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Opening Our Doors to the Community

United Way of Greater New Haven moved to 370 James St. in April. We're thrilled with our new office on many levels: It's a great space, with room for community meetings that cultivate new relationships and collaborations; a work environment that inspires internal brainstorming and innovation; and we're right in the midst of one of the many communities we serve.

Farnam's Nursery School Program

Submitted by Geraldine Artis on

Did you know that Farnam Neighborhood House has a nursery school??  The program is offered for children from ages 3 to 5 throughout the year. In addition to being licensed, this program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  

United Way, Wells Fargo celebrate the opening of the Wells Fargo Community Room

The idea was to create a "public square," a place where people can meet and tackle issues of concern to the community. It should be available for free to non-profit and civic groups, and open to the public. And maybe, just maybe, ideas would be hatched and collaborations launched that would make a difference. Welcome to New Haven’s newest meeting place: The Wells Fargo Community Room. The space officially opened Tuesday at a ribbon cutting at United Way of Greater New Haven's office at 370 James Street.

Women's Initiative collects 3,500 diapers to help low-income families

Cara Rosner's picture Submitted by Cara Rosner on

Members of United Way of Greater New Haven’s Women’s Initiative kicked off their weekend Friday afternoon with a different type of “happy hour,” donating about 3,500 diapers to The Diaper Bank in North Haven.

Childhood wellness is a top priority among Women’s Initiative members, which made partnering with The Diaper Bank a natural fit. Through a distribution network of 66 agencies, The Diaper Bank provides free diapers to poor and low-income families in New Haven, Bridgeport and Middlesex counties.

Stopping Violence, Neighbor By Neighbor

Jack Healy's picture Submitted by Jack Healy on

Last Wednesday evening a small group convened in United Way’s innovation space at our new office at 370 James Street to talk about violence in New Haven neighborhoods. It was one of a series of conversations we’ve had after Esther Massie, Executive Director of LEAP, held a community-wide meeting on youth violence late last year in response to New Haven’s rising homicide rate.  Esther and I wanted to explore possible next steps.  When we convened these conversations, little did I know how powerful and enlightening they would be.

Though we didn’t come to any conclusions on “next steps,” the message from those at the gathering was loud and clear: “We are responsible for our community and we are going to take back our community.”  The question is how do we get there? And for me, what role I can play as president and CEO of United Way to help?

Podcast: Tagan Engel, Chair of the New Haven Food Policy Council, Discusses Food Insecurity in New Haven

New Haven is a food city.  The city's enthusiasm for diverse eating and community gardens is coupled with activism to see that all people have enough quality food to eat. Amy Casavina Hall, senior director of Income and Health Initiatives at United Way, talks with Tagan Engel, Chair of the New Haven Food Policy Council, about food systems in New Haven. Some of what they talk about will be surprising: While there have been significant advances in providing access to healthy, nutritious food in New Haven, Tagan reports that one major challenge is that "we have many generations of people who have lost cooking knowledge" after many generations of families have been eating mac and cheese out of a box. They discuss this challenge and others that low income famillies face in accessing heathly food and describe current initatives designed to help.

Courtyard Marriott Collects 100 Books

Last month, Courtyard Marriott in Orange, Connecticut conducted their 2nd Annual Book Drive to benefit Read to Grow in Branford. Read to Grow is a non-profit organization that promotes early literacy for all Connecticut children. They are the only statewide organization that provides free books for children of all ages and helps parents take an active role in their child's literacy development beginning at birth.

New Health Care Delivery Model for Low-Income Medicare/Medicaid Enrollees Holds Promise, Requires Caution

Sheldon Toubman's picture Submitted by Sheldon Toubman on

As I discussed in my October 31, 2011 entry, Connecticut is moving toward a new model of health care delivery for people on Medicare who also qualify for Medicaid because of their low incomes: the so-called  “dual eligibles.”  That plan is moving forward, but will be more consumer friendly thanks to coordinated advocacy spearheaded by New Haven Legal Assistance Association (NHLAA).

Branford Children Play and Learn at Foote Park

 


“I see a triangle!” shouted one excited preschooler, pointing to the roof of a gazebo in Branford’s Foote Memorial Park Wednesday. “I see a rectangle!” chimed in another, pointing to a sign near the parking lot.


The children were among roughly 30 preschoolers from Indian Neck Family Resource Center and the Branford Early Learning Center who walked along the new “Born Learning Trail,” marking its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday.

"We Will Be Successful. We Will Be the Model"

A representative from the Obama administration came to the Wexler Grant school on May 24 to recognize the success of Boost!, United Way's collaboration with the City of New Haven and New Haven Public Schools, with the support of  the New Haven Education AmeriCorps VISTA Project.

Michael Robbins of the  U.S. Department of Education hailed New Haven as one of six "demonstration" sites  in the country where school-community partnerships are making a difference in student performance.

The event fell under the umbrella of Together for Tomorrow, an initiative created by the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, the U.S. Department of Education and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to spotlight existing and spur new community engagement in turning around persistently low-performing schools.

CEO Healy's advice to young professionals: strive for work-life-community balance

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Echoing a philosophy United Way of Greater New Haven is embracing, CEO Jack Healy urged an audience of area young professionals to go beyond a work-life balance and instead strive to achieve a work-life-community balance.

Nearly $6 million in Tax Refunds Recovered in Greater New Haven

 

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), a free tax preparation program, saved local residents over $517,000 in tax preparation fees. This year, trained volunteers prepared over 3,500 tax returns at 14 locations in New Haven, West Haven, and Woodbridge helping residents claim over $5.8 million in tax refunds. 

Women’s Initiative searches for its next 'BHAG'

 


What if instead of trying to attain the often-touted “work-life balance,” we expanded the notion and tried to achieve work-life-community balance?


That was among the questions about a dozen women tackled at a reception the United Way Women’s Initiative hosted Wednesday evening. In our everyday, busy lives, what can we do to make a lasting and meaningful impact on the community?

Help us continue the conversation about women making a difference

"America," said Dr. Claire Gaudiani, "was founded by your mother."

It wasn't an empty statement. The former president of Connecticut College spoke to a group of United Way Women's Initiative supporters on April 26 and outlined how women's work as "social entrepreneurs" – activists who fed the hungry, housed the homeless and taught reading to illiterate children - made America what it is today.  (View video clip from event)

5 Family-Friendly Ways to Enjoy The Spring in New Haven

 

Take advantage of this surprisingly beautiful weather! There are an abundance of family-friendly ways to take advantage of the city and enjoy time with your family! Here are a few:

1. Visit a Park. Let nature be the classroom. Did you know 17% of New Haven is dedicated to parks? There are plenty of opportunities, even in your neighborhood, to walk to a park. Get outside and enjoy the beauty around you! Talk about what you are seeing outside, and reflect on the natural landscape around you.

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