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A four-part series presented by University of Hartford, Leadership Greater Hartford, and The Connecticut Mirror


The Two Connecticuts: Conversations about Race and Place

Session Two: Housing

In Connecticut, exclusionary zoning is a major element of systemic racism. Many suburban towns perpetuate the Two Connecticuts by zoning out affordable housing. This year has seen a major pushback against exclusionary zoning in the General Assembly and the courts. This session looks at the battle for affordable housing in the suburbs and for improved housing in cities.


Event Panelists

  • Sara Bronin, founder/lead organizer of Desegregate CT and Cornell University professor
  • Karen DuBois-Walton, President of New Haven’s Elm City Communities/Housing Authority
  • Jim Perras, CEO of the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Connecticut

The panel will be moderated by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, investigative reporter with Connecticut Public’s Accountability Project and former CT Mirror reporter.

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John DankoskyEvent / Podcast Host

John is CT Mirror's Director of Events. A well-known and highly-regarded radio personality and moderator, he divides his time between CT Mirror — where he heads up our events program and serves as a multi-platform consultant — and the NPR / PRI program Science Friday. Previously, John was executive editor of the New England News Collaborative and the host of NEXT, a weekly program about New England. He also appeared weekly on The Wheelhouse, WNPR’s news roundtable program. His 25 years in public media also include serving as vice president of news for Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network, host of WNPR’s Where We Live, and regular fill-in host for the PRI program Science Friday in New York. He was twice recognized by PRNDI as America’s best public radio call-in show.