Collective Spotlight Videos
The Collective Spotlight for June 2024 is on the Hartford’s Regional Network
Interview with Brianna Beckstrand, Director of Enfield KITE, Kimberly Bobin, Wethersfield Family and Early Childhood Coordinator, Caitlin McNamara, Early Childhood Specialist for Manchester Early Childhood Council, and Amy Yarbrough, Director of West Hartford’s Great by 8, who are all part of a Hartford Regional Network that they are part of along with the towns of Bloomfield, and Hartford. Learn how this regional network strengthens each local collaborative, and how it has lasted for so many years!
The Collective Spotlight for March 2024 is on the Malissa Griffith, Parent Leadership Academy, Enfield
The first Collective Spotlight of 2024 highlights Malissa Griffith and the work she has been doing for 19 years in Enfield through her Parent Leadership Academy (PLA). PLA is a 12- week program. Each week a different topic is presented and built upon, as each week prepares participants for a culminating community project. Malissa has been working on a Train-the-Trainer series because other communities have reached out for her to provide PLA to their parents and caregivers.
The Collective Spotlight for October 2023 is on the Connecticut Partnership for Children
This month, we revisit one of our advocacy videos. Our local early childhood collaborative partners are always focused on providing their families with food, clothing, formula, diapers, and housing resources to ensure that they have necessary items so they can thrive. Learn how our local early childhood collaborative partner, Executive Director Jill Mahoney of the Connecticut Partnership for Children of Naugatuck, provided basic human needs– and hope to a family in need who was new to the community. Never underestimate the power of a good deed!
The Collective Spotlight for August 2023 is on the Northeast Regional Childhood Council
Our August Collective Spotlight focuses on the Northeast Regional Childhood Council. Barbara Vita, spoke with Kristine Cicchetti, Regional Director, and Christine Rosati-Randall, Director of Community Outreach about their social-emotional learning (SEL) workshop and their SEL kits for families to use at home. Click on the interview to learn more!
The Collective Spotlight for July 2023 is on the Wethersfield Early Childhood Collaborative
In July we will be focusing on the Wethersfield Early Childhood Collaborative and talking with the Family & Early Childhood Coordinator for the Town of Wethersfield and Wethersfield Public Schools, Kimberly Bobin. We will focus on their Kindergarten Transition Program and how, over the years, it has been designed by parents and inclusive of many town, state, and national partners.
The Collective Spotlight for June 2023 is on the West Haven Early Childhood
June’s Collective Spotlight shines a light on the West Haven Early Childhood Council. We spoke to Patrice Farquharson, Executive Director of the West Haven Child Development Center (Fiduciary for the WHWCC), and Tammy Theis-Satterlee, Family Engagement Coordinator, who worked together with the City of West Haven along with ArtsWestCT to bring about the 2nd Annual Make Music Day on June 21, 2023. Our interview focuses on this international event that celebrates music, diversity, family, and community!
The Collective Spotlight for May 2023 is on the AHM (Andover, Hebron, Marlborough) Youth and Family Services
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and so this month we wanted to illuminate AHM Youth and Family Services, which covers the towns of Andover, Hebron, Marlborough, with some services reaching Columbia. AHM was recently nominated by the Red Sox Foundation as a finalist for the 2023 Impact Awards, for demonstrating a deep impact in raising awareness and improving mental health outcomes in their community.
We spoke with Tressa Giordano, Executive Director, as well as Megan Aldridge, Clinical Director, about their experiences helping those in need during COVID, and in the aftermath.
The Collective Spotlight for April 2023 is on the Waterbury Bridge to Success
Watch CT Children’s Collective Coordinator, Barbara Vita talk with Althea Marshall Brooks, Executive Director of Waterbury Bridge to Success, Chelsey Harris, Director of Early Care & Education, and Johnta Gatling Marshall, Lead Parent Ambassador, about their powerful Black Maternal Health Initiative.
The Collective Spotlight for March 2023 is on the Manchester Early Childhood Collaborative
Featured in this interview are Donna Farr, the School Readiness Liaison for the Manchester Early Childhood Collaborative, and Caitlin McNamara the Early Childhood Specialist for the Manchester Youth Service Bureau, and well as a member of the Office of Early Childhood’s newly formed Parent Cabinet, and Barbara Vita, Coordinator of the Connecticut Children’s Collective and Director of the Connecticut Network for Children and Youth. Join the conversation about the development and parent involvement in the creation of their Parent Cafes.
The Collective Spotlight for February 2023 is on the YWCA of New Britain
Watch YWCA’s Executive Director, Tracey Madden-Hennessey and Program Coordinator, Nicole Villanueva speak about the Childcare Incubator being piloted in New Britain right now! The Childcare Incubator addresses the lack of affordable, quality childcare, as well as providing the opportunity to empower female entrepreneurs. It is currently the only model in the country that supports and instructs individuals in the operation of their own family childcare business. The project was awarded the prestigious Saul Zaentz Prize by Harvard University for innovation in the early childhood field! Congratulations to the YWCA of New Britain!