February 22, 2021

Legislature Considers Plan to Allow Municipalities to Open College Savings Accounts for Students

February 22, 2021/ Bernard Kavaler

To improve the likelihood of low-income Connecticut youngsters graduating high school and entering college, a local resident has enlisted State Senator Dennis Bradley of Bridgeport to introduce legislation that would for the first time in state history permit municipalities to put seed money into specialized savings accounts, where the funds would accrue until they are used for college.

February 18, 2021

High School Students from West Hartford, Norwich, Selected for Prestigious US Senate Program

February 18, 2021/ Bernard Kavaler

The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) has announced that high school students Natalie DeLaCruz of West Hartford and Karen Lau of Norwich will join Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Sen. Chris Murphy in representing Connecticut during the prestigious 59th annual USSYP Washington Week, to be held March 14 — 17, 2021.

February 16, 2021

Report Urges Connecticut Judicial Branch to Respond to Changing Demographics with Culture-Specific Outreach

February 16, 2021/ Bernard Kavaler

It has been less than two months since the Report of the Jury Selection Task Force was provided to Connecticut Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson, and elements of the comprehensive 53-page report continue to be unpacked - including calls to step up education and outreach to the state’s changing population.

February 13, 2021

Finding Her Way: A Journey of Discovery and Perseverance

February 13, 2021/ Bernard Kavaler

Doh Paw wanted to attend college out of state so she could live on campus and escape a lifetime of family responsibilities. But she decided that she couldn’t turn her back on those who needed her. So instead, she stayed close to home, attends the University of Hartford, and continues to have an impact on those around her, in inspiring and enduring ways.

February 08, 2021

Helping Women Develop Businesses More Important Than Ever During Pandemic

February 08, 2021/ Bernard Kavaler

In a typical year, the Women’s Business Development Council helps between 800 and 1,000 clients. Aswe all know, 2020 was anything but a typical year, and the numbers at WBDC bear that out.

January 28, 2021

State Legislators, Municipalities Urge Declaration of Racism as Public Health Crisis

January 28, 2021/ Bernard Kavaler

Nearly two dozen Connecticut municipalities and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation have declared racism a public health crisis. Those actions, during the second half of 2020, appear to have set the stage for state action this year.

January 27, 2021

A Gap Still to be Closed in STEM Fields as Women Seek Opportunities

January 27, 2021/ Bernard Kavaler

Despite making up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, women are still vastly underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce, the U.S. Census Bureau reported this week. An array of initiatives in Connecticut seek to close the gap.

January 25, 2021

Recent Studies May Raise Red Flags in CT Effort To Legalize Marijuana

January 25, 2021/ Bernard Kavaler

Whether recently released studies in the U.S. and Europe will provide sufficient reason to pause as Connecticut edges ever closer to legalizing recreational marijuana during the current session of the state legislature remains an open question.

January 21, 2021

New Documentary Describes Pathway to CT’s Groundbreaking Black & Latino Studies High School Curriculum

January 21, 2021/ Bernard Kavaler

Following approval of Connecticut’s first model statewide curriculum, the State Education Resource Center (SERC) has released a documentary to inform communities, families, schools, and the general public about the course development process led by SERC.

January 20, 2021

COVID Relief Grants Headed to CT's Museums, Historic Venues

January 20, 2021/ Bernard Kavaler

Connecticut Humanities (CTH), the state’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and counterpart to the state’s Office of the Arts, will be providing grants to fifty nonprofits in Connecticut totaling $1.5 million, in support of their efforts to sustain operations despite the significant adverse financial impact of the pandemic.