What’s New? Updates from Your United Way...
STEM ECOSYSTEM STEAMS AHEAD
The Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem (GBSLE) is busy providing students various pathways to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Their next exciting offering: a workshop in music production, engineering, and coding, in partnership with Meta (formerly known as Facebook) and University of Bridgeport’s Department of Music, called Meta Code Remix on November 17.
Engaging youth in STEM through music!
Designed to engage youth in STEM through music, the workshop includes an introduction to engineering and block-based coding. Students will create their own “beats,” or pieces of music that use mostly digital tools, instead of relying on vocalists and instrumentalists. Beats are the steady pulse of a composition and are used most frequently in rap and hip-hop music.
At the end of the workshop, students will showcase their own beats in a contest to win a Meta virtual reality headset.
The STEM Ecosystem’s progress on other fronts includes:
Producing informational videos to help students and parents complete applications for college financial aid (FAFSA).
Exploring a pilot of academic Esports clubs at a local high school. (There are currently five Esports teams led by ecosystem partners.)
Introducing students to TALLO--a tool that connects students to jobs, internships and scholarships--at a recent college fair.
We’re inspired by the progress of the STEM Ecosystem and its growing impact on area youth!
BON VOYAGE, ALLISON LOGAN
After six years of serving Bridgeport Prospers, Executive Director Allison Logan will be moving on to support her passion: expanding Prenatal-to-Three initiatives on state and national levels. She will be staying aboard to ease the transition to new leadership.
Thank you, Allison, for your leadership.
We thank Allison for her leadership in improving outcomes for children, most notably:
Launching a “Baby Bundle” of supports for families with young children to promote on-track development. This work has been recognized as “a model for the state of Connecticut” and as a “replicable model” for the nation.
Advancing the Greater Bridgeport STEM Ecosystem, a collaboration of 30 local partners providing multiple STEM learning opportunities to area students.
Expanding the Resilience Initiative to raise awareness of the lifelong impact of trauma and offer tools to build community resilience. This initiative has engaged thousands of partners and community members to date. It has expanded statewide to become the CT State Taskforce on ACEs and Resilience (CSTAR).
We bid her a bittersweet--but fond—farewell in the coming months as she transitions onward. But thanks to her leadership and the stellar Bridgeport Prospers team, the work goes on. Bon Voyage, Allison!
SALUTE TO GENEROUS COMPANIES MAKING A DIFFERENCE!
Sincere gratitude to four hand-raising, game-changing business partners who recently launched workplace giving campaigns to support their communities in need:
These companies inspired their employees to support initiatives to improve the health, school success, and financial stability of their neighbors.
Through their generous partnership with United Way, together we can build a community where everyone can thrive.
RESILIENCE INITIATIVE RAISES TRAUMA AWARENESS STATEWIDE
The Resilience Initiative team recently partnered with the CT State Employees Association (CSEA) in an event to raise awareness of the impact of trauma and discuss practical means of addressing it. The event was held in collaboration with the CT State Taskforce on ACEs and Resilience, and included a screening of the documentary “Resilience,” and a panel discussion that reached over 300 participants, mostly educators.
The most important public health finding of a generation.
The “Resilience” documentary explores the most important public health finding of a generation, namely, that Adverse Childhood Experiences—extremely stressful experiences in childhood (e.g., abuse, neglect, household dysfunction)--can alter brain development and have lifelong effects on health and behavior. ACEs are now understood to be a leading cause of everything from heart disease and cancer to depression and substance abuse.
However, the documentary also chronicles the birth of a new movement among pediatricians, therapists, educators and communities, who are using cutting-edge brain science to help the next generation break the cycles of violence, addiction and disease. The film details several remarkable success stories of communities that have launched initiatives to address these seemingly-intractable issues.
Following the screening, a panel of experts discussed the film’s findings and applications. The panel included Dr. Ignacio Cerdena, Yale School of Medicine (Psychiatry Dept.), Janee Woods, Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, and Monica Jackson of the emme coalition at Optimus Health Care. The panel agreed on the need to:
destigmatize mental health services;
share mental health resources and coping tools more broadly;
become aware of our own individual trauma and likely triggers
As a next step, CSEA will work with the Office of Early Childhood to increase awareness among parents and additional educators. The goal is to prevent or address trauma, and to build resilience for the future.
“If I had to boil it down [to] one thing for people to learn from this science: it’s to totally put to bed forever this sense that children who are born under disadvantaged circumstances are doomed to poor life outcomes. The science is saying that’s just not true.”
—Dr. Jack Shonkoff, Pediatrician, Director, Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, “Resilience” documentary
Learn more about our Resilience Initiative’s vision to increase awareness of ACEs, create more positive childhood experiences, and chart a path to a just society.
We’re Growing to Meet Our Mission!
United Way’s mission is to empower people to improve their lives by tackling the most pressing issues in our communities. To deliver on our mission and its growing needs, we’ve expanded our staff to include three amazing new members, who hail from towns across our service area. Warm welcome to:
Warm welcome to Talyn, Jayson-Ann, and Elaine!
Talyn Cook, (Bridgeport), Office Administrator. With 10 years of non-profit experience, Talyn brings experience in business management and healthcare to the oversight of our office operations. At the same time, she serves as a key team member of Resource Development, Impact Philanthropy, and the Community Messenger program. In her spare time, Talyn loves spending time with her vibrant toddler Zuri, and attending events to engage with community.
Jayson-Ann Johnson, (Wilton), Early Childhood Coordinator for Bridgeport Prospers. Jayson–Ann will implement pre-natal-to-three initiatives like the Basics and Sparkler app in both community and pediatric settings. She has a master’s degree in public health, and vital experience as a teacher of young children and as a WIC Nutritionist/Breast Feeding Coordinator. In her spare time, she runs an online boutique offering clothing, jewelry, and accessories.
Elaine Osowski, (Norwalk), Database Manager. Elaine oversees our database system for managing relations with donors, volunteers and partners, working closely with Finance and Resource Development. She has over 23 years of experience in non-profit fundraising, donor engagement, and volunteer cultivation. Elaine is a movie buff and a board member of Squeaky Wheel Productions, a community media non-profit.
Please join us in welcoming these dynamic staff members to the team!