Paul Bass photo
Fire Lt. Derrick Meade, Board of Ed's Abigail Rivera, Fire Capt. Troy Frost, and Asst. Police Chief David Zannelli at WNHH FM.
Three grown men who literally fight fires and crimes for a living received surprise plaques Thursday for helping try to put out a metaphorical fire — young people entering adulthood in challenging times with no path to productive careers.
Abigail Rivera, who coordinates the Board of Education’s youth outreach efforts, presented the plaques of appreciation to New Haven Fire Lt. Derrick Meade, Fire Capt. Troy Frost and Asst. Police Chief David Zannelli.
Rivera worked with the trio this summer as they launched a new Career Exploratory Program to steer teens toward careers and master personal financial skills along the way.
Six 16 – 18 year-old New Haveners received $2,500 scholarships to participate in the program this summer. They were teamed with firefighters, cops, and professionals in real estate and mental health/social work to see how they do their jobs. They received advice about how to take the next steps toward entering the same careers. They also took courses in balancing checkbooks, navigating debt, and maintaining a solid credit score.
Rivera presented the surprise plaques inside the WNHH FM studio after she and the trio discussed the summer program on an episode of WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven.”
They told about how one participant from Fair Haven named Angelo participated in 60 ride-alongs with police officers. “This is the most ride-alongs I’ve ever seen,” Zannelli observed.
Then, at the end, Angelo shadowed firefighters for two days. He watched them open fire hydrants and haul gear to calls. He ended up interested in his career path — firefighting. Not policing.
Which was fine with everyone involved in the program.
“We want them off the street” and headed toward productive careers, whatever line of work that ends up being, Meade said.
Now firefighters are helping Angelo prepare for the agility test and written test to land a spot in the department.
Based on the pilot year’s success, organizers are seeking grants to expand the program next year. They’re also inviting people to volunteer as mentors next year or otherwise help out the program. Find more information and contact the group here.
Beaver Hills Alder Tom Ficklin at WNHH FM (where he also has hosted his own radio show since 2015).
Also on Thursday’s “Dateline,” Beaver Hills Alder Tom Ficklin spoke about why he’s running for reelection to serve a second term representing Ward 28.
He spoke of the centuries-old roots of issues that confront New Haven today, such as how the theft of land from the Quinnipiack tribe fits into discussions about affordable housing, and how the use of “plant medicine” and efforts to impact consciousness factor into decisions about the rollout of recreational cannabis legalization.
“We have to take a holistic approach,” Ficklin said.
Ficklin, who is 74, also spoke about the importance of recognizing the contributions seniors can make by remaining active in civic life.
Ficklin, a Democrat, is running unopposed.
Click on the above video for the full conversation with the Career Participatory Program team on WNHH FM’s Dateline New Haven. Click on the below video for the full conversation with Alder Tom Ficklin. Click here to subscribe or here to listen to other episodes of Dateline New Haven.