What meal instantly takes you back to childhood? Whether it’s a dish made with grandparents or a recipe passed down through generations, food has the power to unlock memories. 

This hour, two local children’s authors share their belief in food’s ability to connect us. They discuss their latest novels, the challenges they face in an industry that often pigeonholes writers of color, and how they tackle complex emotions in stories for young readers.

GUESTS:
Debbi Michiko Florence: author of children’s and middle grade books including her latest, Last Chance Academy: A Study in Secrets
Caela Collins: owner of Caela Enterprises, LLC, and author of Food Is Love

This episode originally aired on May 5, 2025.

What meal instantly takes you back to childhood? Whether it&rsquo;s a dish made with grandparents or a recipe passed down through generations, food has the power to unlock memories.&nbsp;
This hour, two local children&rsquo;s authors share their belief in food&rsquo;s ability to connect us. They discuss their latest novels, the challenges they face in an industry that often pigeonholes writers of color, and how they tackle complex emotions in stories for young readers.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://debbimichikoflorence.com/">Debbi Michiko Florence</a>: author of children&rsquo;s and middle grade books including her latest, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-study-in-secrets-debbi-michiko-florence/21523123?ean=9781665950473&amp;next=t">Last Chance Academy: A Study in Secrets</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.caela.org/">Caela Collins</a>: owner of Caela Enterprises, LLC, and author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/food-is-love-caela-collins/10719946?ean=9781545661758&amp;next=t">Food Is Love</a></li>
</ul>
This episode originally aired on <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/2025-05-05/connecticut-authors-reflect-on-foods-power-to-connect-us">May 5, 2025.</a>

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

Connecticut Public's 'Where We Live' has curated a list of conversations featuring talks with your favorite authors and deep dives into literary themes and news from across Connecticut Public's talk shows.  

Connecticut Public's 'Where We Live' has curated a list of conversations featuring talks with your favorite authors and deep dives into literary themes and news from across Connecticut Public's talk shows.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Where We Read

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.

Connecticut authors reflect on food’s power to connect us 

When students at Simsbury High School discovered that there was little to no data on Asian American students in Connecticut, they launched a new project to change that.

Through out this year, these students have been collecting oral histories from Asian American voices across Connecticut in the oral history project “Make Us Count.”

The project debuts at a community-wide event happening this week at Simsbury High School. It will feature best-selling author Celeste Ng.

Michelle Henry is an English and Asian American Studies Teacher at Simsbury High School. She helped develop this project with students. She was named Educator of the Year by the Granby-Simsbury Chamber of Commerce.

Today, we hear from her and the students behind this project. We'll also hear from Jason Oliver Chang, who helped get Asian American and Pacific Islander studies in all Connecticut public schools.

Guests:
Jason Oliver Chang: Associate Professor of History and Asian American Studies and Department head of social and critical inquiry at the University of Connecticut
Michelle Henry: English and Asian American Studies Teacher at Simsbury High School
Raelyn Medina - Senior at Simsbury High School
Vivian Amsterdam - Senior at Simsbury High School
Dhriti Mallavarapu: Senior at Simsbury High School

When students at Simsbury High School discovered that there was little to no data on Asian American students in Connecticut, they launched a new project to change that.
Through out this year, these students have been collecting oral histories from Asian American voices across Connecticut in the oral history project&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYOwVsz58zE&amp;list=PLIi03sx3b4mleEQxsCc72JrNrsTy1e4rP&amp;index=1">&ldquo;Make Us Count.&rdquo;</a>
The project debuts at a community-wide event happening this week at Simsbury High School. It will feature best-selling author Celeste Ng.
Michelle Henry is an English and Asian American Studies Teacher at Simsbury High School. She helped develop this project with students. She was named Educator of the Year by the Granby-Simsbury Chamber of Commerce.
Today, we hear from her and the students behind this project. We'll also hear from Jason Oliver Chang, who helped get Asian American and Pacific Islander studies in all Connecticut public schools.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Jason Oliver Chang:&nbsp;Associate Professor of History and Asian American Studies and Department head of social and critical inquiry at the University of Connecticut</li>
<li>Michelle Henry:&nbsp;English and Asian American Studies Teacher at Simsbury High School</li>
<li>Raelyn Medina -&nbsp;Senior at Simsbury High School</li>
<li>Vivian Amsterdam -&nbsp;Senior at Simsbury High School</li>
<li>Dhriti Mallavarapu:&nbsp;Senior at Simsbury High School</li>
</ul>

CT high school students lead the effort to preserve local AAPI history

For migratory birds, nighttime light can be deadly. Artificial light draws birds off course, increasing the risk of exhaustion, window collisions and predation.

Experts say the problem is growing as Connecticut skies become brighter.

This hour, we explore how light pollution impacts birds, river ecosystems, insects and even human health.

Plus, an amateur astronomer shares why protecting dark skies matters not just for science, but for our connection to the natural world.

Guests:
Craig Repasz, director of Lights Out Connecticut
Misha SemeLev, associate university architect for sustainability, Yale University
Alan Sheiness, board of directors treasurer, Lyme Land Trust 

For migratory birds, nighttime light can be deadly. Artificial light draws birds off course, increasing the risk of exhaustion, window collisions and predation.
Experts say the problem is growing as Connecticut skies become brighter.
This hour, we explore how light pollution impacts birds, river ecosystems, insects and even human health.
Plus, an amateur astronomer shares why protecting dark skies matters not just for science, but for our connection to the natural world.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Craig Repasz, director of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lightsoutct.org/">Lights Out Connecticut</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mishasemenov.com/about-misha">Misha SemeLev</a>, associate university architect for sustainability, Yale University</li>
<li>Alan Sheiness, board of directors treasurer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lymelandtrust.org/">Lyme Land Trust&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>

Can CT light the way on protecting our night skies?

Arthur Sze took an non-traditional path to becoming the U.S. Poet Laureate.

Born in 1950 to Chinese immigrants, his family wanted him to pursue a safe career path that would assure security and prosperity. But while studying at MIT, he felt the call to write and study poetry; a call that changed the trajectory of his life.

Sze spent his career translating traditional Chinese poetry. He also taught at the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico and is now a professor emeritus of the institute.

Sze is currently traveling the country with his signature Poet Laureate project “Words Bridging Worlds,” a series of workshops and readings that celebrate poetry in translation.

He joins us for a conversation on poetry, the power of language and the art of translation.

Arthur Sze took an non-traditional path to becoming the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/poet-laureate/poets-laureate/item/n82011115/arthur-sze/">U.S. Poet Laureate.</a>
Born in 1950 to Chinese immigrants, his family wanted him to pursue a safe career path that would assure security and prosperity. But&nbsp;<a href="https://marshhawkpress.org/arthur-sze-interview-revealing-and-reveling-in-complexity/">while studying at MIT,</a>&nbsp;he felt the call to write and study poetry; a call that changed the trajectory of his life.
Sze spent his career translating traditional Chinese poetry. He also taught at the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico and is now a professor emeritus of the institute.
Sze is currently traveling the country with his signature Poet Laureate project &ldquo;Words Bridging Worlds,&rdquo; a series of workshops and readings that celebrate poetry in translation.
He joins us for a conversation on poetry, the power of language and the art of translation.

Connecticut authors reflect on food’s power to connect us

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