Month: February 2020

Governor Trying To Lure Recent Grads

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is partnering with several organizations to launch an innovative program that is designed to encourage graduates of Connecticut’s higher education institutions to build their careers and stay in the state upon receiving their diplomas.

 

Launching as a pilot program in Stamford this spring and expanding statewide by 2022, the Governor’s Innovation Fellowship will provide recent and upcoming college graduates the opportunity to start their careers with job placement at a growing, Connecticut-based company. Participants will also receive access to mentors and staff who will help them build their careers, as well as a $5,000 grant that will help them get settled as they embark on their post-college lives.

 

“Connecticut’s schools regularly rank among the best in the country, and the students who graduate from our colleges and universities are the very people making the innovative products and technologies that are changing the world. But too often they decide to locate in other states upon graduating, and we want to do something about that,” Governor Lamont said. “This program is focused on tapping the most talented and highest performing students and creating incentives for them to build their careers in Connecticut. Our state has great opportunities for young people and we need to make every effort to keep them here.”

 

The program will be funded and overseen by CTNext, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Connecticut Innovations that offers support to entrepreneurs. The initial pilot will launch through the management of StamfordNext, a nonprofit collaborative that funds projects, initiatives, and events that make Stamford a premier destination for individuals and businesses.

 

It is based on a similar program based in Indianapolis that launched in 2002 and is credited with helping to revitalize the city.

 

“Retaining top talent is essential for the state’s economic future,” Glendowlyn Thames, Executive Director of CTNext, said. “The Governor’s Innovation Fellowship will provide recent graduates with a unique opportunity to work at some of Connecticut’s most innovative companies while also supporting their continued professional growth and cultivating the next generation of talent for our state.”

 

“As we have been introducing this program to business leaders here in Stamford, what is most invigorating has been the enthusiasm with which they’ve taken up the charge,” Wesley Bemus, executive director of StamfordNext, said. “These companies are motivated to find and keep bright, driven young professionals and we’re making a direct connection to the deep pool of talent right in their own backyard.”

 

How the Governor’s Innovation Fellowship Works

 

Colleges and universities based in Connecticut will identify high-achieving students to present for participation in the fellowship. Candidates will be invited to apply for jobs that meet their professional aspirations, and partner companies will hire them through their regular hiring process.

 

For the pilot, the following Stamford companies have agreed to participate:

 

·         Arccos Golf (a leading provider of big data, advanced analytics and machine learning insights for the global golf industry)

·         Curacity (a data analytics company focused on the travel sector)

·         Henkel (a global industrial and consumer company)

·         ISG (a leading global technology research and advisory firm)

·         Octagon (the world’s largest sports and entertainment agency)

·         Sema4 (the fastest-growing health intelligence company in the country)

·         Synchrony (a global leader in the fintech market)

·         Trebel (an app for music lovers that lets them enjoy free downloads)

·         Tru Optik (a leader in over-the-top measurement, data management, attribution and privacy compliance)

 

Several other companies have indicated interest and more are anticipated to be added to the list in the coming days. Based on the success of the pilot, the program will be expanded to include other areas of the state.

 

This press release was made possible by:

 

Westport Prevention Coalition Survey

#Westport, CT – Human Services Director Elaine Daignault reminds residents that the Westport Prevention Coalition (“Coalition”) launched an online Community Readiness Survey (CRS) to measure public perception of substance misuse and mental health issues in Westport.  The survey was created in partnership with Westport’s Local Prevention Council, the Westport Prevention Coalition and Positive Directions – The Center for Prevention and Counseling, as part of the Town’s ongoing efforts to address issues related to substance misuse and other health needs of the community.

Residents are encouraged to take the survey online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WCPCCS2020 and/or contact the Dept. of Human Services at (203) 341-1050 for more information or for assistance in accessing a paper copy.

The anonymous survey is meant to provide helpful information as the Coalition embarks on prevention and resource development efforts addressing substance misuse, mental health services and overall wellness across the lifespan. The data will be used to advise local programming efforts that enhance the health and wellbeing of the entire community.

According to Daignault, “Measuring community perceptions of substance misuse and mental health issues allows us to establish a baseline of community readiness so we can effectively develop resources that bring appropriate prevention and intervention messages to the residents. Westport’s CRS is unique in its intention to gather input from a large cross-section of age groups, as opposed to youth-only assessments. One only needs to review the daily news to comprehend the rise in mental health and substance misuse issues among children, adults, and seniors across the country.”

The CRS will serve as a complement to the youth and parent surveys which are administered through Positive Directions bi-annually in partnership with Westport Public Schools; with plans for the next youth and parent, the survey cycle will occur during the 2020-2021 school year.

Jennifer Hrbek, Executive Director of Positive Directions adds, “We are proud to continue to partner with the Town of Westport in raising behavioral health as a community priority and are excited to have this process be informed by community members in identifying and addressing the issues most important to them.”

“The information we gather will help to create a stronger dialogue among residents and gauge community interest and opinion of mental health and substance abuse issues in Town.  An anonymous survey allows us to take an in-depth look at community perceptions while providing residents with an opportunity to voice their opinions openly,” said Daignault.

To learn more about available national, state and regional data on substance abuse and mental health topics, residents are encouraged to visit The Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization, The Hub CT’s website for local statistics.

 

This press release was made possible by:

 

Visit Interstate’s website at: https://ctbattery.com/

Bridgeport News: Cops Rescue A Woman From Burning Car

At 4:15am Bridgeport Police Officer Ramirez came upon a motor vehicle accident on Chopsey Hill Road involving a single vehicle on its driver side and on fire with an occupant still inside. Officer Ramirez attempted to get the occupant out through the passenger side window, but the occupant could not reach her hand. Sgt. DeBarros arrived on the scene and also attempted to get the occupant out by trying to break the front window. At this time while Bridgeport Fire and AMR were en route, various officers and sergeants from other sectors arrived on scene and as a team was able to push the vehicle which was on fire back on its wheels and the officers were able to pull the female occupant to safety. Bridgeport Fire arrived on the scene to extinguish the fire and AMR transported the party to the hospital. No further information at this time

 

Police UPDATE: At 4:15am the Bridgeport Emergency Communications received a preliminary report regarding a motor vehicle accident involving a car into a tree with possible persons trapped. Upon dispatch a second call was received that the car had occupants inside the vehicle was smoking and possibly on fire. BPD, BFD and AMR were dispatched. Upon arrival on scene by BPD, they confirmed occupants inside the vehicle with the vehicle on fire. BPD Officers proceeded to pull one occupant from the vehicle as the BFD and AMR arrived. BFD extinguished the fire. No further reports on the extent of injuries at this time.

 

2020-02-25@4:11am–#Bridgeport CT– How about some likes for the two officers who risked their own safety to rescue two from a burning car on Chopsey Hill near the 8/25 on-ramp.  The car hit a tree and an officer happened upon the crash and immediately radioed Emergency Communications for the firefighters.  They quickly got the driver out of the vehicle.  Firefighters quickly arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire.  Say what you will about Bridgeport but this was a fantastic display of heroism.

 

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