Quest Program Participants Target Issues From Sex Trafficking to Job Skills

Leadership Greater Hartford’s highly regarded Quest program develops and engages emerging and established leaders in the region through opportunities to sharpen skills, build new professional relationships and – most importantly - address pressing community issues.  The 2012 class of Quest – 47 participants strong – were grouped into four teams, each pursuing distinct and important projects during the course of the year.  Their work is already in evidence in the community, and received high praise at a recent “graduation” ceremony held at the Mark Twain House in Hartford.  The initiatives:

• The HartBeat Ensemble taskforce focused on what members described as the “appalling, abhorrent and terrifying nature of human sex trafficking” in the Hartford region, coordinating with the Hartford Police Department. They worked with HartBeat Ensemble, an ensemble company that creates original, professional theater based on stories from the community. To help increase public awareness of the issue, the taskforce developed a marketing, collaboration and public relations plan for their newest play in development, Project: Turnpike, which is based on the 2007 landmark federal trial of United States vs. Dennis Paris that took place in Hartford. The play represents 72 hours in the life of four exploited sex workers in a motel room on the Berlin Turnpike.  The play’s opening night is scheduled for April 24, 2013.

Law enforcement officials have observed that Hartford’s location  - near mass transit and between New York and Boston – contributes to the human trafficking industry’s presence here.  Recently, human trafficking – estimated to be a $32 billion-a-year business worldwide – has been the subject of a national crackdown by the travel industry, which has launched an initiative to train employees to identify and report potential trafficking incidents.    The U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Transportation along with Amtrak also announced plans to training 75,000 employees.

• The North End Career Resources taskforce focused on the importance of providing career resources to the North End community of Hartford.  They developed and conducted a “Job Skills Resources Fair” at the Albany Avenue Branch of the Hartford Public Library on September 25, 2012.  It was a job skills fair, not a job fair – with the goal of connecting fair attendees with the skills necessary to make them employable in a tough hiring environment.  The “vendors” were non-profit agencies that work in the areas of job skills training.
• The Billings Forge Community Works taskforce worked with Billings Forge Community Works, an innovative job education and training, housing, and community development organization that serves the residents of Hartford's Frog Hollow neighborhood. This taskforce accomplished three main goals: enhanced their corporate sponsorship program, implemented their auction event for the annual “Farm to Table” event/fundraiser and created an organizational membership program.
• The Hartford Children’s Theatre taskforce partnered with Hartford Children’s Theatre, which provides theatrical training and entertainment for Connecticut children and families. The taskforce focused on the summer theatrical production of Hartford Children’s Theatre and worked specifically in the areas of development, marketing and general public relations efforts.  In doing so, they not only raised sufficient funds to offset the costs of the production, they also provided input and novel suggestions for future marketing and fundraising operations.

Participating in Quest 2012 were:

Kelsey Aderman - Lincoln Financial Group Debbie Albrecht- Murtha Cullina, LLP. Deb Battit - Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Yvette Bello - Latino Community Services Theresa Benoit - ConnectiCare, Inc. Joe Bierbaum - Stone Academy Maureen Bowman - Travelers Monique (Roxanne) Brown - Phoenix Life Suzanne Butler - OptumHealth Katie Carges - Hartford Hospital Vrinda Dabke - OptumHealth Theresa Desilets - Cigna Steve  Dibella - Hartford Police Department Alisa Dzananovic - Saint Francis Hospital Martin Estey - Hartford Consortium for Higher Education Tom Farrish  - Day Pitney, LLP Fred Faulkner - The Open Hearth Julie Geyer - Capital Workforce Partners LaResse Harvey - Civic Trust Lobbying Company John Henry Decker - Certified Financial Planner Kelly Hewes - The Hartford Carolyn Hoffman - Junior League of Hartford, Inc. Margo  Kelleher - VestA Corporation Lynne  Kelleher - CT Children's Medical Center Ryan Kocsondy - University of Connecticut John McEntee - Travelers Nicole  Miller   Goodwin College Kelly Muszynski - OptumHealth Tokuji Okamoto - Our Piece of the Pie Mario Oquendo, Jr. - Hartford Fire Department Janet Pasqua - ConnectiCare, Inc. Lisa Pawlik - Catholic Charities Sara Phillips - Travelers Jason Roberts - Travelers Josie Robles - Hartford Behavioral Health Kevin Roy - Shipman & Goodwin LLP Michael Ryan - Lincoln Financial Group Leslie Sanborn - Oak Hill Jerene  Slivinsky - UnitedHealthcare Quinten  Smallwood - Travelers Danielle Smiley - City of Hartford - HHS Jen Sprague - United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut Paul Stigliano - Hill-Stead Museum Amelinda Vazquez - Eastern Connecticut State University Sonia Worrell Asare, Esq. -  Travelers Andrea  Young - Goodwin College

New Website Promotes Action to Reduce Harm from Stormwater Runoff

There is a new green infrastructure website in Connecticut, www.ReduceRunoff.org, specifically designed to assist Connecticut homeowners in reducing the harmful effects of stormwater runoff.   It’s a collaborative initiative of Save the Sound, a program of Connecticut Fund for the Environment, and the University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research's (CLEAR) Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) program . When it rains, or when snow melts, impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets prevent water from naturally soaking into the ground, creating stormwater runoff. Manmade gray infrastructure like curbs, gutters, and storm drains quickly carry stormwater runoff directly to local streams, rivers, and Long Island Sound—without any natural filtering process.

That runoff can overwhelm the sewer systems of older, combined sewer overflow communities like Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford—resulting in releases of raw sewage.  In other communities, it floods streets and carries fertilizers and pesticides into rivers and the Sound.  This pollution forces summer beach closings, and make it hard for shell fishermen to earn a living. According to state data, many rivers and shoreline waters fail to meet key water quality standards because of stormwater.

What’s a concerned citizen to do?  Turns out, there are a growing number of common sense solutions that can have an impact.  Innovative green infrastructure concepts like rain gardens, rain barrels, downspout disconnections, permeable pavers, and green roofs, can help naturally manage stormwater, limit raw sewage discharges, reduce flooding risk and improve water quality.

The new website includes a cost calculator to estimate the cost of developing a rain garden, and site features information on three Connecticut locatities using green infrastructure to benefit the community:

• In the Quinnipiac River Watershed, small rain gardens and large bioswales will be used to boost drinking water supplies.  And
• In New Haven and Bridgeport,green infrastructure will help reduce flooding, reduce non-point source pollution, and limit combined sewer overflows.

There is also information about efforts in major cities including Portland, Kansas City, Philadelphia and New York which are working to promote the use of green infrastructure.  ReduceRunoff.org shares the experiences of those cities and provides guidance to Connecticut residents seeking to green their neighborhoods and contribute to reducing pollution statewide.

ReduceRunoff.org was funded by the Fairfield County Community Foundation, the Greater New Haven Green Fund, and the Quinnipiac River Groundwater Natural Resources Damages Fund administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP).

"Great Give 2012" Aims to Boost New Haven Area Nonprofits

More than 200 organizations that feed the hungry, teach children, protect the environment, shelter animals, build community, promote healthy living, enrich our culture, support the aging in the Greater New Haven area are participating in The Great Give 2012.  Coordinated by the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, it is a 36-period on October 16 and 17 when individuals interested in contributing to a range of charitable organizations can do so through a special website, and at the same time provide the organization they support with an opportunity to win additional contributions as part of the effort. Over the last two years, this event raised more than $800,000 for area non-profits. The organizers stress that “There are so many giving challenges competing for your attention in this great big world. What’s different about The Great Give 2012? Your donation stays right here, strengthening your local community.”  They emphasize that every dollar donated between 8:00 am October 16 and 8:00 pm October 17 will support a non-profit whose work impacts Greater New Haven and the Valley.

A special website has been set up, and individuals need only look up the non-profit that they wish to support, and “join others in making a secure gift online.” The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, with help from the Valley Community Foundation, is providing up to $170,000 in grant prizes to nonprofit organizations that receive the highest amount of contributions, with the Grand Prize organization receiving a grant of $20,000.

CT Girl Scouts Celebrate Centennial by Honoring Top 100

In honor of its 100th Anniversary, Girl Scouts of Connecticut honored 100 women, men, and organizations that embody the best of Girl Scout values at the 2012 Centennial Gala – Woman of Merit benefit dinner, held this month. The Centennial Gala had five categories of honorees:

• Distinguished Alumnae,
• Community Champion,
• Trail Blazers,
• Girls of Promise, and
• Women of Promise

Honorees included Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Cathy Malloy, Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, State Treasurer Denise Nappier, State Representative Michelle Cook (D-65); Jen Rizzotti, women’s basketball coach at the University of Hartford; Carolyn Kuan, Music Director, Hartford Symphony Orchestra; Rear Admiral Sandra L. Stosz, Superintendent, U.S. Coast Guard Academy; and Chief Lynn Malerba of the Mohegan Tribe.  The full list of honorees is on the Girl Scouts of Connecticut website.

“We were delighted to honor these 100 extraordinary people and organizations ,” said Teresa C. Younger, President of Girl Scouts of Connecticut’s Board of Directors. “This has been a special year for Girl Scouts of Connecticut, celebrating its 100th Anniversary, and there’s no better time to celebrate the achievements of many throughout the state who are the role models for and help build girls of courage, confidence, and character.”

The categories of the honorees are:

Trailblazers are individuals, families, organizations or groups whose pioneering efforts opened the door for girls and/or women to follow. They may have been the ‘‘first’’ to reach a particular career or professional milestone, have participated in an organization or activity in a way that changed how women were involved, or challenged themselves in some way that created new opportunities for girls and women. If an organization or group, it may have demonstrated innovative solutions to working with girls to develop leadership skills or create unique opportunities for girls.

Community Champions are individuals, families, organizations or groups who have made significant contributions as volunteers within their own community, or on a regional or national level. They have distinguished themselves as mentors and role models. They have a proven track record of helping others succeed and have achieved personal success through the skills and abilities they have developed in the people around them. Their lives and work exemplify the value of community service intrinsic to Girl Scouts. If an organization or group, it has demonstrated through its mission, programs and support the importance of developing girls to reach their full potential and have proven success.

Distinguished Alumnae are individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment, exceptional service, and an extraordinary dedication to the Girl Scout Movement. They are alumnae whose leadership, initiative, and energy have strengthened Girl Scouting, made a significant contribution to the mission, and who exemplify the true spirit of Girl Scouts.

Women of Promise are alumnae, age 35 and under, who have distinguished themselves in their profession and/or community. They are women who demonstrate exceptional promise in terms of their ability to ascend and assume significant leadership roles.

Girls of Promise are current Girl Scouts ages 12-18 who distinguish themselves through their work in Girl Scouting and exemplify the values and principles of the Girl Scout Movement.

More Nonprofits = Less Unemployment, Study Finds; CT in 2nd Tier of States

Communities with better civic health have weathered the recent recession far better – and experienced considerably smaller increases in unemployment – than other communities that faced similar economic circumstances, according to a new report by the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC).  Counties across the nation that were rich in nonprofit organizations lost considerably fewer jobs than the low-nonprofit counties, the study revealed. A state-by-state analysis by the organization placed Connecticut in the second tier of states in both the density of nonprofit organizations, and social cohesion (interacting with friends and neighbors), the two measures used in the study.  Connecticut ranked between #11 and #20 in each category,  just outside the first tier, top-10 states.

For individuals who held jobs in 2008, the odds of becoming unemployed were cut in half if they lived in a community with many nonprofit organizations rather than one with a few nonprofits, even if the two communities were otherwise similar, the study found.  Among the New England states, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont placed in the top ten.

Overall, counties with more nonprofits per capita prior to the recession had lower unemployment in 2006. And while almost all of the counties lost jobs during the recession years, the counties with more nonprofits per capita lost fewer jobs between 2006 and 2009. Both patterns remain even when holding education, median income, housing prices, and other economic factors constant, according to the report.  Counties ranking in the top 10% in nonprofit density experienced an increase of only 2 percentage points in their unemployment rate between 2006 and 2009, compared with 5.1 percentage points for the counties in the bottom 10% in nonprofit density.

These results suggest – according to the report - that nonprofits may bring economic benefits by directly employing people and also by changing the economic climate of the whole community. Nonprofits support civic engagement and social cohesion; in turn, when citizens feel committed to their communities and connected to their fellow residents, they are more likely to make decisions that boost local employment.

The study used statistical models to investigate the relationship between civic health and unemployment in the 50 states, 942 metro areas, and more than 3,100 counties since 2006.  NCoC was chartered by Congress in 1953 to harness the patriotic energy and national civic involvement surrounding World War II. In 2009, Congress  expanded the organization's Civic Health Assessment to become the nation’s largest and most definitive measure of civic engagement.

"Connecticut Creates" Invites Conversation in Hartford, Bridgeport, Danbury

The grassroots initiative Connecticut Creates continues to extend the conversation, and is looking for people to give voice to what’s happening in Hartford, Bridgeport and Danbury during informal gatherings on Thursday, August 23. Connecticut Creates is a conversation about people who are actively creating a new future for themselves and those around them. The group behind Connecticut Creates sees a future for the state that is designed by the people, for the people. By finding and supporting Connecticut residents who are actively taking charge of their own destiny, the initiative seeks to generate “more hope and possibility in our state and in each other.”

Up next: Thursday, August 23, from 6 to 8 PM there will be talk about plans for the fall and sharing of stories of people who inspire, like Kristin Brooks of Clinton. Those who attend will help us shape Connecticut Creates. Locations are:

• Downtown Yoga: 57 Pratt Street, Hartford, CT 06103
• Melt: 7 Lafayette Circle, Bridgeport, CT 06604
• Two Step Grille: 5 Ives Street, Danbury, CT 06810

Individuals can RSVP on Eventbrite and share the event with friends on Facebook and beyond.

The first open forums took place on Thur., June 7 at: Javapalooza, Middletown, The Grove in New Haven, Bean & Leaf in New London and Fat Cat Pie Co., in Norwalk. For post-event recaps, read the blog post.

Connecticut Creates is in the process of identifying and profiling people (through video and on our blog) in business, government, education, nonprofit and arts/culture/tourism who are designing a new destiny for themselves and, in the process, having a positive impact on those around them. In the works are David Murphy of One Little Boat and Oil Drum Art, and Bun Lai of Miya's Sushi.

Organizers says there’s much more out there, and they’d like to hear about ‘em.   The goal this week:  widen the circle and broaden the conversation.

Teen-Friendly Farmers Markets Could Address Nutrition Needs and Help Businesses, Teen Research Reveals

When they embarked on the project, the five Hartford teens knew nothing about research methodology and had never been to a Farmers Market.  Just weeks later, their ground-breaking research and recommendations could lead to healthier lives for urban youth and new marketing opportunities for small farming businesses in the region. The project was the first of its kind in New England to involve youth in Participatory Action Research (PAR) for food justice. The innovative initiative, co-sponsored by the Institute for Community Research (ICR) and Hartford Food System, invited the small team of students to spend five intensive weeks taking a data-based look at the links between nutrition and teenagers in the city, and determine how they might make beneficial changes in their community.  The students determined the precise path their research would take, and skilled mentors taught the methodology.

The five students – Chabely Nunez, Rahma Khadeer, Shawn Cannon, Andrew Walker and Benjamin Bowen – decided to evaluate two problems.  They considered that teens in Hartford generally do not have places to “hang out,” and that what is otherwise considered to be a community gathering point – Farmers Markets, which are filled with abundant nutritious food – rarely attract a teen audience. Looking at the two problems together, they reasoned, could identify how to make Farmers Markets teen-friendly, and respond to the nutritional needs of their peers.

In presenting the conclusions of their project to about 40 people at the ICR offices in Hartford, the students said of their topic choice:  “We visited farmers markets and we saw that they weren’t a destination for teens, even though they are community spaces and have healthy food which would be good for teens.”

DEVELOPING DATA

The detailed 29-question survey they developed was given to 72 teens and 21 in-depth interviews were conducted.  The students also visited locations including Billings Forge, Park Street and local community gardens.  The PAR process led the students to: 1) build a foundation of knowledge 2) identifying the specific problem, 3) construct a research model, 4) learn and then use ethnographic research methods, 5) implement the research, and 6) use research findings to advocate for change. The methodology included systematic observation, pile sorting, surveying, in-depth interviewing, videography and photography.

In the survey responses, teens said they wanted comfortable places to sit, free wi-fi, and things to purchase in the places they hang out – and bathrooms, too.  The research indicated that young people consider taste and price to be the most important qualities when they purchase their own food.  Research also identified obstacles – farmers markets are not located in areas where teens already go, such as parks, and they are not open when teens might go, usually after 4:00pm. They interviewed market vendors, who seemed amenable to doing more to attract teens, but clearly hadn’t given it much thought in the past.  They found that teens generally do not go to farmers markets with friends, or even as part of school curriculum.

FOUNDATION FOR ACTION

Interestingly, the students learned that more than half of teens who had been to a market said they had a positive experience, and 57% said they would go to a farmers market with friends.  Over two-thirds of teens who had been to a market were satisfied with the food options available. Teens also like a place to sit, and beverage choices, which are not always available at markets.  The action steps recommended by the teens include:

• Farmers markets should be in locations where teens hang out in order to draw more teens.
• Teach teens how to grow their own vegetables and fruit to sell at farmers markets and learn how to eat healthy.
• Advocate for teen-friendly farmers markets: teen-friendly entertainment, items to purchase that teens like to buy, wi-fi and places to sit in the market.
• Marketing at farmers markets should target teens. Farmers markets should encourage teens to be involved in marketing.
• Schools should increase teen awareness of farmers markets through after-school programs and curriculums.
• Teens should have more cooking and nutrition classes in their schools. There should be more connections between schools and farmers markets.
• In general, there should be more teen friendly spaces created in Hartford for teens to eat healthy prepared foods and hang out with friends.

The student team also noted that “if teens learned more about cooking, they might want to buy more vegetables sold at markets to cook with instead of prepared foods.”

Paige Nuzzolillo, ICR Project Coordinator, said the students “exceeded expectations, and worked unbelievably hard” to learn research methods, develop the research, analyze the data, and develop action steps.  “They grew immensely in the process,” she emphasized, noting that along the way the participating students began eating healthier themselves as they learned more about nutrition issues.

The recommendations will be considered next by students participating throughout the school year in the Food Justice Youth Leadership Group of the Hartford Food System (HFS).  Precisely what they’ll do, and how they’ll do it, is a determination to be made by the participating students, said Kat Vollono, youth coordinator with HFS, clearly energized by the possibilities.

Local community members on-hand to hear the students present their findings spoke favorably about the effort and the recommendations, and some appeared interested in exploring other ways to advance the action strategies.

University of Saint Joseph (USJ) Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Administration Maria Summa was particularly interested in the research methodology, and the capacity of the PAR process to "build capacity for collaborative research partnerships and community-engaged research."  As the concept of shared decision-making between patients and healthcare providers gains acceptance in healthcare delivery, Summa says approaches like PAR may have new applications in that field.  Having researchers work "side-by-side with those who are affected by an issue" is a change from traditional research models, but could be the wave of the future.  She was involved in the summer project through a faculty research grant from USJ.

A $10,000 grant from The Perrin Family Foundation supported the food justice project. Food justice seeks to ensure that the benefits and risks of where, what, and how food is grown, produced, transported, distributed, accessed and eaten are shared fairly across society.

The Institute for Community Research is a not-for-profit organization that conducts community-based research to reduce inequities, promote positive changes in public health and education.  Hartford Food System is a not-for-profit that focuses on fighting hunger and improving nutrition in Hartford’s low income neighborhoods.

GE Foundation, Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation Top Grant List

Statistics from The Foundation Center, which tracks philanthropy across the country, indicate that hundreds of millions of dollars flow annually from the largest foundations based in Connecticut to charities worldwide.  As reported in The Hartford Courant, the top grant maker in Connecticut is the GE Foundation ($103.5 million), followed by the Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation ($81.1 million). Following the leading foundations - bearing the names of two of the world's leading corporations - are a handful of foundations likely less well known:  Steven A. and Alexandra M. Cohen Foundation ($27 million), Hartford Foundation for Public Giving ($25.7 million), and Smith Richardson Foundation ($23.5 million).

At #6 on the list is Newman's Own Foundation ($20 million) followed by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven ($15.5 million).  The Dalio Family Foundation ($12.7 million) and the Aetna Foundation ($12.2 million) complete the top nine foundations by grants paid.  The numbers are from 2009, the most recent data available.

Hartford Foundation Receives Recognition; Efforts in Education, Workforce Intensify

President Obama has pointed out that “there is no greater predictor of individual success than a good education.”  The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is certainly on the same page, moving to implement their most recent strategic plan which has two primary areas of focus – education and workforce development, described as the region’s “two toughest issues.”  The Foundation receives financial support from thousands of individuals and families, and is among the nation's largest public foundations.   In 2011, they awarded grants of more than $28 million to a broad range of area nonprofit organizations. The Hartford Foundation recently was announced as a recipient of the 2012 Wilmer Shields Rich Award for effective communication efforts to increase public awareness of foundations and corporate giving programs.  The award – one of 12 designated out of 140 entries in four categories – will be presented during the Council on Foundations Annual Conference, April 29-May 1, in Los Angeles, CA.

Finances Challenging Connecticut Nonprofits

The Nonprofit Finance Fund’s 2012 State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey reveals Connecticut nonprofits continue to face increased demand for services and decreased funding, with 29% of the 158 respondents closing the 2011 fiscal year with an operating deficit. According to the  Survey, in Connecticut alone:

• 84% of nonprofits anticipate an increased demand for services in 2012, yet only 45% of nonprofits expect to be able to fully meet the demand
• Nearly one-third (29%) of nonprofits surveyed ended the 2011 fiscal year with an operating deficit
• 47% of Connecticut nonprofits that receive federal funding report receiving late payments from the government
• 70% of the nonprofits in Connecticut that receive funding from State or local government report receiving late payments

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/668915#ixzz1sjTsx0cp