UConn Brings Science to Downtown Hartford, In Informal Preview

A couple of drinks, some munchies and spirited discussion about an unlikely topic, “3D Printing:  Living Tissue to Human Organ.”  That was the recipe for the kick-off of a new panel series in downtown Hartford sponsored by UConn and the UConn Foundation aimed at facilitating conversations between science experts and the public. The “UConn Science Salon” series, taking place at downtown restaurants, is a precursor of the type of programming that is expected to pop up around the city when the UConn Hartford Campus takes up residence in the former Hartford Times building two years from now, just down the road from Front Street, where the June 4 event was held at Nix.

The next event in the series, “SciFi Meets Reality,” will be held in Hartford on Sept. 17, from 6 to 8 p.m., at a location to be determined.

University Communications science writer Kim Krieger says UConn Science Salon series gives attendees easy access to top scientists and experts and “raise the profile of UConn research in a friendly, stylish way.  The purpose of the program is to enhance public discourse at the intersection of science and culture,” she told UConn Today. “Sure, people can read about research and technological developments, or watch some talking head opine about it on television. But how often does the average citizen get to ask a scientist a question?”

The initiative is not unique, but it is new for UConn, and Hartford.

“The goal is to share exciting developments in technologies through an engaging and interactive format,” UConn Provost Mun Choi. “The insights from leading experts will lead to a greater understanding of the role of science and technology in our society.”

Science cafés are held all over the world, according to sciencecafes.org, a site run by NOVA as a resource for those interested in hosting or attending such events. The events, which have been around for about a decade, are typically casual gatherings held in places like coffeehouses, pubs, and libraries, and are focused on facilitating discussions about science.  In Connecticut, New Haven and Branford have seen science cafés.

“These are not long lectures with a passive audience listening to an expert,” the site points out. “Rather, they are dynamic, two-way interactions between a scientist and the public. In this way, the public feels empowered to learn, and the scientist speaker gains valuable perspective on his or her own work.”

Provost Choi adds that attendees will see how “UConn is playing a critical role in advancing science and engineering in areas such as genomics, manufacturing, and sustainability,” UConn Today reported. The June discussion focused on state-of-the-art initiatives in 3D printing and the potential for the technology – also known as additive manufacturing – particularly in the field of health care.

Panelists at the inaugural event, attended by about 120 alumni, faculty, staff and members of the public, were Anson Ma, a UConn assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering; Richard Langlois, a UConn economics professor; Dr. John Geibel, vice chairman of the Department of Surgery and director of surgical research at Yale University School of Medicine, who leads one of seven global teams competing to create a viable regenerative or bioengineered liver; and Dale Kutnick, senior vice president emeritus and distinguished analyst at the technology research firm Gartner Inc.  Lakshmi S. Nair – UConn assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery and chemical, materials, and biomolecular engineering – moderated the discussion.

Tickets for the events are $15 and can be purchased at UConnAlumni.com/ScienceSalon.  Drinks are extra.

(UConn photos by Peter Morenus)

New Leadership, Funds Preserved at Connecticut Trust

It has been a busy week for The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation.  The organization has announced the hiring of a new Executive Director – the first in nearly two decades – and seen its lobbying efforts pay off at the Capitol as the planned government raid of its funds has been stalled. The Trust has hired Daniel Mackay to be the organization’s Executive Director, to succeed retiring Executive Director of eighteen years, Helen Higgins. He will be responsible for furthering the Connecticut Trust’s mission of preserving, protecting and promoting buildings, sites, structures and landscapes that contribute to the heritage and vitality of Connecticut communities.

"We are extremely fortunate Helen Higgins has been our Executive Director for the past 18 years. We cannot thank Helen enough for strong leadership and the advances the Trust has made during her tenure," said Board Chairman, Charlie Janson.

“We are equally fortunate in bringing Daniel Mackay to the Trust. Dan has tremendous experience, vision and a passion for historic preservation. We also know that he will nurture the relationships of the Trust with the Governor's office, our legislature and the other organizations we partner with. We are very excited for a bright future led by Daniel.”

That future began with good news.  Governor Malloy had proposed a 100-percent sweep of Community Investment Act Funds from Jan. 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 and in his deficiency bill proposed an additional sweep of $15 million.  The budget that was approved Wednesday by the state legislature added back 50 percent of the cut that begins on Jan. 1, officials said.  In addition, there is no sweep of funds to address the deficiency.

Mackay will come to Connecticut after fifteen years with the Preservation League of New York State as Director of Public Policy, where he was the lead advocate for implementation and expansion of the New York State Rehabilitation Tax Credit program, with key legislative victories along the way. He was also the lead author of extensive revisions and expansion of New York State model historic preservation law for local municipalities between 2012 and 2014.  He holds an undergraduate degree in Geography from the University of Chicago and a Masters in Environmental Education from Lesley College.

Upcoming on the CT Trust calendar is a guided ride through historic Ivoryton, Essex and Deep River on June 13 for the Preservation Pedal, with a few scenic stops including a brunch break at Whistle Stop Cafe in Deep River before returning to Ivoryton. The event is a fundraiser and bike tour, honoring the organization's 40^th anniversary.

The Connecticut Trust is a nonprofit, member supported organization, one of the foremost statewide preservation organizations in the country. The organization provides technical assistance, financial assistance, workshops, publications and advocacy in preservation matters and issues. The Trust receives daily requests for technical restoration information including the names of contractors, architects, consultants and craftsman who have experience with historic buildings, and has compiled a Restoration Services Directory for use by those seeking restoration professionals and suppliers in Connecticut and surrounding areas.

Middle School Girls of Innovation to Convene in Hartford to Explore STEM Careers

Connecticut’s ongoing effort to interest young girls in pursuing education in science and technology will receive another nudge when Girls of Innovation, the Connecticut Technology Council’s signature program for middle school-age girls, is held on June 13 at the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford. The annual event for girls entering grades 7 & 8 provides opportunities to experience science and its challenges in a fun, interactive way, officials say.  The program highlights possible careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) through hands on, interactive activities led by real world tech professionals.

The girls in attendance will have the chance to work alongside their peers as well as with an impressive roster of volunteers who are currently working, or studying, in STEM fields in Connecticut. Volunteers come from presenting sponsor Covidien as well as professionals from CTC’s member companies and the Women of Innovation program.

A year ago, close to 40 students came to the Connecticut Science Center to experience first-hand the benefits of studying and working in STEM related careers, and gave the Girls of Innovation program high marks.  Among some of the schools that have registered to participate in the 2015 program are Ansonia Middle School, Washington Middle School (Meriden), Moran Middle School (Wallingford), CT Academy of Science & Engineering, St. Brigid School (West Hartford), Bedford Middle School (Westport), Talcott Mountain Academy, Ethel Walker School, YMCA Super Girls, Irving Robbins Middle School (Newington) and King Philip Middle School (West Hartford). In addition, 12 girls from CCSU’s Institute of Technology & Business Development TRiO Educational Talent Search program have also registered.

Mentors talk with students about their experiences and careers and guide them through the scientific challenges created by the Connecticut Science Center Staff Scientists.  Students spend time with mentors, ask questions and discuss the benefits and challenges associated with careers in STEM, and participate in hands-on science activities.

A key message of the Girls of Innovation program is to show the girls scientists “like me” and so inspire them with the confidence, enthusiasm and persistence to continue pursuing their scientific interests, officials point out, adding that studies of cultural beliefs indicate that girls begin to conclude that STEM is not for them in middle school, and these beliefs influence choices they make throughout their school years.  Stereotypes of who is a scientist are changing, but not quickly enough, organizers note.

“Spurring growth through creative invention will be a key objective of many companies in the next decade as it will provide the necessary fuel to address challenges in energy, healthcare, and global infrastructure realms. The solutions to these challenges will evolve and mature over many years and our bright and talented youth will drive the bus on this. This program is designed to galvanize our youth around invention and creative thought,” said Chuck Pagano, former Chair of the CTC Board of Directors, and VP of Technology at ESPN.

The Connecticut Technology Council is a statewide association of technology oriented companies and institutions, providing leadership in areas of policy advocacy, community building and assistance for growing companies.  With over 2,000 companies that employ some 200,000 residents in the technology fields, the CTC seeks to provide a strong and urgent voice in support of the creation of a culture of innovation.

White House Conference on Aging Will Be July 13

At the White House Conference on Aging regional forum in Boston Thursday, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell announced that the 2015 national Conference will be held on July 13 at the White House. That’s of particular interest for Connecticut, the state with the nation’s 7^th oldest population.    The July event is part of a year-long effort to listen, learn, and share with older adults, their families, their caregivers, community leaders, and experts in the aging field on how to best address the changing landscape of aging in the coming decade, officials said. Since the 1960’s the White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA), held about once a decade, has helped to drive national policy.

According to Nora Super, Executive Director of the WHCOA, “The 2015 Conference seeks to embrace the transformative demographic shift occurring in the United States to recognize the possibilities, rather than the limitations of aging.”  

At a Connecticut State Capitol hearing, dubbed a "listening session" for the WHCOA, earlier this month, (CT-N video) among the statistics highlighted were:

• Connecticut is undergoing a “permanent and historic transformation” in its demographics
• Between 2010 and 2040, Connecticut’s population of people age 65 and older is projected to grow by 57%, with less than 2% growth for people age 20 to 64 during the same period
• Residents born in Connecticut today can expect to live to be 80.8 years old—the third highest life expectancy in the nation.
• In Connecticut’s 65 to 69 year-old age group, 39% are in the labor force, as are 21% of Connecticut residents aged 70–74, and 7% of those 75 years and over. These rates are among the highest in the country

Testimony at the State Capitol hearing, co-sponsored by the state Department of Aging and the Legislative Committee on Aging, will be shared with officials planning the White House Conference.

Common themes that have emerged as the five regional hearings proceeded, according to officials, include: how to ensure we prepare for financial needs in retirement; how to remain healthy as we age; what types of services and supports can help older Americans remain independent in the community as we age; and how to support this care and the caregivers who provided it; and how to protect older Americans from financial exploitation, abuse and neglect.

Federal officials are urging Americans of all ages to get involved in the July 13 White House Conference on Aging, by:

• Watching the event, which will be live streamed
• Hosting watch party (PDF)
• Participating in Q&A using Twitter (Tweet questions using #WHCOA , and they will be shared with panels at the conference.)
• Interviewing someone of a different generation using the StoryCorps app
• Completing the sentence: “Getting older is getting better because....” and sending us your answer via Twitter using #WHCOA (People are asked to download a form, fill in their answer, take a photo, and send it back via Twitter using #WHCOA.)

Policy briefs on Retirement Security, Healthy Aging, Elder Justice, and Long-Term Services and Supports, have been released for public review and comment. Americans are living longer than ever before. In 2012, officials noted, life expectancy at birth in the United States reached a record high of 78.8 years. A 65 year-old man can expect to live another 17 years and a 65 year-old woman another 20 years.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act, as well as the 80th anniversary of Social Security.  Leading up to the July 13 conference, regional sessions were held in Tampa, Phoenix, Seattle, Cleveland and Boston.

https://youtu.be/gdAWa6wNYXs

Pedals for Progress Sends Bicycles Overseas to Boost Opportunity, Improve Economic Conditions

Area residents with an adult or child’s bicycle in repairable condition are urged to consider a donation to Pedals for Progress (P4P) in West Granby this weekend.  The national organization rescues bicycles destined for overburdened U.S. landfills and ships them to developing countries where they are sorely needed and highly valued. Last year, bike collections were sponsored by approximately 41 community partners in six states, including Connecticut. P4P bikes are put to work not only as basic transportation, but are used as a supplement to school and community programs. The bikes are adapted for use as trash haulers, produce trucks, taxis, and farm machinery.

With overseas partners, the bicycles take on an even greater significance – to keep the bikes working, maintenance is necessary. Children and adults are trained in bicycle maintenance and repair, and the bicycles are sold within the community, fostering the development of a local economy. If a person would like to have a bicycle but cannot pay for it, that person has to work for the shop (and learn a new skill) in order to cover the cost of the bicycle.

P4P also arranges for the bicycle shops to have a supply of tools, parts, accessories, and lubricants for maintaining the bikes. With Pedals for Progress, a bicycle becomes a valuable commodity for trade, employment, transportation, local government – the list goes on.

Sponsored by Jackie Rubell Johnson with support from Holcomb Farm, bikes can be dropped off from 12 noon to 3 PM on Saturday May 23, 2015, rain or shine at Holcomb Farm, 113 Simsbury Road, in West Granby. [“Bikes for parts” or disassembled bikes are not accepted.] It costs $40 to collect, process, ship, rebuild and distribute each bicycle. A donation toward shipping costs is necessary.  Organizers ask for a minimum $10 donation with each bike or sewing machine to help cover the cost of shipping. Receipts are offered for value of donation including cash.

P4P collects 5,000 to 7,000 bicycles annually and transfers this material wealth to those in need. To date, more than 140,000 have been shipped to developing countries in Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe.  Last year, the bicycles were donated to recipients in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Albania, Moldova, and Madagascar. 

In these countries the bikes are reconditioned by partner agencies and distributed at low cost to poor working adults. These bikes provide reliable transportation for commuting to work, transporting product to market, or accessing health care and other services. Steady employment for is vital to the development and success of these economies.

In 2014, Pedals for Progress shipped a total of 3,634 bicycles, 274 sewing machines, and approximately $360,000 in bicycle parts and accessories, to seven nonprofit agency partners in seven developing countries. That brought the cumulative donations shipped in the last 24 years, since the organization’s inception in 1991, to 142,437 bicycles, 2,860 sewing machines, and over $12 million in parts and accessories donated to 38 countries.

Among the organizations providing support are the Clif Bar Family Foundation, FedEx and Thulé.   Connecticut organizations that participated in collecting bicycles in 2014, in addition to Jackie Rubell Johnson with support from Holcomb Farm in West Granby, include Newtown Rotary Club, Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church, and the Wilton High School Spanish Honor Society.

The organization also accepts working portable sewing machines and P4P seeks donations of wrenches for their overseas shops. All cash and material donations are fully deductible and a receipt will be available at the collection site.

Pedals for Progress is a 501 © (3) corporation and a registered charity in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Iowa and Connecticut.  More information about the organization is available at  www.p4p.org; for information about the May 23 pick-up in West Granby, call 860 653 7758.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0qfStNmS6k&feature=youtu.be

Middle School Provides Clues on College Success; Americans Say College Grads Not Ready for Workforce

Summing up a new national Gallup poll, the analysis indicated that “If higher education was the auto industry, it would be forced to recall a quarter of all its graduates.”  But recent research also suggests that there are some early indicators that provide clues to the likelihood of college success – as early as middle school. The latest Gallup survey found that 96 percent of Americans say it is "somewhat" or "very" important for adults in the country to have a degree or certificate beyond high school. But the fourth annual Gallup-Lumina Foundation poll also indicated that only 13 percent of Americans strongly agree college graduates in this country are well-prepared for success in the workplace. That's down from 14 percent two years ago and 19 percent three years ago. The analysis described it as a "no confidence" vote in college graduates' work readiness.

Readiness for college, as any college administrator or faculty member will tell you, impacts college success, and ultimately workforce readiness.  Connecticut is among the states that have taken steps to better align high school and college, and adjust remedial programs to save students time and money, as well as improving their chances to bridge the academic gaps in their preparation prior to college.

Interestingly – or perhaps alarmingly - Americans with college degrees are much less likely to strongly agree college grads are ready for the workforce than Americans without college degrees – 6 percent vs. 18 percent, respectively.  As the Gallup analysts point out, the survey found that “those of us who earned a coveted college degree have even less confidence than the rest of us that college grads are well-prepared for success in the workplace.”

A previous Gallup survey found that 1 in 4 college graduates missed the mark on all six critical emotional support and experiential elements of their student experience. These graduates' outcomes -- on measures such as their workplace engagement and overall well-being -- show they fail to thrive in their careers and lives.

New research by Matt Gaertner and Katie McClarty of Pearson’s Research & Innovation Network recently combined rich student- and school-level data to evaluate whether more information makes for more accurate college-readiness predictions.

The researchers used data from more than 11,000 students in the National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS) and 140 middle school variables to create six factors: achievement, behavior, motivation, social engagement, family circumstances and school characteristics. They then used these middle school factors to predict college readiness and college outcomes, the American Association of Community Colleges website reports.

They found some interesting results:

• With respect to college readiness, all six factors were valuable predictors. Academic achievement was the strongest predictor (accounting for 17 percent of the variation in college readiness), but motivation (15 percent) and behavior (14 percent) followed closely. Together, they found, motivation and behavior contribute more to college readiness than achievement on its own.
• With respect to college success, these six middle school factors predict college grades (cumulative GPA) and graduation better than the ACT or the SAT. In fact, using the six factors nearly doubles the ability to predict college graduation, compared with using test scores alone. Most notably, these predictions arrive in eighth grade — three years before the SAT or the ACT.

The results of this study have recently been published in Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice.

Research has long documented the importance of instilling a college-going culture starting in the middle grades, if not earlier, Pearson Research & Innovation Network points out.  According to ACT’s 2008 report, “The Forgotten Middle” the level of achievement that students attain by eighth grade has a larger impact on their college and career readiness than anything that happens academically in high school.

The Connecticut State Board of Education, in a draft report based on an Ad Hoc committee review, indicated that “it became clear that the middle school had a role to play in ensuring success for all students. Recent research of major urban school districts has identified that students who are at risk for completing high school begin to demonstrate these factors at about Grade 6.”

Beginning with the 2012 school year, a state law has required that each Connecticut student have a “Student Success Plan,” which begins in the 6th grade and continues through high school, to provide the student support and assistance in setting goals for social, emotional, physical and academic growth, meeting rigorous high school expectations, and exploring postsecondary education and career interests, according to the State Board of Education website.

Connecticut High Schools Rank #3 in USA

Connecticut has some of the nation’s best high schools according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings.  Overall, the caliber of the state’s high schools made Connecticut the number three state in the nation.  The schools were ranked using state assessments in math, science and English language arts. Maryland was ranked at the top of the list, with nearly 30 percent of it’s schools earning gold or silver medals. California came in second with 27 percent, and Connecticut had 25 percent.

Connecticut’s top ranked high school, the Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy in East Hartford, earned a place in the nation’s top 50 high schools, ranked at #34.

Here are the top 10 high schools in Connecticut, according to the list:

1. Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy in East Hartford
2. Amistad Academy in New Haven
3. Academy of Aerospace and Engineering in Hartford
4. Conard High School in West Hartford
5. Weston High School in Weston
6. Simsbury High School in Simsbury
7. Staples High School in Westport
8. Darien High School in Darien
9. Wilton High School in Wilton
10. Farmington High School in Farmington

In the 2015 U.S. News Best High Schools rankings, Connecticut has 14 gold medal schools, 35 silver medal schools and nine bronze medal schools. One of the bronze medal winners, Sports & Med Science, is in Hartford.

On the national list, Connecticut’s second ranked high school, the Amistad Academy in New Haven, was ranked #145.  The Academy of Aerospace and Engineering in Hartford was ranked #171 in the nation.  West Hartford’s Conard High School was ranked #203, Weston High School was #264 and Simsbury High School was ranked #300 in the nation.

Just outside the top 10 high schools in the state, Ridgefield High School was #11, Hall High School in West Hartford was #12, Joel Barlow High School in Redding was #13 and Greenwich High School was #14.

To produce the 2015 Best High Schools rankings, U.S. News & World Report teamed with North Carolina-based RTI International, a global nonprofit social science research firm.  The magazine used a  three-step process to determined the Best High Schools. The first two steps was designed to ensure that the schools serve all of their students well, using their performance on the math and reading parts of their state proficiency tests as the benchmarks. For those schools that made it past the first two steps, a third step assessed the degree to which schools prepare students for college-level work, the magazine explained.

Ten CT History Organizations Honored for Innovative, Effective Initiatives

When the Connecticut League of History Organizations (CLHO) hosts its annual conference and awards ceremony in Meriden on June 1, ten local organizations will be honored for their effective work in connecting state residents and history. The theme of the all-day conference is “Making History Collections Relevant in a Modern World.” Sessions will explore the many traditional and non-traditional ways that museums, historical societies, historic houses, and archives make their collections accessible and relevant to their communities.

The conference, which is open to the public,  includes an awards ceremony, as the CLHO presents Awards of Merit to institutions and individuals who demonstrate the highest of professional standards and who enhance and further the understanding of Connecticut history.  Along with opportunities for networking, there will be speakers, panel discussions, and how-to practical presentations.

The awards will be presented to the Wethersfield Historical Society, Weslyan University Press/Connecticut Explored/The Amistad Center, Norfolk Historical Society, Mattatuck Museum (Waterbury), Lyman Allyn Art Museum (New London), Kent Historical Society, Florence Griswold Museum (Old Lyme), Cheshire Historical Society, Bated Breath Theatre Company (Hartford), and Archaeological and Historical Services, Inc. (Storrs). [See details below]

Keynote speaker Rainey Tisdale is an independent curator specializing in city history. Tisdale led the consortium of local museums, libraries, and archives in collecting and interpreting the 2103 Boston Marathon Bombing, with emphasis on programming for the one-year anniversary in April 2014.

Tisdale’s most recent book, Creativity in Museum Practice, helps museum professionals unleash creative potential throughout their institution. She will discuss “The Poetry of Objects,” a wide-ranging meditation on the power of objects to move, inspire, and build community.

The awards ceremony features an award-winning performance by Bated Breath Theater Company, "Freedom In Three Acts." Admission to the conference is $75 per person, with discounts for members, students, and early registration, and covers all events of the day and lunch. Reservations  can be made at www.CLHO.org.

For over 60 years the Connecticut League of History Organizations has strengthened and built connections among those who preserve and share the stories and objects of our past by sharing knowledge and experience, and promoting best practices.

https://youtu.be/LM5xtk23cv0

The CLHO Awards of Merit will be presented to:

Archaeological and Historical Services, Inc. - Storrs, CT

Publication - Highways to History: The Archaeology of Connecticut’s 18^th-Century Lifeways

Highways to History is a publication describing the lives of ordinary residents in 18^th century colonial Connecticut. Based on a combination of historical and archaeological investigations at four buried homesteads, the book opens a new window into how people in Connecticut lived in colonial times. Distributed around the state, and made available online, Highways to History provides an accessible and engaging account of how ordinary colonial Connecticut citizens lived, and demonstrates the strength of combining archaeological and documentary evidence.

Bated Breath Theatre Company (a collaboration with The Amistad Center for Art & Culture) Hartford, CT

Educational Program - Freedom: In 3 Acts

Freedom: In 3 Acts is a collaborative performance between The Amistad Center for Art & Culture and Bated Breath Theatre Company. This innovative program responded to and amplified The Amistad Center’s exhibition, Emancipation! The three act performance incorporates song, movement and narrative to explore the struggle for freedom and justice for African Americans. Since its initial performance, Bated Breath Theatre Company has performed Freedom: In 3 Acts at a variety of venues, using its innovative and engaging approach to bring the original exhibit off the walls and out of the exhibit cases to engage audiences around Connecticut.

Cheshire Historical Society - Cheshire, CT

Educational Program - Cheshire Heritage Tour – An App for Mobile Devices

Looking to bring a traditional walking tour of the center of Cheshire alive, The Cheshire Historical Society developed an app that appeals to people of many ages and interest. Free to download, the app combines humor, seldom-seen images from the Historical Society’s collection, and contemporary photos and maps to guide the user around the center of town. With the help of two characters, Alonzo the Adventurer and Emmy, the Magical History Box, the Cheshire Heritage Tour keeps visitors engaged while learning about the history of the area.

Florence Griswold Museum - Old Lyme, CT

Project - Thistles and Crowns: The Painted Chests of the Connecticut Shore

In 2014 the Florence Griswold Museum presented the exhibition Thistles and Crowns: The Painted Chests of the Connecticut Shore to highlight the distinctive beauty and historical significance of a group of painted chests made in Old Saybrook and Guilford, Connecticut between 1700 and 1740. Bringing together a selection of these chests from six museums for the first time since 1950, the exhibit asked visitors to look at aspects of construction, decoration, use and history. Accompanied by a full-color catalog, Thistles and Crowns highlighted stories about Connecticut’s artistic, cultural, and historical legacies that can be found in unexpected places.

Kent Historical Society - Kent, CT

Project - Iron, Wood, and Water: Essential Elements of the Evolution of Kent

As the site of the second most valuable iron ore deposit in Connecticut, Kent became a desirable place to live for iron works, and the impact of their activities had deep influence on the evolution of Kent into the community it is today. While much scholarly research explores the technicalities of the iron making process and the entrepreneurs who ran the industry, the exhibition, Iron, Wood and Water: Essential Elements of the Evolution of Kent told the story of the common men who toiled daily in the mines, at the furnaces, and deep in the woods. It was these workers who left impressions on the community and played a large role in transforming Kent first from an untamed wilderness to a bustling industrial town, and later to a community of dairy farmers and finally to the home for artists and writers that it is today.

Lyman Allyn Art Museum and Stephen Fan, Guest Curator - New London, CT

Project - SubUrbanisms: Casino Company Town / China Town

In 2014 the Lyman Allyn Art Museum opened Suburbanisms: Casino Company Town/ China Town. Using a variety of approaches the exhibit documented and historicized the development of a suburban Chinatown surrounding the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut. Built up by a large number of Asian casino patrons and workers – many recent immigrants - this innovative exhibition presented an under-explored topic in Connecticut’s and the nation’s history. In addressing key themes in suburban, housing, labor, and immigrant history, the exhibit used history to bridge cultural divides and to question the future ecological, social, and economic sustainabilites of the ever-changing American suburban ideal.

Mattatuck Museum - Waterbury, CT

Project – The Way We Worked – Connecticut At Work

As one of seven venues selected to host The Way We Worked, a traveling exhibition created by the Smithsonian Institution in 2014, the Mattatuck Museum sought to create a parallel group of exhibitions and a series of programs to bring the story home to Connecticut audiences. Know as Connecticut At Work, the resulting local exhibitions, film series, lectures, and programs engaged broad and diverse audiences and addressed issues of immediate concern. Through providing a local backdrop for the Smithsonian’s exhibition, Connecticut At Work merged the national story with the regional one.

Norfolk Historical Society - Norfolk, CT

Project - From the Mills to the Main Street: The Irish in Norfolk

From the Mills to Main Street: The Irish in Norfolk was an inventive interpretive exhibition mounted by the Norfolk Historical Society in 2014. Using historical documents, artifacts, photographs, and ephemera, many not previously on view, the exhibit explored the contribution and assimilation of the Irish in the town of Norfolk from 1836 to 1920. The well-attended exhibit and related programming that included lectures, gallery talks, and walking tours, brought to life the importance of a significant immigrant group to the economic and cultural landscape of Norfolk.

Wesleyan University Press, Connecticut Explored, The Amistad Center - Middletown, CT

Publication - African American Connecticut Explored

African American Connecticut Explored is the first book published for a public history audience that provides the long arc of the African American experience in Connecticut with an emphasis on the African American perspective. Through more than 50 essays by more than 30 of the state’s leading historians, curators, and writers, the book covers a wide range of topics. Published by Wesleyan University Press, it was developed by Connecticut Explored, The Amistad Center for Art & Culture, and representatives from the State Historic Preservation Office.

Wethersfield Historical Society - Wethersfield, CT

Project - Castle on the Cove: the Connecticut State Prison and Wethersfield

Mounted in 2014, and on view through 2016 the exhibition Castle on the Cove: the Connecticut State Prison and Wethersfield, explores the Connecticut State Prison during its years of operation between 1827 and 1963 in Wethersfield, Connecticut. The prison was an integral component of the town’s identity during these formative years as Wethersfield transitioned from rural town to suburb. Exploring both previously undocumented and often requested materials the exhibit looks at the prison from the perspectives of the inmate, employee, and local resident to present the history of the prison within a broad context and to encourage visitors to consider the impact of the prison on these three groups.

National High School Mock Trial Championships to be in Hartford in 2017

The 2017 National High School Mock Trial Championship, promoting an understanding and appreciation of the American judicial system through academic competitions and related programs for high school students, will take place May 11-13, 2017 in Hartford. The national mock trial championship was initiated in 1984 in Des Moines, Iowa, with high school teams from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin participating. After the success of the inaugural tournament in Iowa, more states became interested in participating and the tournament became an "All-State" Tournament and now attracts competitors from across the country and internationally.

The tournament is hosted annually by different states to ensure that the cost of running the tournament doesn't fall disproportionately on any particular state.

The Carolina Center for Civic Education is making final preparations for the 2015 National Championship, which will be held May 14-16 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Connecticut will be represented by the team from Weston High School, the 2015 High School Mock Trial State Champions.  The winning team was one of three from the school that participated in the statewide competition in March.  The finals were held in the State Supreme Court chamber in Hartford.  The students on the winning “Weston Red” team were Ursula Alwang, Cameron Edgar, Sam Glasberg, Zoe Howard, Alex Ishin, Scarlett Machson, Ben Muller, Jack Seigenthaler, Henry Tracey, and Micah Zirn, the Weston Forum reported.

The Idaho Law Foundation will host the 2016 National Championship in Boise, Idaho. Last year's competition in Madison, Wisconsin included a total of 46 teams, including Guam, South Korea, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and State Champion teams from across the country.

In Connecticut, the mock trial competition is sponsored by the nonprofit organization Civics First. Throughout its history, thousands of students and their teachers have participated in the program.  In recent years, the program has included over 700 students from more than 50 Connecticut high schools.

The high school mock trial competitions are held each year in the fall. Regional trials are held in early winter in superior courts throughout the state, followed by quarter-finals, and semi-final contests. The state final mock trial competition is held at the Connecticut Supreme Court in Hartford.

For the national competition, each state’s "official team" includes six to eight student team members; one primary teacher coach; one primary attorney coach, and the State Mock Trial Coordinator, for a maximum of 11 members of the "official" team.

In recent years, the competition has been held in Madison, Wisconsin (2014), Indianapolis, Indiana (2013), Albuquerque, New Mexico (2012), Phoenix, Arizona (2011), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2010), and Atlanta, Georgia (2009). The Executive Director of Civic First and state coordinator for the high school mock trials in Connecticut is Beth DeLuco.

Civics First is a private, non-profit association that promotes and conducts law-related education programs and projects in Connecticut's public and private schools, courtrooms and communities. Its goal is the incorporation of citizenship education into the curriculum of all schools, from kindergarten through high school.

Photo: The Weston High School Mock Trial Red Team won the Connecticut state championship . (This photo originally appeared in the Weston Forum.)

Aging Issues in CT Highlighted for White House Conference

When the White House Conference on Aging is held later this year, there will be no shortage of anecdotal stories accompanied by demographic information, comprehensive reports and recommendations, and a treasure-trove of data emanating from Connecticut, with the nation's 7th oldest population.  Officials received a preview this week at a public hearing that included these sit-up-and-take-notice items:

• Connecticut is undergoing a “permanent and historic transformation” in its demographics
• Between 2010 and 2040, Connecticut’s population of people age 65 and older is projected to grow by 57%, with less than 2% growth for people age 20 to 64 during the same period
• Residents born in Connecticut today can expect to live to be 80.8 years old—the third highest life expectancy in the nation.
• In Connecticut’s 65 to 69 year-old age group, 39% are in the labor force, as are 21% of Connecticut residents aged 70–74, and 7% of those 75 years and over. These rates are among the highest in the country

Those were among the facts highlighted by Julia Evans Starr, Executive Director of Connecticut’s Legislative Commission on Aging, which also explained that Connecticut, with the nation’s 7^th oldest population, will see that population grow dramatically in the coming decade.  By 2025, virtually every town in Connecticut will have 20 percent or more of its residents over age 65 – the largest percentage in state history. 

The White House Conference on Aging is held every 10 years, and has served as a key platform for the development of aging policy for the past 50 years.  Organizers are now holding a series of regional public forums around the country.  New England’s session will be in Boston later this month, and the testimony presented at the Connecticut State Capitol, in a forum sponsored by the state Department of Aging and the Legislative Committee on Aging, will be passed on to officials there.

Among those speaking in Hartford were Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, State Aging Department Commissioner Betsy Ritter, and George Kuchel, Director of UConn’s Center on Aging.  AARP Connecticut Director Nora Duncan and Chris Fishbein of the Area Agencies on Aging also provided presentations.

Wyman, noting that life span is increasing, said "we have quantity of life, we want to make sure there is a quality of life."  In a theme that was repeated by others during the session, Wyman said that "we can change the way people are viewing people who are aging."

Nora Duncan, state director of AARP-CT, said the organization's focus will be on short-term actions that can have a more immediate impact, such as preventing exploitation, fraud and scams and providing information on financial products and improving retirement security.  Rose Biaggi of the state Department of Public Health pointed to the health disparities among the aging population, noting that 60% of older adults with the highest incomes indicate that their health is very good or excellent, while only one-quarter of those with lowest income feel that their health is very good or excellent.

Kuchel, who suggested that the nation may be at a “tipping point” regarding a national policy on aging, said the future focus needs to be:

• Proactive: There must be a focus on prevention and improvements in health and function across the lifespan.
• Predictive: We need tools to predict individual risk, target therapies and monitor success of interventions.
• Personalized: We must address differences at the level of each individual and time point in life as regards personal aging trajectories.
• Gerontology: Health care must always be defined by patient needs first, driven by science and supported by evidence

Common themes that have begun to emerge nationwide as the hearings have progressed, according to officials, include: how to ensure we prepare for financial needs in retirement; how to remain healthy as we age; what types of services and supports can help older Americans remain independent in the community as we age; and how to support this care and the caregivers who provided it; and how to protect older Americans from financial exploitation, abuse and neglect.

The co-chairs of the legislature’s Committee on Aging, Sen. Mae Flexer and Rep. Joe Serra, were to lead the session, with Flexer noting that “Older individuals want to remain in Connecticut and be active, independent members of their community.  How we accomplish this, how we fund it, what services we need to have in place – these are some of the questions we are seeking input on today.”

In testimony provided to the committee, the state’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women indicated “women, who make up 58% of residents age 65 and over, are disproportionally impacted by economic insecurity as they age and are therefore much more likely to live in poverty than their male counterparts. In fact, 10.7% of women age 65 and over live in poverty compared with 6.2% of men.” PCSW also cited data that found Connecticut women are more likely to work in part-time jobs that don’t qualify for a retirement plan.

The legislative Commission on Aging also pointed out that “the comparatively low rate of older adults in poverty (8 percent) provides evidence that programs like Social Security and Medicare have been extremely effective at reducing poverty among this population and serves as a testament that these programs warrant continued support and modernization.”  Federal officials have noted that this year’s White House Conference on Aging takes place as the nation marks the 50^th anniversary of Medicare, Medicaid and the Older Americans Act, as well as the 80^th anniversary of Social Security.

CT-N coverage of the Connecticut forum on May 5, 2015.