Arts for Learning Connecticut

Arts for Learning Connecticut (AFLCT) is a nonprofit organization out of Hamden, CT focused on creative learning through art.

Mission

Through its diverse roster of artists, the organization’s mission is to engage participants of all ages and abilities in learning creatively through the arts.

Vision

AFLCT envisions people of all ages and abilities in Connecticut actively participating in the arts. The organization serves as an essential resource for arts engagement in the state. This engagement flows from a roster of professional teaching and performing artists who spread their artistic expertise and inquiry into multiple disciplines to stimulate life-long learning and creativity.

AFLCT’s work transforms the public’s understanding of the value of the arts as an active and natural part of everyone’s life.

How they achieve their mission

AFLCT works tirelessly to match quality artists across every discipline with school, community, and corporate events across Connecticut. For schools this may mean providing arts programming that connects directly with curriculum. For communities, it may mean providing creative arts learning programs for various boys and girls clubs and community centers. For corporations, they create unforgettable art events and conferences.

The organization has enjoyed over 30 years of community engagement providing families and seniors with arts, as well as teacher professional development programs that further connect the arts to classroom learning.

In the news

AFLCT recently hosted its “Spring into the Arts” auction. Tom Lee, Storyteller, received the 2018 Artist of the Year Award and Surcari received the 2018 Performing Artist Award. Additionally, David Maloney, Connecticut Association of Schools, was recognized as the 2018 Arts in Education Advocate.

Featuring numerous silent auction items, the event is the organization’s largest annual fundraising event. It raises funds for its education programming to underserved students in economically disadvantaged cities and towns around Connecticut.

Performances by AFLCT artists are typically offered throughout the evening as guests are expected to engage and contribute to a cause that means so much to them.

Donate

AFLCT welcomes donations in all sizes from anyone interested in promoting arts education in Connecticut. You can donate on their website here.

Even donations as little as $50-$100 provide materials for visual art workshops or educational program guides to teachers.

04/27/201804/27/2018

Amber Grant Foundation

The Amber Grant Foundation began in 1998, launched in conjunction with the entrepreneurial community for women. The foundation was set up with one goal in mind: to honor the memory of a very special young woman who died at just 19 years old.

Amber Grants make it possible for other women to achieve the dreams that Amber never had a chance to pursue.

Starting with a modest, but significant, sum of money, women are able to start new businesses or help existing ones grow. As entrepreneurs know, every dollar is welcomed at the early stage of a business, and the Amber Foundation makes no requirement or expectation of repayment of funds. This leaves women complete opportunity to use the dollars to maximize growth.

Who is the Amber Grant Foundation?

The advisory board for the organization consists of three women.

Christina Lambert has been instrumental in several booming start-ups and continues to advocate for women-owned businesses. Serving on the board since 2008, she is a natural networker for entrepreneurs, volunteering her time to help women business owners connect. Christina believes in “customer service marketing” saying,

“Give your customers personable one-on-one service, and you’ll develop a loyalty that will have them spending more money with you – and telling all their friends about you.”

Marcia Layton Turner is a bestselling author and freelance writer. She founded the Association of Ghostwriters and her work has appeared in Businessweek, Entrepreneur, Women’s Day, and Black Enterprise.

Kelsey Ptucha is an online marketing professional who’s focused on consistently growing her marketing and entrepreneurial skills and interests. Her passion makes her the perfect candidate to help women’s business dreams become realities.

Other resources

In addition to grant funding, the Amber Foundation website features tips and advice on how to find funding in general.

A series of other links and networking opportunities make the site a good place for women entrepreneurs to find the help they need.

How to get an Amber Grant

Each month they award a Qualifying Grant of $1,000 as selected by WomensNet judges.

One of 12 monthly qualification winners will be awarded the $10,000 Amber Grant at the end of 2018.

The April Qualification Grant will be for $1,000.00.

Amber Foundation urges you to tell your story and be considered for the Amber Grant!

More information

To see more information on all the great work the Amber Grant Foundation is doing, check out their website here.

03/05/201803/05/2018

Whitneyville Cultural Commons

Revitalization in Hamden

Laine and Jennifer Harris realized something — there was tremendous potential in two historic church buildings in the urban neighborhood of Whitneyville in Hamden. Then the Whitneyville Cultural Commons was born.

By renovating and revitalizing this area, they envisioned setting up a community center with education programming, a place to host cultural events, and an innovative coworking space for local businesses or nonprofits. Without taking away the valuable church services, they took action and began renovating the buildings.

Whitneyville Cultural Commons Mission

When Laine Harris would look at the historic church buildings at the corner of Whitney and Putnam avenues in the Whitneyville urban neighborhood of Hamden, CT, he saw two possibilities.

The first: A For Sale sign followed by a demolition crew followed by a chain store. Not good, he realized.

The second: A dream. I can save this place, he imagined.

Lucky for all of us, Laine chose the second possibility by putting his retirement money on the line to buy the buildings and commons space they are built on. He and his wife Jen Brosious renovated the beautiful structures with the idea of establishing a co-work space with social and cultural events, allowing the small congregation that built the church in 1834 to continue worshiping there on Sundays.

In business (and in life, for that matter), this is what’s called “being an angel.”

If not for Laine and Jen’s generosity and vision, it’s hard to say what would have happened to this place by now. But what about the future? Even for angels, an enormous project like this is costly and physically draining.

Lucky for Laine and Jen, community members stepped up and formed a non-profit corporation, the Whitneyville Cultural Commons, to help the community center at 1253 Whitney Ave. sustain itself and grow, (as well as ensuring that Laine and Jen can actually retire when they are ready).

As a non-profit, the WCC will thrive with community support to be a gathering place to work, share, create, learn, play, and enrich each other’s lives.

With everyone channeling their inner angels, there will always be a tree-filled common in Whitneyville and the two church buildings will grace us with their iconic and historic presence into the future. It’s a job for all of us now, and no demolition crews need apply.

Coworking Spaces

Coworking is especially attractive for work-at-home professionals, independent contractors, and workers who travel frequently.

A major benefit of coworking is the possibility of knowledge share. Because people from all different organizations and backgrounds congregate at these locations, it is possible to share ideas, discuss concepts, and fine-tune theories without being limited to coworkers of the same business. Sense of community is a large, and essential, part of the coworking process.

WCC offers coworking spaces with different purchasing options — from a single day to a monthly pass.

Rental Spaces

In addition to coworking, WCC offers several beautiful areas for hosting events or parties.

These rentals range from an auditorium, to a sanctuary, to a study lounge, and of course many conference rooms.

Progress Being Made

The Harris Family and the WCC’s Executive Director Robert Sheiman are equally excited to have a resourceful and energy-efficient space for his community.

From the Hartford Courant: “It’s been amazing to see the growth in use of the historic properties over the last three years, for all manner of purposes. We’ve had local, Quinnipiac University graduates use space to start their first web development company Checkmate Digital and create new jobs in Hamden,” said Sheiman. “We’ve gotten to host annual dances and fundraising events from local nonprofits like Fellowship Place, Jack and Jill Foundation, BBYO and New Haven Farms. Not to mention the dozens of local arts groups and new churches bringing dances, concerts, worship and theater to Whitneyville by holding them at the WCC. It’s been heart-warming proof that a community resource center is actually needed and desired. There’s nothing more validating to this project than the consistent use of it by all members of the diverse Greater New Haven community.”

There are ongoing plans for the grounds to become the “commons” for the Whitneyville neighborhood. In addition to the old church house, Harris has his sights set on the original Greek Revival Church, which is still used by a number of local congregations.

As the organization continues to succeed and becoming financially viable it intends to expand its reach and grow its economic development initiatives in Whitneyville.

The Benefits of Downtown Revitalization

While the short-term costs are typically too high for immediate ROI (e.g., shutting down businesses, renovation and construction of buildings, drawing people back in), the long-term returns in human energy far outweigh them.

Organizations like WCC are willing to take on the risk of developing these areas, at no profit, in order to make the place community better for all of its residents.

The major improvement comes with the business growth to the area. Increased contracts (coworking, rentals, other events) lead to more economic activity in surrounding areas which leads to improved employment and job gains in businesses and nonprofits.

In addition, the tax base grows due to increase property values. This further attracts economic activity, residential movement, and overall energy to the area.

Whitneyville Cultural Commons is on a mission to do all of these things.

Donate to Whitneyville Cultural Commons

To donate to this fantastic cause and help revitalize downtown Hamden, click here. Every dollar makes a difference in improving the area and adding value for organizations and individuals to take advantage of for many years to come.

02/01/2018

Partnership for Strong Communities

Connecticut is making progress on reducing chronic homelessness. This headway can be credited to a statewide effort by both social advocates and government officials. Local nonprofit Partnership for Strong Communities is one of these players, making a significant difference across the state.

The Partnership’s HousingInCT2017 assessment points out that Connecticut has achieved a 62% reduction in chronic homelessness since January 2014.

Chronically homeless include those with disabling conditions who have been homeless either long-term or repeatedly.

The state’s median monthly housing cost declined by 2 percent to $1,366 in 2016, but still remained the nation’s sixth highest, making it hard for homeless to get out of the perpetual cycle of despair. Despite this slight improvement, an overall increase in rental demand over the past decade combined with the $25/hour wage required to rent in Connecticut, fighting homelessness is harder than ever.

Leading the charge in Connecticut, the Partnership for Strong Communities is a local leader in policy development, advocacy, and research on homelessness and its causes. It is responsible for conducting many important studies, informing state and local officials, and bringing together scholars, practitioners, business executives, and government officials toward creating change.

The Partnership staffs two statewide campaigns – Reaching Home, the campaign to build the civic and political will to prevent and end homelessness in Connecticut, and HOMEConnecticut, a statewide campaign aimed at creating more affordable housing throughout the state.

Here are some of the organization’s critical mission objectives:

Ending Homelessness
Homelessness comes in many different forms. For some, an episode of homelessness is a once-in-a-lifetime event and can be ended by an increase in their income or access to affordable housing. Others experience episodic homelessness – they may experience homelessness sporadically throughout their lives, but tend not to be living on the streets or in shelters for long periods of time. These individuals and families may have a short stay in a homeless shelter, but are also likely to be “doubled up” – living with families and friends willing to offer a temporary home.

Other homeless individuals experience chronic long-term homelessness, which requires a more holistic response. Often, those experiencing chronic homelessness have physical disabilities or mental illnesses that make it difficult for them to stay employed or housed. Many rely on emergency rooms for healthcare and are repeatedly incarcerated for minor offenses. They may also shuttle in and out of the shelter system, which offers temporary relief but cannot adequately address the root causes of their homelessness.

Affordable Housing
Affordable housing provides a solid foundation for a strong community. Residents who live in a home that is affordable have funds to purchase food, provide healthcare, and satisfy other living needs. Residents of affordable homes also have the economic means to purchase goods and services in their communities. Affordable housing helps to create economic stability.

Strong Communities
The ability to afford a residence – to not have to spend more than 30 percent of one’s income on housing so that enough is left for other necessities – is undeniably important. But an affordable house or apartment must also be linked to good schools, adequate community services, convenient transportation, access to affordable high-quality food and other necessities. The Partnership for Strong Communities has worked hard to focus the attention of policymakers on the creation of not just affordable homes but also vibrant neighborhoods and communities.

Visit the Parternship’s website here and learn more about the great work they continue to do and find out how you can help.

01/16/2018

Middlesex County Coworking Space

In October 2017, the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce announced plans to move ahead on an innovative entrepreneurial concept that would bring a coworking space to downtown Middletown.

What is cowork space?

Cowork is a style of work that involves shared workplace and independent activity. Employees are typically not a part of the same organization, but merely share in the office space and other equipment shared at a location.

Coworking is especially attractive for work-at-home professionals, independent contractors, and workers who travel frequently.

A major benefit of coworking is the possibility of knowledge share. Because people from all different organizations and backgrounds congregate at these locations, it is possible to share ideas, discuss concepts, and fine-tune theories without being limited to coworkers of the same business. Sense of community is a large, and essential, part of the coworking process.

Planning stages

Middletown Entrepreneurs Work Space (or MEWS+) is being led by the chamber’s VP Jeff Pugliese.

“Support from the city of Middletown can be a catalyst for additional funds coming into the community,” Pugliese said. “If we are fortunate enough to secure the city’s support, we will then apply for additional support through a statewide network of entrepreneurs, mentors, service providers and others involved in helping Connecticut’s most promising startups succeed and grow.

“We’re essentially looking to take money pledged by Wesleyan, Middlesex Hospital and Liberty Bank to get the city’s support to really make that initiative sustainable — for a couple years at least,” Pugliese said.

Source: Middletown Press

Partners

Purpose

The MEWS+ is an exciting concept that will serve as a key component to economic development initiatives underway in Middletown. It will also act as a bridge to the manufacturing and engineering industries in Middlesex County.

Working with local property owners, the program aims to find “cool” and accessible locations for business meet-ups. Prioritized locations will have the requisite layout and logistical capacity to be co-working spaces.

Connecting to local manufacturers and engineering firms will be a critical part of this initiative. We hope to work with Pratt & Whitney suppliers and vendors. The Middletown Engine Center is critical to the economic health of Middlesex County, and we hope to strengthen our already strong relationship with Pratt & Whitney through this important initiative.

The MEWS+ will also work to foster local health care innovation by collaborating with Middlesex Hospital, which works in partnership with Mayo Clinic by sharing the latest lifesaving research with Mayo Clinic Specialists, and Community Health Center, which is building a world class primary healthcare system by serving more than 145,000 patients since its inception.

Source: MEWS+ pres release

Will it work?

Coworking is growing in popularity. As of 2016, New York led all cities in the U.S. with 330 coworking centers. Los Angeles had 263, San Francisco 180, and Chicago 123.

Though Connecticut is in the earlier stages of exploring this concept, but hopefully Middletown can provide a replicable and scalable model for other cities in the state.

See the following infographic for more statistics on coworking and the potential it could offer the state.

Source: OfficeVibe

Immediate next steps

Middletown Entrepreneurs Work Space will open thanks to $70,000 in funding provided by the common council, Wesleyan University, Middlesex Hospital and Liberty Bank. The Middlesex Chamber is currently outfitting a portion of its second floor that can provide a work place for 10 to 15 people.

The Chamber will serve as the headquarters for MEWS, which will also offer networking events and other services to provide resources for small businesses outside of the office setting.

It will be interesting to follow the progress of this program and see if it gains scalable traction in a state that certainly needs to reinvest in industry.

More information

See the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce for more info here.

Visit MEWS+ directly here.

01/02/201801/10/2018

CT Addiction Services

Amid the increasingly prevalent opioid crisis happening across the country, one of the biggest challenges for users is finding treatment. A new, stand-alone website launched by Connecticut’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) can help change the way addicts can get the services they need.

The site, CTAddictionServices.com, allows people to see what beds are available at DMHAS-funded facilities. That includes detox programs, residential treatment and recovery houses.

Across Connecticut there are approximately 1,000 state-funded beds that exist for these purposes. With this new website, providers are encouraged to update as close to real-time as possible the status of their facilities.

Users of the system have the ability to choose which type of program they seek and can see which facilities have capacity so they can make arrangements to check in.

By clicking on one of the providers’ names, users can find more details about the facility including what programs are offered, how many total beds there are, and what types of insurance are accepted.

The website is funded through a federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant which runs from September 1, 2016 to August 31, 2019 and provides the state $1 million annually to “expand medication assisted treatment as well as strengthen outpatient resources and improve statewide infrastructure.”

An article posted in the New London Patch last September forecasted over 1,000 fatal overdoses across Connecticut for the year 2017—an 18% increase over 2016.

This map attempts to illustrate the density of the problem, with darker colors indicating higher concentration of overdose deaths. (For an interactive version of this map see the original article here.)

Seeing how this is a growing problem in Connecticut, this website is a great step toward eliminating at least some of the roadblocks for people stuck in the downward spiral of drug abuse.

With any momentum the site could expand to include non-DMHAS-funded programs and create a sort of hub for all types of services people seek but have trouble finding.

11/27/201701/10/2018

Woofgang & Company

Fairfield-area nonprofit Woofgang & Co. opened its doors this October with the goal of providing jobs to adults with disabilities. The organization will sell dog treats and other novelty items while providing vocational training and employment opportunities for young adults with disabilities in the Fairfield area.

The Mission

Woofgang and Co. is a nonprofit organization driven by a single purpose: to help young people with disabilities succeed. Our friends and family members with special needs have inspired us and made us especially aware of the employment challenges they face upon leaving the school system and entering adulthood.

Who’s involved?

The organization was founded by Fairfield-area parents and others concerned about adults with disabilities.

It is partnering with The Bigelow Center for Senior Activities which will provide production space for early operations.

What’s unique about Woofgang?

The interesting thing about the organization is that it is set up as a self-sustaining business, creating and selling products to fund its operation. Unlike most social service agencies that depend on government funding, Woofgang & Co. intends to operate independently of government financing.

This is especially important as government funding for such services continues to get slashed amid ongoing budget struggles.

Take action!

Check out Woofgang’s website and purchase products here.

Donate to the cause here.

See a recent article in the Fairfield Patch about Woofgang’s launch in October.

10/30/201701/10/2018

2017 Annual Nonprofit Conference

The Connecticut Nonprofit Alliance (The Alliance) is hosting its annual nonprofit conference on November 30, 2017.

Where and when
The event will take place at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., and interested parties can sign up here.

Theme
The theme for this year’s event is From Collaboration to Collective Impact, although the Alliance has speakers lined up to discuss a myriad of different topics from inclusive leadership to the power of influence.

Details
Two keynote speakers are scheduled:

– Tim Delaney – President & CEO, National Council of Nonprofits

– Jacob Harold – President & CEO, GuideStar USA

The conference will include a series of concurrent sessions that attendees can pick and choose from, with sessions for networking mixed in between.

See the full agenda here.

More information
Sign up for this excellent event as it offers the chance to meet some like-minded individuals in your community and learn a thing or two that might help your organization move forward.

For more information, contact Katie Breslin (kbreslin@ctnonprofitalliance.org) of the Alliance.

09/10/201702/17/2020

Fed 40: A Mobile App Feeding the Hungry

Feeding Children Everywhere (FCE), a nonprofit organization based in Florida was started after the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, with the goal of providing meals to hungry people. Since its inception, hundreds of thousands of volunteers have helped provide healthy meals to people in 49 countries around the world.

The organization’s latest project, Fed 40, was launched in November 2016 in the form of a mobile app. At its core, the app allows users living in designated low-income areas to request 40 healthy meals delivered to their doorstep in one day at no charge.

After starting in Florida, Fed 40 has since expanded to Texas, Oklahoma, and Connecticut, and plans to scale nationwide by 2018. Started with a $2,600 donation from the community of Ellington Congregational Church, the program was opened to CT residents.

How it works
Previous projects saw FCE working its extensive volunteer base by hosting events that gather individuals who collectively mix, measure and package four basic ingredients of a red lentil jambalaya meal. Meant to be cost-effective, healthy, and easy-to-travel, these meals are an efficient way to deliver a large quantity of meals with a limited amount of resources. The Fed 40 app will allow residents who are hungry in the United States simply click a button and have 40 meals delivered to their residence within a day.

Organization milestones reached

FCE’s mission
“We are committed to providing healthy meals to those in need. Our delicious Red Lentil Jambalaya is all-natural, non-GMO, gluten-free and vegan. We source our plant-based ingredients from farms right here in the United States.

We are committed to sustainability. Creating a hunger-free world will be possible if we have an awareness of our impact on the world around us. We have implemented sustainability goals to reduce our carbon footprint and to eliminate the utilization of harmful plastics. This commitment also includes helping to create self-sufficient and sustainable communities through our program areas.

We are committed to making your contribution truly matter! Financial efficiency and meaningful impact are the pillars of our commitment. We believe that financial transparency combined with a high-energy, tangible impact volunteer experience is the key to a contribution that makes a meaningful difference.”

Additional info
Click here to donate to Feeding Children Everywhere.

See this article from the New Haven Register (Kathleen Schassler, May 9th) for more information about this program.

08/23/201701/10/2018

Sky Footwear: Sparking Encouragement and Hope for the Homeless

Keaton Hendricks, a 23-year old business student, took a class assignment of coming up with a Shark Tank inspired pitch and created a business that not only makes money, but helps those in need. Sky Footwear is a for-profit company that sells socks in a buy-one-donate-one process, with every donated pair of socks going directly to local homeless shelters.

Hendricks paired the growing trend in sock fashion—you see everyone from professional athletes to powerful business men sporting different colored socks these days—with the constant need for socks among homeless shelters—a need he learned first-hand while volunteering at a low-barrier homeless shelter in Indiana. Hendricks says of the matter:

“I realized that many of these people who had nothing were thankful for anything. I was repeatedly amazed at the thankfulness that the individuals at the shelters showed for the simple things that I take for granted everyday.”

With socks being the number one item requested of most homeless shelters, it seemed like an easy alignment of social and financial motivations.

How it works
Customers search the user-friendly website for either individual or packs of socks. They come in all different styles and colors, and the customer has the opportunity to mix and match as needed. Sky Footwear is committed to donating one pair of socks to various homeless shelters for each pair purchased by a customer.

Socks and packages are priced from $10 to $125; customers have the ability to subscribe to a monthly sock box.

Impact to date
The concept for Sky Footwear was created in 2015, and since then the company has donated to 12 shelters.

Current initiative
In the month of August 2017, Sky Footwear is committed to donating to Hartford Rescue Mission. Hendricks estimates the final donation to be over 400 pairs of socks, and he urges you to sign into the site and buy a pair today to help join this cause.

Sky Footwear’s vision
“It is our vision that those who wish to make a difference can use Sky Footwear to both make that difference and look pretty stylish in the process as well. You never know what a small act of kindness can communicate. You never know what could spark a change in someone’s life. Who knows, a pair of socks might be just what they need.”

Additional info
Click here to visit Sky Footwear.

Click here to visit Hartford Rescue Mission.

Note: The quote and vision statement written above come from Sky Footwear’s website.