Trainings & Events

The Connecticut Main Street Center Team wants to catch up and introduce you to our new team!

They’d also like to preview some of their upcoming events & programs and get your feedback:

• CMSC is growing their new education & training programming — is it what you need?


• They're also improving their member community experience — how can they help you grow?

These events will be casual affairs – feel free to drop by and say hi, meet the CMSC team, and let them know what you’re up to and how CMSC can help!

Can’t join at Epicure Brewing? Check out these other dates & locations:

• July 28th – 5 Churches Brewing, New Britain


• August 11th – Urban Lodge Brewing Co., Manchester


• September 8th – Berlinetta Brewing, Bridgeport

The one-day conference will feature an engaging agenda that includes appearances from guest speakers Governor Ned Lamont and Waterbury Mayor Neil O'Leary. Interactive sessions with expert panelists will help frame the Greater Naugatuck Valley’s path on issues related to transportation, affordable housing, and public involvement. This year's discussions and presentations will be underpinned by the concept of equity.

The event is facilitated by the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG). Presentations begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m. There is no cost to attend and the conference is open to the general public.
 

This workshop will be held in the CTData office space at Trinity College Action Lab. The room is large with high ceilings, and CTData is selling a reduced number of seats. In keeping with Trinity College’s COVID protocols, attendees must wear a mask and show a vaccination card to enter.

Workshop Description

During this hands-on workshop, you will learn the principles of data visualization and apply them with free tools. By learning the principles of data visualization you be able to create simple, compelling charts that effectively convey insights you gain from data, no matter what tool you use.

In Data Visualization you will learn how to:

• Make decisions about color and design to communicate your message.


• Create graphs in Datawrapper and Tableau.


• Make decisions about how much detail to show (or not) depending on your audience.

You will need to bring your own laptop in order to fully participate in this workshop.

A note about the fee:

Workshops build skills, clear up confusion, and enhance professional development, but you didn’t need us to tell you that. Studies have found that by charging a small fee, it increases the likelihood that you will attend this workshop and reap the benefits of the training. For this reason, we charge a small fee to cover the cost of parking and food. However, if you are truly unable to pay the fee, please contact Sarah ([email protected]) to attend this training free of charge.
 

Join CT Main Street Center for an immersive half-day of dynamic discussion and group exercises led by an expert in urban planning, affordable housing, community engagement, and economic development, Raquel Vazquez, CEO and founder of The Empowered Block. Through a lens of diversity, equity and inclusion, this training will cover:

Observe & Understand

• Stakeholder Inventory: Review each stakeholder in the local economic development ecosystem, their role, and their priorities.


• Stakeholder Perspectives: Understand each stakeholder's unique perspective, delving into their roles and how their priorities and concerns are shaped.

Engage & Implement

• Engagement Strategies: Learn different types of engagement strategies to employ when interacting with stakeholders and when to use them.


• Inclusive Engagement: Study how the past impacts present day neighborhood and commercial corridor contexts. Understand the importance of inclusively engaging stakeholders for greater benefits for all.


• Build Collaborative Teams: Best practices for building trust, consensus, and managing difficult conversations.

Grow & Adapt

• Local Contexts in Connecticut: How COVID and other macro-economic factors are affecting stakeholders and its impact for engagement.


• Stakeholder Engagement Best Practices: Bring everything together to review the techniques and strategies for reaching your engagement goals.