We'll engage the new Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of New Haven - Lorenzo Boyd - who also heads up the UNH Center for Advanced Policing, for the first of a couple of conversations we're planning around police practices, movements to de-fund police agencies, and the crossover points where racial diversity intersects with community policing.

Then we'll talk arts and humanities with the director of CT Humanities - and find out how this decades old agency is reinventing itself as a digital and community resource, while supporting and funding intriguing programs and projects across the state.

And we'll close with our partners at the CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence. If anything, the COVID pandemic has made things harder for the thousands of intimate partner and domestic abuse victims across Connecticut, so we'll touch base and get a snapshot of what's been happening in terms of prevention and response over the past few months.

Meet an environmental sanitarian from Meriden - who plays a role in the state's Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Program residents identifying and helping folks understand and eliminate dangers posed by lead - which is especially risky to children.

Then we'll hear another story of tragedy overcome by inspiration with the founder of A Promise to Jordan - a statewide nonprofit honoring a victim of the opioid epidemic aimed at eliminating the stigma of addiction, assisting people in accessing quality care, and giving hope that recovery is possible to those struggling with addiction.

Then we will circle back with Dr. Dana Wade and Monitor My Health - working to delay or prevent obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart attack, and stroke with a CDC-recognized evidence-based lifestyle change program he is delivering to thousands in greater Bridgeport and beyond for low and often no cost.

This Independence Day weekend, we're paying tribute to all the folks who grow the good food we eat, who are taking steps to grow their own, or maintain their properties with organic standards in mind. 
So we're playing an encore presentation from our annual pilgrimage to the Northeast Organic Farming Association's Organiconn conference - which was held earlier this year at Wesleyan University. 
We caught up with NOFA's director, the event's keynote speaker, as well as a number of other guests promoting organic practices and programs that are enhancing our state's environment and public health, while engaging our youngest citizens to participate and enjoy the fruits and veggies they can raise and eat from their own personal, school, or community garden.