Longstanding Coverage of State Government to End; Drastic Reduction in Funding, Imposition of Content Limitations Cited

CT-N, which has provided coverage of State Senate and House sessions and all three branches of state government for nearly two decades, will cease operations on Friday, November 3, due to severe budget cuts and limitations on coverage being imposed by the legislature on the network’s operator, the Connecticut Public Affairs Network (CPAN). CPAN has operated the network, under a series of contracts with the legislature’s Joint Committee on Legislative Management (OLM), since March, 1999, and was among the first in the nation to provide comprehensive coverage of state government.

“CPAN was created with a nonpartisan, educational mission to run CT-N as a three- branches network, at arm’s length from the government,” CPAN Executive Director Paul Giguere wrote in a letter notifying the non-partisan OLM that CPAN would be ending coverage. “It was a mission and purpose once supported by the Leadership of the General Assembly. Even the state statute governing CT-N’s revenue intercept refers broadly to coverage of ‘state government deliberations and public policy events.’ The thinking has clearly changed.”

At least one of those contracts, covering November 2003 - October 2006, clearly delineates that CPAN’s operation of CT-N would provide coverage of “the legislature, events of public interest in the Executive and Judicial Branches and other events of statewide interest.”  That contract also indicates that “many of the executive branch events to be covered will be taking place at locations away from the Capitol Complex.”  A subsequent contract, which ran through last year, also stated that “CPAN retains full editorial discretion regarding day-to-day programming.”  CT-N broadcasts seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

CPAN’s most recent contact expired in September, was extended through October, and was on a day-by-day basis this week. The 33-person staff worked with an annual operating budget that was unexpectedly reduced by 65 percent in the budget approved by the legislature this week for the current fiscal year.  At the same time, the legislature sought reductions in coverage of state government outside the State Capitol, limitations on editorial content decisions, and cutbacks on public affairs programming.  Those changes, which were revealed in the RFP for a new five-year in April, drew sharp criticism at that time, which were renewed this week.

“For some time now, we have contended with encroachments on our editorial independence, despite our best efforts to be responsive to concerns while continually working to improve the CT-N service and over-delivering on every contract we have ever signed,” Giguere wrote.

The National Alliance of Public Affairs Networks (NAPAN), points out that while many variations exist in programming and operating models among state public affairs networks, a series of “Best Practices” can be drawn from “the most effective strategies used by highly regarded networks across the country.”

NAPAN points out that “citizens’ trust in all three branches of government is at all-time lows,” and “while the judicial, executive and legislative branches actively operate in states daily, the understanding of what and how decisions are being made at the highest levels go largely unreported and consequently unnoticed by the general public.”  CT-N coverage was available on television and on-line, both live and in archives that are easily accessible to the public.  CPAN also has provided educational materials for classroom teachers and the general public.

In his letter, Giguere, who brought the concept for such a network to the Connecticut legislature in the 1990’s and led its launch and development, said “the scope at which we would be obliged to operate CT-N would cease to provide any meaningful level of transparency:  even less so, if the few coverage decisions we would have the opportunity to make were controlled by the CGA (Connecticut General Assembly) to the extent that recent events convince us they would be.”  He continued:  “at best, CT-N would provide the façade of transparency, cloaked – at least temporarily – in the credibility and reputation that CPAN has spent 18 years building.  We will not abet that course of action by the CGA by participating in it.”

In recent days, CT-N has provided coverage of Gov. Malloy’s news conference announcing he had signed the state budget into law, a news briefing on state infrastructure and resiliency improvements since Super Storm Sandy, meetings of the Connecticut Board of Firearms Permit Examiners and the Governor’s Nonprofit Health & Human Services Cabinet, and a hearing by the legislature’s Judiciary Committee considering nominations of individuals to serve on the State Supreme Court and Appellate Court.

Earlier this year, Danbury State Rep. Bob Godfrey cited the role of CT-N in providing the public with access to government, noting that "The General Assembly itself has provided more public access to lawmaking through both our web site (www.cga.ct.gov) and the Connecticut Television Network (CT-N, at www.ct-n.com)."

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Five best practices for state public affairs networks are described on the NAPAN website:

1. Accessible to All: 24/7 programs on a dedicated channel across multiple platforms

A state public affairs network is most effective in connecting citizens to state government when it is available full-time to the maximum number of citizens possible, including a robust online presence with strong searchable streaming and on-demand content, accessibility enhancements such as closed captioning for the hearing impaired and a permanent archive of programming produced.

2. All Three Branches of State Government

A state public affairs network is most effective in connecting citizens to state government when it provides a nonpartisan, unbiased and unfiltered window on all official state business.

3. Operating at Arm’s Length

A state public affairs network is most effective in connecting citizens to state government when it is structured with an independent governing body using a set of agreed-upon operating guidelines to make programming and operational decisions free from political influence.

4. Citizen Engagement

A state public affairs network is most effective in connecting citizens to state government when it seeks to demystify the process of governing by providing additional information and context through on-screen graphics, online reference materials and links to other resources.

5. Programming Breadth

A state public affairs network is most effective in connecting citizens to state government when it provides a broad range of high-quality public affairs programming beyond gavel to gavel coverage of government proceedings, as well as official emergency information from appropriate state public safety agencies.

More Changes Proposed as Enrollment Drops at State Colleges, Universities; Feedback Sought on Consolidation Plan

The recent decision by the Board of Regents of the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU)  to begin offering students from New York and New Jersey the considerably lower in-state tuition rates in an effort to stem an increasing drop in enrollment at Western Connecticut State University may be the tip of the iceberg. Since 2011, enrollment numbers at higher education institutions in Connecticut have been moving in very different directions, according to data developed by the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges (CCIC) from the National Center for Education Statistics.

The data show that the state’s community college system has experienced a net loss of 7,126 students, and the state’s four regional universities – Western, Central, Southern and Eastern Connecticut – saw a net loss of 3,518 students between 2011 and 2016.

Trending in the opposite direction has been the University of Connecticut, with a net increase of 1,502 students, and the independent, non-profit institutions, was an increase of 4,626 students.

CCIC member institutions include Albertus Magnus College, Connecticut College, Fairfield University, Goodwin College, Mitchell College, Quinnipiac University, Rensselaer at Hartford, Sacred Heart University, St. Vincent's College, Trinity College, University of Bridgeport, University of Hartford, University of New Haven, University of Saint Joseph, Wesleyan University and Yale University.

Currently, in-state students pay $10,418 in annual tuition at Western, while out-of-state students pay $23,107.  Published reports indicate that enrollment at the university has dropped by more than 700 students over the past six years.  The university serves about 5,700 students, with more than 90 percent of them coming from Connecticut.

Similar initiatives at the other three colleges are less likely, as they are located in Willimantic, new Haven and New Britain, not adjacent to any state line.  Central Connecticut State University is the largest of four universities within the CSCU system, serving nearly 11,800 students--9,800 undergraduates, and 2,000 graduate students.

Last year, in a program that was promoted with radio advertising, the CSCU board approved a plan that permitted Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield to admit students from Massachusetts to enroll at in-state rates. And last spring, the board allowed six other community colleges located near state borders to do the same starting this fall.  The plan boosted enrollment at Asnuntuck; data on the other colleges is not yet available. 

Earlier this year, the CSCU system proposed merging the 12 community colleges into one college with 12 branch campuses, as a cost-saving measure, and, officials say, to direct more resources to students.  That plan is pending.  If approved, the change would make the newly named Connecticut Community College the fifth largest in the country with more than 52,000 students, reports indicate.  Officials indicate that "Only a few of these recommendations will require policy changes by the Board of Regents. The majority of the administrative recommendations can be implemented as soon as time and resources are available to complete."

Currently, the system is soliciting feedback on the proposal with an on-line poll on the CSCU website.  The survey asks respondents to offer opinions on the plans, as well as suggestions and opinions on strengths of the 12 into 1 plan.  The survey is open until Nov. 20.

Varied Economic Development Projects, People and Programs to be Celebrated by State

The Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. (CERC) has named top economic development projects, programs and leaders from throughout the state to be honored at the annual CELEBRATE CT! event on November 30, 2017 at The Bushnell in Hartford. The 21 honorees were selected by economic development officials in each of 10 regions across Connecticut for their contribution to the state’s economy – such as consistent or growing employment levels, playing a critical role in changing the character of its community or civic engagement, strong public/private collaboration to encourage new investment, or leadership resulting in growth or improvements.

The honorees include initiatives, businesses, organizations and individuals that are widely known in their communities, and some that are less well-known.  Reflecting the growth of the craft beer industry in Connecticut, the honorees include three breweries: Stony Creek Brewery in Branford,  Beer'd Brewing Company in Stonington, Alvarian Beer Company in New Britain. 

“These awards acknowledge key people, programs and projects that are stimulating new jobs and investment in our economy,” said CERC President and CEO Robert Santy. “They are well earned and well-deserved, and CERC is proud to recognize the 2017 honorees and their noteworthy accomplishments that are having a positive impact on Connecticut’s business environment.”

The 2017 honorees also include the UCONN Hartford Campus, which began operations this fall in downtown Hartford, the long-running Goodspeed Musicals, and the Heirloom Food Company in Danielson, an organic cafe and juice bar.  The state's increased emphasis on rekindling the manufacturing industries is reflected in the selections of Pegusus Manufacturing and Hurley Manufacturing.

This is the eighth year the event is being hosted by CERC, a nonprofit corporation and public-private partnership that provides economic development services, working closely with an extensive network of state, regional, local and utility partners to leverage Connecticut’s unique advantages as a premier business location.

Nearly 200 economic development and business professionals from around the state are expected to attend CELEBRATE CT! (To register or sponsor the event, visit www.cerc.com/celebratect)

The 2017 CELEBRATE CT! award honorees:

• Capitol Region/Hartford Joining Technologies UCONN Hartford Campus
• Central/New Britain Alvarium Beer Company Jasko Development LLC
• South Central/New Haven Stony Creek Brewery Mike Freda (for Amazon Fulfillment Center, North Haven)
• Southeastern/New London Beer’d Brewing Sean Nugent (for Preston Riverwalk)
• Lower CT River Valley/Middlesex Goodspeed Musicals Pegasus Manufacturing
• Naugatuck Valley/Waterbury Basement Systems Bristol Centre Square Project
• West/Danbury-Fairfield BRT General Corporation Ferguson Library (1 Million Cups) Inspira Marketing Group
• Metropolitan/Bridgeport Corvus Capital Partners LLC Future Health Care Systems
• Northeastern/Windham Heirloom Food Company Thompson Branding Plan
• Northwest Hills/Torrington Hurley Manufacturing Whiting Mills

Innovation Drives Start-Up Businesses to Receive CTNext Funding

When CTNext, described as state’s leading resource for entrepreneurial support, distributed $54,000 to five Connecticut-based businesses at the annual CTNext Entrepreneur Innovation Awards, they instantly became five to watch. The fledgling businesses are among a growing number of start-ups that are being encouraged by state and private funding sources as Connecticut seeks to become a place where innovation, often driven by millennials, can thrive.  Such financial support aims to increase the odds of a business succeeding, while at the same time making it more likely that the company founders would stay in the state, at a time when many millennials are heading elsewhere.

The companies, selected from 10 that sought the CTNext funding of $10,000 per company, were:

• FallCall Solutions (Stratford): Creating a telemonitoring system for Apple Watch and other mobile systems for elders and caregivers
• Rumble Helmet (Bridgeport): Developing a smart bicycle helmet that has embedded features designed to communicate the cyclist’s intentions to other road users
• Sitrep (Cheshire): Creating a system for better communication of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) problems
• Deo2Go (Norwalk): Creating a topical delivery device that can be filled with a variety of products, such as deodorant, lip balm and sunscreen
• EZ ICE: Manufacturing a kit for a custom and portable backyard ice rink that can be assembled in under an hour, with no tools and on any surface

For the second consecutive EIA, Deo2Go took home the $2,000 Crowd Favorite award. Rumble Helmet won an additional $2,000 as Judges’ Favorite, at the awards ceremony held in Hamden.

Rumble Helmet, founded in January 2017, is a smart bicycle helmet that has an embedded adaptive light system consisting of front flash light, back light, turn signals, and uniquely designed sidelights to communicate the cyclists' intentions to other road users, according to a GoFundMe page, now seeking financial support. The light system can be activated using hand signals. The smart helmet can detect vehicle presence in the cyclist's blind spot. Moreover, it can be paired with a mobile navigation application. This invention has a utility patent and design paten granted.  CEO Reem AlAttas, a University of Bridgeport Ph.D. candidate, is a co-founder.

Sitrep, based in Cheshire, was founded in 2014 to “develop monitoring systems that are intuitively usable.”  Principals are Harland Christofferson, Gary Martin and Michael Byrne.

The mission of Stratford-based FallCall Solutions, LLC is “to become the premier innovator in simplified communication solutions for the geriatric population and their caregivers.” The company website explains that the company aims to maximize elder independence and caregiver peace of mind by “building software based solely on the needs of the consumer rather than the trying to create and introduce new ecosystems into our customers’ lives.”

EZ ICE began in 2010 as a small Rhode Island company constructing ice skating rinks in families’ backyards in the Providence and Boston Suburbs, according to the company’s website.

Since launching the Entrepreneur Innovation Awards in 2014, CTNext has now held 13 total events in the state, awarding a total of $642,000 to 58 unique companies.  All companies – including the most recent selections - must be registered with the Secretary of the State’s Office in Connecticut before receiving any grant dollars from CTNext.

“It’s exciting to see the innovative ideas moving toward commercialization by our state’s entrepreneurs, and we are so pleased to be able to provide support to help progress those ideas to the next level,” said Glendowlyn Thames, Executive Director of CTNext.

Population Health Topics to Be Focus of Statewide Public Health Conference

“From Patient to Population Health - Disparities Matter” is the focus this year as the Connecticut Public Health Association (CPHA) expects approximately 300 public health practitioners from around the state to gather at the CPHA Annual Meeting and Conference, being held on October 30. The day-long conference will include more than 30 sessions on various public health topics, along with two keynote speakers and a range of professional development opportunities for attendees.  The keynote speakers will be Mark Masselli, Founder/President/CEO of Community Health Center, Inc., based in Middletown, and State Senator Doug McCrory of Hartford, Democratic Deputy President Pro Tempore, elected to the Senate this past year. 

Conference objectives include:

• Understand how public health policies and programs influence health disparities throughout life for patients and populations.
• Identify evidence-based strategies that can reduce health disparities and improve community health outcomes
• Influence health policies in state and country through disparities research and dissemination of evidence
• Promote the formation of collegial professional networks and the exchange of ideas among members of the public health community

Among the topics to be discussed in sessions throughout the day are youth suicide prevention, pregnancy screening in community-based settings, addressing the needs of people with complex social and health needs, substance abuse, health disparities, healthy eating and hunger, and nutrition education.  Sessions will also focus on early intervention, asthma, drinking water safety, intimate partner violence, and the impact of Federally Qualified Health Centers in improving health outcomes.

Represented among the presenters are the Community Health Center Association, UConn, the state Departments of Public Health and Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Connecticut Data Collaborative, Institute of Living, March of Dimes Foundation, Western Connecticut Health Network, Connecticut Hospital Association and the State Innovation Model Program Management Office.

A welcome address, via video, will be offered by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy.

The Connecticut Public Health Association, which celebrated its 100^th anniversary last year, has been committed to improving the quality of the public health profession and advocating for policies and programs that promote health and prevent disease.  The organization provides professional development and education, public health advocacy, mentorship and communications to members and the public. This year’s conference is being held at AquaTurf in the Planstville section of Southington.

Award-Winning Accelerator Prepares for Next Cohort of Start-up Businesses

reSET, a Hartford-based non-profit organization supporting entrepreneurs, has opened applications for its highly regarded business accelerator program for 2018. Tailored for impact-driven businesses but available to early-stage ventures across all industries, reSET’s Impact Accelerator was a winner of the U.S. Small Business Administration Growth Accelerator Competition, and was the only Connecticut accelerator to receive the award, in 2015. Running from next January through May, the five-year old program will provide entrepreneurs with access to the knowledge and resources they need to grow their businesses and impact. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis; the final deadline is December 8, 2017.  Applicants are not limited to the Hartford area or Connecticut; in previous cohorts, participants have been from other states and nations.

reSET is a nonprofit organization whose mission is advancing the social enterprise sector. Its strategic goals are threefold: to be the “go-to” place for impact entrepreneurs, to make Hartford known as Impact City, and Connecticut the Social Enterprise state. reSET meets entrepreneurs wherever they are in their trajectory and aims to help them take their businesses to the next level.

The accelerator program has graduated 80 businesses to date. Recent participants have experienced success in advancing their businesses, including competitor acquisition, venture capital investment, and nationwide sales and recognition. 

Among the businesses are Almasuite, CareerPathMobile, Phood, Pelletric, Eureeka, Save America, and Genius Box. Kate Pipa, co-founder of Genius Box, which develops and sends science kits to elementary and middle-school age children, credits the Impact Accelerator with helping her business gain traction.

“reSET’s Impact Accelerator was a great stepping stone for getting introduced to and more involved in Connecticut’s startup scene.  Just being in reSET’s community allowed for access to workshops, mentors and service providers to answers questions and provide advice on different challenges that can come up when starting your business.”

Over the course of four weekend summits during the accelerator program, participants selected for the 2018 cohort will be connected to customers and industry-specific mentors. Up to 20 entrepreneurial teams will have access to:

• 20+ optional workshops covering a range of topics in business and social enterprise
• Numerous structured and unstructured opportunities to engage with investors and advisors
• 1-year reSET membership (includes access to co-working, programming and the on-site Entrepreneur-in-Residence)
• Exclusive discounts on business software packages and other resources

The accelerator will be free for accepted entrepreneurs and no equity will be taken from their operations. Graduates will also have an opportunity to compete for $20,000 in unrestricted funding at a culminating Venture Showcase in Spring 2018.

“As an entrepreneur myself, I have experienced the ups and downs of launching a new business,” said Jeremy Szechenyi, reSET’s Programs Manager. “Between reSET’s physical office and programs, we give entrepreneurs the resources and network that is critical to surviving and bringing their work to the next level.”

An information sessions will be held at reSET  (1429 Park Street, Hartford) on October 26 from 12:30-1:30pm, and November 15 from 5:30-6:30pm.  The sessions will be informal and meant to address prospective candidates questions.

reSET serves all entrepreneurs, but specializes in social enterprise ― impact driven business with a double or triple bottom line. In addition to providing co-working space, accelerator and mentoring programs, reSET aims to inspire innovation and community collaboration, and to support entrepreneurs in creating market-based solutions to community challenges.

Enfield, Backed by Western Mass., Goes After Amazon HQ2

The State of Connecticut is throwing its muscle behind Hartford and Stamford in their bids to become the home of Amazon’s second headquarters.  The Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, however, has issued a letter supporting a bid by the town of Enfield. In addition to Enfield, the cities and towns of Bridgeport, Fairfield, New Haven and Stratford submitted a joint proposal; Danbury also applied.

The bid by Enfield is perhaps the most ironic, as the Boston Globe pointed out in a front page article .  The central location being proposed is currently the Enfield Square Mall, which has seen its anchor stores – Macy’s, JC Penney’s and Sears – leave in recent years, followed by numerous smaller retailers.  The proposal is on the agenda of the next town Economic Development Commission, scheduled for Wednesday morning.  The Enfield proposal suggests Hartford, West Hartford, Windsor, Meriden and New Haven and Springfield as "potential satellite campuses" and stresses Enfield's place at the center of the Knowledge Corridor, which runs from Springfield to New Haven.

“It’s a scene repeating itself in dying suburban malls around the country,” the Globe reported, “a sweeping economic disruption known as the Amazon effect.”  Industry analysts have predicted that 20 percent of the 1,200 shopping malls in the U.S. will “meet their demise,” the Globe indicated.

Amazon.com has received 238 proposals from cities and regions across North America.  Amazon said Monday that 54 states, provinces, districts and territories in the United States, Canada and Mexico were represented in the bids. The number of applicants underscores the interest in the contest, which Amazon announced last month. The world’s largest online retailer said it would invest more than $5 billion and create up to 50,000 jobs for “Amazon HQ2”. The deadline for submitting proposals was last Thursday.

"There are no state boundaries for our region's workforce, company supply chains and students," Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of the Economic Development Council, wrote in a letter supporting Enfield.  The town is along the so-called "Knowledge Corridor," the economic region that includes Springfield as well as Hartford and New Haven, and follows the Interstate 91 corridor in Massachusetts and Connecticut.  The corridor is expected to benefit from the introduction of regular commuter rail service, being introduced next year; the Enfield proposal provides Amazon with a map of the new Hartford Line rail route.

The Enfield bid touts its proximity to higher education, Bradley International Airport and major highways, as well as arts and culture. Also highlighted are major businesses located in the community, including Lego, MassMutual, Brooks Brothers, and Eppendorf, according to published reports. The Enfield proposal opens with a stylized newsletter of the future, including facts about Enfield and the region, led by the headline “Internet Retail Giant Pumps Life Back into Dying Mall!”

"With a population of nearly 50,000, Enfield’s 33 square miles are at the center of the New England Knowledge Corridor, Enfield provides quick and easy access to several US Highways, airports and rail systems," the 12-page Enfield proposal explained.  "Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts are being created in Enfield and surrounding towns to support new development and growth. Abatements and Regional Revenue Sharing are all available to sweeten the deal. Connecticut has the lowest corporate tax rate in the North East."

After having received more than a dozen potential bids, state economic development officials opted to promote Hartford and Stamford as its leading candidates to land the headquarters, developing a website to promote the two regions, under the headline “The Talent You Need.  The Lifestyle They Want.”  The submission noted that "if Connecticut were a country, we’d be the sixth most productive in the world—ahead of Germany, Japan and Hong Kong."

A letter of support jointly signed by the state’s seven-member Congressional delegation and included with the state’s submission did not indicate a preferred location in the state, advocating “full support of Connecticut as the home of your second headquarters.”  A similar letter was signed by legislative leaders of both political parties, along with the co-chairs of the state’s Commission on Economic Competitiveness.  That letter noted that “Connecticut has already made a major commitment to Amazon, with facilities in Windsor and Wallingford, and another planned for North Haven.”

The Hartford bid was supported by the Mayors of Hartford, East Hartford, and West Hartford, along with Chip Beckett of Glastonbury, Chair of the Capital Region Council of Governments.  A joint letter was included in the state’s overall package.  A similar letter supporting Stamford came from that city’s Mayor.

An additional letter of support for the state’s bid was signed by 57 business leaders from throughout the state, accompanied by another from nearly three dozen higher education leaders from public and private institutions.

It was, some have suggested, a show of unity that has been generally lacking during the four months that the state has operated without an approved state budget, the longest such period in the state’s history.

Some communities, most notably the joint proposal by the cities of Bridgeport and New Haven, along with their immediate suburban neighbors, didn’t make the state cut, but submitted proposals nonetheless.  The Enfield proposal touts the entire region, along the I-91 corridor.  Locations in Enfield, including the mall, are suggested, as are other communities north and south of the state line that could host various divisions of an Amazon headquarters, according to reports on the proposal.

Portions of artists renderings included in State of Connecticut proposal advocating for Stamford and Hartford.

With Varied Stories to Tell, State Authors Win 2017 Connecticut Book Awards

The Connecticut Book Awards returned from a five-year hiatus with a rousing ceremony and the selection of winners from among finalists in four categories:  Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry and Young Readers.  The competition was coordinated by Connecticut Humanities and the Connecticut Center for the Book, and the awards ceremony was held Sunday at the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford. West Hartford author Okey Ndibe was awarded the 2017 Connecticut Book Award for Non-Fiction for Never Look an American in the Eye, published by Soho Press.  The Fiction winner was Robert H. Patton of Darien for Cajun Waltz, published by Thomas Dunne Books.  In the Young Readers, The Weight of Zero, written by Karen Fortunati and published by Delacorte Press, was selected. The Poetry winner was Fugitives by Danielle Pieratti, published by Lost Horse Press.

One hundred nine titles were submitted as candidates for the Book Awards between January 1 and April 19, 2017 and after review against the guidelines, one hundred titles were admitted into the judging process. Books published in 2016 were eligible for the awards.

Each category had five judges with expertise in the literary arts. They reviewed the titles over three months using criteria appropriate to the category.  Seventeen titles made it to the finalist list. Nominated authors must currently reside in Connecticut and must have lived in the state at least three successive years or have been born in the state, or the book must be substantially set in Connecticut.

In accepting the award, Ndibe, a journalist and educator, said that “literature is central to what binds us together as a community.”  Ndibe’s funny, charming, and penetrating memoir tells of his move from Nigeria to America, examines the differences between Nigerian and American etiquette and politics; recalls an incident of racial profiling just thirteen days after he arrived in the US, in which he was mistaken for a bank robber; considers American stereotypes about Africa (and vice-versa); and juxtaposes African folk tales with Wall Street.

Fortunati, who described her debut novel as a “story of hope and resilience” in accepting the award, recently completed Trinity College’s master’s program in American Studies.  She recalled that as part of her studies, she visited the Mark Twain House & Museum, which made the ceremony location especially fitting.

The book’s subject is mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder, and “it explores the shame, stigma and anxiety that often complicate the management of this chronic condition,” Fortunati explains on her website.  “The issue is personal to me having witnessed the impact of depression and bipolar disorder in relatives and friends.  My goal was to write a story of hope for teens who struggle with mental illness.”

Pieratti, who teaches English at South Windsor High School, relocated to Connecticut from upstate New York five years ago.  She said “I have been nurtured by this state since I moved here,” and expressed appreciation to her colleagues in South Windsor.  She has taught at the college and high school level, and was recipient of the Idaho prize for Poetry in 2015.  Her poetry “explores the mundane moments and materials that make up ordinary days and finds there the ambiguities of mystery, shadow, and song,” the CT Center for the Book indicated.

Cajun Waltz, the Fiction winner by Robert H. Patton, is set in southwest Louisiana, a "tale of family, music, love, and picturesque mayhem" that explores “three generations of the volatile clan” as they “grapple with the region’s economic struggles and racial tensions.”

In addition to the award recipients, Gray Jacobik, University Professor Emerita at Eastern Connecticut State University, received Lifetime Achievement recognition in Poetry.

The awards were presented annually between 2002 and 2011, and were re-established by CT Humanities this year.  The nominated books for the 2017 Connecticut Book Awards, by category:

Fiction

• Back Lash by Chris Knopf
• I’ll Take You There by Wally Lamb
• Shadows of Paris by Eric D. Lehman
• Cajun Waltz by Robert H. Patton
• Beneath a Shooting Star by Susan Harrison Rashid

Non-Fiction

• Rare Light by Anne Dawson
• Never Look an American in the Eye by Okey Ndibe
• The Lost White Tribe by Michael Robinson

Poetry

• The Banquet by Gray Jacobik
• Barrel Children by Rayon Lennon
• The Meeting House by Marilyn Nelson
• Fugitives by Danielle Pieratti

Young Readers

• All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor
• The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati
• Ada’s Violin by Susan Hood
• The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
• Good Night, Bat! Good Morning, Squirrel! by Paul Meisel

Images above (L to R): Okey Ndibe, Karen Fortunati, Danielle Pieratti, Robert H. Patton

Three Foundations Join Forces to Advance Obesity Prevention Efforts in Connecticut

If an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure, efforts in Connecticut may hold the key to turning around the nation’s obesity epidemic – especially among children. Connecticut has the 10th lowest adult obesity rate in the nation, according to a study released earlier this year. The state’s adult obesity rate is 26 percent, up from 16.0 percent in 2000 and from 10.4 percent in 1990.  That places Connecticut 42^nd among the 50 states.  The childhood obesity rate is 30 percent for 10-17 year olds, ranking 29^th among the states, and 15 percent for 2-4 year olds qualifying for federal nutrition assistance, the 12^th highest obesity rate in the country.  And that is where the focus of three Connecticut-based foundations will be, as they combine forces to award $194,884 in grants for obesity prevention projects in Connecticut.

The grants are being funded with contributions from the Children's Fund of Connecticut ($139,884), the Connecticut Health Foundation ($30,000), and Newman's Own Foundation ($25,000) and will be administered by CFC's non-profit subsidiary, the Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI).

Funded projects will inform and advance efforts to prevent obesity by improving early feeding practices for diverse socio-economic, racial, and ethnic groups across various early childhood settings.

"Childhood obesity is a wide-spread public health crisis disproportionately impacting racial and ethnic minorities and low-income children. Once obesity sets in it is very difficult to reverse; however, we are still searching for effective ways to prevent it," said Judith Meyers, President and CEO of the Children's Fund of Connecticut.

"New research on infant and toddler feeding practices shows promising results. These grants to improve infant and toddler feeding practices will help us learn more about what works so we can get ahead of the curve."

The competitive application process administered by CHDI yielded the following funded projects:

• Healthy Eating through Group Well Child Care: $59,904, Yale University

Under the direction of Marjorie Rosenthal, MD, MPH, the project examines the impact of embedding a healthy eating curriculum within group well child care, an evidenced-based model of primary care delivery at the Yale New Haven Hospital Primary Care Center. Expected outcomes include less rapid weight gain for infants in the first six months and improvement in mothers' weight over the first year of her child's life.

• Barriers to Participation in CACFP in CT: $64,998, UConn, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity

Tatiana Andreyeva, PhD, Associate Professor at the UConn Rudd Center, will lead a study that documents and addresses barriers to participation in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) among Connecticut child care centers serving infants and toddlers from low-income families. Connecticut has one of the lowest CACFP participation rates in the nation. The project team will use surveys and stakeholder interviews to assess perceived and actual barriers to CACFP participation and assess outreach and recruitment strategies currently used in Connecticut to increase center enrollment in CACFP.

• Supporting Healthy Eating in Low-Income Toddlers: $64,982, UConn, Allied Health Sciences

Under the direction of Valerie B. Duffy, PhD, RD and Jennifer L. Harris, PhD, MBA, the project will develop and assess a coordinated communications program to deliver consistent messages to low-income parents in East Hartford about best practices for feeding toddlers (1-2 year olds). The messages will be delivered through pediatric clinics, WIC offices, and Family Resource centers in East Hartford. The project will coordinate infant feeding messages and promote responsive feeding across diverse populations and settings.

Funding is also supporting Connecticut Children's Medical Center's Office for Community Child Health to develop and disseminate training for pediatric primary care providers. The training will address key messages to educate parents about best practices in feeding infants and toddlers.

These projects represent the second cycle of funding from CFC in the early childhood obesity prevention arena. Since 2015, CFC has awarded more than $420,000 to advance early childhood obesity prevention.

The work of the first round of grantees helped CFC and CHDI identify public policies that contribute to obesity prevention, test the effectiveness of messages promoting obesity prevention in infants and toddlers, support breast feeding strategies for hospitals, and harness existing medical record data to identify early childhood obesity risks.

The current round of funding was informed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's recently released Feeding Guidelines for Infants and Young Toddlers: A Responsive Parenting Approach, which highlights new areas of research and practice in obesity prevention.  The data-rich State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America, published earlier this year, was a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America’s Health.

Philanthropic Giving Levels in Connecticut Among Nation’s Lowest As Percentage of Income

Connecticut ranked 47th among the 50 states in philanthropic giving as a percentage of income, with a “giving ratio” of 2.4 percent, 25 percent lower than the national average, according to a new analysis by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. The giving ratio is the total of a locality’s charitable contributions as a share of its total adjusted gross income. Among the states in the region, Vermont ranked 45th, Massachusetts was 46th, and Rhode Island was 50th.

Nationally, the Chronicle report “How America Gives” highlighted the growing influence of the affluent in charitable giving across the country.  Although charitable donations rose for the third straight year in 2016, reaching $390.1 billion, according to "Giving USA," the Chronicle study indicates the sources of those donations are changing.

Donations from households earning $200,000 or more now total 52 percent of all itemized contributions. In the early 2000s, that number was consistently in the 30s, the Chronicle reported.  The report raises questions about the traditional habit of charitable donations among middle and low income individuals lessening, perhaps as a lingering after-effect of the recession.

Connecticut ranked 20^th in total giving, despite having the 29^th largest population among the states, with average giving per itemizer of $5,229, which placed the state squarely in the middle, ranking 25^th.

The Chronicle provides an analysis of the giving patterns of Americans who earn $50,000 or more annually and who itemize charitable deductions on their income-tax returns. The itemized giving of these taxpayers, in 2015, represents nearly 80 percent of all individual charitable contributions and offers the best possible view into giving at local and regional levels, the Chronicle explains.

Nationally, only 24 percent of taxpayers reported a charitable gift, according to the Chronicle analysis of Internal Revenue Service data. That’s down from 2000 to 2006, years when that figure routinely reached 30 or 31 percent.  The Chronicle’s conclusion: “The number of households making room in their budgets for charitable giving is shrinking.”

In all but six states – including Connecticut – the percentage of those in the $200,000 plus bracket increased in 2015, the most recent year in which data was available. Only in Connecticut, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Rhode Island was the percentage of those giving in that earnings bracket less that year, compared with 2012.

In Connecticut, individuals earning more than $200,000 gave 66.4 percent of all Connecticut giving, down 1.7 percent from 2012, according to the Chronicle analysis.  The portion of all givers in this income bracket in Connecticut down 0.2 percent while the giving per itemizer is down 20.6 percent.  In looking at the state’s major metropolitan areas, greater Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven, the analysis round that giving rates for taxpayers at four income levels fell below the average for the size group in each of the metropolitan areas.

The Chronicle reports that “Charity leaders say government funding has dwindled as corporate support has grown finicky. At the same time, America’s wealth has become more concentrated among the wealthy.”  The publication noted that “groups traditionally fueled by small gifts are also jumping into big-gift fundraising,” adding that “Middle-class woes and the country’s widening income disparity are undoubtedly partly to blame. But some fear that organizations are contributing to the problem by courting the well-heeled and slighting the small donor.”

The giving percentage varied across the state:  the Fairfield County giving ratio was 2.8%, New Haven County and Litchfield counties 2.1%, Hartford County 1.9%, New London County 1.8%, Middlesex and Tolland Counties 1.7%, and Windham County 1.6%.