Contributed photo
Chynna Sherrod, Claire Criscuolo, and Josiah Brown.
Connecticut CASA, a New Haven-based nonprofit organization, submitted the following account of a recent event held on its behalf.
On July 20, Connecticut Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) held a “Cooking for CASA” Benefit with Chef Claire Criscuolo and a musical performance by Chynna Sherrod.
At New Haven’s Dixwell Community “Q” House, the event drew upon the facility’s impressive teaching kitchen — where Claire led a cooking lesson focused on seasonal squash blossoms — and featured food donated by Claire’s Corner Copia.
Chynna Sherrod capped the evening in memorable fashion by singing five songs: three accompanied by Ryan Jones, and the final two her own compositions, as she combined solo vocals and guitar to a standing ovation.
Squash Blossoms, Three Ways
At the July 20 benefit event.
First, Claire — with an admiring audience in the teaching kitchen — prepared squash blossoms “three ways”: as pancakes, quesadillas, and with fresh summer tomato sauce.
Chef Claire.
It was noted that, with the 50th anniversary of Claire’s Corner Copia’s 1975 opening approaching in just two years, Chef Claire expects soon to begin developing a 50th anniversary cookbook in time for publication by September 2025.
Following her culinary artistry, participants moved to the Q House’s Room 114 for a reception that included Claire’s frittatas, polenta and jalapeno bites, and cupcakes — along with non-alcoholic beverages donated by Better Rhodes.
Recognizing Volunteers, in Partnership
Attendees were introduced to several of the scores of volunteer advocates already serving with children, whether those in Foster Care or under Protective Supervision (still with their families), around Connecticut. CASA volunteers visit with children monthly and make evidence-based recommendations to judges to advance the children’s best interests, while working in partnership with professionals (social workers, attorneys, educators, and more) to identify resources for children and their families. The CASA approach is associated with better outcomes for children, who are less likely to return to foster care and who leave the system with more hope than similar children without such advocates. (Connecticut CASA volunteers including Tricia Goldburn and Dwayne Jackson can be heard on YouTube discussing their roles.)
After acknowledging volunteer efforts of such advocates around the state, Connecticut CASA on July 20 recognized all those who made the benefit event possible: from Claire and the musicians to the attendees, Board members, Advisors, and the event sponsors.
Partners such as ‘r kids, the Community Action Agency of New Haven, and the Huneebee Project were represented, among others from the range of public and nonprofit agencies — examples include Clifford Beers, Center for Children’s Advocacy, CT Voices for Children, and Yale Pediatrics Program for Safety, Advocacy and Healing—with which CASA works and makes referrals.
As reported in the New Haven Independent in July 2022, Connecticut CASA’s Benefit last year addressed “Music, Culture, Social Change,” with a panel discussion, piano and singing by Brandon Sherrod, a Connecticut CASA ambassador (along with Miye Oni), musical artist, pro basketball player, and now coach.
This July, Brandon is away at The Basketball Tournament (TBT) with the Nerd Team on ESPN networks. So, one of his three talented sisters — Chynna Sherrod, known for guitar and vocals on American Idol—performed July 20.
Accompanied by Ryan Jones, Chynna first sang three popular songs — from “Rather Be” to “Natural Woman.”
Then, she performed two of her own, soon-to-be-released compositions while on solo guitar (both received rousing applause), concluding with an emotionally powerful ballad she wrote at age 19.
Now age 24, this Bridgeport-raised, Brooklyn-based artist was supported by members of her family: sister Chelsea Sherrod and parents Cassandra “Sandy” and Ricky Sherrod (another sister is Chayla Sherrod).
Lead sponsors of the July 20 Benefit included Yale University and Akerman LLP, as well as Claire’s Corner Copia, with the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, NewAlliance Foundation, and Better Rhodes among other generous sponsors. Connecticut CASA also thanks the City of New Haven, the Q House, and LEAP for Kids for use of the Q House facilities. There, Tony Evans and Yakeita Robinson of LEAP deserve extra appreciation for their responsive, professional assistance in arranging for use of the Q House. Finally, Connecticut CASA staff colleagues and several youth volunteers were recognized.
Connecticut CASA Growing
The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) movement is now in Waterbury and Torrington as well as New Haven, growing toward statewide reach. (See the Newsroom.)
The CASA program model assumes 1 staff person for each 30 volunteers, on average serving 75 children in need. Working with professionals in the child welfare system, Connecticut CASA’s volunteers are supervised by staff who ensure high-quality advocacy and follow-through, including regular reporting to judges.
The CASA approach is associated with greater stability, fewer placements and increased permanency for children, as those with CASA volunteers are only half as likely to return to the foster care system, with a one-on-one connection to an adult and greater access to community services through the sustained, resourceful efforts of that caring adult. Connecticut CASA is governed by a Board, who with an Advisory Council, Ambassadors, and professional staff extend the reach of Volunteers for children’s best interests.
CASA volunteers meet with children regularly, getting to know them and their circumstances — including teachers and social workers, foster parents and families. CASA receives court appointments in both Foster Care and Protective Supervision cases. Carefully screened and trained through a systematic curriculum and part of a national network recognized for improving outcomes, CASA volunteers make evidence-based recommendations to judges. At the center: these caring, consistent volunteers’ relationships with the children themselves — with whom these adults can make a lifelong difference through one-on-one interactions at a difficult time.
Connecticut CASA is funded through a blend of public dollars, foundation grants, individual donations, and sponsorships such as those that made the July 20 Benefit possible.
The organization is expanding under a 2016 state law, as discussed in opinion pieces in the Connecticut Mirror and New Haven Register, along with news in the New Haven Register among other outlets, as well as interviews with WTNH Channel 8 (Ann Nyberg), FOX 61, Comcast Newsmakers, and WNPR. (See the Newsroom.)
Visit the website at ConnecticutCASA.org for more information. Social media include a YouTube channel, at YouTube.com/ConnecticutCASA.
To volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, please visit the website or email info[at]ConnecticutCASA.org.