Tuesday, April 18 at 6 PM in the Meeting Room at the C.H. Booth Library.

Take advantage of this opportunity to learn and practice basic evaluation skills including target setting, evaluation logic and using effective data collection strategies. The session will also include tips and advice covering data analysis and reporting from an instructor who provided training and coaching for non-profit and philanthropic staff seeking to build evaluation capacity and enhance evaluative thinking in their organizations. Please register for this in-person event.

Over 140 students from surrounding High Schools submitted works for display in the Lynn Tendler Bignell Gallery in our Mill Building. The show is now also available to view online, but please do not miss it in person. The works are so exceptional our judges had a hard time determining the award recipients in each of 12 categories and the Best in Show. Yet we gave out 37 awards, 3 in each category and the Best in Show.

Congratulations to Newtown High School students who earned award in the Artists on the Rise art show:

Maren Leyva

Eva Barricelli (shown in the photo)

Malcolm Zimmerman

Melissa Tagliarini

Amelia Rivera

Best in Show went to Melanie Boria from Nonnewaug For her drawing “Sweet Tooth”.

Congratulations to all who participated, and to the other award recipients. View image #2 to see a list of awardees for click here.

The show closes this Sunday, March 26th.

*Image shows Eva Barricelli from Newtown High School, in front of her work, "Vacant Symphony", 2nd place in Drawing Single Media Portraits.

On Sunday, March 26th, the Danbury Hat Tricks welcome all fans to stay after the 3PM game against the Delaware Thunder to take to the ice and skate with your favorite players!

The Hat Tricks welcome all fans of all ages! Any fan 17 years or under is invited to use this link to register for a complimentary ticket to the game. 

The Danbury Ice Arena provides the option for skate rental at the arena for those who do not have their own. 

Any additional questions can be sent to Chris Lynch- clynch@danburyhattricks.com

The Hat Tricks look forward to welcoming all their fans to skate with the Hat Tricks!

C.H. Booth Library presents Core Competencies: a virtual program with A. Nicole Campbell on Wednesday, April 5 at 6 PM via Zoom.

This session will cover the legal, tax, and regulatory rules governing nonprofits and how being compliant with these rules strengthens programming and operations.

Please register in advance to receive the Zoom link here

Medicare & Beyond on Wednesday, April 5 at 6 pm in the Gathering Room of the C.H. Booth Library.

The father / daughter team of Lou and Jessica Pelletier will sort through:

Parts (A - Hospital;
B - Physician and Outpatient Coverage;
D - Drug Coverage) and
review the pros and cons of Medicare Supplement Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans.
Learn about:

IRMAA (Income Related Monthly Adjusted Amount)
Medicare Savings Programs,
a Medical Power of Attorney and
how to protect your assets from nursing homes without having Long-Term Care Insurance.
Join us if you are a senior, a child of a senior, or just want to know more. Please register in advance for this in-person event.

Tuesday, April 4 at 6 PM in the Meeting Room of the C.H. Booth Library (hybrid)

Join this program to learn about Grassi's survey results. These findings provide an insightful perspective into current conditions and outlooks, straight from the people who are leading the charge across a broad range of nonprofit sectors and organizations.

Please register for the event in advance. Visit this page for information about the other Nonprofit Education Series events.

About the speaker:
Bryan Fryer is a Consulting Principal in Grassi’s Nonprofit Practice. In this role, he is committed to advising nonprofit organizations, associations, and foundations on improving financial health, mitigating risk, and achieving long-term sustainability.

The Center for Empowerment & Education’s (CEE) 15^th annual Hearts of Hope Breakfast was held on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield. The Candlewood Inn generously donates the venue, food, and waitstaff service for this event in support of CEE’s critical programs and services that are needed now more than ever.                      

This year’s “Service Above Self” honorees were mother and daughter, Jacqueline and Eva Aveiga, with the awards presented by State Senator Julie Kushner. Jacqueline and Eva are dedicated supporters of CEE and are avid advocates of empowering all individuals.

“Thank you so much to CEE for selecting us this year as the Service Above Self Award honorees. This organization holds a dear place in our hearts as it coincides perfectly with our mission to empower and uplift all individuals at Miss & Teen Danbury CT. CEE is such an amazing organization and to see the room full of inspiring individuals and businesses supporting their work to provide services at no cost to sexual assault and domestic violence victims was powerful,” said Eva Aveiga, 2023 Service Above Self Award recipient.

The theme of this year’s event was “How Our Stories Impact Theirs.” Brave and resilient staff members of CEE shared their lived experiences on paper and were so beautifully and respectfully brought to life by several of CEE’s Board members. The stories displayed survival, thriving, and hope and it’s clear that the CEE staff has had an amazing impact on the community.

“People with lived experience should not be considered as the walking wounded. Instead, they should be looked at as experts because of their experience and as a result, their expertise can affect lasting change. Because of the path that a victim has walked, new policies and laws are born. It takes these experiences for decision-makers to put a face to a story and understand the significance of their role in developing, passing, and implementing trauma-informed processes, policies, and laws. We need to embed lived experience and the voices of survivors into every aspect of interpersonal violence programs and advocacy,” said Ashley Dunn, CEE President and CEO.

If you’d like to get more involved with CEE and help us continue the work of changing stories from survivor to thriver, contact us at thecenter@thecenterct.org.

Western Connecticut State University will sponsor a special event with renowned potter Matin Malikzada, a refugee from Istalif, Afghanistan, who has had his work shown around the world, on Saturday, April 1, from 9:30 a.m. until noon at the university’s pottery studio in White Hall, Room 017, on the Midtown campus, 181 White St., Danbury. Registration is required to attend this event at wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com.

Malikzada, a seventh-generation Afghan master potter, fled the Taliban to resettle in New Milford with help from New Milford Refugee Resettlement. His work is internationally recognized for its technical skill and elegant designs, and has been displayed all around the world, including in the Japan International Museum, Tokyo, Japan; the Islamic National Museum, Doha, Qatar; Leighton House and Buckingham Palace, London, United Kingdom; the Smithsonian Institute’s Sackler Gallery in Washington, D.C.; and at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

In Kabul, Malikzada served as head of the Ceramics Department at the Turquoise Mountain Institute, where he studied in his youth. After graduating, he was hired as a Master of Ceramics and eventually led the department. Additionally, Malikzada earned a bachelor’s degree in Law from Tabesh University in Kabul, has earned certificates in Design and Crafts from the City and Guilds Institute of London, was a visiting artist at the Institute of Ceramic Studies at Shigaraki, Japan, and authored books on Istalifi pottery. Malikzada revitalized the nearly lost art of Istalifi pottery and has trained more than 100 artisans in these ancient techniques.

Malikzada will provide a presentation on his experiences and a demonstration of his craft. The event is sponsored by the WCSU Department of Art, the Office of Diversity and Equity and the Muslim Student Association, and WCSU Adjunct Professor of Ceramics Jurg Lanzrein will serve as co-host. Space is limited; registration for this event is required at wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com.

For more information, contact Ken Scaglia at scagliak@wcsu.edu or WCSU Public Relations at pr@wcsu.edu.

The Golf Performance Center (The GPC) – a junior golf academy and industry thought leader in player development innovations, physical performance and golf skill instruction in Ridgefield, CT– has partnered with Golf Quest Range in Brookfield, CT to offer golf and physical coaching programs and instruction.

The Golf Performance Center will partner with Golf Quest Range in Brookfield, CT to provide all golf and physical instruction. Golf Quest customers will be able to participate in a wide range of instruction programs for golfers of all ages and skill levels as well as junior camps offered throughout the year. Instruction provided by PGA and GPC-certified instructors will allow area participants to receive premier-level instruction in a fun environment and for all age and skill levels. Whether picking up a club for the first time or ready to take their skills to the next level.

Golf Quest, located in Brookfield, CT, features 69 technology-enabled hitting bays, delicious food and drinks, and programs for all golfers. Golf Quest was purchased by Blue Jeans Golf  in November of 2021 and has been transformed into the premier public golf range in Connecticut. The range features Toptracer technology to bring virtual games, courses, and competitions to every bay.  Whether people are coming for their daily range session, birthday party, corporate event, or one of its golf leagues, Golf Quest has golf and fun for everyone.

“We are thrilled to bring over 25 years of golf coaching experience to the newly renovated Golf Quest and provide greater access to the game to the Ridgefield/Danbury/Brookfield area. This partnership allows us to further our mission of helping grow the game of golf and help people achieve their goals on and off the golf course in a fun and relaxed group environment.” – Roger Knick, Founder and CEO of The Golf Performance Center.

“We are excited to work with Golf Performance Center to bring golf instruction to Golf Quest. As the greater Brookfield area has embraced the New Golf Quest, we were seeking a first-class, local partner to help shepherd people along their golf journey, regardless of skill-level, background, or experience. This partnership is an exciting step forward to grow public golf in Connecticut, and we have a lot of fun, creative programs we can’t wait to bring to life.” – Michael Canfield Blue Jean Golf Co-Founder.

Group coaching programs delivered by GPC-certified coaches will begin April 1, 2023 offering drop-in programs for both adults and juniors as well as season passes.

A Spring Break Golf Camp for juniors will be held April 10th through the 13th for ages 7 to 16. Additional summer camps will also be offered.

For more information or to register for all programs visit Golf Quest’s program page here.

For more than 20 years, The GPC has successfully guided nearly 100 competitors as they prepare for golf at the highest levels. Alumni include multiple NCAA All-Americans, current and former student-athletes at 80 different colleges and universities and professionals who have won on the Korn Ferry Tour, Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada and European Tour.

Located in Ridgefield, Conn., The GPC integrates state-of-the-art training facilities and expert coaching to help athletes reach their goals. Beginning with the one-of-a-kind “5 Elements of Success” evaluation, the academy delivers customized instruction designed to provide aspiring golfers with tools for long-term success.

Local experts present "Balancing Our Hopes and Concerns", a Community Panel on Substance Use and Addiction at Newtown Congregational Church from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 14.

The panel will be moderated by Allison Fulton, Executive Director, Western CT Coalition.

Learn more about the event here.

Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker today announced that the Connecticut State Department of Education is releasing $11.5 million from its share of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to continue its highly successful Summer Enrichment Program in summer 2023 and summer 2024.

The governor proposed the creation of the program in 2021 in an effort to connect students whose education may have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to high-quality enrichment opportunities when they are out of school during the summer months, including at summer camps, childcare centers, and other similar programs, with a priority for those in communities that were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. The state continued the program in 2022. With the release of this additional funding for 2023 and 2024, Connecticut will have dedicated $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding over four years for students’ summer enrichment programming. Since its creation, the program has provided funding to more than 400 organizations in Connecticut that offer summer learning opportunities.

Governor Lamont said, “Investing in our children’s future is a priority for Connecticut. With this investment, we can extend this successful program for another two years and ensure that more of Connecticut’s children have access to summer enrichment and learning opportunities, regardless of their family’s income level. This program is helping provide a safe and enriching summer experience for our kids and will benefit our communities for years to come.”

Applications from organizations that want to participate in the program in 2023 and 2024 are now being accepted by the State Department of Education. To apply, visit portal.ct.gov/SDE/COVID19/AccelerateCT/Summer-Enrichment. Applications must be submitted no later than April 3, 2023.

Similar to the prior two years, the program will award funding to the most competitive summer programs. For 2023 and 2024, applicants can apply for either two expansion grants (up to $50,000 each, for a maximum of $100,000) or two innovation grants (up to $150,000 each, for a maximum of $300,000) per program site. Camps must use the funds to expand the number of students served, subsidize enrollment costs by providing scholarships, or provide transportation for program participants.

The Connecticut State Department of Education will host a virtual information session for interested grant applicants on March 16, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. Registration is required. A video recording of the session will be published on the Summer Enrichment website shortly after its conclusion.

An independent evaluation of the 2021 program concluded that the initiative successfully connected more than 108,000 Connecticut students with summertime enrichment opportunities. A similar evaluation of the 2022 program is expected to be released soon.

Connecticut families seeking to enroll their children in summer programs this year will soon be able to browse available opportunities online by visiting summerct.org. A listing of opportunities for 2023 will be published on that website in the coming weeks as the summer season approaches.