WTS CT 2023 Year in Review Newsletter

ADA 33 rd Anniversary Celebration Event WTS CT partnered with CTDOT, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE CT), and the UConn Training and Technical Assistance Center (T2 Center) to celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 33rd Anniversary on Wednesday July 26 at the City of Meriden Green. Individuals who attended had the opportunity to learn from professionals in the industry planning and designing pedestrian facilities as well as initiatives going on at the local, state, and federal levels. Speakers included FHWA CT Division Administrator Amy Jackson-Grove, CTDOT Commissioner Garret Eucalitto, City of Meriden Mayor Kevin Scarpati, and Town Manger Timothy Coon as well as Lisa Sherman, ITE Featured Speaker & Principal at CDM Smith. In addition, residents from Greenwich and Stamford shared their experience with their guide dogs and expressed admiration and commendation for the vast ADA improvement both within the City of Meriden and throughout the State. Following the speaking portion of event there were table exhibits highlighting different groups and activities. The Safety Circuit Rider Melissa Evans brought the UConn T2 Center’s ADA compliance toolkit to allow participants to gauge pedestrian amenities for mobility or vision impaired users. The toolkit includes manual wheelchairs, masks to simulate total loss of vision, googles to simulate three different visual impairments, and support canes to be used in conjunction with goggles or masks. To experience the day-to-day challenges of a person with disability enhanced participants understanding of the importance of the ADA.

Mindful Leadership Program

July 26, 2023 City of Meriden Green, Meriden, CT

WTS CT partnered with Elyssa Dixon, PE from fleeceandforests to provide members with a six-month program including three guided module sessions and three follow-up conversations. The Mindful Leadership series strengthens management and leadership skills while also improving individual well-being. Module 1: Engineering Your Mind - April 5 This module explored the tenets and science of mindfulness, mindfulness practice, and the benefits of mindfulness for problem solvers. The follow-up conversation took place on May 3. Module 2: Mindful Leadership - June 7 This module focused on understanding management and leadership; growing leadership skills through mindfulness including active listening, awareness, and bias reduction; and the application of mindfulness to project management with diverse teams, stakeholders, and

clients. The follow-up conversation took place on July 5. Module 3: Understanding Emotional Intelligence - August 2

This module examined emotional intelligence through a mindfulness lens by growing self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, social skills, and empathy, and the importance of proactive versus reactive leadership. The follow-up conversation took place on September 12.

Zentangle Art & Mindfulness Practice WTS CT’s Kelley Kelly led a group of members in reducing stress while creating fascinating images through Zentangle, a method of drawing simple repeating patterns into stunning designs! Sometimes

November 8, 2023 AECOM Offices, Rocky Hill, CT

called ‘meditation for people that can’t sit still’, Zentangle is a no-mistakes art form that can lower stress levels, increase mindfulness, and stoke creativity.

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