Social Services

Boys & Girls Clubs Merge

by | Aug 2, 2022 2:48 pm | Comments (3)

Maya McFadden Photo

New Haven youth join New Haven, Wallingford, and North Haven Boys and Girls Clubs leaders.

The Boys and Girls Club (BGC) of New Haven and the Ulbrich BGC of Wallingford and North Haven announced Tuesday that they will merge in order to expand services to youth recovering from the impacts of the Covid pandemic while also bridging the three towns’ cultural boundaries.”

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"Momma’s Love" Sparks Community Health Day at Goffe Street Park

by | Jul 17, 2022 10:53 am | Comments (1)

Ahndiya Glasper (far left) at the table honoring her late great-grandmother and mother.

Latoya Glasper was planning a community wellness day as part of her new job with the city Health Department. It would be a resource fair, named Momma’s Love Community Day,” in honor of her late grandmother. 

Before Glasper was able to see the event to completion, she underwent a sudden health crisis and died in June. At 42 years old, Glasper left her five children and own mother.

This Saturday, the Health Department put on the event anyway — dedicated to Glasper’s memory. 

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City: $ On Way To Revive The Barbell

by | Jul 11, 2022 8:56 am | Comments (4)

Laura Glesby File Photo

Darrisha McIver outside the Barbell, where she competed in double dutch, acted in plays, and got her first job.

Visions for a revived community center glimmered in Trowbridge Square alongside the fireflies, as alders, city officials, and Hill neighbors discussed the future of the building that once housed the Barbell Club.

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Anti-Violence Crews Summit, Look Ahead

by | Jul 1, 2022 10:07 am | Comments (9)

Maya McFadden Photos

At Newhallville anti-violence parley. Top row: State Rep. Robyn Porter, city resilience chief Carlos Sosa-Lombardo, youth worker Ron Huggins. Bottom: District Manager Lt. Dana Smith, State Sen. Gary Winfield, and Ice The Beef's Chaz Carmon.

As summer set in, grassroots gun-violence prevention leaders compared notes about ongoing efforts to keep people safe in Newhallville, and heard a plea to step up their game in conjunction with a broader anti-poverty strategy.

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Barbell Club May Rise Again

by | Jun 29, 2022 4:51 pm | Comments (2)

Laura Glesby Photo

Darrisha McIver outside Trowbrdge Square's former -- and future? -- Barbell Club.

When Darrisha McIver walks by the abandoned city building that once housed Hill Youth Cooperative Services (HCYS), she remembers jumping double dutch as a kid, staffing The Store” full of after-school snacks, and growing up to become a camp counselor kids looked up to.

She also sees a hope for the future: a rebuilt community center where neighborhood kids can build confidence and learn life skills, the way she once did.

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Chapel Haven Celebrates 50th Anniversary

by | Jun 6, 2022 3:00 pm | Comments (1)

Maya McFadden Photo

Monica and Andy Schlessinger: thankful for Chapel Haven.

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Chapel Haven crew sings National Anthem on Saturday.

Earth science and basketball classes. Volunteering in the community. And independent living for residents with developmental disabilities. 

Mother-son duo Monica and Andy Schlessinger singled out those as just a few of the many highlights of the Chapel Haven Schleifer Center (CHSC) — which celebrated its 50th anniversary in Westville.

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"180 Center" Opens New Home On East Street To Address Homelessness, Addiction

by | Jun 3, 2022 9:06 am | Comments (1)

Jordan Ashby Photo

180 Center leaders join in prayer at dedication of new building.

Over 50 people gathered to celebrate the opening and dedication of a new building for The 180 Center, a Christian nonprofit that provides services for addiction and homelessness in New Haven.

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COMPASS Critics To City: Be Transparent

by | May 17, 2022 4:04 pm | Comments (14)

Thomas Breen photo

Uniforms, logos and vehicles for the city's planned COMPASS crisis response team.

The following op-ed was submitted by Yale School of Medicine psychiatry residents Nichole Roxas and Alice Shen.

(Opinion) We were shocked to read that the Board of Alders approved a $3.5 million contract with Yale University to set up a community response team — Compassionate Allies Serving our Streets, or COMPASS — to respond to 911 calls related to mental health, substance use, and homelessness.

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$3.5M Crisis Response Contract OK'd

by | May 4, 2022 9:35 am | Comments (8)

Thomas Breen photo

Point person Carlos Sosa-Lombardo: Next up, finalize and "execute" Yale contract.

The Board of Alders green-lighted the Elicker Administration’s long-delayed plans to set up a non-cop crisis response team — as they approved a $3.5 million contract with Yale, and voted to accept a related $2 million federal grant amid criticism that crucial financial details are missing.

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Support Sought Beyond Autism Awareness Month

by | Apr 26, 2022 8:37 am | Comments (4)

Hamden Deputy Chief of Staff Alexa Panayotakis, ARC Board President Elinore Mulligan, State Rep. Josh Elliott, Mayor Lauren Garrett, 28-year veteran employee Sherry Warren, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, ARC Executive Director Ashley Dennis, and ARC Board Member Nelson Alino.

A Hamden nonprofit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as those with autism spectrum disorders, has found a way to keep their program participants happy even in the midst of growing hardships facing the caretaking industry — but is asking for more support from the state as the level of need among their target populations expands.

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Parent Appreciation Breakfast Brings Energy Boost To Hamden High's Teachers

by | Apr 14, 2022 3:45 pm | Comments (1)

Hamden Parents United members Lena Smith Parker, Christina Larrow, Sarah Northrop, Principal Nadine Gannon, and Melissa Atterberry-Jones.

Thursday's spread.

Hamden High School teachers, social workers, nurses, and security showed up to work at 6:30 a.m. Thursday, ready to be released into a highly anticipated week of spring break following a tough few years — then were surprised with a breakfast buffet served by smiling parents.

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Hamden Looks To Lift Spirits By Allowing Booze Sales At Town Events

by | Apr 7, 2022 2:55 pm | Comments (5)

Next year, these a capella ladies will likely be able to buy alcoholic drinks at Hamden Fest ...

... but other town events, like this dance for disabled children, will probably still not include liquor.

It’s June 11, 2022. You’re getting ready for a day of purchasing homemade postcards, sampling the products of local potrepreneurs, and either encountering or evading politicians campaigning at Town Center Park during the annual Hamden Fest. 

How much would buying an ice cold Corona on-scene contribute to the experience?

This year’s attendees of Hamden Fest may get to find out for themselves, thanks to a proposed amendment put forward by Hamden’s mayor to allow for the sale and distribution of alcohol at town celebrations on a case-by-case review basis.

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