Category: Uncategorized

Manchester has created a space where the air hums with energy, wheels spinning, boards rolling, laughter echoing off concrete. It’s a place where people from all walks of life gather, not to compete, but to create, to move, and to coexist. There’s no single path, no one “right way” forward, just a shared rhythm of…

We Are Better Together Jessee Muñiz-Poland – Manchester Latino Affairs Council When I sat down with Jessee Muñiz-Poland, it didn’t take long to see the deep love she has for her family and her community. She lit up as she shared the story of how she met her husband, her beloved “ginger,” as she calls…

Living Between Sound and Silence: The Experience of Uncorrectable Hearing Loss In August, I met with Matt Goncalves, Sr. Marketing Director of Innocaption, to discuss their services for people with hearing loss. Their technology is a game-changer for so many people across the world. A week later, I had the opportunity to Zoom with Janine…

?Inclusion isn’t a buzzword; it’s a basic human need. For people who are Deaf, DeafBlind or hard-of-hearing, communication barriers can make everyday life more isolating than it needs to be. Whether it’s missing a punchline in a conversation, struggling to follow a lecture, or being left out of a group chat without captions, these small…

Longevity is a gift; people are living longer than ever, thanks to medical advances and social improvements. But as our population ages, communities need to adapt proactively. In Connecticut, the transformation is already well underway. The Numbers: Aging in Connecticut As of 2023, 19.1% of Connecticut’s population is aged 65 or older.According to the State Plan…

For centuries, people with hearing impairments have relied on different devices to help them connect with the world around them. While technology has advanced dramatically, the purpose has always remained the same: to amplify sound and make communication easier, more natural, and more accessible. The Early Days: Ear Trumpets Before electronic hearing aids existed, one…

UR Community Cares – Grandparents Letter Connection A Grandparent Letter I didn’t know my paternal grandmother as she died before I was born. I guess she got tired after having nine kids! My mom never lived with her mother; she was raised by her aunt (not a very pleasant life). I met her mother once;…

Connecticut shines brightest when we come together to celebrate the many cultures, traditions, and voices that shape our communities. From restaurants to music, sports, and festivals, our state’s diversity enriches daily life and it’s up to us to support and uplift the businesses, artists, and events that make it possible. Located in the middle of…

Being Hard-of-Hearing Aware Our guest speaker, Dr. Suzanne Ondrus is a UConn alumna. She earned her doctorate in comparative literary and cultural studies at the University of Connecticut. She has trained people and organizations in soft skills. As someone with a hearing problem herself, she is excited to bring this training to UR Community Cares. On Monday, September 29th,…

At UR Community Cares, the impact of our volunteers can be summed up in just a few powerful words: friendly, kind, unselfish, and generous. Each day, our volunteers step up to bring light, dignity, and joy to the lives of older adults and people with disabilities across Connecticut. Whether it’s offering a gentle hand to guide someone to a…