Carver Students Take the Stage at The Norwalk Art Space: A Celebration of Young Creativity and Community

Just steps from the Carver Community Center, something special is happening. On Thursday, November 20th, from 5:00–7:00 pm, Carver students will join young artists and musicians from across Norwalk to showcase their talents at The Norwalk Art Space’s Fall Semester Student Art Show & Recital—a joyful, community-wide celebration of creative expression.

This free, family-friendly evening invites everyone to experience the power of Arts For All in action. Guests will wander through gallery spaces filled with student artwork—bright canvases, bold sketches, mixed-media pieces, and imaginative creations shaped during months of after-school exploration. Alongside the visual art, live performances will fill the space with music as students share what they’ve been practicing all semester.

Carver students have poured heart and effort into their art, supported by teaching artists, mentors, and families who show up for them every day. For many, this will be the first time their work is displayed publicly—or their first time performing for an audience beyond the walls of their after-school program. It’s a moment of courage, pride, and belonging.

Events like this reflect what makes Norwalk extraordinary: neighbors coming together to cheer one another on, creative opportunities open to every child, and partnerships—like the one between Carver and The Norwalk Art Space—that lift students’ confidence and spark new possibilities.

Free and open to the public. All ages welcome.
Come be part of the applause. Come celebrate the imagination, growth, and brilliance of our young people.

Good News: All Connecticut SNAP Recipients Now Have Full November Benefits Available

There is welcome news for Connecticut families who rely on SNAP. The State of Connecticut has confirmed that all SNAP recipients now have access to their full November benefits on their EBT cards. Despite recent concerns tied to the federal government shutdown, Connecticut has stepped in to backfill SNAP funding to ensure that no household experiences a disruption in benefits.

This means that your full monthly benefit amount is already available and ready for use.

If you want to verify your balance, you can do so anytime by visiting MyDSS.ct.gov or calling the EBT Customer Service line at 1-888-328-2666.

We know that these moments of uncertainty create real stress for families already working hard to make ends meet. This announcement ensures that Connecticut residents can continue to access food and essential items without delay.

If you or someone you know receives SNAP, please help spread the word—benefits are available now.

🎃 Carver’s Roton Middle School Artists Shine in the Pumpkin Painting Contest! 🎨

Carver’s R.A.M.S. Afterschool Program at Roton Middle School celebrated fall in full color this year with a joyful and wildly creative Pumpkin Painting Contest, led by Dean Vaccaro, National Board Certified Teacher of U.S. History (Grade 8) and Carver’s R.A.M.S. Program Director. What began as an Arts & Crafts lesson in design techniques blossomed into a dazzling display of imagination, humor, and artistic flair across all three grades.

Thanks to Springdale Florist in Darien, which once again provided high-quality pumpkins, every student had the chance to create something unique. Using everything from paint and fabric to mixed media and embellishments, students crafted pumpkins that were spooky, funny, elegant—and occasionally laugh-out-loud surprising.

After the artwork was completed, students cast votes for their favorites in each category. Winners were announced during our festive Fall Harvest Bingo & Celebration, where certificates were awarded and applause filled the room.

🏆 2025 Pumpkin Painting Contest Winners

• Spookiest Pumpkin: Isabella Otero, Grade 8

• Funniest Pumpkin: Jacob Morales Martinez, Grade 7

• Most Creative Pumpkin: Bruno Huacca, Grade 6

• Prettiest Pumpkin: Logan Wojcik, Grade 6

• Best Pumpkin Overall: Dylan Mercado Gallardo, Grade 8

Each student proudly brought their pumpkin home as a holiday decoration—a gift for their families and a reminder of their creativity and hard work.

Congratulations to all our talented artists, and special thanks to Dean Vaccaro for inspiring another round of seasonal fun and to Springdale Florist for supporting our students year after year.

Carver kids continue to show that when creativity meets opportunity, they can make magic! 🎃✨

Government Shutdown Freezes Federal Food Assistance: Nearly 10,000 Norwalk Residents Without SNAP Support

With the federal government shutdown halting the release of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds, nearly 10,000 Norwalk residents are suddenly without the food assistance they rely on each month.

Carver’s role in food support is limited to our annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive, which provides full holiday meals for Norwalk families. In this moment of widespread hardship, we join our city partners in urging community members to support the local food charities and organizations listed here and in the graphic below. These programs on the front lines are there to ensure Norwalk households can access food during this temporary—but deeply disruptive—pause in federal assistance.

The Norwalk Food Alliance’s comprehensive Food Guide lists dozens of pantries, mobile distributions, and meal programs available to residents, along with SNAP enrollment support for those seeking help once benefits are restored. Services include:

You can explore the complete list, in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, at www.norwalkct.gov/meals — or contact any of the agencies shown below to volunteer, donate, or share the guide with neighbors who may need help.

Carver stands with our community partners, our city, and every family facing this crisis. Together, we can ensure that Norwalk’s long tradition of caring for one another endures—even when national systems falter.

Sign Up for Thanksgiving Food Baskets!

Carver Kids Harvest Fun at Silverman’s Farm: A Day of Animals, Apples, and Autumn Adventure

Carver’s youngest students from the Community Center’s CASPER program kicked off the fall season with a joyful field trip to Silverman’s Farm in Easton, Connecticut—a local favorite known for its hands-on, family-friendly farm experiences. The K–5 students were treated to an unforgettable day surrounded by nature, animals, and classic New England charm.

From the moment they arrived, the Carver kids were immersed in the sights and sounds of the farm. Each child received a colorful gourd to take home—a bright reminder of their autumn adventure. They spent time exploring the petting zoo, where over 100 animals roam the scenic hillsides. With feeding bags in hand, students delighted in meeting buffalo, llamas, goats, sheep, alpacas, fallow deer, and even the famously friendly bunnies in Silverman’s large free-range rabbit enclosure.

After their animal encounters, the group enjoyed Silverman’s famous homemade donuts—a sweet reward after a morning of exploring—and gathered for snacks at the picnic tables overlooking the orchards. The farm’s welcoming staff shared insights into the animals and life on a working farm, making the day both educational and fun.

While fall is peak season at Silverman’s, the farm offers year-round activities that keep families coming back: scenic hayrides through the orchard, a wooden tractor and train playground, fruit picking from June through October, and special seasonal events like pumpkin challenges and holiday festivals. The Carver students especially loved seeing the rows of apple trees, home to 25 varieties, and learning how fruit grows and is harvested.

By the end of the visit, students were brimming with excitement, laughter, and sticky fingers from donuts—an autumn day well spent. Trips like this give Carver’s CASPER students a chance to connect classroom learning with the natural world, building lasting memories and an appreciation for the region’s agricultural traditions.

Carver Awarded Two State Grants in Governor Lamont’s $5.3 Million Investment to Expand After-School Programs Across Connecticut

Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker announced this week that the State of Connecticut has awarded $5.3 million in new funding to expand high-quality after-school programs serving students across 30 municipalities. Among the 41 grants awarded statewide, Carver stands out as one of only a handful of organizations—and the only Norwalk-based nonprofit—to receive two separate grants through the Connecticut State Department of Education’s competitive After-School Grant Program.

Carver’s two new grants will support after-school programming at Nathan Hale and West Rocks Middle Schools as well as Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy and Roton Middle School, strengthening Carver’s long-standing partnership with Norwalk Public Schools. Each grant totals $153,880, representing a combined state investment of more than $300,000 in Carver’s middle school after-school programs.

These grants were awarded through a highly competitive process evaluating local need, program design, academic enrichment, student wellness, and family engagement. The recognition reflects the state’s confidence in Carver’s evidence-based approach to youth development and its record of producing measurable academic gains and social-emotional growth for Norwalk students.

“High-quality after-school programs create opportunities for students to receive the additional academic and social supports they need to thrive,” Governor Lamont said in announcing the awards.

Carver’s programs provide daily academic support, literacy and STEAM enrichment, mentoring, wellness activities, and family engagement opportunities. Each site operates four days per week throughout the school year, offering safe, structured environments that extend learning beyond the classroom while supporting working families.

Carver is proud to represent Norwalk in this new round of state investment—and to be recognized twice among only 41 funded proposals statewide. The dual awards underscore Carver’s position as a statewide leader in out-of-school time programming and its ongoing commitment to ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed in school, career, and life.

Art as Activism: Norwalk Art Space Students Turn Personal Concerns into Creative Action

At The Norwalk Art Space, creativity meets conscience. In this five-week “Art as Activism” program, Carver students are learning how to turn their personal passions and concerns into art that speaks — and sometimes shouts — for change.

During the first week, students are brainstorming the issues that matter most to them: bullying, littering, freedom to practice religion, and other challenges they see in their schools and communities. Through discussion, sketching, and exploration, they’re discovering that art can be both a personal expression and a public statement.

Over the coming weeks, young artists will study how creators throughout history have used art to make people think, feel, and act. They’ll research the topics they care about, experiment with materials and media, and create original works that reflect their voices and values.

Each session builds toward a final public exhibition at The Norwalk Art Space, where students will present their finished pieces — visual statements that explore how creativity can challenge injustice, promote empathy, and inspire action.

The program’s message is simple but powerful: art can change the way we see the world, and young people have the power to lead that change.

From a sculpture made from discarded litter to a mixed-media portrait confronting bullying, every work will represent a step toward understanding how activism can begin with awareness — and how awareness can begin with art.

Carver Invites the Community to Its Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors on November 19

🎭 From Quesadillas to Costumes: Naramake After the Bell Students Learn Through Creativity and Play

At Naramake Elementary School, Carver’s After the Bell program is serving up imagination and life skills in equal measure. Two recent hands-on enrichment activities—Acting Out with Ms. Karen Hall and cooking with Mrs. Miranda—show how after-school experiences nurture literacy, confidence, and joy in learning.

In Acting Out, local author and storyteller Ms. Karen Hall brings her famous trunk of interactive props—lovingly known as “Chester”—to inspire students to step into the world of storytelling. Dressed in costume, students performed a play about fall and Halloween, learning how to use voice, movement, and imagination to bring stories to life. Ms. Karen’s program, ideal for children ages 2 through 8, transforms storytelling into a full-body, laughter-filled experience that builds vocabulary, confidence, and empathy.

Meanwhile, down in the school cafeteria, Mrs. Miranda led a group of young chefs through the art of making quesadillas—measuring, spreading, folding, and toasting their creations to perfection. Beyond the delicious results, the children practiced teamwork, fine motor skills, and following directions while learning about ingredients and cultures.

These joyful experiences highlight what makes after-school programs like After the Bell so transformative. Unlike traditional classrooms, after-school environments create safe, pressure-free spaces where learning feels natural and personal. Children are encouraged to explore who they are and what they enjoy—whether through writing a story, performing one, or cooking something new. There are no grades, only growth.

At their best, after-school programs help children discover their voices, build confidence, and develop literacy skills that last a lifetime. At Naramake, the recipe is simple: imagination, encouragement, and a dash of fun.