The category awards were presented during lunch on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.

Topical Category: Creative Use of Resources, Partnerships, and Collaboration
Town of Glastonbury
Camp Sunrise 2023

Camp Sunrise is a structured therapeutic day camp which provides a recreational environment for special needs children ages 3-21. Camp is designed to accommodate children with physical limitations, intellectual disabilities, and social and emotional difficulties. The primary program goals are to enable each camper an opportunity to enjoy a typical summer camp experience at an individualized pace, explore a variety of activities designed for their capabilities, build friendships, and feel a sense of belonging.

Camp Sunrise is planned and managed by the Glastonbury Parks and Recreation Department and is open to children who reside in or attend school in Glastonbury, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Newington, and Cromwell.

General Entry Award: Population Category 1 (20,000 and under)
Town of Stonington
Pathways to a Brighter Future: Empowering Youth to Lead a Healthier, Freer Childhood

The Town of Stonington and Stonington Public Schools have started a comprehensive program to address youth mental health needs, with a focus on combating the negative impacts of smart phones. The work began in the Fall of 2023 and has been growing ever since. Setting out to educate the community, and then create opportunities for youth to engage in healthier activities, a group of partners came together. This collaboration includes staff from Stonington Public Schools, Human Services, the Police Department, parents, local business owners, and the First Selectman. The plan includes a mixture of educational and outreach activities, alongside the creation of new opportunities for youth engagement.

General Entry Award: Population Category 2 (20,001 to 40,000)
Town of Guilford
Sustainable Guilford Task Force Repair Cafe

What’s the first thing many people think of when a household item breaks – buy a new one.  Time and again we are told it is easier or cheaper to purchase a replacement than to repair the item.  But this disposable mindset only exacerbates the current waste crisis.  Our Sustainable Guilford Task Force came up with a creative solution to this problem – a Repair Café. The task force, which is charged with advancing the principles of sustainability, equity and environmental stewardship while fostering community support, hosted its first Repair Café event held on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at the Nathanael B. Greene Community Center. The event, aimed at reducing waste and promoting a more sustainable lifestyle, brought together community members to repair household items rather than throwing them away. The idea for a Repair Café was inspired by our disposable society, which not only contributes to the current waste crisis but also puts a strain on people's wallets. The task force saw this as an opportunity to make a positive impact and bring the community together in the process.

General Entry Award: Population Category 3 (40,001 and over)
City of Norwalk
Community Resource Hub

The Community Resource Hub (CRH) was created in 2022 and transpired at the onset of the pandemic following the launch of the City's Family Navigation Program, which identified new needs among children and families throughout the community. Some of the support services include accessing a food pantry, clothing, employment resources and health-related support, including mental health resources. The City of Norwalk's Community Resource Hub helps Norwalk residents in need identify, understand, and navigate available support services and resources in the community. In Fiscal Year 2024, the CHR helped 1,206 households, which comprised at least 3,040 individuals, be directly connected to the resources they needed. These connections are achieved by making the program as accessible as possible. Residents can walk into City Hall, call, email, or use an online platform to reach out for assistance. We have navigators who speak English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, as well as online forms in each language.