This installment of 'For the People' introduces the CEO of Wheeler discussing how this nonprofit is delivering an integrated approach to primary and behavioral health, education, and recovery - and the opening of Wheeler’s new, expanded Waterbury Family Health & Wellness Center.

Then we'll talk to a former North Branford and Connecticut Teacher of the Year about how she found a successful second career in teaching, and how she works with TEACH Connecticut to encourage others to do the same. She'll also share some advice on how to help keep students engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And we'll close with a former CDC and Boston Health official and CEO of the Trust for America’s Health talking about Connecticut stats on alcohol, drug and suicide deaths, and why the coronavirus is expected to escalate all these destructive outcomes.

We're opening today with the Yankee Institute, which just launched a new comprehensive database of every public labor contract in the state, and how it can help you and your elected leaders better understand how they impact our communities and economy.

Then we're going to have an energized conversation with the new CEO of one of the state's oldest human services agencies, the Children's Center of Hamden. We'll learn how this new, vibrant agency leader is thinking outside the box, while helping established staff, students, and clients stay safe while benefiting from all the Center's services.

And we'll close on another critical subject involving our kids and the state's workforce - as we welcome a representative from Connecticut's Office of Early Childhood, talking about a brand new partnership with the Women's Business Development Council - laser focusing on protecting, enhancing, and sustaining our fragile network of childcare centers.

We're replaying a segment reminding residents about the lingering dangers of lead with an environmental sanitarian from Meriden - who plays a role in a larger statewide effort to remind residents about the dangers posed by lead. We'll learn all the places where lead could still be lurking in places where kids and others could still be exposed - and how that lead exposure can be remediated forever.

Then we'll catch a buzz with the Back Yard Beekeepers Association and learn why becoming even a simple backyard beekeeper could be one of the best holiday gifts you can give yourself, your family, your community and the environment - and why its the best time of year to get into beekeeping.

Finally, Have you ever had a bad experience with an uncaring medical professional? Then meet The Patient Is U Foundation - Helping medical practitioners enhance humanistic, compassionate patient care with unsurpassed "customer service" and sharing its philosophies with patients as well as institutional and non-institutional healthcare providers - anyone who comes into contact with patients or their families.