Hispanics More Optimistic About Affordability and Impact of Higher Education, As Student Numbers Increase

While the majority of Americans (61 percent) believe higher education is available to anyone in the U.S. who needs it, Hispanics are more optimistic (73 percent) than whites (58 percent) that education is available to all. Data from the Gallup organization’s national poll on the impact and affordability of higher education indicate that Hispanics tend to have a much stronger belief that higher education is attainable and impactful on one’s career and life prospects. Data released this year indicates that:

• 72 percent of Hispanics say it is very important to increase the proportion of Americans with a degree or professional certificate, compared with 56 percent of whites.
• 78 percent of Hispanics, 74 percent of African- Americans, and 67 percent of whites say a postsecondary degree will be more important in the future to get a good job.
• 84 percent of Hispanics and 76 percent of African-Americans agree or strongly agree that having a professional certificate or degree beyond high school is essential for getting a good job. By comparison, 64 percent of whites agree.
• 86 percent of Hispanics agree or strongly agree that a good job is essential to having a higher quality of life. Seventy- six percent of whites agree.
• 83 percent of Hispanics and 80 percent of African-Americans agree or strongly agree that having a college degree or professional certificate leads to a better quality of life. By comparison, 71 percent of whites agree.

Although a majority of all Americans view these educational opportunities as available, only a small percentage are of the view that it is affordable to those who need it.  More than three-quarters (79%) of American adults do not think that education beyond high school is affordable for everyone, while just over one in five (21%) believe it is. Fifty-one percent of Hispanics say higher education is affordable, more than twice as high as the 17 percent of whites and 19 percent of blacks who hold that opinion.

Survey analysts indicate that the greater optimism among Hispanics may reflect their increase as a portion of the student body in postsecondary institutions in recent years. Almost all of those surveyed believed that U.S. high school students need to go to college or technical school in order to be successful in today's economy.

More young Hispanics are choosing to attend college than ever before. Between 1976 and 2011, the percentage of Hispanic college students rose from 4 to 14 percent, according to National Center for Education Statistics data. The U.S. Department of Education projects that the percentage of Hispanics enrolled in postsecondary programs will increase by 46 percent between 2009 and 2020, according to published reports.  In 2012, seven out of 10 Latino high school graduates enrolled in college, according to the Pew Research Center -- a figure that's higher than black or white students.

According to a report issued by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, students from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups are more likely to enroll in community colleges as their first postsecondary institution. Nationally, 50 percent of Hispanic students start at a community college, along with 31 percent of African American students. In comparison, 28 percent of white students begin at community colleges.

Last month, Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC) was designated as an “eligible institution” under federal law – a distinction that allows the college to pursue grants under the Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program to expand educational opportunities for Hispanic students.  Hispanic student enrollment at NVCC has increased 36 percent over the last five academic years. For the 2014-15 year, 1,790 students—a quarter of total enrollment—self-identified as Hispanic.

The Eligible Institution designation enables the College to apply for grants to fund a variety of educational materials and endeavors including scientific or laboratory equipment for teaching; construction or renovation of instructional facilities; faculty development; academic tutoring or counseling programs; funds and administrative management; joint use of facilities; endowment funds; distance learning academic instruction; teacher education; and student support services, according to the college.  Capital Community College in Hartford has also earned the designation.

Among low-income students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, half begin at community colleges—more than double the rate of their peers from high-income families, the report points out, noting that there is almost no difference in the proportion of these students who want to go on to complete college compared to their peers.  The report warns that “tuition increases that outpace family income, particularly at community colleges and regional state colleges and universities, discourage enrollment, transfer, full-time enrollment, and degree completion.”

Earlier this year, the CEO and President of the Lumina Foundation, Jamie Merisotis, expressed concern about what he described as “persistent and widening degree attainment gaps linked to race and ethnicity.”  He pointed out that “projections by the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce show that more than 65 percent of U.S. jobs will require some form of postsecondary education by the end of this decade.”  And yet, he indicated that Lumina data on postsecondary attainment rates across America, show that “only 40 percent of working-age adults (ages 25-64) now hold at least a two-year degree.”

Asian adults lead all races with 60.0 percent degree attainment; whites follow at 44.5 percent; African Americans rank a distant third at 28.1 percent; Native Americans are at 23.9 percent, and Hispanics rank fifth at 20.3 percent, Merisotis, a Connecticut native who has testified on higher education issues before Congress and the Connecticut General Assembly, pointed out.

The Gallup survey also found that 36 percent of Americans overall agree or strongly agree that college graduates in this country are well prepared for success in the workplace. Hispanics and African- Americans are more optimistic, 55 percent and 53 percent respectively, agreeing or strongly agreeing that graduates are well prepared, compared to 30 percent of whites.

Results for this Gallup-Lumina Foundation Poll, released this spring, are based on telephone interviews conducted Nov. 3-Dec. 18, 2014, with a random sample of 1,533 adults, age 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Gallup conducted surveys in English and Spanish.

New Bicycle Safety Law Puts Bicyclists in Drivers Seat on Roadways in CT

With the July 4^th weekend now in the rear view mirror, summer is fully underway.  And for bicyclists and motorists this summer, there are some important new rules of the road, courtesy of the Connecticut state legislature. Changes to Connecticut's laws for cyclists took effect at the start of the month on July 1, 2015.  The Bicycle Safety bill (Senate Bill 502 and now Public Act 15-41) was passed in May with broad bipartisan support and signed into law on June 1.  The new law eliminates the confusing--and often unsafe--rule requiring cyclists to ride as far to the right as practicable, according to officials of the Bike Walk Connecticut, the statewide advocacy organization.

Instead, the law now requires cyclists to ride as close to the right side of the road as is safe, as judged by the cyclist.  Bike Walk Connecticut specifically advocated for that language, which is modeled on a best practice from Colorado as identified by the League of American Bicyclists.

Officials say that with the new law now in effect, cyclists don't have to ride as close to the right side of the road when:

• Overtaking or passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction;
• Preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway;
• Reasonably necessary to avoid conditions, including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards or lanes that are too narrow for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to travel safely side by side within such lanes;
• Approaching an intersection where right turns are permitted and there is a dedicated right turn lane, in which case a bicyclist may ride on the left-hand side of such dedicated lane, even if the bicyclist does not intend to turn right;
• Riding on a roadway designated for one-way traffic, when the bicyclist may ride as near to the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as judged safe by the bicyclist; or when
• Riding on parts of roadways separated for the exclusive use of bicycles, including, but not limited to, contra-flow bicycle lanes, left-handed cycle tracks or bicycle lanes on one-way streets and two-way cycle tracks or bicycle lanes.

The new law also allows two-way bicycle lanes, buffered bike lanes, and cycle tracks to be designed in Connecticut and allows drivers to cross the double yellow line to pass slower-moving cyclists and other road users when it's safe to do so.

Later this month, Bike Walk CT is offering the League of American Bicyclist-designed Traffic Skills 101 program, a comprehensive day long course to give cyclists the skills, knowledge and confidence to handle on-road cycling.

Federal statistics indicate 722 bicyclist deaths occurred in 2012, up 6 percent from 2011 and 16 percent from 2010.  On a per capita basis, Florida recorded an annual average of about 5.7 cyclist deaths per million residents, by far the most of any state. The national bicyclist death rate for 2012 was approximately 2.3 deaths per 1 million.  In Connecticut, the rate was 1.8, ranking the state 18th in the nation.

The program this month will be offered in West Hartford; with the cost of the one-day program $50 for Bike Walk CT members and $65 for non-members.  The curriculum includes approximately 4 hours in class and 4 hours outside, split between skill drills and an on-road ride.  Among other things, participants will practice starting, stopping, shifting and scanning, learn how to ride in traffic, including proper lane and intersection positioning, and crash avoidance techniques.

Officials at Bike Walk CT note that bike lanes and greenways “aren’t just good for our health.  Since transportation is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gases in Connecticut, active transportation—biking and walking—must be a key piece of our climate action plan.  Bikeways are also an extremely cost-efficient way to manage traffic congestion.  Bike lanes, sidewalks and greenways cost a fraction of what it costs to build and maintain roads.  People tend to bike and walk more when they have the bike lanes, greenways and sidewalks.”

“Being bike-friendly isn’t just a ‘nice to have’ thing anymore,” observes Kelly Kennedy, Executive Director of Bike Walk Connecticut.  “Being bike-friendly is now essential to competitiveness.  In fact, not being bike-friendly is a competitive disadvantage. Connecticut's car-dependent lifestyle is not the lifestyle that millennials or the creative class have in mind.  A well-designed active transportation network will help bring millennials and the creative class to Connecticut and keep them here, strengthening our economy.”

New CT Law Raises Age, Strengthens Education for Towing People While Boating, Responding to Tragedy

Emily Fedorko, a 16-year-old from Greenwich who died in a water-skiing related accident last summer, is the namesake of “Emily’s Law,” which, at the urging of her parents, was approved by the state legislature this year and signed into law by Governor Malloy. It prohibits children under-16 from piloting watercraft towing skiers or tubers, raising the age from 13, and requires a related safety course that specifically includes towing instruction. In testimony before the state legislature’s Environment Committee, which was considering the proposed legislation earlier this year, Emily’s parents, Joseph and Pamela Fedorko, said “What makes this so important is that current boating safety courses have very little on the topic of towing. This includes water skiing, tubing or boarding. Education is the leading way we can teach our young adults safety.”

“Our daughter Emily took her safety course along with my youngest daughter and wife on June 28th, 2014, five weeks before she passed. Emily took intense notes that day. My wife, Pam, can attest that there wasn’t anything taught regarding towing of water sports.”

“Education in the classroom is just part of it. Having the ability to make quick decisions comes with AGE and EXPERIENCE. Towing requires even more. The operator needs to be alert and aware of his/her surroundings. They also need to understand the responsibility of pulling a rider,” the Fedorko’s told legislators.

In addition to urging changes in state law to enhance boating safety, the Fedorko’s formed the Emily Catherine Fedorko Foundation to increase boating education in Connecticut and beyond.  The site includes a tutorial video detailing safe towing practices, which the Water Sports Industry Association indicates is the water sports activity with “the most injuries in recent years.”  The Foundation also provides a “safe boating packet” that includes a water resistant phone carrier, floating key chain safety tips and ignition switch sticker, all aimed at reminding water craft operators to turn off their engine when towing to enhance safety and prevent potential life-threatening hazards.

This new Connecticut law requires, with limited exceptions, a person who operates a vessel engaged in water skiing to:

• be at least age 16;
• hold a (a) valid U.S. Coast Guard-issued vessel operator license, (b) Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)-issued safe boating certificate (SBC) or certificate of personal watercraft operation (CPWO), or (c) a boating safety certificate from a state with a reciprocal agreement with Connecticut; and
• hold a DEEP-issued safe water skiing endorsement obtained after completing safe water skiing instruction.

The bill also prohibits a vessel owner from knowingly allowing someone under age 16 to operate the vessel while engaged in water skiing.

State Senator Scott Franz told his fellow legislators, “currently, a 13 year old with a Safe Boating Certificate is able to take a twin 350 horsepower engine boat out and tow water skiers and tubers. The record is miraculously good, but the risk given the general lack of on-the-water experience for this age group is large. With Senate Bill 699, there would be a requirement of a minimum age of 16 with a towing endorsement in order to legally tow.”

“On August 6, 2014, Emily went out with three of her best friends looking to have fun on the water. As a result of inexperience, she lost her life tubing while her best friend was driving,” her parents told legislators.  The Fedorko’s went on to ask: “We allow our kids to get their driving license at 16. This comes with many restrictions. So why wouldn’t we want to add some rules to anyone who is looking to drive a boat while towing someone? Boats don’t have a seat belt or brakes and riders are at the mercy of the operator. The age restriction for towing with a personal watercraft, or Jet Ski, is 16. Why would we not want the same age restriction for a boat with a propeller?”

Legislators answered by approving the proposal, which is now state law.  The restrictions and requirements are not in place in other states, and the Emily Catherine Fedorko Foundation is continuing efforts to promote stricter guidelines around the country.

NBC News recently reported that there were more than 4,000 boating accidents in the U.S. in 2014, citing U.S. Coast Guard statistics.  The top three contributing factors, according to the report, were operator inattention, improper lookout and operator inexperience.

According to the United States Power Squadrons (USPS), boating laws and license requirements vary from state to state.  Eight states have no mandatory boater education law:  Alaska, California, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Arkansas, and Maine.  USPS is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to making boating safer and more enjoyable by teaching classes in seamanship, navigation and related subjects.  The organization was among the agencies and individuals, including the state’s Department of Energy and Environment Protection, that supported approval of Emily’s Law in Connecticut.

Leadership Greater Hartford Connects More Than 400 Volunteers with Nonprofit Board Service

In just over six years, more than 400 people in the Greater Hartford area have joined the board of directors of local nonprofit organizations, through an innovative matching program run by Leadership Greater Hartford.  The program has proven both popular and successful, and is seen as a win-win for the nonprofit organization in need of expertise and individuals looking for ways to contribute to the well-being of the community. The Leaders on Board program has matched 404 individuals – from young professionals to retirees - with more than 100 nonprofit organizations since January 2009.  The program attracts individuals with an interest in serving on a board, and looking to develop their leadership skills and serve the community.  Potential board members receive training in nonprofit organizational structure and management, are introduced to the role and responsibilities of board members and are encouraged to explore their own individual skills. The training session provides the foundation for effective board service. 

Leaders on Board, unique in Connecticut and perhaps the largest initiative of its kind in the region, provides a critical connection for nonprofit organizations who are looking for board members that have been trained in the basics of board membership and have expressed an interest in serving on a nonprofit board.  In some cases, individuals’ employers encourage such community activism, in others, the person is seeking to give back to the community or broader their involvement in issues that are of particular interest.  Corporations and businesses participate in the Leaders on Board program by offering board governance training to encourage their employees who are interested in serving the community.

The program works in a round-robin matching session, where representatives of nonprofit organizations conduct brief one-on-one interviews.  At the end of the session, both the individual and the organizations indicate where they think there might be a match.  If there’s agreement, there are further follow-up conversations to determine if selection to a specific board should go forward.  Often, the answer is yes.

“I decided to participate in leaders on Board because I was looking for a way to become a board member on a local, small to medium-sized nonprofit organization," explained Bill Valentine, Donor Relations Manager, United Way of Central and Northeastern CT. "Leaders on Board is the ideal way to learn the basic information about the responsibilities of being a board member and to learn about the organizations that are looking for new board members.”

At times, prospective board members learn of nonprofit organizations they had not been aware of or knew little about.  For people new to the region, and even those who have spent a career in Greater Hartford, the variety of nonprofit organizations, and they work they pursue with various populations, can be eye-opening.  The list of organizations that have placed members on boards through the Express Match process is quite impressive – a who’s who of community organizations.

In 2013, the Association of Leadership Programs, a national organization with affiliates across the country, presented Leadership Greater Hartford with its first “Excellence in Innovation” award for the implementation and success of the Leaders on Board program.  Recent years have also seen greater diversity among prospective board members, and interest by nonprofit organizations in having boards that more closely reflect the diversity of the community they serve.

"I had been considering pursuing board membership for a few years when The Junior League of Hartford offered its members a chance to participate in Leaders on Board," recalled Patricia Sasser, Dean of Students at Loomis Chaffee.  "The Leaders on Board orientation provided great information on what a prospective board member needs to know about board service; it definitely set me up for success.  I felt prepared and excited when I attend my first Leaders on Board Express Match. Having a chance to speak with different organizations about their mission and purpose opened my eyes to all the different types of organizations I could support. I found several that really spoke to my heart and was excited when I was matched with an organization I admired."

Among those who have recently accepted board of directors positions, following the most recent Leaders on Board session:

• Ann Means - Hartford Preservation Alliance
• Chris Whelan - First Choice Health Centers
• Sue Murphy & George Montowski - Hebrew Health Care
• Nancy Frede - Hartford Knights Youth Foundation
• Jessica Dansereau & Veda White - Lupus Foundation of America - CT Chapter
• Veda White - Trinity Academy
• Michael Fournier, Richard Moriarty and Patrick Garrity - Kinsella Arts, Inc.
• Chris Thomas - Mental Health Association of CT
• Jim Barrett - St. Philip House
• Bernard Jenkins, Meri Horowitz and Gary Brochu - Coram Deo Recovery, Inc.
• Richard Moriarty and Patrick Garrity - Kinsella Arts, Inc.
• Karen Adamson, Maia Brooks, and Anthony Viggiano - Project Genesis
• Aaron Clay and Jasmine Baten - West Hartford YMCA

Leaders on Board operates with support from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.  For more information, contact Mae Ryan Maloney at 860.951.6161 x1900 or email Mae.Maloney@leadershipgh.org. The mission of Leadership Greater Hartford is to develop, connect and inspire diverse leaders to build strong and vibrant communities.

https://youtu.be/vuXF7lKGuew

New Partners, Speakers Add to Momentum for Digital Citizenship Summit in CT

Billed as “a national gathering of the leading thinkers in the digital citizenship community,” plans are rapidly developing for the Digital Citizenship Summit to be held in Connecticut at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) in West Hartford in October. Organizers have announced four new national partners, the National Association for Media Literacy Education, Common Sense Education, Media Literacy Now and Cyberwise, and added additional speakers to an impressive roster of experts from around the country.  Signing on as partners for the Summit:

• The National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) is a New Jersey-based national membership organization dedicated to advancing the field of media literacy education in the United States. NAMLE members “weave a diverse network of people and organizations committed to advancing media literacy education as a new vision of literacy for the 21st century.”
• Cyberwise is described as “the go-to learning source for adults who want to help kids use technology safely and wisely.” The organization helps parents and educators understand online safety, privacy, digital citizenship.”
• Common Sense Education, based in San Francisco, is dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology, “empowering parents, teachers, and policymakers by providing unbiased information to help them harness the power of media and technology.”
• Media Literacy Now provides policy and advocacy information, expertise, and resources to develop state laws to implement media literacy education in schools.

The aim of the Digital Citizenship Summit, to be held on October 3, is to create positive, practical solutions along with amplifying the overall message of improving tech usage. Topics for the all-day Summit include digital literacy, etiquette, wellness, security, and law. The term “digital citizenship” describes appropriate, responsible tech and Internet use. Similar to the rights and responsibilities involved in being a citizen, there are legal and ethical obligations with being a digital citizen, notes co-organizer David Ryan Polgar, a tech ethicist and digital lifestyle expert from West Hartford.

"The Digital Citizenship Summit is striking a nerve nationwide. There is a tremendous level of enthusiasm to collectively work towards better tech use standards,” Polgar explained.  “What the Summit is doing is bringing all of those voices together and amplifying the message. It has been gratifying to see the level of support so far, and we're proud that Connecticut is playing such an integral role in shaping the national conversation concerning digital citizenship."

Registration for the day-long Summit has recently opened, and organizers are anticipating the limited capacity will sell out quickly.  Already, attendees and participants from Florida to California have signed on.  The organizing committee includes Polgar, Marlialice B.F.X. Curran, an Associate Professor at USJ, and JoAnn Freiberg, an educational consultant with the Connecticut Department of Education.

Speakers added recently include Janell Burley Hofman, an author, speaker and consultant on topics including technology, media, health, relationships and personal growth.  Janell is the author of the book, iRules: What Every Tech-Healthy Family Needs to Know About Selfies, Sexting, Gaming and Growing Up. She has also presented at TEDx San Diego with a talk titled “Parenting in the Screen Age.” Janell is an essayist and contributor to the Huffington Post, and a contributor to APR’s Marketplace Tech.

Also added to the speaker roster is Tanya Avrith, the Lead Pedagogical Consultant at Amplified IT. She is a Google Certified Teacher, Apple Distinguished Educator and holds a M.A. in Educational Technology.  She previously served as the Lead Educational Technology and Digital Citizenship Teacher at the Lester B. Pearson School Board in Montreal, Canada. While there she was instrumental in the vision and execution of the district wide Digital Citizenship Program (dcp.lbpsb.qc.ca) leading to her being invited to Facebook to discuss Digital Citizenship Education.

Speakers at the October event also include Reuben Loewy, Founder and Director of Living Online Lab, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing students to be informed, critical and active participants in our digital society, and Denise Lisi DeRosa, Program Manager for the Family Online Safety Institute. She is dedicated to empowering families with the tools needed to embrace the current social and digital technologies in meaningful, creative and positive ways.

The University of Saint Joseph, which will host the Summit, has offered two digital citizenship courses since 2010, created and taught by Dr. Curran, an Associate Professor in the School of Education. Curran and Tracy Mercier, a consultant for Responsive Classroom and a graduate of the University of Saint Joseph, co-founded the first digital citizenship #digcit chat on Twitter.

Transportation Seen As Key for Growing Senior Population in CT

Connecticut is the 7^th oldest state in the nation with the 3^rd longest-lived average life expectancy, at 80.8 years.  Transportation is “the vital link,” according to a new report, “that connects residents across the lifespan with their communities and the elements of a vibrant and engaged life.”  By 2025, at least 20 percent of the population in every Connecticut town (except Mansfield and New Haven) will be age 65 or older, according to projections. As the state considers a range of transportation options – all carrying considerable price-tags – the impact of various alternatives on the state’s fast-growing senior population was the focus of a statewide survey and report led by the Connecticut’s Legislative Commission on Aging.

The Commission’s Transportation Policy Brief, issued last month, was prepared in partnership with the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association and the Capitol Region Council of Governments. Among the key findings:

• Connecticut’s older adults are currently more likely than any other age group to rely on their cars as their primary form of transportation. Currently, 82% of all Connecticut adults use their cars as their primary form of transportation, versus 92% of adults age 50 and older.
• However, Connecticut residents want to become less car-dependent. Compared to today (82%), 10% fewer Connecticut adults (72%) plan to use their cars as their primary form of transportation in the future. Moreover, 47% of Connecticut adults reported currently living in a suburb where most people drive to most places, but only 8% of Connecticut adults want to live there in the future.

The report calls for the state and municipalities to create environments that promote equity, environmental sustainability and support healthier lifestyles for everyone; retrofitting car-dominated infrastructure for the safety of all users; rebuilding the street as a public space for social experience; supporting economic activity, and sustaining, coordinating and growing both fixed route and demand-responsive transportation options.

Connecticut residents, especially older residents, are looking for transportation alternatives, according to the online survey conducted for the Commission this year by the Harris Poll:

• Connecticut residents intend to use public transit more in the future, especially older adults. Among adults 66 years of age and older, more (12 percentage point increase) plan to use the bus as their primary form of transportation in the future (14%), compared to today (2%).
• More Connecticut residents plan to bike in the future, with the highest increases for the 50-65-year-old age group (13 percentage point increase) and 66 years and older age group (9 percentage point increase).
• Creating a more walkable infrastructure is a top priority for Connecticut residents, second only to maintaining existing transportation systems (41%). Among new public investments, the strongest demand by Connecticut residents is for new sidewalks and pedestrians crossings (38%).

The survey also found that as economic uncertainty continues, 43% of Connecticut adults identified keeping transportation costs low to be a high priority.  The survey found that 28% of Connecticut adults said the quality of life, including community transportation features, was the single most important factor in choosing where to live, ranking higher than friends and family living there (17%) or job prospects (11%).

“The Commission recognizes that continued strategic investments, as well as critical policy expansions and transformations, are necessary to shape a transportation system that values community and much as it values mobility” said Julia Evans Starr, Executive Director of the Commission.

Fixed route transportation operates along a prescribed route and on a fixed schedule, and includes buses and light rail. In 2014 in Connecticut, buses provided over 43 million passenger trips and rail provided over 39 million passenger trips.  Demand-responsive transportation provides routes and scheduling more individually tailored to the needs of the user. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires transit agencies to provide paratransit service, subject to certain parameters, to people with disabilities who cannot use the fixed route services. Paratransit ridership in Connecticut in fiscal year 2014 under the ADA totaled over one million rides, and dial-a-ride ridership neared 100,000 rides.

Among the report’s 12 recommendations were a call to “incentivize and enhance funding for municipalities to engage in transit-oriented development in conducive locations to ensure that compact, walkable, mixed-used, mixed-income communities are located within a reasonable distance of quality, dependable public transportation.” In addition, policy makers were urged to “identify funding streams to sustain, coordinate, grow and make more convenient both fixed route and demand-responsive transportation options (including providing door-to-door service), and provide technical assistance to support regionalization efforts.”

The report also advocated efforts that would “enhance collaboration with non-transportation partners, including those in housing, health care, public health, planning and zoning, social services, law enforcement, and the business community, among others.”  Improved data collection regarding key risk factors in road traffic injuries, and research into self-driving vehicles were also recommended.

Between 2010 and 2040, Connecticut’s population of people age 65 and older is projected to grow by 57 percent, but its population of people age 20 to 64 is projected to grow by less than 2 percent.

For more information and to read the full report visit the Legislative Commission on Aging website at www.cga.ct.gov.coa

Sol LeWitt Designed Synagogue Is Focus of World Premiere Documentary in Madison

Complete with a red carpet, the Madison Art Cinemas will host the June 14 world premiere of the documentary We Built This House, a one-hour film telling the story of Chester synagogue Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek—known as a global art landmark for being the only public building that acclaimed artist and Connecticut native Sol LeWitt ever designed. Film producer-director Jon Joslow, a lifetime member of the congregation, will discuss the movie and a reception will follow the screening. Tickets are open to the public and may be obtained for a donation of $18 each through the synagogue office, 860 526 8920. The showing begins at 11:00 am, and organizers have offered that “paparazzi are welcome.” Joslow is a crisis/transition leader for private equity who spent a year researching the history of the congregation and its building.

In a 2013 profile, Town & Country’s arts editor compared the striking Chester sanctuary with a masterpiece chapel Henri Matisse created in Nice, France. But the synagogue, opened in 2001, started as a napkin sketch, organizers of the project say. LeWitt first drew a structure inspired by traditional wooden temples of Eastern Europe combined with elements of colonial New England barns.

We Built This House traces how architect Stephen Lloyd translated LeWitt’s vision into post and beam, and how the Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek community collaborated and improvised—even adapting a design discovered in a medieval English watermill—to give structure to the sanctuary’s wooden dome. LeWitt’s iconic installation on the ark drew national attention when the building opened; it prompted Town & Country to observe “modern art as [the sanctuary’s] focal point.”

LeWitt, a Chester resident who died at age 78 in 2007, is recognized as one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century.  His work is prominently featured in venues worldwide, including at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford.  A retrospective of his work is featured at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, through 2033.

The sanctuary has become known as one of the most astonishing, and spiritually welcoming, religious spaces in the world.  True to its roots, the Chester synagogue has become one of the shoreline’s most vital cultural centers.

Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek—Hebrew for “House of Peace Pursuing Justice”—is marking the 100th year since the founding of one of its two predecessor temples in Moodus. We Built This House is part of yearlong centennial celebrations culminating in an October 3 gala and the inaugural presentation of the synagogue’s new annual Pursuer of Peace and Justice Award. Though it is located in Chester, temple members come from 36 towns, from West Hartford to Westbrook, Norwich to North Branford.

Given the film’s unique insights into art as architecture, and into how a community can join together in creative enterprise, organizers anticipate interest among public television stations, those engaged in architectural and design collaborations, and art museums, in airing it following the premiere.  DVDs of are expected to be released later this year.

The Madison Art Cinemas is located at 761 Boston Post Road in Madison. For more information on We Built This House or Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek, visit www.cbsrz.org or www.ancientandcool.com.

Students Among Avid Followers of Serial as Creators Arrive in Hartford

It was nothing short of a phenomenon.  The first podcast to win a Peabody Award, it was the talk of the nation, in a way that happens less often than years ago, given the fragmented media landscape and dizzying array of choices. But the inaugural season of Serial on NPR this past fall hooked listeners intently.  The story was compelling, and presented in riveting fashion, hosted by journalist Sarah Koenig exploring the 1999 murder of Baltimore teenager Hae Min Lee and her ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed’s subsequent life sentence. Syed continues to claim that he’s innocent. Following the conclusion of Serial‘s first season in December, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals granted Syed license to move forward with the appeal of his case, according to the Washington Post.

Hartford will get a behind-the-scenes perspective of the making of Serial as creators Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder take to the Bushnell stage Wedmesday (June 10), in a special edition of the popular Connecticut Forum, with “Binge-Worthy Journalism: Backstage with the Creators of Serial Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder.”   The podcast, produced by Chicago Public Media/This American Life, has been downloaded nearly 60 million times. 

In the audience will be nearly 100 local students who have used the 12 episode podcast series as the platform for education.  Local teachers have been using Serial podcast to teach students about the law,  advocacy and the judicial system – a new and apparently successful way to engage students.  Students at the Law & Government Academy at Hartford Public Schools especially related to the Serial podcast – involving inner city magnet school students much like themselves. Other schools in attendance at this event include: Global Communications Academy in Hartford; Simsbury High School; Granby Memorial High School; CREC Public Safety Academy; and East Granby High School.  The students attendance is made possible by underwriting from Audible.

This strong community – school connection is at the heart of the work of The Connecticut Forum, and their mission to inform, challenge, entertain, inspire and build bridges among all people and organizations in the community.

At the Law and Government Academy of Hartford Public High School, one class used Serial as the basis for a semester’s curriculum.  Over the course of five months, students examined the issues in each episode of the 12-episode podcast and were asked to choose a side – such as defense counsel, prosecutor, or witness – and then advocate for their position.  For their final exam, students wrote appellate court briefs and argued their cases.

Students from the other schools planning to attend had similar experiences, quickly becoming regular listeners, intrigued by the issues it was highlighting and the storyline.  Other classes in Connecticut and across the country also used the podcast as part of the curriculum, to rave reviews.

“It’s use of new media and compelling storytelling has opened up many new opportunities for students, educators, and the intellectually curious to reexamine aspects of our legal system,” said CT Forum Executive Director Doris Sugarman. “We’re thrilled to see what is sparked when our community connects to the expression of big ideas that The Forum brings to Connecticut audiences.”

Serial, with a new story line, is set to return for a second season in the fall and a third next spring, according to published reports.  (Photos:  Sarah Koenig, above, and Julie Snyder, below)

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.