New Haven alder committee hears local museums, theater and Tweed Airport outline youth and family programs

The Board of Alders Youth Services Committee on Wednesday heard presentations from four New Haven institutions about ongoing and upcoming youth and family programs, outreach strategies and accessibility services.

The Peabody Museum, the Shubert Theatre, the Yale Center for British Art and Tweed-New Haven Airport each described programs that aim to broaden access for youth, families and seniors and asked the committee to help distribute materials and invitations to community events.

Andrea Motto, education staff at the Peabody Museum, said the museum reopened about a year ago and “we are now free,” and described monthly toddler-time sessions (first Saturday of each month), Spanish-language family workshops (last Sunday of each month) and outdoor education partnerships with local schools and community groups. Motto asked the committee to help spread printed and digital flyers and to share event calendar updates posted at peabody.yale.edu.

Kelly Buzardo, director of education and engagement at the Shubert, outlined the theater’s student-access practices and summer offerings, saying, “My job is access. So I try to make sure that people at all points have access, whether they can afford nothing, whether they can afford something.” Buzardo described a $10 high school student ticket for many Broadway shows, a four-week July summer camp with financial aid and meals included, student matinees sponsored for Title I schools, backstage and tech-program events for local high school students and continued virtual program options.

Hannah Kinney, head of education at the Yale Center for British Art, said the YCBA reopened March 29 and intends to expand drop-in and family programs. She said the museum recently named a new director, Martina Drosch, and is planning monthly art-making events, a teen Thursday evening drop-in with meals, and programs for visitors with sensory needs. “We want our programming and our exhibitions to really demonstrate that the YCBA is a place that can serve the many selves that you might be,” Kinney said.

Tom Cavalier, director of community engagement at Tweed-New Haven Airport, described youth-facing initiatives including an annual HVN exploring aviation open house that in March welcomed more than 200 New Haven and East Haven students. Cavalier explained accessibility measures at the airport, including a sunflower hidden-disabilities program: staff distribute sunflower lanyards and stickers at the departures entrance and are trained to provide discreet additional assistance to passengers who need it. He also noted a mothers’ room added last year and offered personalized, low-traffic pre-travel tours to familiarize families and first-time flyers with security and check-in procedures.

Committee members asked how materials and scheduling information would be shared with alder offices and the community. Buzardo and Motto agreed to provide flyers and digital copies; committee members asked that materials be sent to the chair’s office and to an internal contact, Mr. Lucas, for dissemination to the alder mailing list. Cavalier said passengers who need pre-arranged assistance can arrange it through their airline before arrival, while those who need help on arrival can pick up sunflower lanyards at the terminal entrance.

Presenters and committee members also discussed workforce and volunteer pathways: Buzardo noted the Shubert participates in the city’s Youth at Work program and hires previous students, calling the program “a working opportunity for the kids.” Committee members encouraged all presenters to continue outreach to neighborhoods and senior centers; Motto and Kinney both described targeted programming for families, and Kinney highlighted programs for autistic visitors and others with sensory processing needs.

The committee took no formal votes on policy or funding at the meeting. At the conclusion, a motion to adjourn was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.