Charter announced a donation of $7,500 to New Covenant Center to support its food distribution program in partnership with Catholic Charities of Fairfield County through the company’s national community philanthropic program, Spectrum Employee Community Grants.

The Women Rising Gala and Awards Celebration is WBDC’s annual event to honor Connecticut’s women entrepreneurs and business leaders as part of its mission to promote economic equity for women and strengthen communities through entrepreneurial and financial education services. 

Six of Connecticut’s women business owners will be honored by the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) on October 27 as part of the 2023 Women Rising Annual Gala and Awards Celebration. The event, being held at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, will feature keynote speaker Katrina Adams, and Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz will serve as the event’s honorary chair.

The Women Rising Award is presented annually to WBDC clients who show a strong commitment to WBDC and demonstrate success in their business and tenacity in pursuing their goals.

The 2023 Women Rising Award recipients are:

• Liz Ceppos (Photo)
  Owner, Cross Culture Kombucha (Danbury)

• Melissa-Sue John (Photo)
  Owner, Lauren Simone Publishing (East Hartford)

• Emmanuella Lauture (Photo)
  Owner, Ma Maison Childcare, LLC (Stamford)

• Neisa Medina-Nunez (Photo)
  Owner, The Learning Barn Childcare Center & Preschool (Naugatuck)

• Shellena Pitterson (Photo)
  Owner, Orchid Maids (Norwich)

• Kristin Vece (Photo)
  Owner, Elevate Healing Arts (Cromwell)

Read more about the 2023 Women Rising Award recipients here

“We are so proud of these amazing women entrepreneurs. It truly is exciting to witness their journeys as they grow and develop their businesses,” said WBDC Founder and CEO Fran Pastore. “These women have taken full advantage of the resources WBDC offers and have developed the tools to lead successful business enterprises in their communities. These women can be an inspiration to other small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs and are absolutely deserving of this recognition.”

In addition to the Women Rising Award, the 2023 Women Rising Annual Gala and Awards Celebration will honor a pair of business leaders with the WBDC Impact Award — which recognizes individuals who have personally exemplified WBDC’s mission and goals by promoting economic equality and prosperity for women. WBDC will also present a WBDC volunteer with the Patricia Billie Miller Award for Outstanding Community Service.

The Gala Title Sponsor is PMI. Other sponsors for the event include: Impact level – Hartford HealthCare, Mastercard, Travelers; Investor level – GenRe; Shipman; Webster Bank; Capital level – Alex Brown, a Division Raymond James; drbank; Gibson Dunn; Hearst Connecticut Media Group; Henkel; JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Linde; M&T Bank; Moffly Media; Point 72; Tidal River; Union Savings Bank; Wiggin and Dana; Wondr Nation; Empower level – Alvarez & Marsal; Bourgeon Capital Management; Gilda Bonanno LLC; Hexcel; Libertas; PWC; Stamford Health.

For tickets to the 2022 WBDC Women Rising Gala and Awards Celebration, to become a sponsor, or to make a donation, visit ctwbdc.org/gala.

MAYOR’S UPDATES

Failure to fund the federal government will have serious consequences for American families and those who rely on essential federal programs. I shared my thoughts here.

Weekly Local Business Spotlight: Lock City Music

Each week I will highlight one of our incredible small businesses that received one of the 176 Stamford COVID-19 relief grants.

Lock City Music Group offers career and mentorship coaching for aspiring music industry artist and professionals from founder and Stamford native, Christine Elise. One-one-one voice, songwriting, production, and artist development packages are available with Elise who has worked with Sony Music Entertainment and Columbia Records. Please use the contact page of the website to inquire for more.

Community Non-Profit Spotlight: Strawberry Hill Neighborhood Association

Each week I will highlight an invaluable local initiative that received one of the 21 Mayor’s Micro-Grants.  

• Mission: The mission of the Strawberry Hill Neighborhood Association is to bring together the neighbors and residents in the Strawberry Hill area of Stamford
• Project Funding Purpose: Funding was awarded to support planting trees along Strawberry Hill.
• Pickleball America: One of the key economic development priorities of my administration is business attraction, and we were thrilled to welcome Pickleball America to Stamford last week. Pickleball America will be the largest pickleball venue in the country and will add vibrancy to our downtown while serving as a destination for the region.
• Senior Housing Facilities Listening Tour: This month I began my listening tour of senior housing facilities in partnership with the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Aging. Last week I visited Maple View Towers, and it was great to hear from residents about the issues that matter and impact them the most.
• Stamford Joins City Park Alliance: I was thrilled to join the City Parks Alliance! My administration is committed to equitably investing in our City's parks and ensuring every resident has a quality park within a 10-minute walk from where they live.

CITY NEWS

• Diaper Drive: Join me, in partnership with Mothers for Others for our citywide Diaper Drive. For more information view image #2.
• The EyeRecycle Pop Up Event: The EyeRecycle Event will take place at Mill River Park on Friday, October 13th and 27th from 3 pm- 6 pm redeeming 5¢ deposit plastic bottles, cans, and glass bottles for cash.
• Family Day Fair: Join the City of Stamford Health Department for Family Day, tomorrow, Saturday, September 30th, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at the Yerwood Center. There will be games, raffles, giveaways, and more.

Trumbull professional’s career soars after graduating from NeighborWorks America’s real estate program. 

 Today Kathleen Williams, a member of CT Housing Partners Real Estate Development Team in Trumbull, announced her graduation from NeighborWorks America’s Advancing Leaders in Real Estate Program. Kathleen Williams is one of 18 emerging leaders to graduate with this inaugural class of real estate staff. 

The Advancing Leaders in Real Estate (ALRE) program created with support from JPMorgan Chase is a nine-month program that combines formal training events at NeighborWorks America’s Training Institutes throughout the US, executive one-on-one mentoring, and monthly cohort meetings. The pilot cohort was funded by JP Morgan Chase and included 18 participants from nine states and Washington D.C.

Kathleen said that “the training experience was by far the most well organized, professional coming together of intelligent and experienced real estate executives, managers and consultants in the affordable housing and community development arena.  It was an honor to be selected and to be part of it.”

Every part of the ALRE pilot is managed with tremendous care, from the onboarding, matching of mentors and mentees, meetings with industry experts, and clear communication with supervisors, who were thrilled with the progress made by their staff members. The goodwill engendered will continue as participants commit to staying in touch with each other as they move forward in their careers.

 “Though I have been in commercial real estate development for more than 25 years, the NeighborWorks America/JP Morgan ALRE event provided me with in-depth knowledge of how the affordable housing real estate development sector works.  The combined experiences will fortify my future in affordable housing development which is so desperately needed throughout the US,” said Williams.

Learn more information about the Advancing Leaders in Real Estate Program or call Lindsay Moore at 202-760-4097.  

ABOUT CONNECTICUT HOUSING PARTNERS: Connecticut Housing Partners is a chartered member of NeighborWorks America’s selective national network of organizations, committed to driving and sustaining positive change. Our mission for nearly 35 years has been to strengthen communities by providing housing and services to enhance the quality of life for low- and moderate-income families in Connecticut. We do this by developing, building, preserving, and maintaining high-quality affordable housing. We use a partnership-based and community-led approach to maximize our reach and impact. CHP is committed to creating long lasting systematic change for individuals and families in need and providing sustainable solutions to solve the housing crisis and put an end to homelessness. https://cthousingpartners.org/

1-Mile Walk and 5K Run Supports Abilis and Families with Disabilities

Mark your calendar! The 18th annual Walk/Run for Abilis will take place on Sunday, October 15, at Greenwich Point Park in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. Participants can walk 1-mile or run a 5k. Participants are encouraged to register in advance at abilis.us/walkrun. Registration is free for walkers, $40 for adult 5k runners 18+, $20 for runners ages 11-17, and free for runners under 11 years old.

“We are so excited for the long-anticipated annual Walk/Run for Abilis event for all our families and friends,” said Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis. “Each year we look forward to celebrating our community members and welcoming new friends of Abilis at the event. There is something for all ages and abilities. Whether you run, roll, walk, skip, or jog, we are so appreciative to have so much support on this special day.

Activities at this year’s Walk/Run for Abilis include celebrity fitness guru and choreographer Billy Blanks Jr., who will once again be the master of ceremonies and warm up the crowd with fun dance and exercise moves and stretching. The Dance Pointe troupe will be there to show off some of their dance moves; Carnival for a Cause, face painting and a balloon artist will entertain the kids. 

Walk/Run for Abilis provides a fun opportunity for family, friends and Abilis community members to join together for a morning of physical fitness and to enjoy the beauty of Greenwich Point Park. Walk/Run for Abilis is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser and its signature “friend-raising” event of the year. Many who take part in Walk/Run for Abilis do so because they are inspired by a friend or family member with a developmental disability.

“Last year, we raised more than $225,000, which surpassed our goal,” noted Amy Montimurro. “This year we hope to exceed that goal again. The funds raised at Walk/Run for Abilis will be restricted to new initiatives at Abilis to support the 800+ individuals with disabilities and their families, throughout lower Fairfield County.”

Prizes are awarded for best outfits and teams are encouraged to create team t-shirts, buttons, hats or create their own banner to increase visibility, show team spirit and potentially win an Abilis creativity award! The morning event opens up at 7:30 a.m., with the 5k run and kids’ activities at 9:00 a.m, followed by the 5k run awards, a Walk warm-up session and other activities, with the Walk starting at 11:00 a.m. The whole event is over by 12:00 p.m.

Abilis thanks its generous sponsors including its Platinum Premiere sponsors Holland & Knight and DARCARS Lexus of Greenwich | Infiniti of Greenwich; as well as its Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors William Blair, The Custar Family, J.Dwyer Builders, The First Bank of Greenwich and Moffly Media. Those interested in becoming a sponsor for Walk/Run for Abilis should contact Rebecca Muskus at muskus@abilis.us or 203-531-1880.

Abilis is a 501c3 non-profit organization that supports more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families from birth throughout their lives. Founded in 1951, Abilis is a leader in providing meaningful supports to the community in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in towns including Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Westport and Wilton. The organization has a long-standing reputation for individualized, high-quality care. For more information, visit www.abilis.us, or follow on Facebook @Abilis, Inc., Instagram @abilis_us or Twitter @Abilis.

Connecting Nature and People at the Ferguson Library

Online and In person: 3rd Floor - Ferguson Library One Public Library Plaza Stamford, CT 06904

Show dates: October 3-January 18
Reception: Tuesday, October 3rd 6-7:30

Our Juror: Emily Derr is the founder of Grassroots Impact, helping artists and galleries form strategic community partnerships. She received her degree in fashion design from Syracuse University, an MBA from DeVry University, and studied gemology at the Gemological Institute of America.

by The Stamford Art Association & Ferguson Library

The Faber Birren Color Award Exhibit pulls in artists internationally and is held for 6+ weeks annually. 40 artists are selected by the juror to be displayed at the Townhouse Gallery and online. Our juror, Joseph Henry (Art History Ph.D. Candidate at the CUNY Graduate Center,
Florence B. Selden Fellow at the Yale University Art Gallery), will reward cash prizes at the special opening reception.

Show dates: October 26-December 15, 2023
Opening Reception: Thursday, Oct 26 5:30-7:30
Closing Reception: Friday, December 15 5:30-7:30

GALLERY HOURS FRIDAY-SUNDAY 12-3PM

We’ve all heard of first aid training – and some of us are even certified. But did you know that you can participate in Youth Mental Health First Aid training to gain the skills to identify – and ultimately help – a young person in need?

Mental Health First Aid is designed to empower adults to be able to start conversations about mental health and substance use issues. The training provides an action plan that teaches people how to identify and address potential problems. Experts believe that, if more people are equipped with the tools they need to start a dialogue, more young people can and will get the help they need.

The Stamford Youth Mental Health Alliance will host several sessions of Youth Mental Health First Aid this fall. The free training, with sessions in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole, is primarily designed for any adult who regularly interacts with young people.

There is one upcoming session in Spanish:

Wednesday, October 11, 9 am – 4 pm, at Family Centers, 60 Palmer Hill Road in Stamford. Lunch is included but space is limited, so please email cahumada@familycenters.org to reserve a seat.

There are three upcoming sessions in English:

Thursday/Friday, September 28 & 29 (4 pm – 8 pm both days), at Park 215, 215 Stillwater Avenue, Stamford. Dinner is included but space is limited, so please email youthmentalhealthct@gmail.com to reserve a seat.

Monday, October 9, (9 am – 5 pm), Park 215, 215 Stillwater Avenue, Stamford. Lunch is included but space is limited, so please email youthmentalhealthct@gmail.com to reserve a seat.

Wednesday/Thursday, November 8 & 9 (4 pm – 8 pm both days), at Park 215, 215 Stillwater Avenue, Stamford. Dinner is included but space is limited, so please email youthmentalhealthct@gmail.com to reserve a seat.

There is one upcoming session in Haitian Creole:

Saturday, October 21, 9 am – 4 pm, at DOMUS Kids, 83 Lockwood Avenue, Stamford. Lunch is included but space is limited, so please email rnoel@domuskids.org to reserve a seat.

The training is sponsored by the Stamford Youth Mental Health Alliance, a city-wide network of 30+ organizations working together to improve access to mental health services for children and adolescents. The goal of their collective effort is to build a greater understanding of the importance of youth mental wellness, ensure care is accessible and inclusive, and facilitate a comprehensive system of intervention and support for families across our community. For more information, visit www.stamfordyouthmentalhealthalliance.org. 

Dancing Stars of Greenwich, one of the most anticipated events of the year, is sold-out, but there is still time to VOTE for your favorite dancer(s)!! The fifth annual Dancing Stars of Greenwich charity dance-off, hosted by The Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Greenwich, benefits Abilis, the nonprofit that supports more than 800 individuals with disabilities in Fairfield County and their families.Voting for the stars by way of donating is a way to cheer and applaud for the dancers, and also support Abilis. Funds raised at the event go toward supporting the acquisition and renovation of new program space for Abilis. The dancer(s) that raise the most money for Abilis will be awarded the “People’s Choice” award! To vote, visit greenwichdancingstars.com.

This year’s star-studded dance-off features celebrity judges including Brendan Fraser, a celebrated and award-winning actor fresh off winning an Academy Award for Best Actor for his film The Whale; Meg Tolin Piper, a Broadway actress and dancer; Eric “Champagne” Shoji, a DJ and song producer and international DJ/emcee; and Ali Wentworth, actress, comedian, producer, host of her podcast Go Ask Ali and New York Times bestselling author, who will be the event’s MC - or Mistress of Ceremonies. 

“We are so excited for this year’s Dancing Stars of Greenwich event,” said Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis. “Dancing Stars is truly one of our favorite events each year and are so appreciative to The Fred Astaire Studio of Greenwich who continue to support Abilis in this very special way. We are thrilled to have our wonderful celebrity judges and master of ceremonies back year-after-year — and the incredible dancing stars who give so much of their time to come out and support Abilis with their wonderful performances. Funds raised at the event go toward supporting the acquisition and renovation of new program space for Abilis, which is greatly needed as we continue to grow above and beyond what the state provides for services, care and needs of children and adults with disabilities. The dancer's and the audience’s support enable us to deliver on our mission to provide high-quality programs and supports to our more than 800 Abilis program participants and residents throughout Fairfield County.”

Dancing Stars of Greenwich mirrors the hit TV show and features a Dancing with the Stars dance competition where community and business leaders are paired with Fred Astaire Dance professionals to perform their own personalized routines with their own dance style of their choice. The celebrity panel of judges determines the winner of the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy. A People’s Choice Award is given to the dancer who raises the most in donations for Abilis. 

Dancers at the event include: Afton Fraser of Greenwich; Amy Farber of Greenwich; Daniella Mini of Greenwich; Elaine Madonna of Greenwich; Dr. Jennifer Werely of Greenwich; Kristy Hickman of Norwalk; Lauren Eisler and Benjamin (Benji) Rabinowitz of New York, New York; Paul Scicchitano of Greenwich; Shari Aser of Greenwich; Terry Lamantia Cataldo of Greenwich; Makeda Mays-Green and Kenny Green of Stamford; and Trevor Crow of Greenwich. 

Each dancer is paired with a professional partner from The Fred Astaire Studio. Those dancers are: Elmar Schmidt and Clemens Lengenfelder, co-owners of The Fred Astaire Studio of Greenwich, Matthew Ames, Carol Koutouvides and Christian Perry.

“Dancing is what we do and hosting Dancing Stars of Greenwich is just one of our favorite events ever,” noted Elmar Schmidt. “Local stars and leaders in the community have been training for months to compete just like on television. A panel of celebrity judges along with the audience selects the winner who will win the coveted Mirrorball trophy. It is so exciting!”

Brendan and Afton Fraser have been long-time supporters of Abilis and Dancing Stars of Greenwich throughout the years and are this year’s co-hosts. They are also parents to a son with disabilities and know personally how crucial programs and supports like Abilis offers are to families with children and adults with disabilities. 

“We are proud to support Dancing Stars of Greenwich and Abilis to help raise funds for Abilis’ programs and services,” said Afton Fraser. “We know how much it means to a family to have an organization like Abilis that can help provide training, education, social and employment opportunities for individuals and their families.It can mean the difference between living an isolated life and one full of friends and with meaning. They are really a great organization, and we are happy to help in any way."

To VOTE for a dancing star, please visit greenwichdancingstars.com.

Abilis is a 501c3 non-profit organization that supports more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families from birth throughout their lives. Founded in 1951, Abilis is a leader in providing meaningful supports to the community in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in towns including Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Westport and Wilton. The organization has a long-standing reputation for individualized, high-quality care. For more information, visit www.abilis.us, or follow on Facebook @Abilis, Inc., Instagram @abilis_us or Twitter @Abilis.

Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Greenwich provides ballroom and Latin dance lessons to all ages and attracts participants from the Greenwich, Stamford and New Canaan, Connecticut,  areas, and Armonk, Harrison, White Plains, Port Chester, Rye, Mamaroneck and Scarsdale, New York, areas. There is no partner or experience necessary to enjoy ballroom dance lessons. Fred Astaire Dance Studio has made it its personal mission to touch as many lives with a passion for ballroom dancing. The Fred Astaire Dance Studio is one of the happiest, friendliest spots in town due to the welcoming and encouraging staff and atmosphere. Fred Astaire’s mission is to enrich the lives of everyone and anyone with dance. The organization genuinely strives to make dance a daily practice in the dance studio. Fred Astaire doesn’t just teach someone how to dance, they invite them to become their personal best - in their dancing and in all areas of their life. Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Greenwich is co-owned by Elmar Schmidt and Clemens Lengenfelder, along with their wives Isabell Schmidt and Jessica Lengenfelder. To learn more, visit fredastaire.com/greenwich.

Why Small Businesses Matter

Shop small, do big things for your community

Why Small Businesses Matter puts a spotlight on the local merchants who donate their time, talent, goods, and services for the betterment of our community. The shop local movement spreads virally as local businesses who are “tagged” have the opportunity to share their story!

You're IT Starling Skincare!

Four questions with Nathalie Yavonditte and Lisa Larson Murphy, co-founders of Starling Skincare.

Why did you start your business?

We started our business because there were no other natural skincare brands that took into account the needs of people like myself and Nathalie (founders) – with allergies or sensitivities to ingredients commonly used in skincare products. We were both suffering from rosacea and also both had skin that hurt all the time. We were both at our wit's end trying to find skincare that didn’t make our skin problems worse.

The baseline when you have allergies or sensitive skin is your skin hurts and has redness and breakouts. You’re prone to acne, rosacea, eczema, dermatitis, and many other debilitating skin conditions – and often you just don’t feel your best. It’s a real confidence killer.

Our mission was to create the SAFEST and KINDEST skincare line available for these people who need it and give them everything they need to glow again. To help them heal their impaired skin barriers and minimize the recurrence of skin eruptions, inflammation, and discomfort. We offer a simplified arsenal of products that are easy to use in minimal steps – no 8-step routines here. All of our products are gluten-free, peanut/tree nut-free, soy-free, and dairy-free along with all other top 8 food allergens. We also eliminate an exhaustive list of known irritants and toxins.

The thank you notes we get from our customers say it all. Our products are giving our customers confidence, relief (some of them never thought they could have “normal” skin), and ultimately happiness. We are so humbled to be making a difference in our customers’ lives.

What is your best-selling product/service?

Our facial cleansers (Nurture + Calm cleansers) are the best in class, along with our oil-based serum which we call Revive.
Every product we make (by hand) is 100% natural and made with mostly organic ingredients that improve your skin’s health and reduce inflammation.

How many local businesses do you use to support your business (products and services) and can you name them?

As founders, we are really into supporting local businesses where we can for Starling Skincare. A few that we LOVE are Gilberties in Westport (for natural ingredients that we extract), Butter and Sugar in Stamford (gluten-free staff treats), From Nature With Love in Oxford (ingredients) … they have the absolute nicest staff!!!

Have you "reimagined" your small business?

Funny you should ask! We are actually in the process of doing this right now. With privacy regulations and the astronomical cost of traditional advertising, it’s really difficult for small businesses like ours to grow (we are DTC and e-commerce based). We are bootstrapped, too (no outside funding). That said, customer acquisition is more challenging than when we started (4+ years ago). As a result, we are now creating more external partnerships with natural practitioners and working with them on helping their customers heal holistically. It is thrilling to see that skin is now being looked at as an outward view of internal health and being addressed from a health perspective. This is an alliance we want to fully support in any way we can because the founders both have fully lived through the entangled mystery of trying to figure out why our bodies and skin were not performing the way they should.

We are also in the process of launching a skin consultation arm of our business that will be complete by the end of this week! Starling offers free 1 hour consultations in which we take a comprehensive look at a customer’s skin condition/needs, allergies/sensitivities, current routine/products (with a complete review of ingredients and any potential irritants or allergens) and also discuss lifestyle and how that may impact your skin. After analysis, we give product/routine recommendations and a pipeline to one of our experts any time you need it! The response to our pilot program has been overwhelmingly positive and we are confident that it is making a marked difference for the customers we have helped so far.

Visit Starling Skincare online here, and make sure to check out their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages as well!

HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!

We’ve all heard of first aid training – and some of us are even certified. But did you know that you can participate in Youth Mental Health First Aid training to gain the skills to identify – and ultimately help – a young person in need?

Mental Health First Aid is designed to empower adults to be able to start conversations about mental health and substance use issues. The training provides an action plan that teaches people how to identify and address potential problems. Experts believe that, if more people are equipped with the tools they need to start a dialogue, more young people can and will get the help they need.

The Stamford Youth Mental Health Alliance will host several sessions of Youth Mental Health First Aid this fall. The free training, with sessions in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole, is primarily designed for any adult who regularly interacts with young people.

There is one upcoming session in Spanish:

Wednesday, October 11, 9 am – 4 pm, at Family Centers, 60 Palmer Hill Road in Stamford. Lunch is included but space is limited, so please email cahumada@familycenters.org to reserve a seat.

There are three upcoming sessions in English:

Thursday/Friday, September 28 & 29 (4 pm – 8 pm both days), at Park 215, 215 Stillwater Avenue, Stamford. Dinner is included but space is limited, so please email youthmentalhealthct@gmail.com to reserve a seat.

Monday, October 9, (9 am – 5 pm), Park 215, 215 Stillwater Avenue, Stamford. Lunch is included but space is limited, so please email youthmentalhealthct@gmail.com to reserve a seat.

Wednesday/Thursday, November 8 & 9 (4 pm – 8 pm both days), at Park 215, 215 Stillwater Avenue, Stamford. Dinner is included but space is limited, so please email youthmentalhealthct@gmail.com to reserve a seat.

There is one upcoming session in Haitian Creole:

Saturday, October 21, 9 am – 4 pm, at DOMUS Kids, 83 Lockwood Avenue, Stamford. Lunch is included but space is limited, so please email rnoel@domuskids.org to reserve a seat.

The training is sponsored by the Stamford Youth Mental Health Alliance, a city-wide network of 30+ organizations working together to improve access to mental health services for children and adolescents. The goal of their collective effort is to build a greater understanding of the importance of youth mental wellness, ensure care is accessible and inclusive, and facilitate a comprehensive system of intervention and support for families across our community. For more information, visit www.stamfordyouthmentalhealthalliance.org.