Joshua Steele Kelly, MPA, CCAP

09/12/2026

This Tuesday, the City of Norwich will conclude a public hearing on the placement of the City's overnight warming shelter at St. Mark's Lutheran Church. We at TVCCA have adequate staffing with proper training, tools, and resources to not only make this a safe operation, but one that connects the unhoused in our community with needed resources to obtain permanent, affordable housing. While concerns have been brought up about property values in the neighborhood, I ask:

1. If not there, where? Why are the property values of people in other neighborhoods less important than those in this neighborhood?

2. If we want services closer to downtown, when will the city loosen their zoning restrictions and allow this use in the downtown area?

3. Are the property rights of some residents more important than the lives of others?

Homeless people died in Norwich this past winter because of exposure. While it's up to the Commission on the City Plan whether this proposal will proceed, I hope they will see fit to authorize the shelter.

For those interested in attending, the Commission meeting is on Tuesday at 7pm at City Hall.

Thanks to FOX61 for covering this!

09/12/2026

This evening Sara Kelly and I wrapped up our casting of Noises Off, going up the first TWO weekends in December at East Lyme High School. It was a great night of callbacks, and I couldn't be more proud of the kids who auditioned, they made our decisions really difficult. Be on the lookout for our cast announcement!

09/08/2026

I want to thank the eastern Connecticut delegation members who took the time and energy to introduce this citation within the State Assembly to honor TVCCA's accomplishment of being named Nonprofit of the Year. Our expansion in 2025 - 2026 with the introduction of our new Family Bridge program, the new-to-us Nurse Family Partnership, the MPTN Child Development Center, RSVP, Head Start on Housing, and more has greatly continued to improve services in our region, and it means so much to be recognized by distinguished officials in our area.

09/08/2026

I'm excited to join Brief Cameo Productions for their third annual Octoberfest fundraiser on Tuesday, October 6th. I'll be performing a sneak preview of the BCP production that goes up in January - please come on out!

Tickets:
https://www.briefcameoproductions.com/octoberfest-2026

About the Fundraiser:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/connecticut/article/Brief-Cameo-Productions-To-Host-Third-Annual-Fundraiser-20260825

Brief Cameo Productions has announced its third annual fundraiser event: Brief Cameo's Octoberfest, to take place once again to the Centerbrook Meeting…

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