Caring for a child takes time, money and flexibility – all things that can be hard to come by when you're also trying to work a full time job.

Connecticut has taken steps to ease that pressure, including a paid family and medical leave program and a new investment in early childhood education.

But families still face high costs, limited availability and childcare schedules that don't always line up with the demands of work.

This hour, we ask: What would it take to build a caregiving system that actually works for Connecticut families?

Guests:
Amanda Aronson: Founder and principal consultant of StoryB
Erin Choquette: Chief executive officer of the CT Paid Leave Authority
Representative Kate Farrar: Deputy Majority Leader serving West Hartford 
Adrienne Billings-Smith: leader of employee development & community engagement and the Title VI coordinator for the town of West Hartford

Caring for a child takes time, money and flexibility &ndash; all things that can be hard to come by when you're also trying to work a full time job.
Connecticut has taken steps to ease that pressure, including a paid family and medical leave program and a new investment in early childhood education.
But families still face high costs, limited availability and childcare schedules that don't always line up with the demands of work.
This hour, we ask: What would it take to build a caregiving system that actually works for Connecticut families?
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://storyb.co/about">Amanda Aronson</a>: Founder and principal consultant of&nbsp;<a href="https://storyb.co/">StoryB</a></li>
<li>Erin Choquette: Chief executive officer of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpaidleave.org/about-us">CT Paid Leave Authority</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.housedems.ct.gov/Farrar">Representative Kate Farrar</a>: Deputy Majority Leader serving West Hartford<a href="https://wlhz.org/">&nbsp;</a></li>
<li>Adrienne Billings-Smith:&nbsp;leader of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.westhartfordct.gov/town-departments/edce">employee development &amp; community engagement</a>&nbsp;and the Title VI coordinator for the town of West Hartford</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.

Can Connecticut build a better childcare system?

Third spaces are those social spaces that aren’t your home or your workplace. They’re those great in-between environments where you can come by just to hangout with your community.

They can act as the building block of a healthy, thriving community. Although many of these spaces have disappeared, there’ are efforts to bring them back.

Today, we take a look at third spaces in Connecticut and beyond. Plus, heading into the long Labor Day weekend, we get an update on a "Where We Live" favorite third space — Connecticut parks and forests!

Guests:
Mason Trumble: Deputy Commissioner with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Melissa Whitson: Professor of psychology and licensed psychologist at the University of New Haven
Michael Brown: Owner of Third Space in New Haven, a gaming lounge, creative community space and event venue
Sydney Williams-Brown: Co-owner of Third Space

Third spaces are those social spaces that aren&rsquo;t your home or your workplace. They&rsquo;re those great in-between environments where you can come by just to hangout with your community.
They can act as the building block of a healthy, thriving community. Although many of these spaces have disappeared, there&rsquo; are efforts to bring them back.
Today, we take a look at third spaces in Connecticut and beyond. Plus, heading into the long Labor Day weekend, we get an update on a "Where We Live" favorite third space &mdash; Connecticut parks and forests!
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Mason Trumble:&nbsp;Deputy Commissioner with the&nbsp;<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/deep">Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.newhaven.edu/faculty-staff-profiles/melissa-whitson.php">Melissa Whitson:</a>&nbsp;Professor of psychology and licensed psychologist at the University of New Haven</li>
<li>Michael Brown:&nbsp;Owner of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thirdspacenewhaven.com/">Third Space in New Haven,</a>&nbsp;a gaming lounge, creative community space and event venue</li>
<li>Sydney Williams-Brown:&nbsp;Co-owner of Third Space</li>
</ul>

The lost art of hanging out: A conversation about third spaces

Over 40% of Connecticut drivers admitted to speeding, at least sometimes. Some say they speed to avoid holding up traffic, while others are simply trying to reach their destination faster. Speeding might be considered the new normal, but it’s still dangerous. Last year, there were over 7,000 speeding-related crashes in the state.

Today, Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto joins us to talk about the state of our roads and what we’re seeing on Connecticut roadways.

Labor Day is the busiest travel weekend of the year. We hear what you need to know to stay safe on the roads.

Plus, updates on rail lines, highway construction and speed cameras.

Guests:
Garrett Eucalitto: Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation
Brianna Gurciullo: transportation reporter at CT Insider

Over 40% of Connecticut drivers admitted to speeding,&nbsp;<a href="https://magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/newsroom/new-aaa-foundation-research-finds-speeding-has-become-the-new-normal-for-drivers-across-the-northeast-and-united-states/">at least sometimes.</a>&nbsp;Some say they speed to avoid holding up traffic, while others are simply trying to reach their destination faster. Speeding might be considered the new normal, but it&rsquo;s still dangerous. Last year, there were over 7,000 speeding-related crashes in the state.
Today, Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto joins us to talk about the state of our roads and what we&rsquo;re seeing on Connecticut roadways.
<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260819255801/en/Hertz-Data-Shows-Road-Trips-Will-Dominate-Fall-Travel-as-Millennials-Fuel-the-Trend">Labor Day is the busiest travel weekend of the year.</a>&nbsp;We hear what you need to know to stay safe on the roads.
Plus, updates on rail lines, highway construction and speed cameras.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Garrett Eucalitto:&nbsp;Commissioner of the&nbsp;<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/dot?language=en_US">Connecticut Department of Transportation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/author/brianna-gurciullo/">Brianna Gurciullo:</a>&nbsp;transportation reporter at CT Insider</li>
</ul>

On the road: CT transportation leader on driver safety, highways and more

It’s back-to-school week for many students in Connecticut. Parents — are you ready for the upcoming school year?

The Connecticut State Board of Education is urging all schools to implement cellphone restrictions. We hear how school districts are tackling this and how it will be enforced.

Do you want to see a cellphone ban in your school district? Email us at wherewelive@ctpublic.org.

Plus, confusion around childhood vaccines continues. The Trump administration has issued an executive order calling for fewer vaccines. We learn what parents need to know.

Guests:
Dr. Melissa Held: Infectious Diseases physician at Connecticut Children's; professor of pediatric infectious diseases and senior associate dean of medical student education at UConn School of Medicine
Theo Peck-Suzuki: education reporter at the Connecticut Mirror
Joslyn DeLancey: Vice President of the Connecticut Education Association
Rachel Besharat Mann: Assistant Professor of Education Studies at Wesleyan University

It&rsquo;s back-to-school week for many students in Connecticut. Parents &mdash; are you ready for the upcoming school year?
The Connecticut State Board of Education is urging all schools to implement cellphone restrictions. We hear how school districts are tackling this and how it will be enforced.
Do you want to see a cellphone ban in your school district? Email us at wherewelive@ctpublic.org.
Plus, confusion around childhood vaccines continues. The Trump administration has issued an executive order calling for fewer vaccines. We learn what parents need to know.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Held-Tobin-Melissa">Dr. Melissa Held:</a>&nbsp;Infectious Diseases physician at Connecticut Children's; professor of pediatric infectious diseases and senior associate dean of medical student education at UConn School of Medicine</li>
<li><a href="https://ctmirror.org/author/tpecksuzuki/">Theo Peck-Suzuki:</a>&nbsp;education reporter at the Connecticut Mirror</li>
<li><a href="https://cea.org/joslyn-delancey-bio/">Joslyn DeLancey:</a>&nbsp;Vice President of the Connecticut Education Association</li>
<li>Rachel Besharat Mann:&nbsp;Assistant Professor of Education Studies at Wesleyan University</li>
</ul>

Can Connecticut build a better childcare system?

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