Joshua Steele Kelly, MPA, CCAP

09/03/2026

TVCCA has gone through SO much growth, expansion, and improvement over the past few years, building on an already unprecedentedly impressive foundation. I'm deeply honored that I'm not the only one who has seen that growth, as evidenced by TVCCA being awarded Nonprofit of the Year by the Eastern CT Chamber of Commerce last night.

Family Bridge, Nurse Family Partnership, RSVP, Head Start on Housing, Norwich Cold Weather Sheltering, the Mashantucket Pequot Child Development Center - all new initiatives and involvements that we have committed to in our quest to abolish poverty and build resilient community. NONE of it would be possible without our amazing 400 staff members (plus the hundreds that came before us), our 21 Trustees, and scores of nonprofit, government, and business partners that help us put it all together. You know who you are - this award was accepted on behalf of ALL who make TVCCA possible, and I'm grateful for you and your efforts to help the tens of thousands of clients we serve every year. Thank you to the Chamber and its members for this great honor.

Stay tuned, TVCCA isn't done with this year, and we're only headed onward and upward in 2027!

09/02/2026

I'm at our new (to TVCCA) Child Development Center at Mashantucket all day today - it was great to be up with the sun and here seeing children getting dropped off!

TVCCAcares The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation

08/31/2026

TVCCA opened the Child Development Center at the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation today, and I want to thank the community for bearing with the past two weeks of closure so we could deliver cultural and educational trainings to our new staff and the building could have small improvements made to it. Our Open House at the Center on Friday (where we were joined by TVCCA Board member Tony Madeira) demonstrated such wonderful community around the Center, and we're honored to be a part of bringing the educational capacity of the Center to the next level. We're so happy to have the kids back today!!

TVCCAcares The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation

08/30/2026

I'm out here at the 2nd Annual TVCCA Sound Waves Music Festival - this year hosted at Stonington Vineyards! Come on down to enjoy great music, check out amazing raffles, and enjoy idyllic an Sunday afternoon with us. Hope to see you between now and 4pm!

TVCCAcares Stonington Vineyards

08/24/2026

I am very happy to share that I have been asked to serve as a judge for the CCM CT and UConn School of Public Policy LoCoolGov Youth Scholarship competition this year!

The CCM Scholarship is a chance for students around the state to share their vision and make their voices heard by local leaders. Think about the question - What is cool about local government?

The contest is open to all Connecticut public middle (grades 6-8) or high (grades 9-12) school students. They may collaborate with peers and submit group projects of no more than 3 people. Please encourage students you know to apply! The winning submissions* will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship presented during CCM’s Convention on Tuesday, October 27th or Wednesday, October 28th. Winners will be invited to stay and attend the awards dinner and gubernatorial debate.

*Prize will be split equally among each group member should a group entry win. One high school and one middle school submission will be selected.

Learn more:
https://www.ccm-ct.org/Member-Benefits/Events/2026-CCM-Convention/-LoCoolGov-Youth-Scholarship-2026

08/21/2026

It was terrific to spend yesterday with TVCCA's newest employees, who will be staffing the Child Development Center operated by and for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. It was a day focused on culture, history, and understanding: we spent the morning on a guided tour of the Tribal Nation's museum and research center, and we spent some time learning about Tribal activities and crafting for children, the Tribe's native language, and the Pequot War.

I didn't know much about the Pequot War going into today - I should have, as a proud and longtime resident of Southeastern Connecticut, but I simply did not know or understand the full extent of the eradication and genocide committed against the Pequot people in the 1630s. At the Pequot Massacre alone, an estimated 600 were murdered, including women and children, many of whom burned to death or were slaughtered as they tried to flee for their lives from a surprise attack perpetrated by the English and other native peoples. Many more were rounded up and killed or forced into slavery thereafter, and the very word "Pequot" was outlawed by the colonial government. The Pequot people were considered to be "extinct" in short order by the colonists - it's a miracle that they exist as a nation today. We must never forget these horrors that came before us and what they still mean for our neighbors here in southeastern Connecticut today.

It was a very moving day - it made me all the more proud to be in service to this Tribal Nation that has struggled and overcome so much. I'm looking forward to more trainings, more conversations, and greater partnership with the Tribal Nation as we take on administration of their Child Development Center. It is a very big responsibility, and not one that we take lightly.

Today, more trainings focus on trauma-informed care, mandated reporting, and more. This team is going to be ready to deliver better than ever for the children of the Tribal Nation in short order!

08/18/2026

!!!

Congratulations to TVCCA - Thames Valley Council for Community Action , our 2026 Non-profit of the Year!

For 60 years TVCCA has shown up for eastern Connecticut with nearly 40 programs, from early education to senior nutrition, reaching 22,722 people across 57 towns last year alone. TVCCA isn't slowing down either: 2026 brings new work managing the child development center within the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and reintroducing the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program to the community.

Come celebrate TVCCA's impact with us on September 2 at Lake of Isles! Tickets at https://info.chamberect.com/events/details/the-annual-chamber-ecty-awards-una-serata-italiana-1763861.

08/17/2026

This National Nonprofit Day, I want to wish a HUGE congratulations to everyone at TVCCA as the organization was named 2026 Nonprofit of the Year by The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut!

With over sixty years of compassionate human services delivered in eastern Connecticut, TVCCA has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals improve living conditions for themselves, their families, and the generations to come after them. In 2026 alone, we are expanding our child development services in a whole new partnership with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, we are expanding our footprint statewide as we work to help Connecticut administer the Head Start on Housing program, we have been selected to restart the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program in eastern Connecticut, and much more. I'm thrilled that the hard work and dedication of the 350+ employees at TVCCA is being recognized at this level, and I'm grateful to the Chamber for their attention to our historic and present successes.

A VERY happy National Nonprofit Day to all who celebrate - please join us to celebrate TVCCA's recognition as the 2026 Nonprofit of the Year on September 2nd at Lake of Isles. Tickets at: https://info.chamberect.com/events/details/the-annual-chamber-ecty-awards-una-serata-italiana-1763861

08/08/2026

It was wonderful to connect with fellow alums from Wheaton College, MA this week and hear a little bit about the constant progress and growth of the college from President Whelan. Thank you for making the trip out to our beautiful corner of Connecticut, Wheaton College Massachusetts!