How will you preserve your family history? Maybe through journaling or family movies? What about grabbing an audio recorder?

Today, we’ll hear all about oral history projects in Connecticut that are recording stories for posterity. Later on, we’ll also hear how the Yiddish language and its dialects are being preserved.

Guests:


Katie Heidsiek: Director of Exhibitions for the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History


Jamil Ragland: writer for the New Haven Independent, Hartford community member and Hartford bureau chief for "Midbrow"


Elizabeth George: Doctoral student at the University of Connecticut and an instructor for “My Story, Our Future.”


Christa Whitney: Director of the Yiddish Book Center's Wexler Oral History Project

This episode originally aired March 10, 2026.

How will you preserve your family history? Maybe through journaling or family movies? What about grabbing an audio recorder?
Today, we&rsquo;ll hear all about oral history projects in Connecticut that are recording stories for posterity. Later on, we&rsquo;ll also hear how the Yiddish language and its dialects are being preserved.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>
Katie Heidsiek: Director of Exhibitions for the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
</li>
<li>
Jamil Ragland: writer for the New Haven Independent, Hartford community member and Hartford bureau chief for "Midbrow"
</li>
<li>
Elizabeth George: Doctoral student at the University of Connecticut and an instructor for &ldquo;My Story, Our Future.&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
Christa Whitney: Director of the Yiddish Book Center's Wexler Oral History Project
</li>
</ul>
This episode originally aired <a href="This%20episode%20originally%20aired%20March%2010,%202026.">March 10, 2026.</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

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.

Preserving stories and languages one oral history at a time

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>

When immigration enforcement reaches schools: How CT educators are responding

Author Celeste Ng is familiar with the push and pull of adolescence.

In May, Ng had a conversation with Simsbury High School students and Where We Live host Catherine Shen. Students at Simsbury High School recently launched a documentary initiative called “Make Us Count,” inspired by the themes of identity and belonging in Celeste Ng’s books. Today, we listen back to that conversation

Listen to our episode on the Simsbury High School AAPI documentary and oral history project here.

Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

<a href="https://www.celesteng.com/">Author Celeste Ng</a> is familiar with the push and pull of adolescence.
In May, Ng had a conversation with Simsbury High School students and Where We Live host Catherine Shen. Students at Simsbury High School recently launched a documentary initiative called &ldquo;Make Us Count,&rdquo; inspired by the themes of identity and belonging in Celeste Ng&rsquo;s books. Today, we listen back to that conversation
Listen to our episode on the Simsbury High School AAPI documentary and oral history project <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/2026-05-21/ct-high-school-students-lead-the-effort-to-preserve-local-aapi-history">here.</a>
Where We Live&nbsp;is available on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-we-live/id706066099">Apple Podcasts,</a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0j08SgnZIU5BmjDyHbgjgP">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/43f3a507-ebfa-4876-b34a-030759a8924c/where-we-live">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Government/Where-We-Live-p1207905/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/where-we-live-connecticut-public-radio-lz9NAwSEexh/">Listen Notes,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Novelist Celeste Ng on great first lines and themes of identity and belonging

The World Cup has come to a close, but soccer's impact reaches far beyond this global tournament.

This hour, we explore how the sport has grown from a niche pastime in America to our most popular youth sport – and why it's often called the world's universal language.

From immigrant communities to local professional clubs and the sport's very passionate supporters, we'll look at how soccer creates spaces where people from different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives come together, even during a politically divisive moment.

Guests:
Brian Bunk: historian at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Shavar Thomas: Lead Coach for CT United FC
Lukas Kamrath: Defender for CT United FC
Douglas Hernandez: Member of “Raza Brava,” a dedicated Hartford Athletic supporter group that brings Latino flair and culture to the stands.
Jake Fenner: Member of “Bonanza,” official, unified, and independent supporters group of Hartford Athletic

The World Cup has come to a close, but soccer's impact reaches far beyond this global tournament.
This hour, we explore how the sport has grown from a niche pastime in America to our most popular youth sport &ndash; and why it's often called the world's universal language.
From immigrant communities to local professional clubs and the sport's very passionate supporters, we'll look at how soccer creates spaces where people from different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives come together, even during a politically divisive moment.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://brianbunk.umasscreate.net/">Brian Bunk</a>: historian at the University of Massachusetts Amherst</li>
<li>Shavar Thomas: Lead Coach for&nbsp;<a href="https://ctunited.com/">CT United FC</a></li>
<li>Lukas Kamrath: Defender for&nbsp;<a href="https://ctunited.com/">CT United FC</a></li>
<li>Douglas Hernandez: Member of &ldquo;Raza Brava,&rdquo; a dedicated Hartford Athletic supporter group that brings Latino flair and culture to the stands.</li>
<li>Jake Fenner: Member of &ldquo;<a href="https://www.bonanzahfd.com/">Bonanza</a>,&rdquo; official, unified, and independent supporters group of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hartfordathletic.com/">Hartford Athletic</a><a href="https://www.bonanzahfd.com/"></a></li>
</ul>

Preserving stories and languages one oral history at a time

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