Nearly 4 million college students have experienced food insecurity.

Here in Connecticut, several colleges have food pantries and programs working to address food insecurity on campus.

But addressing this issue goes beyond giving out canned goods. It’s about giving students access to quality foods, and addressing the root causes of food insecurity.

Today, we hear from students and those working build better food security in higher education.

GUESTS:
Nelly Birmingham: undergraduate student at Southern Connecticut State University
Rakeria Thomas: graduate student at Southern Connecticut State University
Caitlin Caspi: Director of Food Security Initiatives at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Heath at the University of Connecticut
Hayley Berliner: Sustainability Coordinator at Trinity College

Nearly 4 million college students have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-107074">experienced food insecurity.</a>
Here in Connecticut, several colleges have food pantries and programs working to address food insecurity on campus.
But addressing this issue goes beyond giving out canned goods. It&rsquo;s about giving students access to quality foods, and addressing the root causes of food insecurity.
Today, we hear from students and those working build better food security in higher education.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Nelly Birmingham: undergraduate student at Southern Connecticut State University</li>
<li>Rakeria Thomas: graduate student at Southern Connecticut State University</li>
<li><a href="https://chip.uconn.edu/person/caitlin-caspi-scd/">Caitlin Caspi:</a>&nbsp;Director of Food Security Initiatives at the&nbsp;<a href="https://uconnruddcenter.org/">Rudd Center for Food Policy and Heath at the University of Connecticut</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.trincoll.edu/sustainability/sample-page-2/office-staff/">Hayley Berliner:</a>&nbsp;Sustainability Coordinator at Trinity College</li>
</ul>

Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Where We Live is a call-in talk show about who we are in Connecticut and our place in the world.

Where We Live

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

1 in 5 college students face food insecurity: Two Connecticut students tell their story

Connecticut is facing a historic decline in public school enrollment, with enrollment dropping below half a million for the first time in two decades.

This effect is especially pronounced in Hartford, which saw a 5% decline in student enrollment amid a $45 million dollar school deficit. Now, city officials are looking to bring students back — and decrease the deficit.

Later on, we’ll hear from the Connecticut Education Association on the effects of federal cuts and the current legislative education committee hearings.

GUESTS:
Arunan Arulampalam: Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut
Theo Peck-Suzuki: Education reporter for the Connecticut Mirror
Andraé Townsel: Superintendent of Schools for Hartford Public Schools
Caitlin Richard: Chief Financial Officer of Hartford Public Schools
Kate Dias: President of the Connecticut Education Association

Connecticut is facing a historic decline in public school enrollment, with enrollment dropping below half a million for the first time in two decades.
This effect is especially pronounced in Hartford, which saw a 5% decline in student enrollment amid a $45 million dollar school deficit. Now, city officials are looking to bring students back &mdash; and decrease the deficit.
Later on, we&rsquo;ll hear from the Connecticut Education Association on the effects of federal cuts and the current legislative education committee hearings.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Arunan Arulampalam:&nbsp;Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut</li>
<li>Theo Peck-Suzuki:&nbsp;Education reporter for the Connecticut Mirror</li>
<li>Andra&eacute; Townsel: Superintendent of Schools for Hartford Public Schools</li>
<li>Caitlin Richard: Chief Financial Officer of Hartford Public Schools</li>
<li>Kate Dias:&nbsp;President of the Connecticut Education Association</li>
</ul>

Amid enrollment declines, an update on CT public school education

Speaking at the State of the Union, President Donald Trump demanded a full restoration of funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, has carried out raids in major cities across the nation resulting in mass arrests, violence and the deaths of two people in Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Today, we break down what was said at the State of the Union. Later, experts join us to talk about immigration reform and ICE presence in Connecticut.

GUESTS:
Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter, CT Public and the Connecticut Mirror
Maureen Abell: Staff Attorney at New Haven Legal Assistance Association and Visiting Clinical Professor at Yale Law School with the Immigrant Rights Clinic
Sarah Pierce: Director of Social Policy at Third Way, a national think tank and advocacy organization

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92ekTv_ztHs&amp;t=4804s">Speaking at the State of the Union,</a>&nbsp;President Donald Trump demanded a full restoration of funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, has carried out raids in major cities across the nation resulting in mass arrests, violence and the deaths of two people in Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Today, we break down what was said at the State of the Union. Later, experts join us to talk about immigration reform and ICE presence in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/lisa-hagen-1">Lisa Hagen:</a>&nbsp;Federal Policy Reporter, CT Public and the Connecticut Mirror</li>
<li>Maureen Abell:&nbsp;Staff Attorney at&nbsp;<a href="https://nhlegal.org/">New Haven Legal Assistance Association</a>&nbsp;and Visiting Clinical Professor at Yale Law School with the&nbsp;<a href="https://law.yale.edu/studying-law-yale/clinical-and-experiential-learning/our-clinics/legal-assistance-immigrant-rights-clinic">Immigrant Rights Clinic</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thirdway.org/about/staff/sarah-pierce">Sarah Pierce:</a>&nbsp;Director of Social Policy at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thirdway.org/">Third Way, a national think tank and advocacy organization</a></li>
</ul>

Amid DHS funding cuts, is meaningful immigration reform possible?

It’s been four years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Recent peace talks concluded without bringing the region any closer to peace.

This war has displaced millions and killed thousands of civilians. Russian armed forces recently attacked district heating systems leaving thousands of civilians without heat. 2026 has been the coldest winter in Ukraine since the initial invasion.

Today, we get an update on this conflict. We hear from U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal about his recent visit toUkraine.

Plus, Connecticut residents with ties to Ukraine have organized to send aid overseas. We hear from them.

GUESTS:
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
Larissa Babij: Connecticut native and writer, translator and dancer living in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her book is “A Kind of Refugee: The Story of an American Who Refused to Leave Ukraine”
Carl Harvey: Organizer with the New Haven Connecticut Ukrainian American Humanitarian Aid Fund
Myron Melnyk: Organizers with New Haven Connecticut Ukrainian American Humanitarian Aid Fund

It&rsquo;s been four years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Recent peace talks concluded without bringing the region any closer to peace.
<a href="https://ukraine.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2026-02/2026-02-16%20HRMMU_Four%20Years%20On_fact%20sheet_1.pdf">This war has displaced millions and killed thousands of civilians</a>. Russian armed forces recently attacked district heating systems leaving thousands of civilians without heat. 2026 has been the coldest winter in Ukraine since the initial invasion.
Today, we get an update on this conflict. We hear from U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal about his recent visit toUkraine.
Plus, Connecticut residents with ties to Ukraine have organized to send aid overseas. We hear from them.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Sen. Richard Blumenthal&nbsp;(D-Conn.)</li>
<li>Larissa Babij:&nbsp;Connecticut native and writer, translator and dancer living in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her book is&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-kind-of-refugee-the-story-of-an-american-who-refused-to-leave-ukraine-larissa-babij/e83da2acd118dae4?ean=9783838218984&amp;next=t">&ldquo;A Kind of Refugee: The Story of an American Who Refused to Leave Ukraine&rdquo;</a></li>
<li>Carl Harvey:&nbsp;Organizer with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1010601007077501/">New Haven Connecticut Ukrainian American Humanitarian Aid Fund</a></li>
<li>Myron Melnyk: Organizers with New Haven Connecticut Ukrainian American Humanitarian Aid Fund</li>
</ul>

1 in 5 college students face food insecurity: Two Connecticut students tell their story

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