and protecting yourself and your family from harm all summer long starting off with the Red Cross to brief us on the latest hurricane and storm season outlook, preparedness tips, and opportunities for you to give back as a disaster volunteer - or even more critically - as a blood or platelet donor. Then we'll bring in a representative from AAA Northeast covering a lot of ground as we discuss the 100 Deadliest Days, pedestrian / motorcyclist / bicyclist safety, hot car dangers, and the dangers of inferior fake car safety seats. And we'll continue our Pride Month In Focus series welcoming back Greater Bridgeport Pride to celebrate their 15th Anniversary, to chat about the Pride Month activities still to come in and around the Park City this June, and how this organization is growing and adapting to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community across the region.

On the first full weekend of Pride Month, we welcomed back a leader and co-founder from Westport Pride to outline a full schedule of events and celebrations welcoming all members of Connecticut's LGBTQ+ communities and all their allies, friends, and loved ones.

For the People continues promoting groundbreaking news in the Naugatuck Valley as we host the second of two representatives from Griffin Hospital to talk about their innovative EmPATH behavioral health unit and why it is designed to provide more effective, compassionate care for individuals who come to the ER experiencing a mental health crisis.

During Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, we brought you a well-versed expert from the Western CT Area Agency on Aging's Senior Medicare Patrol to frame out why folks on Medicare need to be uniquely prepared - not for if - but for when bad actors call or reach out with  convincing and unfortunately successful means of ripping you off, and how you can protect yourself.

It's Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, so we're bringing you a well-versed expert from the Western CT Area Agency on Aging's Senior Medicare Patrol to frame out why folks on Medicare need to be uniquely prepared - not for if - but for when bad actors call or reach out with  convincing and unfortunately successful means of ripping you off, and how you can protect yourself. Then, For the People will continue promoting groundbreaking news in the Naugatuck Valley as we host the second of two representatives from Griffin Hospital to talk about their innovative EmPATH behavioral health unit and why it is designed to provide more effective, compassionate care for individuals who come to the ER experiencing a mental health crisis. And on this first full weekend of Pride Month, we're welcoming back a leader from Westport Pride to outline a full schedule of events and celebrations welcoming all members of Connecticut's LGBTQ+ communities and all their allies, friends, and loved ones.

We've been there since year one, so we wouldn't miss celebrating 30 years as For the People presents a spectacular preview of the 2025 International Festival of Arts & Ideas. You'll hear about why the festival is especially important this year as it ramps up convening visitors around countless programs, concerts, exhibits, talks, recitals, and more - most absolutely free!