Jessica Weaver, a member of the board of education in Newington, returns to the podcast to discuss the decisions the Newington school board has had to make regarding school reopening, plans for graduation ceremonies, and potential long-term effects of the pandemic on education. –Emily DiSalvo CTNewsJunkie Listener is our podcast channel where we are broadcasting interviews and/or audio news stories. Our first podcast series is called Be The Change, and is hosted by reporter Emily DiSalvo, who plans to interview the young people who have run for office or otherwise work in politics. #Connecticut #Politics (The music in these podcasts came royalty-free from BenSound.)

In the latest episode of "Be the Change," state Sen. Will Haskell returns to the podcast to talk about the importance of tackling climate change, a global issue, on a local level. Additionally, West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor, who recently won a national climate change award, shares what her city is doing to help. CTNewsJunkie Listener is our podcast channel where we are broadcasting interviews and/or audio news stories. Our first podcast series is called Be The Change, and is hosted by reporter Emily DiSalvo, who plans to interview the young people who have run for office or otherwise work in politics. –Emily DiSalvo #Connecticut #Politics (The music in these podcasts came royalty-free from BenSound.)

Main Street in Middletown is home to nearly 200 independent businesses and restaurants. It’s no secret that COVID-19 has caused economic strife for establishments like these. In the latest episode on CTNewsJunkie Listener, Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim, a Be the Change guest, as well as several business owners weigh in on getting creative to help the thriving downtown area survive the pandemic. –Emily DiSalvo #Connecticut #Politics (The music in these podcasts came royalty-free from BenSound.)

Rajan Doering is a junior at Quinnipiac and also is the first guest on Be the Change who lost the race he set out to win. Doering ran for school board in his hometown of Wallingford and we discuss why he thinks he lost, the importance of being involved in local government, and why he believes we should do away with divisive political discussion. –Emily DiSalvo #BeTheChange #Connecticut #Politics (The music in these podcasts came royalty-free from BenSound.)

Adelina Cirikovic is a member of the Avon Board of Assessment Appeals as well as a sophomore at Quinnipiac University. She talks about her time on the board, being a young conservative woman on a college campus, and the importance of bipartisanship. –Emily DiSalvo #BeTheChange #Connecticut #Politics (The music in these podcasts came royalty-free from BenSound.)

Jared Todd is the first non-elected official to be featured on Be the Change. As director of external affairs for the lieutenant governor, Todd works with constituents and helps to plan events. He shares why working with Susan Bysiewicz is his dream job. –Emily DiSalvo #BeTheChange #Connecticut #Politics (The music in these podcasts came royalty-free from BenSound.)

Tyler Flanigan is serving on the Wethersfield Town Council while studying at the University of Connecticut. Flanigan talked about his dream to make living in Connecticut more affordable, why he loves Wethersfield, and his uncertainty about where his career will take him next.  –Emily DiSalvo #BeTheChange #Connecticut #Politics (The music in these podcasts came royalty-free from BenSound.)

Today on Be the Change, Jessica Weaver, a 22-year-old member of the Newington Board of Education, discussed her passion for financial literacy and gender equity, her views on Joe Biden and her many plans for the future. –Emily DiSalvo #BeTheChange #Connecticut #Politics (The music in these podcasts came royalty-free from BenSound.)

Today on Be the Change, New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart talks about her Republican identity, tackling homelessness during COVID-19 and balancing motherhood with being a mayor. –Emily DiSalvo #BeTheChange #Connecticut #Politics (The music in these podcasts came royalty-free from BenSound.)

Justin Farmer, 25, is currently serving on the Hamden Legislative Council. He ran for the District 17 state senate seat this year but lost to Jorge Cabrera in an August primary. Farmer discusses how he became "radicalized" into running for office and what it means to be an "activist" politician. –Emily DiSalvo  #BeTheChange #Connecticut #Politics (The music in these podcasts came royalty-free from Ben Sounds.)