The Impact
A Sustainable CT podcast. The Impact shares workshops, conversations and interviews covering a wide range of topics that are central to Connecticut communities, including civic engagement, climate resilience, affordable housing, transportation, equity and social justice.
Episodes
38 episodes
A Conversation with Dave Dickson, Director of UConn CLEAR
We catch up with David Dickson, Director of the University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research - a/k/a UConn CLEAR. UConn CLEAR provides indispensable resources to land use decision makers in support of better land use dec...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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54:43
In Conversation with Danielle Chesebrough, First Selectman of Stonington
Danielle Chesebrough knows a thing or two about responsible investments. She's the First Selectman of Stonington and a member of Sustainable CT's Board of Directors. And before holding these notable positions, Danielle spent eight years as a Se...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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52:16
A Conversation with Senator Tony Hwang of Connecticut's 28th Senate District
The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters calls Hwang “the only Republican Senator who has consistently supported major climate legislation, emphasizing practical, nature-based solutions that promote responsible stewardship of the lands, fo...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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53:57
The IMPACT Goes to the 25th CT League of Conservation Voters Environmental Summit
This year marked the 25th Anniversary Annual Environmental Summit. Hosted by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, it was a milestone in bringing together advoc...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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56:48
A Conversation with Laura Francis, Interim Director of South Central Regional COG
Laura Francis, Interim Director of South Central Regional Council of Governments, joins us to discuss the role of COGs in achieving Connecticut's sustainability goals. With 30 years of experience in Durham town government (15 as First Selectman...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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52:08
A Conversation with Jessica LeClair, Executive Director of Sustainable CT
Our new Executive Director is hardly new to Sustainable CT - she's been an indispensable part of the organization since its inception. Jessica LeClair joins us to talk about many things - what it's like to sit in the Big Chair, the politics of ...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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50:40
In Conversation with Carl Fortuna, First Selectman of Old Saybrook
Carl Fortuna's service to the community reads like a hearty alphabet soup: MIRA (the Materials Innovation Recycling Authority), CCM (the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities), COST (the Council of Small Towns), River COG (the Lower Connecti...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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52:32
The Community Match Fund at Five: a Conversation with TJ Clynch, Community Leader, Organizer, Activist
Thomas Clynch is something of a Renaissance Man - a principal at Civic Mind, the creative agency dedicated to social progress and corporate citizenship, and the founder of the new
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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53:17
In Conversation with James Osborn of Envest Asset Management
If you think "socially responsible investing" just might be an oxymoron, you wouldn't be alone, but you will be enlightened when you listen to James Osborn, founder of Envest - the first (and so far, the only) Certified B Corporation financial ...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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55:02
Sustainable CT Fellows Adrian Huq and Jackie Flaherty explore sustainability work being done at Connecticut colleges
Sustainable CT Fellows Adrian Huq and Jackie Flaherty take over the big microphone this month to interview collegiate movers-and-shakers in the sustainability movement. Their guests include: Dylan Steer, President of E...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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51:28
A Conversation with Jamal Jimerson of Thought Partner Solutions
Thought Partner Solutions (TPS) is invested in opening doors to authentic social impact through values-based leadership development. With an unwavering commitment to a more inclusive world, they offer solutions to help their partners to build a...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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56:46
Bryan Garcia of Connecticut Green Bank
We catch up with Bryan Garcia, long-serving president and CEO of Connecticut Green Bank - a quasi-public agency that leverages ratepayer funds with private capital to offer low-cost, long-term financing for clean energy projects. CT Green Bank ...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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58:20
The Weston High School Pollinator Garden
Weston High School teacher Michael Aitkenhead and a few of his industrious students joined us to discuss their pollinator garden project - an interactive ecosystem where students can get hands-on experience with wildlife and problem-solv...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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34:31
Nicole Chevalier: Our Search for a New Executive Director
Nicole Chevalier - philanthropist, activist, writer, member of the Sustainable CT Board of Directors, and chair of our search committee for a brand new Executive Director - talks about the ED's role, how finding the right person is so ...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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51:00
In Conversation with Mike Purcaro, Town Administrator of Vernon
A recent addition to the Sustainable CT Board of Directors, Mike Purcaro has been working with the Town of Vernon in one capacity or another for almost 20 years and as town administrator for the last seven years. Vernon is truly a Sustainable C...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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48:06
Cindy Lignar, First Selectwoman of Chester
As a newly-elected First Selectwoman of Chester, Cindy Lignar's plate is pretty full these days, but she's graciously made time to chat with us. Prior to her election, Cindy headed the Chester Sustainability Team, demonstrating achievement in 1...
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49:54
In Conversation with Ted Shafer, Director of Economic Development for Winchester and Barkhamsted
We had the good-good fortune to be joined by Ted Shafer, currently serving as the director of economic development for the towns of Winchester (a recently Bronze certified town) and Barkhamsted. Ted served for 10 years as first selectman of Bur...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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52:34
The Sustainable CT Fellowship Program: Adrian Huq, Dylan Steer, Mike Towle, and Ben Lovejoy
We gain some important insight about the value of the Sustainable CT Fellowship Program from the people who know it best and have seen it in action. We're joined by Adrian Huq, a 2023 Fellow with the Capitol Region Council of Governments;...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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42:51
Steven Winter, Amelia Fortgang and Giovanni Zinn on New Haven's Gold certification
We catch up with Steve Winter, New Haven's Executive Director of Climate & Sustainability, along with his compatriots, climate activist Amelia Fortgang, and Giovanni Zinn, New Haven’s City Engineer, to talk about all that glitters in the El...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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49:45
A Conversation with Joshua Steele Kelly, Town Manager of Winchester
It was my great pleasure to have a conversation with Joshua Steele Kelly, Town Manager and CEO of the beautiful Town of Winchester, Connecticut. He’s held that post since April of 2021, and, prior to that, Josh served as the Town Administrator ...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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55:12
Fionnuala ("Finn") Darby-Hudgens and the CT Data Collaborative
We had an opportunity to sit down with Fionnuala Darby-Hudgens, director of data strategic planning with CT Data Collaborative. "Finn," as we affectionately know her, was joined by our own Lynn Stoddard to discuss some of the greatest challenge...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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47:31
Chad Schroeder, Desira Blanchard, and Hamsa Ganapathi - former Sustainable CT Fellows
It's Old Home Week at the IMPACT, as we've invited three - yes, three! - alumni of the Sustainable CT fellowship program to join us to ask the "Where are they now?" question and find out how their participation in our fellowship program may - o...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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42:21
Inez Ortiz and Dorothy Piszczek - Brand New Program Assistants with Sustainable CT
We have two – yes, two! – delightful guests – Inez Ortiz and Dorothy Piszczek. They’ve both just recently joined Sustainable CT as program assistants, and this was a great opportunity to get to know them a little better, and to discover what th...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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51:20
A Conversation with Richard Johnson, former Town Manager of Glastonbury
I had a lively and informative conversation with Richard Johnson, the erstwhile and long-serving Town Manager of Glastonbury. Prior to his formal retirement in March, Richard worked in Glastonbury town government for 42 years – a remarkable ach...
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51:22
A Special Earth Day Coffee Hour Crossover with Eric Fine of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
This month's show is a little late, but for good reason: we're bringing you a special crossover episode in conjunction with the Sustainable CT Coffee Hour, Earth Day Edition, featuring Eric Fine of the Yale Program on Climate Chan...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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48:22