On this week's program, Ann Baldwin and guest host, Beth Connor, Chief Administrative Officer at The Connection, welcome Paul Kidwell, Senior Vice President of the Connecticut Hospital Association. With the emergence of COVID-19, hospitals are doing everything in their power to combat the virus and slow the spread. Paul tells us how his organization has partnered with hospitals in the state in order to make the environment safer for patients and healthcare workers. With hospitals losing nearly $...
Apr 19, 2020•24 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with Ray DeMatteis, or as Lisa affectionately refers to him as, “Uncle Ray”. As a long-time New York City resident and actor, both on and off Broadway, Ray shares with us the true reality of how the Corona Virus is impacting himself, as well as his fellow actors. Speaking with us from his home on the Upper West side, he offers his unique perspective on the reality of what New Yorkers are dealing with. Told from a sense of ...
Apr 12, 2020•25 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with Jennifer Kolakowski, CEO of Recovery Network of Programs (RNP). RNP is an organization dedicated to helping those living with substance use and mental health disorders and homelessness. Tune in this Sunday as Jennifer shares information on RNP’s innovative programs and the impact they have on individuals, families and the Greater Bridgeport Community.
Apr 06, 2020•25 min
On this week's program, Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore welcome Bill Carbone, Senior Lecturer at the University of New Haven and Executive Director of the TOW Youth Justice Institute, to the show. We discuss how young people in the Juvenile Justice population are being impacted by this COVID-19 pandemic and why he feels early release for some of these offenders is the right thing to do to ease crowding and to maintain their safety.
Apr 05, 2020•24 min
As we all try to navigate through these difficult times, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore welcome Peter Callahan, the Leadership & Engagement Director at Copper Beach Institute. Peter shares with us how to heal suffering though mindfulness. He talks about why it is okay to acknowledge uncertainty and that in every problem there is an opportunity. Peter also provides some helpful coping tips and strategies.
Mar 29, 2020•25 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with The Connection’s Training and Staff Development Specialist, Nikita Joslyn and CIT Officer Jeffrey Fish of Hartford PD. Nikita and Officer Fish talk about public safety and why mental health training matters for first responders. Tune in this Sunday to learn more about symptoms of mental illness, awareness of the problem and ways you can support well-being in your community.
Mar 15, 2020•25 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with Kevin O’Flaherty, Tobacco-Free Kid’s Regional Director. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a leading advocacy organization working to reduce tobacco use and its deadly consequences. Tune in this Sunday as Kevin speaks about the youth E-cigarette epidemic in CT and ways his campaign is pushing lawmakers to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes and E-cigs
Mar 09, 2020•25 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with Erica Mello, Klingberg’s Children’s Advocacy Center Director and Kathy Carbine, Klingberg’s Outpatient Clinic Supervisor. Klingberg’s Children’s Advocacy Center, or the KCAC, specializes in a new initiative program, interviewing children of abuse or trauma in a sensitive manner. Erica and Kathy share information about counseling and support services to children and families across the state of Connecticut.
Mar 01, 2020•23 min
On this week’s program, host Ann Baldwin and Chief Administrative Officer of The Connection, Beth Connor, talk with New Britain Mayor, Erin Stewart. During her three terms as Mayor, she has made it a priority for New Britain to be knows as a “recovery friendly community.” Stewart speaks about the results of her H.O.P.E. campaign, since its launch in March of 2019, as well as what the town of New Britain is doing to deal with the on-going opioid crisis.
Feb 16, 2020•25 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with John Lawlor, Director of Homeless Youth/Young Adult Programs at The Connection. John provides information about the youth homeless problem in Connecticut and explains who is affected and why. Help us raise awareness within your community about this very real issue.
Feb 09, 2020•25 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with Laura Ward, of Laura Ward Coaching; a life and recovery program focused on leveraging strengths and maximizing potential. Laura speaks about why she became a coach and her own struggles battling addiction. Learn more about ways you can seek help or become a support coach within your community.
Feb 02, 2020•25 min
Ann Baldwin and The Connection’s Beth Connor speak with Andrea Barton-Reeves, the President/CEO of Harc, a Connecticut nonprofit organization focused on providing special needs support for those with intellectual disabilities. Harc has recently launched Sockstarz, a retail sock business to raise funds for their life-changing programs. With a store in West Hartford, CT and an online presence, learn how these socks are making a huge difference in people’s lives.
Jan 19, 2020•25 min
Jan 12, 2020•25 min
Join hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMattis-Lepore for a “raw” discussion about the holidays, hopes for the new year, and just surviving it all! Most of us enjoy fun times, creating new memories with family at the holidays. However, this can be a trying time for many, especially those battling drug addiction, incarceration, homelessness, or estrangement from families. The Connection’s services are here to help people in any kind of situation and give them hope and direction, offering them the tools...
Dec 29, 2019•25 min
Are the holidays stressing you out? If so, you are not alone. On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with Chelsea Humphrey, The Connection’s Director of Behavioral Health, about ways for us to deal with holiday stress. Taking care of ourselves emotionally, mentally and physically is critical to our well-being. Tune in Sunday to learn some valuable coping strategies to make life a little easier!
Dec 08, 2019•24 min
On this week’s program, host Ann Baldwin speaks with Amanda Furlong, the Communications Director for the Middlesex United Way. The Middlesex United Way supports 38-local organizations in the areas of education, health, housing and financial stability. Find out how you can support United Way by volunteering or by supporting their annual Stuff-a-Cruiser event by providing unwrapped gifts for young people in grades 6-12 this holiday season. Learn more about this great organization and about the pos...
Nov 24, 2019•24 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Beth Connor speak with Cassie Volcy, Administrative Director for Hang Time, an organization dedicated to helping men and women transition back into society after incarceration. Hang Time connects people to resources and information regarding employment, housing, social services, mental health and more. Through Hang Time’s networking two-hour sessions, people can connect to these resources in real time, making the transition back into the real world j...
Nov 17, 2019•25 min
On this week’s program, host Ann Baldwin and Guest Co-host Beth Connor speak with Professional Certified Coaches, Alicia Davis and Stacie Watson of Transformative Leadership Strategies. We discuss the many ways that having a “coach” can be beneficial both personally and professionally. From improving company culture, to helping individuals reach their full potential, they explain how their innovative and experiential coaching, teambuilding and training works
Nov 10, 2019•25 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Beth Connor speak with Yolanda Ortiz and Erica Mastroianni, both Regional Coordinators with VOCA. The Victims of Crime Act, passed in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan, created the Victims of Crime Act Fund, or VOCA Fund, to be a protected and dedicated source of funding for crime victim programs. Nearly 4 million victims a year are served by more than 4,000 local and state victim service agencies funded by VOCA. Here in Connecticut, VOCA serves as ...
Nov 03, 2019•25 min
Hosts Ann Baldwin and Beth Connor wrap up Domestic Violence Month with Liza Andrews from the CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Liza talks about the frequently ignored signs of domestic violence against men & women in the home, as well as in the workplace. CCADV is the state’s leading voice for domestic violence survivors and the agencies that serve them. Tune in and find out how you can take an active role in helping victims and survivors, as well as how to learn more about “Safe Conne...
Oct 27, 2019•25 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with Joy, a mother who recently lost her 20-year old son, AJ, to addiction. AJ died from a drug overdose in their home. Joy talks about how AJ’s addiction progressed and the warning signs that she saw and tried to deal with along the way. Joy has turned her tragedy into advocacy, becoming a spokesperson for opioid awareness and sharing her son’s memory as part of Today I Matter, a traveling poster project that displays the...
Oct 20, 2019•24 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with Jamal Jimerson. Jamal is a managing partner with Thought Partner Solutions and also the founder of the Minority Inclusion Project, a non-profit racial leadership organization, which is addressing the issue of limited diversity on boards. His project is confronting the problem of racism and other barriers to inclusion in the corporate and non-profit worlds. Jamal will also be giving a workshop called “Race, Racism, Res...
Oct 06, 2019•25 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with Vamsi Kaneru. Vamsi is a Clinical Psychologist and a Certified Mindfulness Teacher with the Engaged Mindfulness Institute. In this episode, we learn what mindfulness is and how it relates to our mental health, physical health and to our relationships with other people. Learning to be mindful can help us with anxiety, sadness and everyday stress. Vamsi will also be a featured speaker at the 2019 Connection Conference o...
Sep 29, 2019•25 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with Daryl McGraw. Daryl is a recovering addict who spent years in incarceration. He talks about his journey from inmate to becoming the Program Director for the Yale University Department of Psychiatry, where he was contracted to serve as the Director of the Office of Recovery and Community Affairs for Addiction Services. Daryl is an inspirational re-entry advocate and is a beacon for those who are either just getting out...
Sep 22, 2019•25 min
Sep 15, 2019•25 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with Alison Friar, Director of Clinical Development for The Connection. With the emergence of fentanyl, overdose deaths are greater than ever, having quadrupled since 1999. Alison discusses how The Connection is here to help, not just with opiate addiction, but with a range of addictions. The Connection provides many levels of treatment, including intense outpatient therapy, individual services and medication management. I...
Sep 08, 2019•25 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with Daryl McGraw. Daryl is a recovering addict who spent years in incarceration. He talks about his journey from inmate to becoming the Program Director for the Yale University Department of Psychiatry, where he was contracted to serve as the Director of the Office of Recovery and Community Affairs for Addiction Services. He also talks about his upcoming event, “Fresh Out”, a workshop geared to educate service providers a...
Sep 01, 2019•25 min
Hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMattis-Lepore hold a captivating conversation with former television news anchor and recovering addict, Brandon Lee. In this emotional segment of The Connection, Brandon shares his horror stories of drug addiction and how a twelve-step meeting changed his life forever. Today Brandon, nine years sober, is a motivational speaker and soon to be author. This is a show you don’t want to miss!
Aug 25, 2019•25 min
On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Lisa DeMatteis-Lepore speak with Jane Upton, Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor at Willard Cybulski prison in Enfield. Jane shares her experiences working at the prison and talks about the importance of treatment and the value of supporting those family members who have been incarcerated. While jail isn’t a fun experience, it’s a place that many alcoholics and drug addicts find themselves in, due to drunk driving or a number of drug-related crimes....
Aug 18, 2019•24 min
There is hope after incarceration. On this week’s program, hosts Ann Baldwin and Chief Strategy Officer for The Connection, Beth Connor speak with Barry Diamond, Executive Director of Reentry Survivors LLC and Blaine Mc Kay, former Client of The Connection now working for P.R.I.D.E. Blaine, shares his story of how he went from being behind bars to becoming a contributing member of society. Reentry Survivors is home of the P.R.I.D.E Program, teaching inmates and former inmates skills to succeed i...
Aug 11, 2019•25 min
