Finding affordable housing is a huge challenge in Connecticut. Could part of this problem be how housing is built and designed?

Architects aren’t just thinking about how to design better, more efficient homes. They’re thinking about how to design homes with community and affordability in mind. Today, we hear how architects are working to build better homes and communities across the state.

Plus, an update from the Connecticut Tenants Union.

GUESTS:
Luke Melonakos: Vice President of the Connecticut Tenants Union
Andrei Harwell: Executive director of the Yale Urban Design Workshop, and I'm a senior critic at the Yale School of Architecture
Joan O’Riordan: Principal Architect at O'Riordan Migani Architects

Finding affordable housing is a huge challenge in Connecticut. Could part of this problem be how housing is built and designed?
Architects aren&rsquo;t just thinking about how to design better, more efficient homes. They&rsquo;re thinking about how to design homes with community and affordability in mind. Today, we hear how architects are working to build better homes and communities across the state.
Plus, an update from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2026-07-22/ct-tenants-union-standing-with-lamont-blasts-landlord-at-press-conference">Connecticut Tenants Union.</a>
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Luke Melonakos:&nbsp;Vice President of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cttenantsunion.org/">Connecticut Tenants Union</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.architecture.yale.edu/faculty/309-andrei-harwell">Andrei Harwell:</a>&nbsp;Executive director of the Yale Urban Design Workshop, and I'm a senior critic at the Yale School of Architecture</li>
<li><a href="https://omarchitects.com/about/">Joan O&rsquo;Riordan:</a>&nbsp;Principal Architect at O'Riordan Migani Architects</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.

Housing roadblocks continue in CT: Local architects are stepping up to the challenge

In the last month we have seen a flurry of warnings that lettuce might be infected with cyclosporiasis. To date, there have been over 60 cases here in Connecticut.

Wildfires from the west brought smoke to the East Coast, leading to air quality warnings and recommendations for residents to stay inside, if they can.

Today, we get updates on these public health situations, and hear what you need to do to stay well.

GUESTS:
Dr. Manisha Juthani: commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
Scott Dolch: President and CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant and Hospitality Association
Connecticut State Senator Dr. Saud Anwar: East Hartford, South Windsor, East Windsor, and Ellington
Indu Upadhyaya: Food Safety Extension Specialist, UConn Extension

In the last month we have seen a flurry of warnings that lettuce might be infected with cyclosporiasis.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/52-cases-of-cyclosporiasis-confirmed-in-connecticut-so-far/">To date, there have been over 60 cases here in Connecticut.</a>
Wildfires from the west brought smoke to the East Coast, leading to air quality warnings and recommendations for residents to stay inside, if they can.
Today, we get updates on these public health situations, and hear what you need to do to stay well.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Dr. Manisha Juthani:&nbsp;commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health</li>
<li>Scott Dolch:&nbsp;President and CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant and Hospitality Association</li>
<li>Connecticut State Senator Dr. Saud Anwar: East Hartford, South Windsor, East Windsor, and Ellington</li>
<li>Indu Upadhyaya:&nbsp;Food Safety Extension Specialist, UConn Extension</li>
</ul>

What we know about cyclosporiasis cases in CT, plus a look at air quality

Connecticut poet Rohanna Ssanyu Delossantos has a new chapbook, “The Marabou Who Crossed the Sea,” a collection inspired by her family's roots in Uganda and her own experience growing up between cultures.

What do we inherit from the places our parents left behind?

Connecticut poet Rohanna Ssanyu Delossantos discusses her new chapbook, “The Marabou Who Crossed the Sea,” a collection inspired by her family's roots in Uganda and her own experience growing up between cultures.

We explore how poetry can serve as a vehicle to unpack family history, navigate questions of identity, and carry memories across generations.

Rohanna will be at the Pardee-Morris Museum in New Haven on August 9 for an afternoon of art and storytelling.

Guests:
Rohanna Ssanyu Delossantos: New Haven-based poet, author of “The Marabou Who Crossed the Sea” 

Connecticut poet Rohanna Ssanyu Delossantos has a new chapbook, &ldquo;The Marabou Who Crossed the Sea,&rdquo; a collection inspired by her family's roots in Uganda and her own experience growing up between cultures.
What do we inherit from the places our parents left behind?
Connecticut poet Rohanna Ssanyu Delossantos discusses her new chapbook, &ldquo;The Marabou Who Crossed the Sea,&rdquo; a collection inspired by her family's roots in Uganda and her own experience growing up between cultures.
We explore how poetry can serve as a vehicle to unpack family history, navigate questions of identity, and carry memories across generations.
Rohanna will be at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newhavenmuseum.org/53555-2/">Pardee-Morris Museum in New Haven on August 9</a>&nbsp;for an afternoon of art and storytelling.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.rohannassanyu.com/about-me">Rohanna Ssanyu Delossantos</a>: New Haven-based poet, author of &ldquo;<a href="https://obodoserendipitybooks.com/book/9781957248639">The Marabou Who Crossed the Sea</a>&rdquo;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

CT poet Rohanna Delossantos on migration, motherhood and stories passed down through generations

As educators prepare to support students in the upcoming school year, some are facing a new challenge: how to respond to immigration enforcement.

Early research shows that many students are grappling with fear and anxiety when it comes to the threats of ICE arrests. This has already started to impact school performance and attendance.

Today, we hear what educators are doing to prepare and respond to ICE presence on campus.

Plus, some students of immigrant families face additional educational hurdles as English language learners. We hear how teachers are supporting these students, and their families.

GUESTS:
Julie Sugarman: Associate Director for K-12 Education Research at Migration Policy Institute's National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy
Luanelly Iglesias: Bilingual teacher at Danbury Public Schools
Carolyn Sattin-Bajaj: Professor of Education Policy at in the Department of Education at the Gavert School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara

As educators prepare to support students in the upcoming school year, some are facing a new challenge: how to respond to immigration enforcement.
Early research shows that many students are grappling with fear and anxiety when it comes to the threats of ICE arrests.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/23/ice-kids-conneticut-schools">This has already started to impact school performance and attendance.</a>
Today, we hear what educators are doing to prepare and respond to ICE presence on campus.
Plus, some students of immigrant families face additional educational hurdles as English language learners. We hear how teachers are supporting these students, and their families.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.migrationpolicy.org/person/julie-sugarman">Julie Sugarman:</a>&nbsp;Associate Director for K-12 Education Research at Migration Policy Institute's National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy</li>
<li>Luanelly Iglesias:&nbsp;Bilingual teacher at Danbury Public Schools</li>
<li><a href="https://migrationinitiative.ucsb.edu/people/carolyn-sattin-bajaj">Carolyn Sattin-Bajaj:</a>&nbsp;Professor of Education Policy at in the Department of Education at the Gavert School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara</li>
</ul>

Housing roadblocks continue in CT: Local architects are stepping up to the challenge

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