The upcoming holiday season is known as a time for gathering with friends and family over food. But November 1st marked the cut-off of SNAP benefits and the rapid increase of food insecurity across the nation as part of the Trump administration's continued campaign against immigrants, the working class, and the federal assistance programs which tens of millions depend upon.

In this episode of Mic Check, host Tyler Nelson speaks with Maggie Mitchell Salem, Executive Director of IRIS (Integrated Refugee and Immigration Services), a resettlement agency located in New Haven, Connecticut. Maggie provides an update on IRIS’s new location in downtown New Haven, the Trump regime's continuing erosion of America’s great legacy of bipartisan immigration policy, and what the loss of SNAP and other essential services means for immigrants and U.S.-born citizens. Their conversation concludes on the topic of hope, plus some tangible ways that listeners can help their sisters and brothers around Connecticut experiencing hunger and food insecurity.

Resources recommended by Maggie include:
IRIS Food Pantry (75 Hamilton St, New Haven) is open from 8:30-11:00am on Wednesdays. Donations accepted at irisct.org/donate.

Community Soup Kitchen of New Haven (84 Broadway, New Haven) provides healthy and nutritious meals to all persons. Information at csknewhaven.org.

Connecticut Foodshare connects people with mobile and local food pantries at ctfoodshare.org/find-food.

Laura Modlin interviews Melissa McDowell on how she cured herself with food.

"I have met a lot of people in the local food movement who were set on their path to championing better food after curing themselves with what they ate. So, I am pleased to be able to interview one very special lady on WPKN who did just that." ~ Laura

Photo courtesy of Melissa McDowell.

On the August 17, 2025 episode of Mic Check, host Mike Merli sat down with Barbara Fair.

Born and raised in New Haven, Barbara graduated with an MSW (Master’s in Social Work) from Southern Connecticut State University, who presented her in 2022 with a Presidential Gold Medal naming her as a woman of distinction for her many years fighting for prison reform. Barbara is currently Director of Stop Solitary CT, and has spent much of her life in the struggle for racial and social justice in Connecticut and across the nation. Barbara’s most rewarding role in life is as a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

During the discussion, they touch on two important events happening this week:

On Thursday August 21, from 6pm to 9pm, Stop Solitary CT will hold their monthly Community Meeting, at the Whitneyville Cultural Commons (1253 Whitney Avenue) in Hamden, Connecticut. The discussion will bring together private Defense Attorneys, Prosecutors, and civil rights activist Abraham Santiago.

On Friday August 22, at 9am, Barbara and Stop Solitary CT will be gathering in front of Hartford Superior Court (95 Washington Street) for a vigil before a hearing where the court will decide whether or not to publicly release the video of J'Allen Jones' March 2018 death at Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown.

Barbara Fair can be reached at:
barbfair848@gmail.com.

More info on Stop Solitary CT at:
www.stopsolitaryct.org/
x.com/stopsolitaryct
www.instagram.com/stopsolitaryct/

More info on the death of J'Allen Jones at:

www.ctinsider.com/news/article/jal…uit-19813830.php

www.wfsb.com/2024/10/18/frustra…to%20be%20released

www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/h…eath-of-an-inmate/

www.nhregister.com/news/article/ac…ecount=MA%3D%3D