The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Data and Integration Officer.
The application deadline is January 9, 2026.
For more information and to apply, click here.
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These findings offer a powerful snapshot of where philanthropy is evolving and where gaps continue. We encourage you to explore and share the report with your communities. This report will provide insights to continue strengthening grantmaking practices and deepen our impact in collaboration with the nonprofits and communities we serve.
We’re excited to share that Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) has now released the 2025 National Study of Philanthropic Practice — our most comprehensive look yet at how funders are evolving to meet the needs of nonprofits and communities. You may remember that earlier this year you requested to receive a copy of the report when it was ready, and we’re pleased to provide it to you today.
Drawing on data from 765 staffed foundations across the U.S., the study highlights progress and gaps in how philanthropy advances equity-centered and community-driven practices.
Key insights include:
- Equity is central to grantmaking strategy. 74% of grantmakers say diversity, equity, and inclusion is central to their strategy — up from 45% who said it was central or essential in 2017.
- Grantmakers are shifting power through participatory grantmaking. 42% of funders engage in participatory grantmaking, with higher rates among those who say equity is very central.
- Flexible and multiyear funding are gaining momentum. 87% of grantmakers now provide multiyear funding, and median general operating support has risen to 38% of grantmaking budgets.
- In practice, the 5% payout is no longer the floor. More than half of endowed foundations spend above 5% of their assets annually.
- Capacity-building support is slipping. Only 77% of grantmakers provide capacity-building support – down from 86% in 2017 – even as nonprofits face increased strain.
The GEO team
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
1310 L Street NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC 20005
Comments welcome
As many know, Youth Continuum is closing. They have furniture and office supplies available to other non-profits in the area. Items will be available until 11/13/25, as they have to vacate both locations before Thanksgiving.
Here is general list of what they have:
• Desks
• Chairs
• Tables
• Bookcases
• Side tables
• Bunk beds
• Dressers
• Desk chairs
• Waiting room chairs and couches
• Conference room tables
• Office Supplies
o Binders
o Folders
o Paper clips, etc
• PPE
o Masks
o Hand sanitizer
• Other donated items
o Clothing
o Shoes
o Bags (bookbags, purses, duffle bags)
o Hygiene supplies
• Home/Office Decor
They have items at two locations:
1. 315-319 Winthrop Avenue, New Haven, CT
For items at this location, please call/text 203-836-4732
2. 943 Grand Avenue, New Haven, CT
For items at this location, please call/text 203-824-4366
Items will be available until 11/13/25, as they have to vacate both locations before Thanksgiving. Items left after this date will need to be discarded.
Thank you to the New Haven Independent for this coverage of local nonprofit and community response to the current SNAP emergency. If you would like to learn about local nonprofits helping local communitieis and/or donate to them visit: https://givegreater.cfgnh.org/search?page=1&search_term=Food
If you are aware of any effort to help secure food for people in need during this emergency, please add information in the comments. We reserve the right to delete any information that cannot be publicly and independently verified.
Additional local food resources: https://www.getconnectednewhaven.com/services/food/
CitySeed Steps Up Amid SNAP Lapse
Abel Sauri traveled from East Haven to Wooster Square Saturday to buy fresh produce with the help of a CitySeed-boosted benefit for food stamp recipients. He was one of more than 130 customers who turned to the farmers market nonprofit for help amid a government-shutdown-induced lapse of the nation’s largest food aid program...
https://www.newhavenindependent.org/2025/11/03/cityseed-steps-up-amid-snap-lapse/
Hundreds Line Up For SNAP-Gap Help (Fair Haven Community Healthcare)
Michelle Robertson spent two hours in Fair Haven on Monday morning waiting for a $75 grocery voucher, as she needs to free enough cash to pay for the medications that treat her osteoporosis and cancer...
Emergency Food Fund Launched; SNAP Recipient Readies For Hard Month (United Way of Greater New Haven)
Over the last six years, Angela Roman has only needed to pick up food from St. Bernadette’s Food Pantry towards the end of the month. Without the federal food assistance that she and her two young daughters rely on, starting on Saturday, she’ll have to go at the beginning.
Pols, Food Pantry Leaders Press Feds To Full Fund SNAP (Christian Community Action)
Cheryl Rabe showed up to Christian Community Action (CCA) on Monday to pick up a bag of groceries to help make up for the $169 per month in federal aid that she did not receive on Saturday thanks to a government-shutdown-induced pause on food stamps.
Food Pantries Brace For SNAP Cutoff (Loaves & Fishes, Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen)
With the country’s largest food assistance program set to lapse on Saturday, two local food pantries — Loaves & Fishes and the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) — are expecting to feed at least 150 more families than usual next week.
https://www.newhavenindependent.org/2025/10/28/food-pantries-brace-for-snap-cutoff/
Learn more about local agency efforts, where you can donated and how you can help at the top pf this post.
We are sharing 211's newsletter regarding the SNAP crisis. It provides information on food resources and fact sheets related to SNAP benefits.
- For the factsheet on Government Shutdown: What Happens to SNAP After November 1st? ,click here.
- For the factsheet on Understand the New SNAP Changes! , click here.
- For those interested in doing state-level advocacy, click on CT Voices for Children's SNAP Advocacy Toolkit.
TIME SENSITIVE. Please share widely with others.
For more than 60 years, Roberta Friedman and Stanley Friedman have created memories — literally and in their respective artwork. LIFETIME/LIFELINE: A COLLABORATION is an exhibit of their complementary works and will be on view from October 31- November 30. There will be an Opening Reception on Sunday, November 2 from 2-5 p.m., and an Artists’ Talk and demonstration of creating an encaustic monotype on Sunday, November 16 at 2 p.m.
Roberta Friedman, a long-time member of City Gallery, continues her work in encaustic monotype, cold wax and collage. She has recently had her work included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Encaustic Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Stanley Friedman is adept at, and enamored by, technologies and their creative potential. His photographs exemplify his tireless interest in the universe and its secrets.
“This work, exhibited together for the first time, is our way of acknowledging a lifetime of connection and parallel paths,” says Roberta, “All of which has been honed from shared and individual journeys.”
The exhibit poster includes a photo of two wine glasses, taken by Roberta’s father, Harold Schwartz, around 1945 at the end of the war, and brings the idea of memory into full focus.
The exhibit, LIFETIME/LIFELINE: A COLLABORATION, and the Opening Reception are free and open to the public. City Gallery is located at 994 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511. Gallery hours are Friday - Sunday, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., or by appointment. For further information please contact City Gallery, info@city-gallery.org, www.city-gallery.org.
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Position: Early Start CT Liaison
Location: New Haven, CT (Hybrid)
We Love What Makes You Unique
Your perspective fuels our mission-driven work at United Way of Greater New Haven. Consistent with our organizational values, we are committed to building a team that is inclusive across race, gender, age, religion, identity, and lived experience and believe that diverse perspectives are fundamental to the work we do.
Who We Are Looking For
Are you passionate about improving early childhood education through coaching, monitoring, and collaboration? United Way of Greater New Haven is seeking an Early Start CT Liaison to support the implementation of Early Start CT by conducting site visits, ensuring program compliance, and providing training and technical assistance to funded providers. This role plays a key part in helping programs meet high standards and access the resources they need for continuous improvement. If you're committed to equity, cultural responsiveness, and strengthening early childhood systems, we’d love to hear from you.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
- Site Visits & Monitoring: Conduct regular program visits and classroom observations; review documentation to ensure compliance with Early Start CT standards.
- Training & Technical Assistance: Provide coaching and connect programs with relevant resources; coordinate professional development opportunities tailored to provider needs.
- Data & Reporting: Collect and maintain program data; support compliance and impact reporting for the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) and United Way of Greater New Haven.
- Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with other members of the Education team to integrate family and provider perspectives into program improvement efforts.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field (Master’s preferred)
- 3–5 years of experience in early childhood settings (teaching, coaching, or program management)
- Familiarity with classroom observation tools such as CLASS or ECERS (strongly preferred)
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
- Strong communication and organizational skills
- Commitment to equity, cultural responsiveness, and continuous improvement
- Proficiency with Microsoft products including Word, Excel, and other Office 365 applications
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required.
DESIRED KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
- Experience delivering coaching or technical assistance to early childhood providers
- Ability to build trusting relationships with diverse stakeholders
- Comfort navigating compliance standards and documentation
- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail
- Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic, collaborative work environment
- Demonstrated comfort in learning new software/ online tools as needed.
- Ability to work with diverse staff and volunteers.
- Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of UWGNH.
JOB RELATIONSHIPS WITH:
Early Start CT Director, other members of the UWGNH Education Team, community partners, early childhood providers
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
None
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Normal office environment with little exposure to dust, noise, or temperature.
- Hybrid position, expected to work 2 days/week in our New Haven office
- Ability to lift up to 20 pounds.
- Extended viewing of computer monitor.
- Regular local travel to program sites and events within the region.
- Regular evening and some weekend responsibilities.
SALARY RANGE: $60,000-$70,000 annual salary plus competitive benefits package
In accordance with organizational policies, this position requires a criminal background check as a condition of employment.
About United Way
United Way of Greater New Haven brings people and organizations together to create solutions to Greater New Haven’s most pressing challenges in the areas of Education, Health, and Financial Stability grounded in racial and social justice. We tackle issues that cannot be solved by any one group working alone. We operate according to these organizational values.
United Way is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. United Way of Greater New Haven is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging – so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings!
To Apply: Please submit your cover letter and resume at United Way of Greater New Haven Inc - Job Opportunities
Position: Director of Education Initiatives
Location: New Haven, CT (Hybrid)
We Love What Makes You Unique
Your perspective fuels our mission-driven work at United Way of Greater New Haven. Consistent with our organizational values, we are committed to building a team that is inclusive across race, gender, age, religion, identity, and lived experience and believe that diverse perspectives are fundamental to the work we do.
Who We Are Looking For
Are you passionate about building equitable systems that support children and families from birth through college? United Way of Greater New Haven (UWGNH) is seeking a Director of Education Initiatives to lead our work across the early childhood and school-age youth continuum. This strategic role provides leadership for whole-child initiatives, builds strong collaboratives with community partners, and ensures measurable impact through grantmaking, engagement, and program oversight. The ideal candidate is a relationship-builder, systems thinker, and equity champion who thrives in dynamic, community-centered environments.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Lead Early Childhood & Youth Initiatives: Shape and implement a variety of birth-to-college strategies; partner with schools, providers, nonprofits, and funders to strengthen outcomes; elevate family and youth voices; oversee Secure Start Initiative.
Build & Strengthen Collaboratives and Partnerships: Convene coalitions and working groups; cultivate relationships with organizations, leaders, and caregivers; represent UWGNH at events and forums; collaborate on outreach strategies to increase visibility.
Grantmaking, Reporting, & Resource Development: Manage RFPs and contracts; conduct site visits and gather impact stories; support fundraising efforts; ensure timely and effective grant reporting.
Organizational Leadership & Cross-Team Collaboration: Contribute to UWGNH’s Education and Community Impact teams; share insights and best practices; foster a culture of equity and collaboration; support special projects as needed.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred or equivalent experience
- Minimum 7 years of experience in nonprofit, education, youth development, or early childhood initiatives
- Demonstrated success leading complex community collaborations and partnerships
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Skilled in relationship-building across diverse communities
- Proficiency with Microsoft products including Word, Excel, and other Office 365 applications
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required.
DESIRED KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
- Experience with grantmaking, program evaluation, and impact storytelling
- Comfort navigating cloud-based systems and collaborative platforms
- Strategic thinking and ability to align initiatives with broader community goals
- Demonstrated comfort in learning new software/online tools as needed
- Ability to work with diverse staff and volunteers
- Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of UWGNH
JOB RELATIONSHIPS WITH:
- Vice President of Education
- Secure Start Consultant
- Early childhood providers, school leaders, nonprofit partners, city officials, and funders
- UWGNH Education and Community Impact teams
- Marketing & Engagement, Resource Development, and Finance teams
- Families, youth, and community leaders
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
None
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Normal office environment with little exposure to dust, noise, or temperature.
- Hybrid position, expected to work 2 days/week in our New Haven office
- Ability to lift up to 20 pounds.
- Extended viewing of computer monitor.
- Minimal local travel to events within the region.
- Regular evening and some weekend responsibilities.
SALARY RANGE: $70,000-$80,000 annual salary plus competitive benefits package
In accordance with organizational policies, this position requires a criminal background check as a condition of employment.
About United Way
United Way of Greater New Haven brings people and organizations together to create solutions to Greater New Haven’s most pressing challenges in the areas of Education, Health, and Financial Stability grounded in racial and social justice. We tackle issues that cannot be solved by any one group working alone. We operate according to these organizational values.
United Way is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. United Way of Greater New Haven is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging – so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings!
To Apply: Please submit your cover letter and resume at United Way of Greater New Haven Inc - Job Opportunities
City Gallery is excited to be part of the annual Open Studios event being held throughout New Haven during the month of October. All 15 City Gallery artists will participate in OPEN STUDIOS @ CITY, on view from October 3 through October 26. There will be an Opening Reception on Sunday, October 5, 2-4 p.m., as well as Artist Talks featuring:
Catherine Lavoie & Sheila Kaczmarek, Sunday, October 12, 2-4 p.m.
Phyllis Crowley & Barbara Harder, Sunday, October 26, 2-4 p.m.
For more than 20 years, City Gallery has served as a collective of innovative contemporary artists from the New Haven area. It is a member-run gallery featuring a wide range of visual media: painting, sculpture, photography, papermaking, fiber art, printmaking, and mixed media.
OPEN STUDIOS @ CITY is a chance to see the work of City Gallery’s newest member, painter Beatriz Olson, along with:
- Judy Atlas - painter
- Meg Bloom - sculptor
- Joy Bush - photographer
- Phyllis Crowley - photographer
- Jennifer Davies - fiber artist
- Roberta Friedman - painter
- William Frucht - photographer
- Rita Hannafin - textile artist
- Barbara Harder - printmaker
- Rob Jacoby - painter
- Sheila Kaczmarek - sculptor
- Kathy Kane - painter
- Catherine Lavoie - textile artist
- Tom Peterson - photographer
City Gallery’s exhibits rotate on a monthly schedule, giving the community an opportunity to see works by many artists in a variety of styles throughout the year. In addition, the gallery occasionally hosts work by guest artists who help to make New Haven a vibrant regional center for the arts. These shows include the critically acclaimed SERVED: Wrongful Convictions & the Death Penalty with guest artist Toby Lee Greenberg, MOSAIC, featuring Yale School of Architecture graduates; and SPACES WITHIN, the 2023 Summer Invitational featuring artists Susan Clinard, Shaunda Holloway, and Linda Mickens.
The members of City Gallery are carefully selected for their accomplishments as artists, their ability to commit to maintaining a successful member-run gallery, and their fit with the group. All have distinguished resumes and have exhibited widely, and many also teach in the New Haven artistic community.
Additional Open Studios 2025 events are being held at Creative Arts Workshop, Eli Whitney Museum Barn, Ely Center of Contemporary Art, Erector Square, Highwood Square, Institute Library, Kehler Liddell Gallery, Marlin Works, NXTHVN, and in West Haven and Westville. Information on all of the events can be found at erectorsquarestudios.com.
The Open Studios @ City exhibit and events are free and open to the public. City Gallery is located at 994 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511. Gallery hours are Friday - Sunday, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. or by appointment. For further information please contact City Gallery, info@city-gallery.org, www.city-gallery.org.
IMAGES:
Meg Bloom, Cloud Hands, mixed media, handmade pigmented abaca paper, imbedded plant matter
Roberta Friedman, Second Thoughts, mixed media collage, cold wax, 12 x 12
William Frucht, Connecticut Yankee Mill Nos. 31, archival inkjet print from film negative, 15"h x 18.5" w
Rob Jacoby, Released, Acrylic, 48 x 36
Sheila Kaczmarek, Nazca Plate, Mixed Media 24” x 24”
Beatriz Olson, Colorful Connections #1, acrylic, 30” x 30”
Tom Peterson, Uptown Girls 2, archival pigment print, 10" x 15”
The Neighborhood Leadership Program is a networking, skill building and grant program for local residents of New Haven, West Haven, East Haven or Hamden who want to improve and create meaningful change in their neighborhoods and communities. This program provides the tools, connections and grant resources for envisioning, planning and bringing to life projects that build community. Don’t miss this opportunity to grow as a leader and make a lasting impact in your neighborhood.
Applications for the 2025-26 cohort are due Sunday, Sept. 21 at midnight. Before applying please View 2025-26 Session Schedule to make sure you can attend.
2024-25 Cohort and NLP Facilitators -- photo credit: Dr. David Asbery
**Applications Now Being Accepted from Greater New Haven Basic Needs Providers**
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s Basic Needs Fund is providing grants (up to $10,000) to organizations providing material basic needs in the primary areas of food security; shelter and housing stability; and clothing and hygiene. The Fund values the provision of material basic needs which center individuals’ dignity and promote well-being.
Eligibility Criteria
*Applicants must be organizations providing material basic needs to support individuals in the areas of food security; shelter and housing stability (including evictions support, cash assistance, furniture, energy assistance); and/or clothing and hygiene needs.
*Applicants must provide services in at least one of the following geographies: New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, East Haven, Ansonia or Derby. Priority will be given to applicants that have a reach into neighborhoods and areas that are underserved and have barriers to accessing resources.
*Applicants must have an annual operating budget under $2 million.
*Funding must support the provision of basic needs as described above and can also include staffing, infrastructure and other administrative costs which support service delivery.
Deadline and Process
*The deadline to apply for funding is Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. *Applicants will be notified of funding decisions the week of November 25, 2025.
*The Basic Needs Fund Committee elected to prioritize the support of organizations addressing food security, shelter/housing, clothing and hygiene needs as the demand for these supports and services have significantly increased in the past three years.
*In 2025, an estimated $310,000 is available for Basic Needs Fund grantmaking, and organizations may receive grant awards up to $10,000.
Visit this link for more information and to apply.
William J. Broad has a graduate degree in the history of science and has reported on the Trump administration’s science plans and appointments
The war on science began four centuries ago when the Roman Catholic Church outlawed books that reimagined the heavens. Subsequent regimes shot or jailed thousands of scientists. Today, in such places as China and Hungary, a less fearsome type of strongman relies on budget cuts, intimidation and high-tech surveillance to cow scientists into submission.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/science/trump-science-autocrats.html
Invisible Shores: Mixed Media and Clay Work by Sheila Kaczmarek
Inspired by a recent trip to the Galapagos Islands, artist Sheila Kaczmarek has created a fascinating collection of new mixed media and clay work for the September exhibit at City Gallery. INVISIBLE SHORES will be on view from September 5 - September 28, with an Opening Reception on Sunday, September 14: 3 - 5 pm.
“I was immediately struck by the unique, stark landscape,” says Kaczmarek. “Living in this rugged landscape of volcanoes, craters and cliffs are great tortoises, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants and penguins to name a few.”
She was most intrigued, she says, by the rippling layers of volcanic rock undisturbed by vegetation, and worked to capture the interplay of varied species and terrains, untainted by human interference, in her work.
Kaczmarek studied art at St. Martin’s School of Art, London; UCLA, California; and the Academie des Beaux Arts, Brussels. She apprenticed in the ceramic studio of the Guilford Art Center for five years. She has taught art for over 20 years to both children and now to adults. She worked with a collaborative group of women artists for 8 years, resulting in multiple shows in Connecticut and New York. She is a founding member of City Gallery, president of the Guilford Art League, and served on the Board of the New Haven Paint and Clay Club for many years.
INVISIBLE SHORES is free and open to the public. City Gallery is located at 994 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511. Gallery hours are Friday - Sunday, 12pm - 4 pm, or by appointment. For further information please contact City Gallery, info@city-gallery.org, www.city-gallery.org.
The right-wing educational resource is available for classrooms in ten states and wants to go ‘toe-to-toe’ with PBS Kids. Will teachers go for what the company has described as indoctrination?
https://prospect.org/education/2025-08-15-prageru-wants-to-capitalize-on-pbs-defunding/
In August, City Gallery presents SERVED: Wrongful Convictions & The Death Penalty by guest artist Toby Lee Greenberg, on view from August 1 – August 24.The Opening Reception will be held on Sunday, August 3rd, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., featuring an Artist’s Talk and Guest Speakers at 3 p.m. Guest speakers include Stefon Morant and Hannah L. Fitzsimon from the Innocence Project.
The Innocence Project works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone. Founded in 1992 by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, the organization is now an independent nonprofit. Its work is “guided by science and grounded in anti-racism.”
Toby Lee Greenberg is a conceptual, mixed media artist whose work is immersed in the criminal justice system, with a focus on the history and continued use of capital punishment in the United States. Her current work, Biography: Unwritten, is an ongoing, interactive series which considers the issue of wrongful convictions and the most egregious of erroneous judgments – the death penalty. Greenberg’s goal is to create a unique artist’s book, honoring each exonerated person included on the Death Penalty Information Center’s Innocence Database (200 to date). While researching Biography: Unwritten, Greenberg combs through numerous resources, gathering information on the men and women who have been wrongfully sentenced to death and later exonerated. The titles of her books imply they are biographies, with subtitles suggesting details about the person’s life, often prior to becoming entangled in the criminal justice system. But the pages are not only empty, they are also glued and cemented shut, suggesting the harshness of a prison cell and time lost on death row. The final page of each book, the epilogue, contains a simple paraphrased sentence, completing the prompt “Missed…”, as in “Missed building a credit history” or “Missed having a family. These personal “Missed” statements reveal a milestone or simple moment, which was lost while incarcerated, usually with lifelong consequences. Factual information regarding the subject’s time on death row completes each epilogue.
Viewers are encouraged to pick up a book, bearing witness to its contents or lack thereof. These are the empty biographies of innocent men and women, convicted and sentenced to death for crimes they did not commit and who, upon release from prison, struggle to find a place for themselves in a world quite different from the one they left behind. While holding a book, viewers may consider their own lives and the preciousness of these missed moments which become even more profound in their absence. Some viewers find themselves identifying, at least momentarily, with the subject of the biography, imagining the experience of an innocence denied and the helplessness of the wrongfully convicted. Displayed on floating shelves, each book sits upon a stack of untitled books, paying homage to the unknown number of people who were wrongly convicted but who perished on death row.
For every 8 people executed, 1 person on death row has been exonerated. 1,630 people have been executed in the U.S. since 1973.
Equal Justice Initiative (eji)
“My current work on wrongful convictions and the brutality of the death penalty, pushes people out of their comfort zones, bringing viewers’ attention to an unpleasant topic — the sanctity and fragility of life and one’s own mortality,” says Greenberg.
Greenberg’s interest in the history and controversary regarding the use of the death penalty began in 1995, after hearing a report of a person’s requested last meal on the evening news. Working with ordinary objects, such as dinner plates and restaurant menus, she began researching the ritual and custom of offering a last meal of choice to someone about to be executed. The limited-edition artist’s book The Menu, is a compilation of 34 pages, bound within a luxury, gold foil-stamped cover. A constant throughout the years, has been the incorporation of text into her art, empowering appropriated words with another layer of meaning and messaging. Her work calls into question the dissemination of public information, such as state prison records and trial transcripts, and our voyeuristic nature. On display, The Menu encourages viewers to turn the pages, to read the options of what seems to be an elegant restaurant menu. Last Meal, a companion piece, consists of fine china dinner plates, displaying elegant words printed in the area which would ordinarily contain food. At the top of each plate appears the name of a person condemned to death, followed by their last supper, the meal they requested and were served just prior to their execution. The foods listed on the plates, which at first seem innocent enough, compel one to consider the finality of the meal and the destiny of these individuals. Why has this person who has been stripped of all freedom, now in his/her final hour, been afforded a choice?
The presentation of these ritualistic meals distances us from the institutionalized proceedings of which they are a part. These meals articulate a darkness about human beings and the positions each of us play as criminal, executioner, or simply the members of a society that puts people to death, but paradoxically allows them one last act of individual expression. The collection of meals presented in the Last Meal and The Menu subconsciously prompts us to consider what our own final request would be. This simple act momentarily compels us to identify with the helplessness of the condemned, as it simultaneously links them, guilty or not, with the rest of humanity. 1
Greenberg’s work on the death penalty can make people uncomfortable, leading them to consider their own feelings about this act and to consider something they would simply prefer not to think about.
“My goal is to share my art with a wide audience both within traditional art venues, as well as through alternative spaces and organizations. It is my hope that my art promotes conversation and brings awareness to wrongful convictions, the death penalty, mass incarceration, and the criminal justice system overall,” explains Greenberg.
The SERVED: Wrongful Convictions & The Death Penalty exhibit and Opening Reception are free and open to the public. City Gallery is located at 994 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511. Gallery hours are Friday - Sunday, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., or by appointment. For further information please contact City Gallery, info@city-gallery.org, www.city-gallery.org.
Biography: Unwritten, Installation views from exhibition Books Undone, Penn College of Technology, 2024, © Toby Lee Greenberg 2024
The Menu, Cover, Installation View, © Toby Lee Greenberg, 1995
The Menu, Franco American Spaghettios with meatballs, Detail of Interior View, © Toby Lee Greenberg, 1995
Last Meal, Fried Rabbit, 10” Dinner Plate, © Toby Lee Greenberg, 1995
https://newhavenvision2034.com/
How to Purify the Well: From Negative Self-Talk to Loving Yourself
If you’ve heard me speak before, you may remember this metaphor: negative self-talk is like poison in the well. It seeps into everything. And when we stop the self-hate, the guilt, the critical voice in our heads, it’s like we stop adding more poison to that well.
But if we want to actually purify that well, not just stop the damage but actively heal it, we have to do more. That’s where affirmations come in. They act like a fast-track filtration system for your inner world.
I know. If you think affirmations sound cheesy or fake, I hear you. I used to think that too. But what I’ve learned in over a decade of recovery is this: just because I think something doesn’t mean it’s true. In fact, the opposite is often true, especially when it comes to what I think about myself. Read more...
