Martin Luther King Jr. Day is designated as a National Day of Service to encourage people to volunteer and improve their communities. But those communities' needs don’t end when the day of service ends. Here in Connecticut, people like Erik Clemons work year round to improve the communities they care about.

Erik is the CEO of New Haven-based nonprofit Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT), which offers job training and youth programs. He is also the CEO of Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program (ConnCORP), a for-profit subsidiary of ConnCAT dedicated to economic development in New Haven.

Recently, Erik wrote an opinion piece for CT Insider about ConnCORP's plans to redevelop part of New Haven’s Dixwell neighborhood.

In the piece, Erik grounds those plans in his commitment to community. He compares the redevelopment to making a quilt. He writes, quote “By weaving together the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those who live in Dixwell, we aim to create a space that reflects their lived experience, resilience, and unique identity — something far more meaningful than any single piece.”

GUESTS:


Erik Clemons: CEO of New Haven-based nonprofit Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology, also known as ConnCAT. The organization offers job training and youth programs. He is also CEO of Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program or ConnCORP, a for-profit subsidiary of ConnCAT dedicated to economic development in New Haven.

In this episode, Erik mentions the Harlem Renaissance. To learn more about the Harlem Renaissance you can listen to our recent episode about the movement.

You can also find our previous interview with Erik Clemons on our website.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is designated as a National Day of Service to encourage people to volunteer and improve their communities. But those communities' needs don&rsquo;t end when the day of service ends. Here in Connecticut, people like Erik Clemons work year round to improve the communities they care about.
Erik is the CEO of New Haven-based nonprofit <a href="https://conncat.org/">Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology</a> (ConnCAT), which offers job training and youth programs. He is also the CEO of <a href="https://conncorp.org/">Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program</a> (ConnCORP), a for-profit subsidiary of ConnCAT dedicated to economic development in New Haven.
Recently, Erik <a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/opinion/article/ct-dixwell-urban-conncat-19963753.php">wrote an opinion piece for CT Insider</a> about ConnCORP's <a href="https://conncorp.org/conncat-place-on-dixwell">plans to redevelop part of New Haven&rsquo;s Dixwell neighborhood</a>.
In the piece, Erik grounds those plans in his commitment to community. He compares the redevelopment to making a quilt. He writes, quote &ldquo;By weaving together the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those who live in Dixwell, we aim to create a space that reflects their lived experience, resilience, and unique identity &mdash; something far more meaningful than any single piece.&rdquo;
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Erik Clemons: CEO of New Haven-based nonprofit <a href="https://conncat.org/">Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology</a>, also known as ConnCAT. The organization offers job training and youth programs. He is also CEO of <a href="https://conncorp.org/">Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program</a> or ConnCORP, a for-profit subsidiary of ConnCAT dedicated to economic development in New Haven.
</li>
</ul>
In this episode, Erik mentions the Harlem Renaissance. To learn more about the Harlem Renaissance you can listen to <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted/2024-12-20/the-legacy-of-the-harlem-renaissance-100-years-later">our recent episode about the movement</a>.
You can also find <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted/2021-03-10/erik-clemons-reflects-on-ten-years-leading-conncat-community-college-enrollment-on-the-decline">our previous interview with Erik Clemons</a> on our website.

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together.

Visit ctpublic.org/disrupted for more! 

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together.
Visit <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted">ctpublic.org/disrupted</a> for more!