Who We Are

"I ran a not-for-profit for 20 years, and I had this experience where it was wonderful to give food to people because I knew they were going to eat today and tomorrow, but there was always something missing. I got involved with All In for Milford, and it is the first time I've ever been involved with an organization that not only does 'boots on the ground' work but is really trying to make substantive systemic change in people's lives! I love the phrase 'not charity, but solidarity.' We are open-ended -- we have meetings every week that everybody is invited to. We want to hear from everybody because we need all those voices, especially from people who aren't usually heard from or listened to, and that is so important. Otherwise, we're just going to keep doing the same things over and over." ... [ watch ]

Meet Sara Locke, All In for Oxford

"All In offers the promise of inclusion in a way that no other group I've worked with does. I've always had a heart for the people on the margins, for people with disabilities or people with mental illness or people that are somehow and for some reason forgotten or discounted. And All In promises to not only hear their voices, but to value their voices and to work alongside them. What I find challenging is that All In also promises to hear other voices. Voices of the shouters, of the people in power, of the people who feel entitled already. And I'm constantly challenged to hear their voices as well. And to value all those voices equally and to use that information for an outcome that I don't necessarily have control over." ... [ watch ]

Meet Jennie Rice, All In for Seymour

"The best part of this work is the relationships. Whether those are relationships with my neighbors who are coming to use the [food] pantry, whether they're using for themselves, or whether they're taking things for their neighbors - hearing their stories, and then connecting with all of these other people who are willing to snuggle up close with the problem, to not bat it away, to not blame the people who are experiencing the problem so that they feel safer. It's the people who are willing to lean in, and really, in that place of solidarity be like, okay, we all see this problem and we're going to work together to solve it." ... [ watch ]

Meet Ellen Tresselt, All In for Ansonia and Derby

"All In changes the community in subtle and profound ways. It requires kind of staying the course for me not to feel like I need to see some instant gratification. It's a work in progress. And it's really exciting because I think those are the kinds of changes that really last. Those are the kinds of changes that matter" ... [ watch ]

Meet Joe Alling, All In for Milford

"I started getting involved with All In for Milford when I was running to be on the Planning and Zoning Board. I really needed to understand affordable housing and housing issues in our city. Conversations with people who came to All In meetings really helped me better understand some of the issues that people were facing in Milford. Since I won election, I've continued to come to All In for Milford meetings. I think it's been immensely beneficial for me and for the community. There have been some policy wins. Accessory Dwelling Units is a big one. Getting the Fair Rent Commission up and rolling. These are things that All In for Milford really helped to push for, and that showed there was real momentum behind affordability issues." ... [ watch ]

Meet Kevin Atterberry, All In for Seymour

"I have learned a lot about just how much power individuals have. I've been volunteering since I was a child. I grew up in the food pantry, helping out, and giving someone a meal. That's great, but being able to give someone actual power and knowledge and skills to help out the entire community is something that I'm just really eager to learn more about. I love talking to people. I love connecting people, helping people out. So this is something where I'm just kind of like, where's this been all my life? I love this. So I want to just get better at it." ... [ watch ]

Meet Carlene Williams, All In for Ansonia and Derby

"We find something that we're passionate about, whether it's housing or food or childcare and we're able to make that difference. I'm so happy to be a part of this [All In] group. I am so passionate about it and I look forward to all the things that we can do together. I love the idea of doing something for childcare too, because I think that's one of the biggest hindrances. That was one of my biggest problems when I was homeless. I didn't have childcare for my son. So everywhere I went I had to take him with me. I literally used to hide him at work. I had to choose between childcare and housing." ... [ watch ]

Meet Cynthia Conrad, All In for Milford

"I feel that everything that we do is focused on the ability to make Milford a better place to live for everybody. Community Organizing goes beyond the charity model, and it goes beyond the idea that individuals are responsible for their own success. It has to do with the systemic inequality that we have in our society. As a community, we need to address the issues that are at the core of why people aren't able to thrive despite their best efforts. I think the cards are stacked against a lot of people and what appears to be happening is that the cost of living is drowning people. And the amount of people who are cost burdened with either their rent or their mortgage continues to grow." ... [ watch ]

Meet Sarah Bromley, All In for Milford

"If somebody asks me about All In for Milford, the first words out of my mouth are 'non partisan' because that's critical. We don't ever talk politics. Commiserating over the price of eggs in a grocery store with someone, it's really easy to not talk politics. But, really actually get to know people, what's important to them, and find connection -- I just love doing that, connecting with people -- and that's one of the things I love so much about All In." ... [ watch ]

Meet Bryan Anderson, All In for Milford

"What makes All In unique is that it really represents the umbrella that brings together individual citizens, religious groups, nonprofits, and city government. The leadership structure within All In is unique from the standpoint that everyone has a voice. Everyone is listened to. There are all types of check-ins to make sure that there's a feeling of inclusiveness. I think that anyone would be welcome. So no matter where you fall on the political spectrum, you would have a voice, you'd be welcome." ... [ watch ]

Meet Marianne Jenson, All In for Milford

"I had a good job. I was making about $65,000 a year and I was supporting myself and my son. Then I became disabled. Social Security disability is $2,000 a month and my mortgage is $1,500 a month. And there's electric, there's water, there's medical, there's food. Food always comes last. I have to go to the pantry. I have to rely on folks to get me there. And it's tough. So, I have to sell my house. It's sad that I have to leave Milford. It's sad that I have to leave my community. I've made a lot of friends, I've done a lot of work in Milford and I have to leave it behind and it's not by choice." ... [ watch ]

Meet Joy McMahon, All In for Milford

"There's no reason that somebody should be working two jobs to be able to afford to live somewhere, nevermind having to buy food and pay electricity and pay your insurance for your car, everything else that you need to survive. There's just no possible way that people can afford it. And what people say is affordable housing, it's not affordable to 90% of the people. I was fortunate enough that I found something through somebody I knew. If I didn't, I don't know what I would do. I would have to probably quit my job and go on welfare. That would be the only way that I would be able to survive." ... [ watch ]

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