Connect-Us

05/28/2026

"Our partners generously give their time and energy, and our students feel that. They recognize how seriously they are taken, how thoughtfully each workshop is prepared, and how much these adults care about their growth. It becomes a powerful exchange that leaves a lasting impact on everyone involved."

Read more in our latest newsletter:

Over the past few months, I learned how to write professional emails and build a resume that actually represents me. I went through mock job interviews and got honest feedback. I sat in on finance lessons that broke down budgeting and investing in ways that actually made sense, and I learned how to....

05/05/2026

A Big Shout Out and Thank You to the Westport Rotary Club. Connect-Us appreciates being one of the 47 organizations selected to receive a grant this year!!!

05/03/2026

Congratulations to the graduates of the Connect-Us Academy Class of 2026, and a Big Shout Out to our keynote speaker, Stephanie Thomas, the Secretary of the State of Connecticut. Thank you so much for joining us and for your powerful presentation.

Graduates, we are so proud of you. You took this opportunity to try out new experiences and performances, set goals for yourselves, and grow.

Congratulations on a job well done!

05/01/2026

Congratulations the Connect-Us Academy Class of 2026!!!

(more pics to come)

04/27/2026

The Connect-Us Academy Graduation is this Thursday. Please join us at 5:30 pm at CT State Community College Housatonic. Your support makes this program possible, and we’d love to have you with us to cheer on the young people and celebrate another great semester!

04/06/2026

We are just three weeks away from the Connect-Us Academy Graduation! Please join us on Thursday, April 30 at 5:30 pm at CT State Community College Housatonic. Your support makes this program possible, and we'd love to have you with us to cheer on the young people and celebrate another great semester!

03/20/2026

Steve Wakeen, CEO of Playbook Coaching, recently led a workshop for the CUA called “Becoming an Exceptional Leader”” Steve coaches CEOs and top executive teams of multi-million dollar companies on how to become exceptional leaders. He gave our students the same assignment he gives all his clients: Write an “I Am From…” poem. This exercise promotes celebrating who you are and how to lead according to the values you embrace – “leading from the heart.” The students loved having the chance to reflect in this unique way and to share with one another more about who they are. Thank you, Steve!!!

03/20/2026

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend the “Wine at The Klein” event. It was a wonderful evening and I was especially excited to meet some of the staff and the new executive director of the Child & Family Guidance Center, Gisselle Acevedo (to my left). The Child & Family Guidance Center has been a great partner to Connect-Us over the years and we look forward to continuing our work together!

03/11/2026

A Big Shout Out to The Soul Fund.
Thank you for inviting me to participate in the panel discussion last night moderated by Marie Rocha (FCCF Board Member, Soul Fund Founding Member, and Founder of Realist Lab). It was great to participate in the panel discussion along with Novelette Peterkin (CEO of The Carver Center, Gwendolyn Brantley (Founder & Executive Director of Access Educational Services and Dominique Moore, AIA, NOMA, NCARB (Co- Founder of My Architecture Workshops).

The Soul Fund is a community lead giving circle housed at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. The cell phone launched in August 2025 to invest in black lead and black serving nonprofits in Fairfield County the fund celebrates the strength and excellence of the community while providing a collective framework for members to invest together for greater impact.