The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon has become dire.

The country faces economic and financial uncertainty, and nearly 2000 deaths since the start of the conflict.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that of the 5.5 million people living in Lebanon, 1 million people are in dire need.

Today, humanitarian aid organizations International Rescue Committee and Anera joins us to describe what is happening on the ground in Lebanon.

Plus two Lebanese Americans living and working as chef-owners in Connecticut join us to respond to the situation and speak on Lebanese cuisine, culture and hospitality.

GUESTS:
Samar El-Yassir: Lebanon and Jordan Country Director for Anera
Ciaran Donnelly: Senior Vice President, Crisis Response, Recovery & Development at International Rescue Committee
Reem Hadir: chef and founder of Lebnani Mediterranean Kitchen and Bar in Watertown
George Noujaim: chef owner of Noujaim’s Mediterranean Cuisine in Winsted

The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon has become dire.
The country faces economic and financial uncertainty, and <a href="https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/lebanon/lebanon-flash-update-33-escalation-hostilities-lebanon-7-october-2024">nearly 2000 deaths since the start of the conflict.</a>
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that of the <a href="https://www.unocha.org/lebanon">5.5 million people living in Lebanon, 1 million people are in dire need</a>.
Today, humanitarian aid organizations <a href="https://www.rescue.org/country/lebanon">International Rescue Committee </a>and <a href="https://www.anera.org/where-we-work/lebanon/">Anera</a> joins us to describe what is happening on the ground in Lebanon.
Plus two Lebanese Americans living and working as chef-owners in Connecticut join us to respond to the situation and speak on Lebanese cuisine, culture and hospitality.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Samar El-Yassir: <a href="https://www.anera.org/staff-leadership-bios/">Lebanon and Jordan Country Director for Anera</a></li>
<li>Ciaran Donnelly: Senior Vice President, Crisis Response, Recovery &amp; Development at International Rescue Committee</li>
<li>Reem Hadir: chef and founder of <a href="https://www.eatlebnani.com/our-story/">Lebnani Mediterranean Kitchen</a> and Bar in Watertown</li>
<li>George Noujaim: chef owner of <a href="https://noujaimsbistro.com/our-heritage">Noujaim’s Mediterranean Cuisine</a> in Winsted</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.

The Lebanese diaspora in Connecticut responds to the war abroad

Seven-in-ten high school teachers say that cell phone distraction in school is a major problem, and one third of teens say that they use at least one social media site “almost constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center.

But how are teens actually consuming social media? And what kind of citizens of the internet are they becoming?

We’ll hear about a new study exploring how teens are interacting with their personal algorithms and speak with a Connecticut lawmaker about what policymakers can do to help.

Guests:
Rachel Besharat Mann: Associate Professor of the Practice in Education Studies at Wesleyan University
Gary Turco: State Representative for Connecticut's 27th District

Seven-in-ten high school teachers say that cell phone distraction in school is a major problem, and one third of teens say that they use at least one social media site &ldquo;almost constantly,&rdquo; according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/12/12/teens-social-media-and-technology-2024/">Pew Research Center</a>.
But how are teens actually consuming social media? And what kind of citizens of the internet are they becoming?
We&rsquo;ll hear about a new study exploring how teens are interacting with their personal algorithms and speak with a Connecticut lawmaker about what policymakers can do to help.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.rachelbesharatmann.com/">Rachel Besharat Mann</a>:&nbsp;Associate Professor of the Practice in Education Studies at Wesleyan University</li>
<li>Gary Turco:&nbsp;State Representative for Connecticut's 27th District</li>
</ul>

How are social media algorithms impacting CT teens in 2026?

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have displaced 800,000 people, and killed nearly 700 people.

Connecticut is home to nearly 10,000 Lebanese Americans. Today we hear from members of the state's Lebanese diaspora.

We’ll also hear from one global humanitarian aid organization working on the ground in Lebanon to provide support.

GUESTS:
Arson Fahim: musician, pianist, composer and conductor
Kelly Razzouk: Vice President of Policy & Advocacy at the International Rescue Committee, a global humanitarian aid organization
Bilal Tajildeen: Former member of the Waterbury board of Alderman

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/03/12/israel-hezbollah-lebanon-war/">Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have displaced 800,000 people, and killed nearly 700 people.</a>
Connecticut is home to nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/lebanese-population-by-state#google_vignette">10,000</a>&nbsp;Lebanese Americans. Today we hear from members of the state's Lebanese diaspora.
We&rsquo;ll also hear from one global humanitarian aid organization working on the ground in Lebanon to provide support.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/2024-10-24/despite-a-ban-on-music-in-afghanistan-performers-refuse-to-be-silenced">Arson Fahim:</a>&nbsp;musician, pianist, composer and conductor</li>
<li>Kelly Razzouk:&nbsp;Vice President of Policy &amp; Advocacy at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rescue.org/country/lebanon">International Rescue Committee,</a>&nbsp;a global humanitarian aid organization</li>
<li>Bilal Tajildeen:&nbsp;Former member of the Waterbury board of Alderman</li>
</ul>

CT diaspora responds to crisis in Lebanon

A new exhibit at Yale’s natural history museum is highlighting a culture with deep ties to many in the state.

It’s called “¡Taíno Vive!” or “Taíno lives,” and it’s all about the native people of the Caribbean.

Today we celebrate the history and contributions of Taínos. It’s a culture with roots in Puerto Rico, Haiti, Jamaica and other ancestral homes throughout the Caribbean.

We’ll learn about legislative efforts to recognize Taínos and examine the ongoing question of identity for Taínos both in the past and today.

Guests:
Rachel Iacovone: Connecticut Public Puerto Rican Communities Reporter.
Stephanie Bailey: Archaeologist and member of AraYeke Yukayek, a New York based Caribbean Indigenous Taíno community.
Geraldo Reyes: Democratic state representative representing Waterbury
Matunheri Angel Sibakuyali: Representative from Higuayagua Taíno of the Caribbean
Victor Piñeiro: Author of "The Island of Forgotten Gods"

A new exhibit at Yale&rsquo;s natural history museum is highlighting a culture with deep ties to many in the state.
It&rsquo;s called &ldquo;<a href="https://peabody.yale.edu/events/taino-vive-exhibition">&iexcl;Ta&iacute;no Vive!</a>&rdquo; or &ldquo;Ta&iacute;no lives,&rdquo; and it&rsquo;s all about the native people of the Caribbean.
Today we celebrate the history and contributions of Ta&iacute;nos. It&rsquo;s a culture with roots in Puerto Rico, Haiti, Jamaica and other ancestral homes throughout the Caribbean.
We&rsquo;ll learn about legislative efforts to recognize Ta&iacute;nos and examine the ongoing question of identity for Ta&iacute;nos both in the past and today.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Rachel Iacovone:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/rachel-iacovone">Connecticut Public Puerto Rican Communities Reporter</a>.</li>
<li>Stephanie Bailey:&nbsp;Archaeologist and member of&nbsp;<a href="https://arayekeyukayek.wixsite.com/arayeke">AraYeke Yukayek</a>, a New York based Caribbean Indigenous Ta&iacute;no community.</li>
<li>Geraldo Reyes:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.housedems.ct.gov/Reyes">Democratic state representative representing Waterbury</a></li>
<li>Matunheri Angel Sibakuyali: Representative from&nbsp;<a href="https://higuayagua.com/">Higuayagua Ta&iacute;no of the Caribbean</a></li>
<li>Victor Pi&ntilde;eiro: Author of "<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220481327-the-island-of-forgotten-gods">The Island of Forgotten Gods</a>"</li>
</ul>

The Lebanese diaspora in Connecticut responds to the war abroad

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