"Goodnight, Moon,"
Not "Goodnight, TV"
by | Oct 6, 2010 11:53 am | Comments (3)
Adriana, who’s recently traded in TV time for reading time with her dad, now has seven new books to choose from at bedtime.
Social Services
"Goodnight, Moon,"
Year Starts Right
by | Sep 22, 2010 8:57 am | Comments (0)
Albert May, director of development at Christian Community Action, sent in this photo and write-up about a recent book bag donation event.
Should She Worry
About Social Security?
by | Aug 12, 2010 11:09 am | Comments (8)
Melissa Bailey File Photo
Social security just turned 75. Maureen O’Sullivan told her Congresswoman that she’s worried it won’t be there when she turns 75.
Early "Discoveries"
by | Jul 27, 2010 11:02 am | Comments (0)
Jessica Ciparelli Photo
Dr. Joan Lombardi, Deputy Assistant Secretary and Interdepartmental Liaison for Early Childhood Development, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, speaks with Elaine Zimmerman, Executive Director of the CT Commission on Children, at the “Healthy Safe and Ready to Learn” forum on July 19 at CCSU.
Jessica Ciparelli of the CT Early Childhood Alliance sent in this write-up of a recent forum on early childhood development:
Dr. Joan Lombardi, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, joined 120 community leaders, child care providers and teachers, legislators, school superintendents, child advocates, parents, philanthropic leaders and concerned citizens at Central CT State University on July 19 to discuss early childhood at a forum entitled “Healthy, Safe and Ready to Learn.”
Aspiring Mortician
Sets To Work
by | Jul 9, 2010 1:05 pm | Comments (2)
Melissa Bailey Photo
Federal stimulus dollars were put to use this week at Howard K. Hill Funeral Home, where Akayla McKinnie learned to adorn a casket with a gold name plate.
24/7 Refuge Coming
by | Jun 30, 2010 8:15 am | Comments (1)
Sonia (pictured), a survivor of domestic violence, spent a night in her car outside one of the state’s 18 domestic violence shelters because it wasn’t open when she arrived in need of help. Now, with a new law in place Thursday that provides almost $3 million in state and federal funding, all the shelters will soon be open 24/7.
Seven Grants Will
Support Prison Reentry
by | Jun 24, 2010 1:42 am | Comments (0)
Seven local organizations will be receiving “mini-grants” of $5,000 or more to help released prisoners get off on the right foot in New Haven.
Food Bank Seeks Food
by | Jun 18, 2010 7:38 am | Comments (0)
Contributed Photo
The food bank’s Waterbury warehouse.
Supplies are running low at the Connecticut Food Bank, which issued a public plea for donations this week.
“Children’s Zone” Sought
by | Jun 9, 2010 2:24 pm | Comments (2)
Some 5 to 8 percent of Whalley Avenue merchants can’t read. Kids no longer can sound out words because no one teaches phonics. And the only caregiver one neighbor could afford, her aunt, had her charge watching too much TV, so the child may not have been ready for kindergarten.
Takima Tackles
Taxes, Wins Award
by | Jun 8, 2010 10:36 am | Comments (4)
Social service agency FSW sent in a photo and write up about an award given Takima Saunders, a manager with FSW:
Puerto Ricans
Prepare For New Law
by | Jun 3, 2010 2:07 pm | Comments (7)
Thomas MacMillan Photo
On July 1, after 74 years, Lydia Torres’ Puerto Rican birth certificate will no longer be valid. That’s because of a new law designed to eliminate identity fraud. Torres said the law goes too far and is simply an attempt to make money.
"Mountain, Move
Out Of My Way!"
by | May 31, 2010 3:11 pm | Comments (4)
The following write-up and photos were submitted by CAA’s Sandra McKinnie.
New Center Carries On Mother Hicks’ Mission
by | May 27, 2010 11:08 am | Comments (1)
Melinda Tuhus Photo
People in New Haven knew “Mother Hicks” as part Mother Teresa, part Norma Rae. In her name and in her spirit, some of the women she inspired will now welcome other women come home from prison and get on their feet.
Continue reading ‘New Center Carries On Mother Hicks’ Mission’
Block Grant Bullet Dodged
by | Apr 1, 2010 10:07 am | Comments (0)
Christyna LeComte, Ric Browne, and Dolores Colón
Christyna LeComte spent five years wandering the streets of Waterbury homeless. Thanks to federal money, now she is living in her first apartment ever, paying her bills, and trying to be a “productive member of society,” she said. She begged an aldermanic committee not to take that money away.
Her appearance at the hearing may have guaranteed her funding for next year, as both her organization and the controversy-scarred Casa Otoñal narrowly escaped a recommendation that they receive zero dollars for the upcoming fiscal year.
City Planners To Church: Show Us The Parking
by | Mar 19, 2010 8:14 am | Comments (2)
Thomas MacMillan Photo
A Hamilton Street church says it has all the parking spots it needs to run a teen center. The City Plan Commission wants proof.
Continue reading ‘City Planners To Church: Show Us The Parking’
Houses of Worship Become Homes for the Homeless
by | Feb 5, 2010 4:16 pm | Comments (8)
Melinda Tuhus Photo
Jerry Norfleet was enjoying dinner in a homeless shelter that’s not normally a shelter. The clergy people around him were there not to to preach, but to serve dinner and schmooze with their guests.
Continue reading ‘Houses of Worship Become Homes for the Homeless’
Shakeup At Casa Otonal
by | Jan 28, 2010 4:58 pm | Comments (3)
Thomas MacMillan Photo
Allan Appel File Photo
After a federal audit found Casa Otonal had misused $250,000, the Latino senior center fired its longtime director. On Monday, a Boston-based management firm will step in to run the organization.
Raised Age Applauded
by | Jan 14, 2010 9:15 pm | Comments (3)
A woman who works with juveniles in that court system reported this week that the state’s first case of a 16-year-old to be heard in juvenile — not adult — court took place in New Haven under a new law.
Merger Simplifies Help For Mentally Ill, Substance Abusers
by | Jan 5, 2010 10:04 am | Comments (0)
The next time someone like Eric Aranjo (pictured) needs help with substance abuse, mental health, housing or job issues, he or she will find a wide open door through the merger of two complementary service organizations. The merger will also save money in a time of extreme belt-tightening.
Continue reading ‘Merger Simplifies Help For Mentally Ill, Substance Abusers’
Huggie Bear, Teen Pals Collect Coats for Homeless
by | Dec 24, 2009 12:38 pm | Comments (2)
Hundreds of teens lined up outside the 5 Senses Club on Crown Street on a frigid Wednesday night to donate warm coats to the homeless and to have a fine holiday dance party to boot. Hillhouse senior and teen organizer extraordinaire Ronald Huggins Jr., known to his many friends as “Huggie Bear,” estimated his “Santa’s Lil Helpers” soiree would provide more than 300 coats to the city’s estimated 1500 homeless people.
Continue reading ‘Huggie Bear, Teen Pals Collect Coats for Homeless’
Bags, And Stomaches, Filled
by | Dec 9, 2009 9:58 am | Comments (4)
As a new report indicates growing hunger among American children, the Connecticut Food Bank is doing its best to provide wraparound meals for public school students in New Haven and a dozen other towns at risk of hunger. It’s called the Kids’ BackPack Program, and it just got a big boost from the Stop&Shop/Giant Family Foundation.
Larry Spurns Ray-Ray
by | Dec 8, 2009 4:19 pm | Comments (6)
Six months after he was arrested on gun charges, Larry Yarbrough got a job at McDonald’s. It took eight solid weeks of discovering his values and some “Real Talk” about making good choices.
Firefighter Shows Lateef The Ropes
by | Dec 8, 2009 12:39 pm | Comments (11)
It wasn’t Lateef’s stated desire to become a firefighter that attracted Pat Egan’s attention. It was the answer Lateef, who’s living in a homeless shelter with his mom, gave when asked what he hopes the new year will bring. “Harder homework,” Lateef said.
Baby Nicole Scores Limo, Home
by | Nov 20, 2009 2:45 pm | Comments (7)
Nine months after she was abandoned at a hospital, baby Nicole got a permanent home and a limo ride to Evan’s Toy Shoppe.
Tent City II Draws Young & Not-So-Young
by | Nov 20, 2009 9:05 am | Comments (3)
Ashley Sargent lives near Route 80. She sees a homeless woman there every day looking “sad” and holding two signs that say, “Please help me” and “Will work for money and food.” That woman inspired a unique field trip Thursday night.