October 10, 2025 • 3 mins
We spoke with Erin Choquette, CEO of CT Paid Leave, about the Family Fun Expo and Resource Fair on October 18 at the Hartford Public Library.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, Thank you for listening to Community Access. I'm
Allison Demurs. My guest this morning is with Connecticut Paid Leave.
She is CEO Aaron Shoket.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Good morning, Good morning Allison.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I'm doing well. How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm great? Thank you. For those who don't know about
Connecticut Paid Leave, how did it come about?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
So the legislature and the governor to cited in twenty
nineteen that we really needed to fill the gap for
Connecticut workers who needed time off from work because they
were sick, or caring for family members, or bonding with
a new child and their family who needed that time
off but didn't have enough savings or banked PTO or
(00:42):
any paid time off of that matter. So the legislature
created our program, We got up and running, and we've
been paying benefits since twenty twenty two.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
That's wonderful. What kind of positive feedback have you received
from people who've taken advantage of the services?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
You know, the people who received benefits from us, it's
over one hundred and seventy thousand Connecticut workers in the
past two and a half years have said that it's
really been a lifesaver. It's enabled them to really focus
on healing or on being with their loved ones at
difficult times and still pay the bills and keep the
(01:18):
lights on. So people have really been appreciative of the
fact that Connecticut has this program.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
So now you have an event that's coming up. It's
called the Family Fun Expo and Resource Fare. What is happening, Well.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
We wanted to have an event that would enable us
to provide information to families both about paid leave, but
also about other services and resources that families might need
from state agencies or other providers. But we also wanted
it to be fun for the kids, so it's kind
of a combination. So there's information for the parents and
(01:55):
activities for the kids. So while the parents are learning
about programs and information, the kids can do face painting,
get balloon animals, we have some craft stations. Mascots from
the Yard Goats as well as Connecticut Sun and Yukon
will be there, and the Connecticut Science Center is going
to have an interactive exhibit. So we're hoping that it's
fun and informative.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
And where will it be held? On what day and
what time?
Speaker 2 (02:20):
So the expo will be at the Hartford Public Library
right downtown on Saturday, October eighteenth, from ten am to
two pm.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
And what are some of the exhibitors that will be there.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
So we have a good variety. So in addition to
Connecticut Paid Leave, we also have Access Health Connecticut, which
helps with folks get their insurance, the Office of the
Treasurer which has the Baby Bonds program, the Department of
Public Health, the Apartment of Social Services, the City of
Hartford Office of Early Childhood, but also organizations like Count
(02:55):
the Kicks, Miracle nine Foundation, Before and After Baby that
in the Institute of Living Well.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
It sounds like a blast, it sounds wonderful. I'm speaking
with CEO Aaron Showket from Connecticut Paid Leave. The event
is Saturday, October eighteenth. It's the Family Fun Expo and
Resource Fare. It's at the Hartford Public Library downtown on
Main Street from ten to two. There's going to be
something for everyone, for all ages. For more information, just
(03:24):
go to Ctpaidleave dot org. Definitely attend this event. Aerin,
thank you so much for being here today and for
serving the community.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Thank you for giving me the chance to let everybody
know about this event. We're really excited about it. And
I should note it's free to attend, and there's free
parking at the library.
Good morning, Thank you for listening to Community Access. I'm
Allison Demurs. My guest this morning is with Connecticut Paid Leave.
She is CEO Aaron Shoket.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Good morning, Good morning Allison.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I'm doing well. How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm great? Thank you. For those who don't know about
Connecticut Paid Leave, how did it come about?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
So the legislature and the governor to cited in twenty
nineteen that we really needed to fill the gap for
Connecticut workers who needed time off from work because they
were sick, or caring for family members, or bonding with
a new child and their family who needed that time
off but didn't have enough savings or banked PTO or
(00:42):
any paid time off of that matter. So the legislature
created our program, We got up and running, and we've
been paying benefits since twenty twenty two.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
That's wonderful. What kind of positive feedback have you received
from people who've taken advantage of the services?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
You know, the people who received benefits from us, it's
over one hundred and seventy thousand Connecticut workers in the
past two and a half years have said that it's
really been a lifesaver. It's enabled them to really focus
on healing or on being with their loved ones at
difficult times and still pay the bills and keep the
(01:18):
lights on. So people have really been appreciative of the
fact that Connecticut has this program.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
So now you have an event that's coming up. It's
called the Family Fun Expo and Resource Fare. What is happening, Well.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
We wanted to have an event that would enable us
to provide information to families both about paid leave, but
also about other services and resources that families might need
from state agencies or other providers. But we also wanted
it to be fun for the kids, so it's kind
of a combination. So there's information for the parents and
(01:55):
activities for the kids. So while the parents are learning
about programs and information, the kids can do face painting,
get balloon animals, we have some craft stations. Mascots from
the Yard Goats as well as Connecticut Sun and Yukon
will be there, and the Connecticut Science Center is going
to have an interactive exhibit. So we're hoping that it's
fun and informative.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
And where will it be held? On what day and
what time?
Speaker 2 (02:20):
So the expo will be at the Hartford Public Library
right downtown on Saturday, October eighteenth, from ten am to
two pm.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
And what are some of the exhibitors that will be there.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
So we have a good variety. So in addition to
Connecticut Paid Leave, we also have Access Health Connecticut, which
helps with folks get their insurance, the Office of the
Treasurer which has the Baby Bonds program, the Department of
Public Health, the Apartment of Social Services, the City of
Hartford Office of Early Childhood, but also organizations like Count
(02:55):
the Kicks, Miracle nine Foundation, Before and After Baby that
in the Institute of Living Well.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
It sounds like a blast, it sounds wonderful. I'm speaking
with CEO Aaron Showket from Connecticut Paid Leave. The event
is Saturday, October eighteenth. It's the Family Fun Expo and
Resource Fare. It's at the Hartford Public Library downtown on
Main Street from ten to two. There's going to be
something for everyone, for all ages. For more information, just
(03:24):
go to Ctpaidleave dot org. Definitely attend this event. Aerin,
thank you so much for being here today and for
serving the community.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Thank you for giving me the chance to let everybody
know about this event. We're really excited about it. And
I should note it's free to attend, and there's free
parking at the library.
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