Write your memoirs to share in class. New members are welcome!

Write your memoirs to share in class. New members are welcome!

All Together Now is an exhibition that speaks to human experience and community. The title of the exhibition references the music hall tradition of everyone joining in singing. Artists from new London, Windham, Tolland, and Middlesex counties in Connecticut and Washington County in Rhode Island were invited to submit two dimensional artworks which were reviewed by an exhibition committee. The twenty-eight selected artworks include drawing, mixed media, textile, painting, photography, and printmaking. For All Together Now Expressiones presents ARTVenture: Journeys in Creativity and Confidence, in which they proudly showcase their young artists' creative journey, featuring children ages 8 to 12. Under the guidance of their Artists-in-Residence—Toto Fernandez, Indira Urrutia, and Marc Hors—students have explored painting, drawing, and mixed media to discover and strengthen essential life skills: self-confidence, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Each piece in the exhibition reflects their process of exploration and growth, where art becomes a tool for self-awareness and resilience. The Alexey von Schlippe Gallery and Expressiones invite you to appreciate not only the beauty of their creations but also the transformative power of art in the holistic development of children in our community. Exhibition dates: May 9 – June 1, 2025 Gallery hours: Thursday-Sunday 12 – 4 pm

Use the following link to join the WebEx meeting:https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/meet/kab21003 (https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fuconn-cmr.webex.com%2Fmeet%2Fkab21003&data=05%7C02%7Cmichael.melnik%40uconn.edu%7C59f901d4e55040d0695108dd8be29a65%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638820528031569660%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=skOn6%2FnGz178fbDXTYghDmZC9QEfAbLkBM3K7FcKfMc%3D&reserved=0)Committee: Saraswathi Bellur, Ph.D., Department of Communication, Major Advisor Anne Oeldorf-Hirsch, Ph.D., Department of Communication, Associate Advisor Jocelyn Steinke, Ph.D., Department of Communication, Associate AdvisorAbstract: Sexual minorities have been found more likely to report poorer health outcomes (e.g., greater anxiety, depression, lower acceptance) and greater social media usage than their heterosexual counterparts. While it is generally accepted they utilize social media in beneficial manners, including information-seeking, following and interacting with LGBTQ+ media personae, and connecting with other LGBTQ+ individuals for social support and community connection, less is understood about the specific roles and processes behind beneficial LGBTQ+ social media usage. The goal of this dissertation was to better understand the relationship between social media usage and well-being within the LGBTQ+ community through Uses and Gratifications Theory and the Parasocial Contact Hypothesis, examining the roles of social media gratifications and parasocial relationships on reducing feelings of prejudice (societal, CH; personal, IH) and increasing online social connectedness (OSC) and positive psychological outcomes (PPO; self-acceptance and well-being). A sample of 182 sexual minority adults completed an online survey including measures of browsing/variety-seeking (BVS), parasocial interactions (PSI) and relationships (PSR), perceived similarity (SIM), CH, IH, OSC, and PPO. Both the hypothesized model and alternative model were tested via structural equation modeling. Overall, support was mixed for the hypothesized model: greater BVS predicted greater PSI, which then predicted greater SIM, which then predicted greater PSR. However, greater PSR predicted greater (as opposed to lesser) CH, which then predicted greater IH, which then predicted less OSC, while OSC did not predict PPO in any manner. More support was found for an alternative model with better statistical fit and support from the literature. The findings provide insights into LGBTQ+ social media usage and well-being, extending the Parasocial Contact Hypothesis to intrapersonal contexts, examining gratifications from Uses and Gratifications Theory 1.0 and 2.0 working together, and identifying healthy social media usage for LGBTQ+ individuals. Future work should be longitudinal and socio-demographically diverse to help better understand for whom and for when this type of social media usage is beneficial for sexual minorities. The present findings also shield light on surprising roles CH plays with PSRs and PPO, findings that should be investigated more fully in future work.

Measuring & Addressing Transportation Insecurity in Connecticut (https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fuconn.co1.qualtrics.com%2Fjfe%2Fform%2FSV_9yMNNZ3PhqalhvU&data=05%7C02%7Cmaura.maloney%40uconn.edu%7Ced8d2ad58d0049080fea08dd7c483506%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638803371749956108%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=rWq3urASlgQpcr6GNbia6JOJzy%2BVhtvSmn6MAkZjpKU%3D&reserved=0), May 22, 2025, CRCOG Offices, 1st Fl., 350 Church Street, Hartford, 12:00pm-1:30pm. Speakers:Lydia Wileden, Assistant Research Professor, UConn School of Public Policy Ben Limmer, CT Dept. of Transportation, Chief, Public Transportation Eric Harrison, United Way of Central & NE CT, President & CEO Doug Holcomb, Greater Hartford Transit District, Executive Director Senator Christine Cohen, State Senator, Branford, Durham, E. Haven, Guilford, Killingworth, Madison, Middlefield, N. Branford, Rockfall   This series is hosted by the UConn School of Public Policy and the Capitol Region Council of Governments. Lunch will be served. Parking is available in the attached parking garage. Pre-registration required at https://uconn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9yMNNZ3PhqalhvU For more information go to https://publicpolicy.uconn.edu/events/ct-policy-talks/ (https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublicpolicy.uconn.edu%2Fevents%2Fct-policy-talks%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmaura.maloney%40uconn.edu%7Ced8d2ad58d0049080fea08dd7c483506%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638803371749971488%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=HnS5aHrcAgsq2IFT13ulo38CaM%2Bl6qLrxR6R6UiHH0o%3D&reserved=0)

Abstract: Sexual minorities have been found more likely to report poorer health outcomes (e.g., greater anxiety, depression, lower acceptance) and greater social media usage than their heterosexual counterparts. While it is generally accepted they utilize social media in beneficial manners, including information-seeking, following and interacting with LGBTQ+ media personae, and connecting with other LGBTQ+ individuals for social support and community connection, less is understood about the specific roles and processes behind beneficial LGBTQ+ social media usage. The goal of this dissertation was to better understand the relationship between social media usage and well-being within the LGBTQ+ community through Uses and Gratifications Theory and the Parasocial Contact Hypothesis, examining the roles of social media gratifications and parasocial relationships on reducing feelings of prejudice (societal, CH; personal, IH) and increasing online social connectedness (OSC) and positive psychological outcomes (PPO; self-acceptance and well-being). A sample of 182 sexual minority adults completed an online survey including measures of browsing/variety-seeking (BVS), parasocial interactions (PSI) and relationships (PSR), perceived similarity (SIM), CH, IH, OSC, and PPO. Both the hypothesized model and alternative model were tested via structural equation modeling. Overall, support was mixed for the hypothesized model: greater BVS predicted greater PSI, which then predicted greater SIM, which then predicted greater PSR. However, greater PSR predicted greater (as opposed to lesser) CH, which then predicted greater IH, which then predicted less OSC, while OSC did not predict PPO in any manner. More support was found for an alternative model with better statistical fit and support from the literature. The findings provide insights into LGBTQ+ social media usage and well-being, extending the Parasocial Contact Hypothesis to intrapersonal contexts, examining gratifications from Uses and Gratifications Theory 1.0 and 2.0 working together, and identifying healthy social media usage for LGBTQ+ individuals. Future work should be longitudinal and socio-demographically diverse to help better understand for whom and for when this type of social media usage is beneficial for sexual minorities. The present findings also shield light on surprising roles CH plays with PSRs and PPO, findings that should be investigated more fully in future work.