2023 IN REVIEW
C-U Onstage! • October 2023
Message from Pam Lewis, Executive Director
Pam Lewis with Connect-Us young leaders at The Klein • October 2023
Anyone who knows me knows I talk about Dr. King a lot — especially this time of year. The final few months of the year at Connect-Us are all about working with the young people in our programs to develop our annual MLK Day Show, which will take place on January 15, 2024, at The Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport.
This is an excerpt from one of my favorite speeches delivered by Dr. King:
“We all want to live a well-adjusted life… But I must honestly say there are some things in our nation and the world to which I am proud to be maladjusted… I never intend to adjust myself to segregation and discrimination… I never intend to adjust myself to economic conditions that will take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few… We need maladjusted men and women where these problems are concerned.”
Dr. King’s words make me think about the volunteers, business leaders, donors, and community partners who work with Connect-Us every day. I think about the young people in our programs who are at the beginning of their lives, trying to understand the history of our country and figure out their place in the world. I think about how nothing is guaranteed, and how the last several years have shown us that the whole world can change overnight.
I grew up in the ’60s and ’70s, and like Dr. King, I had a lot of hopes and dreams for our country. Call me naive, but I haven’t given up on those dreams. Fairfield County is one of the most economically unequal places in the country, but we’re going to keep creating opportunities for people in our county to come together. Whether it’s people who are of different races, different ages, from different socioeconomic backgrounds — the only way forward is by joining together.
The Connect-Us community is a community of dreamers. We are proud to be maladjusted.
Thank you for another great year. I look forward to deepening our existing partnerships in the new year, and forging new ones, as we continue to build bridges across Fairfield County together.
With gratitude,
Pam
–––
Pam Lewis
Executive Director
203-864-9129
plewis@connectusct.org
2023 At a Glance
C-U Onstage! (CUO)
We had over 600 audience members who participated in our C-U Onstage! community events this year, which included our annual MLK Day show and CUO Talent Show at The Klein Memorial Auditorium.
150 young people participated in the CUO program. They attended auditions, rehearsals, and performance workshops, performing both onstage and offstage to help produce the events.
Connect-Us Academy (CUA)
30 students participated in the 16-week Connect-Us Academy program this year, and we partnered with almost 50 business leaders from throughout Fairfield County who worked with the young people.
We placed an additional 20 alumni in in-person internships at businesses across Fairfield County this summer.
The CUA survey results illuminated the impact of the program on the participants: 100% feel more prepared to find and maintain a job; 100% feel more hopeful about their future and more confident in their ability to succeed in life; 100% feel better prepared for adulthood; and 100% feel they greatly improved their public speaking skills.
Connect-Us Youth Leadership Team (YLT)
The YLT met 36 times this year and produced two major community events, hosting hundreds of people from the Bridgeport community. In addition, the Summer Fellows had more than 300 conversations with young people, adults, business owners, and community members throughout Bridgeport.
30 young people are active members of the YLT and they are currently working on the 2024 MLK Day show, with a cast of over 100 performers. We hope to C-U at The Klein on January 15, 2024!
BRIDGEPORT HAS A DREAM:
BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Cast of “Bridgeport Has a Dream” at The Klein • January 2023
We kicked off the year strong with our annual MLK Day Show, Bridgeport Has a Dream: Building Bridges Across Fairfield County, at The Klein Memorial Auditorium. Our 2023 show was attended by nearly 600 people who came together to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King.
Bridgeport Has a Dream featured a multiracial, intergenerational cast from across Fairfield County. Dozens of young people stepped onstage at The Klein and shared their dreams for our country – through poetry, music, dance, rap, and song. In addition to youth performances from Connect-Us, we hosted performances by the Greater CT Youth Orchestras, INTEMPO, The Klein Dance Company, and Neighborhood Studios.
The Connect-Us Youth Leadership Team led the way by reading letters they wrote to Dr. King about their dreams for the country and the world. Here are some excerpts from their letters:
“Our world isn’t perfect but many people and communities continue to fight against injustices… I wonder what you would fight for today, Dr. King… I wonder if we as a society could ever reach a place where we wouldn’t have to fight anymore.” – Sydney S.
“Despite the oppression, I refuse to give up on a dream of freedom, prosperity, and harmony… Dr. King, your movement has proven that hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that… if we work on creating a better tomorrow, I promise that one day we will get to the promised land.” – Christian V.
“Dr. King, your tireless efforts to bring about racial equality and justice have been an inspiration to me and to countless others… Your message of love and nonviolence has shown that even in the face of adversity and hatred, one can always choose to respond with compassion and understanding… You have truly been a shining light, leading the way for all of us to follow.” – Kaliya B.
We are grateful to those who joined us in celebrating and paying tribute to the great life and work of Dr. King, and we are honored to partner together to continue his legacy. C-U next year!
Watch the 2023 MLK DAY Show:
CONNECT-US ACADEMY
Connect-Us Academy Graduation • May 2023
The sixth year of the Connect-Us Academy was a huge success. 30 students participated in the 16-week program this year, and we partnered with almost 50 business leaders. We also placed an additional 20 alumni in in-person internships at businesses across Fairfield County this summer.
Connect-Us summer interns with the team at Bridgewater Associates
Connect-Us summer interns at Horizons at Sacred Heart University
Connect-Us summer interns with the team at MoCA Westport
We want to give a big shout out to our many corporate partners who led workshops and provided mentorship and support to the students:
Barnum Financial Group hosted the "How to Interview" workshop, where the students learned what companies look for in candidates and were interviewed by members of the Barnum team who provided personalized feedback and tips for being successful. Special thanks to Mindee Blanco, Paul Blanco, Melissa Poli, and the entire team at Barnum Financial Group.
Bridgewater Associates hosted us for a Resume Writing workshop, where the students enjoyed an engaging and educational experience working on their resumes with team members from Bridgewater. Special thanks to the Bridgewater team.
Pullman & Comley, LLC gave the young people an opportunity to learn how laws are made –– they had the opportunity to pretend they were elected members of the Bridgeport City Council and propose their own law based on a case study. Special thanks to Karen Wackerman, Joshua Cole, Joshua Smith, and Bianca LoGiurato.
Daversa Partners led a workshop where the students developed mock pitches for companies like TikTok, Airbnb and Netflix, and then they presented their pitches to the whole group. Special thanks to Paul Daversa, Michelle Comendul, and the team at Daversa Partners.
Fairfield University and Dr. Walter Hlawitschka of the Dolan Business School hosted a “Stock Trading Simulation” workshop where the students learned about the stock market and trading.
Deb Sawch, E.d.D. led “Business Writing 101,” which was hosted at Housatonic Community College. The young people learned about using brevity, structure, clarity and persuasiveness–among many other things–to successfully communicate in a professional way. It’s always a favorite and most-needed workshop!
JPMorgan Chase & Co. led an “Introduction to Investing & Personal Finance” workshop. The young people learned critical financial health skills, learned about different career paths in banking and finance, and broadened their network of business professionals and mentors. Special thanks to Kelvin Savage, along with Andrei Saunders, Eduardo Cabrera, and Chris Morton.
Rich Eldh, Founder Emeritus of SiriusDecisions, led a workshop that introduced the students to a communications framework developed by ValueSelling Associates founder, and CUA business partner, Julie Thomas. The students were invited to think about their brand and how to influence others to embrace their ideas.
Corporate workshop at Barnum Financial Group, pictured here with Barnum Founder and CEO Paul Blanco
Corporate workshop at Pullman and Comley, LLC
Financial Literacy workshop with JPMorgan, led by C-U Board Member Kelvin Savage
Corporate workshop at Bridgewater Associates
The semester concluded with the Connect-Us Academy graduation on May 11 at Housatonic Community College. We heard inspiring remarks from our keynote speakers Robin Avant, dean of academic affairs for Housatonic Community College, and Rich Eldh, founder emeritus of SiriusDecisions, Inc., and all of the graduates shared statements about their own growth and development.
"Before Connect-Us, I didn’t go outside much. I kind of just stayed in my room all day, reading books, on my phone, or just sleeping. Since I joined Connect-Us, I’ve learned so many new things that I wouldn’t have known if I didn’t join – like how to trade stocks and how to write a business email... If it wasn’t for the Connect-Us Academy, I’d probably still be at home not doing much. So I am incredibly thankful for Connect-Us." – Jaydah G.
"I joined Connect-Us because I felt unprepared to enter the workforce. I come from a low-income community that does not have as many opportunities compared to cities like Greenwich and Westport... I've had to figure out a lot of stuff on my own. But Connect-Us has provided me with the needed guidance to fill in the gaps... I leave today as a better communicator and critical thinker, ready to take on the next chapter of my career." – Jessica M.
"I have learned how to be a leader, I’ve gotten better at public speaking, and I’ve learned how to get through obstacles... I’ve grown a lot in the program. I went from being nervous to talk in front of everyone, to being comfortable talking in front of everyone – and this has helped outside the program as well." – Joseph R.
"During the workshops, I enjoyed how we interacted in small groups and every one of us could express our thoughts and actually be heard." – Alejandra B.
"We all learned that it was okay to get nervous because no one at Connect-Us was going to judge you... I owe my personal growth to Connect-Us.You all have made this one of the best experiences I could ask for... You pushed us to be the best we could be... Teenagers really need that and want that." – Annalysse R.
The CUA survey results illuminated the impact of the program on the participants: 100% feel more prepared to find and maintain a job; 100% feel more hopeful about their future and more confident in their ability to succeed in life; 100% feel better prepared for adulthood; and 100% feel they greatly improved their public speaking skills.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP TEAM
The Connect-Us Youth Leadership Team (YLT) continues to be a cornerstone of our work, and we are thrilled to be in our sixth year of hosting this weekly program. In the YLT, participants learn community organizing and leadership skills, they practice public speaking and leading discussions, and they play a lead role in producing our annual community events.
The Connect-Us Youth Leadership Team with special guest speaker Calvin Robinson, Managing Director at Quadrant Regulatory Group
We have 30 young people who are active members of the YLT. They meet every week to discuss social issues and they are currently working on developing our 2024 MLK Day Show with a cast of 100 performers (we hope to C-U there!).
The YLT produced our two major community events this year and helped organize hundreds of people from across Fairfield County to come together to celebrate and support the young people of Bridgeport. They serve as the the producers of these events by acting as team leaders, teaching improv games, and leading warm-up exercises with young people from the other Connect-Us programs, as well as adult volunteers.
C-U Onstage!
C-U Onstage! • October 2023
This fall, we held two C-U Onstage! auditions––one at Housatonic Community College and one at The Klein Memorial Auditorium. Special thanks to Prof. Geoffrey Sheehan, Professor of Theater Arts, and Robin Avant, Dean of Academics Affairs at Housatonic Community College, for their great partnership! We also held our performance workshop at The Klein, and on October 28, hundreds of people came out for our annual C-U Onstage! Talent Show.
Congratulations to the young people who performed both onstage and behind the scenes to make this community event a success!
PARTNERSHIPS & AWARDS
Pam Lewis (right) with Aramis Lopez (left), CUA alumni and intern at Horizons at Sacred Heart University
In November, Connect-Us Executive Director Pam Lewis was honored with the Connect Award by Horizons at Sacred Heart University at their annual benefit, "Connecting Bridgeport.”
Pam was recognized alongside Barbara and Bradford Evans, founders and longtime supporters of Horizons at Sacred Heart University, and Newtown Savings Bank.
The event was held at the Country Club of Fairfield and was hosted by Willie Geist, co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe and host of Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist.
In January, Pam was interviewed by Carmen Nieves for the local television show, "Connecticut at Your Service.” Pam spoke about the work Connect-Us is doing in the Bridgeport community. We are grateful to Carmen for the work she does to amplify community voices!
In June, Pam attended the annual meeting of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, where she is an active member. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends and potential partners, and see old friends, too.
In February, Pam was invited to speak on a panel as part of the Board Retreat for Horizons at Sacred Heart University (HSHU). The discussion was led by Ashley Nechaev, HSHU Executive Director, and also featured Shaaron Sinvilcin (Director of School Programs, RYSAP), Roderick Porter (Chief of Police, City of Bridgeport), Alberta Brown (Director of Community Partnerships, Great Oaks), Kevin Payne (Founder of Lead Therapist, Healing Set), and Kim Hein (Director, Tauck Family Foundation). This opportunity created a space for us to think about and discuss how we can work together more closely to support the growth and development of all students throughout Bridgeport.
In July, Pam was asked to work with the team at Horizons at Sacred Heart University to design and facilitate a workshop for fourth graders called "Stumbling Into Success." It was a fun and performance-filled day, with great questions and meaningful conversation. We are grateful for this partnership!
In February, Pam joined Maisa Tisdale, President and CEO of The Mary and Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community, on WPKN Community Radio to discuss Black History Month: how it got started and what its importance is today for all of us, especially for young black people. Thank you to David Green, Executive Director of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, for the invitation to be on the radio!
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & ORGANIZING
During the summer, our weeks and weekends were busy with community outreach and organizing, led by Pam Lewis and the Connect-Us Summer Fellows. We had more than 300 conversations with young people, adults, business owners, and other community members throughout Bridgeport. We invited everyone we met to join the Connect-Us programs and help us get the word out!
During the school year, we partnered with local high schools and spoke at parent meetings, school assemblies, and classrooms––both in person and online––and invited young people in Bridgeport to join our programs.
In addition to our community outreach this summer, we worked on continuing to build bridges across Fairfield County by meeting with some of our current partners and meeting some potential new partners as well:
Mendi Blue Paca, President & CEO of Fairfield County's Community Foundation (first photo above, with Charles Adams, Connect-Us Board Member [left], and Pam Lewis [right])
Marc Donald, Executive Director of RYASAP (second photo above, third from left – with Pam Lewis [right] and the Young Leaders Fellows)
William H. Garner, Executive Director of the Westport Library (third photo above [right], with Lissy Newman [center] and Pam Lewis [left])
Bob Dzurenda, Executive Director of Hall Neighborhood House (fourth photo above [left], with Pam Lewis [center] and Bruce Hennemuth [right])
We forged a new local partnership this summer with Bridgeport's own Main Street Pizza! After the Fellows hung a flyer in the window at Main Street Pizza, it started to rain, so we decided to head back to the pizza shop to take a break and grab a slice. The owner said, "What you are doing is changing the world," and he generously offered us our pizza for free – with sodas, chips, and coupons for the Fellows to return with their families! This kind of generosity is typical of local business owners in Bridgeport and we always appreciate the opportunity to meet new people and build new partnerships.
Pam Lewis and the Connect-Us Young Leaders Fellows are pictured above with Laurence Caso, Executive Director of The Klein. Laurence has been a leading partner of Connect-Us since our launch in 2017. Throughout the years, we’ve hosted many workshops and events at The Klein, bringing together hundreds and hundreds of people from across Fairfield County to celebrate the young people of Bridgeport. Laurence is a true bridge-builder and we are so grateful for this partnership!
The C-U Summer Fellows had the opportunity to meet and chat with Michael Patota, President & CEO of the Child and Family Guidance Center. Michael has been a generous partner and champion of Connect-Us. In addition to helping us spread the word about our programs, he temporarily hosted Connect-Us in the Child & Family Guidance Center offices this summer while we were between spaces during our move. We very much appreciate Michael and our partnership!
THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 PARTNERS!
We are grateful for our partnership with dozens of businesses and organizations throughout Fairfield County. Thank you to all of the businesses and organizations who worked with us in 2023!
