Lucy Nalpathanchil
Vice President, Community EngagementLucy leads Connecticut Public's strategies to deeply connect and build collaborations with community-focused organizations across the state.
Before becoming a member of the company's senior leadership team, Lucy was the Executive Producer and Host of Connecticut Public's morning talk show and podcast, Where We Live, for nearly seven years. Under her leadership, WWL went beyond news headlines and interviews with policymakers to feature more conversations about Connecticut and the stories of its residents.
In 2021, Lucy and the Where We Live team received a first-place award among large stations from Public Media Journalists Association or PMJA for this interview with a Norwich woman. In 2020, Lucy received a national Gracies Award from the Alliance for Women in Media in 2020 for her conversation with a Connecticut mother and her trans-son.
Where We Live received two national awards in 2018 from Public Media Journalists Association, formerly known as Public Radio News Directors, Inc., or PRNDI. Lucy and the Where We Live team was awarded second place in the categories of "Call In Program" and "Interview."
Lucy has been a public radio journalist for more than 20 years covering everything from education to immigration, juvenile justice, and child welfare issues to veterans' affairs and the military. Her reporting has taken her to all sorts of places, including a ride aboard a Coast Guard boat in Florida and to Tambacounda, Senegal, to talk with women journalists and farmers.
She moved to Connecticut in 2006 to become WNPR's Assignment Editor.
She's also been local host for mid-day programming and for All Things Considered.
She’s contributed to National Public Radio and her stories have aired on several national NPR shows including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, Weekend All Things Considered, Here and Now, and Latino USA.
During her time in Connecticut, Lucy has focused on immigration, including New Haven's ID card program, efforts for an in-state tuition law for undocumented students, and the Becoming American series: stories of immigrants and the citizenship process. In 2011, Lucy launched the Coming Home Project to tell the stories of returning Afghanistan and Iraq War veterans in transition. To learn more about the military, Lucy was chosen to take part in a week-long training for journalists hosted by the U.S Army at Fort Leavenworth, KS and Fort Leonard Woods, MO. Getting up at 3:30 am to participate in boot camp was most memorable!
She also was selected to join military reporters around the country for a conference hosted by the Medill National Security Journalism Initiative in Washington D.C.
Lucy has worked in several states as a public radio reporter after beginning her career at WDUQ (now WESA) in Pittsburgh. She's received awards from Pennsylvania's Golden Quill, the New York State Associated Press, the Mayor's Asian American Advisory Board in Jacksonville, Florida, the Connecticut Associated Press and the state's Society for Professional Journalists chapter.
Lucy enjoys traveling, hiking, and planning her next garden. She and her husband, Jason, live in Suffield with their two children and a small zoo.
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"You cannot win the 5th District with just Democrat votes or just Republican votes," Hayes said. "You really have to have a much broader appeal." -
This hour, we're joined by incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Jahana Hayes. She's running for reelection in the 5th District against Republican George Logan. Plus, Republican-American Capitol reporter Paul Hughes provides analysis. -
What are some issues with homestay services like AirBnB? And what’s being done to address them? Today, on Where We Live, we hear from travelers about their experiences with short term rentals. -
This hour, we hear about relief and fundraising efforts for Puerto Rico, from Stamford-based non-profit Americares and the Coalition of Connecticut Puerto Rican Parades & Festivals Relief Committee. Plus, CREC's Aura Alvarado and UConn's Dr. Charles Venator-Santiago reflect on lessons learned since Hurricane Maria five years ago. -
This hour on Where We Live, we look at new studies to understand why some people live to be 90 and older. And, what can everyone do to stay healthy and live long? -
This hour, we talk with NPR TV critic Eric Deggans about his must-see fall TV show list. Plus, must-read books with Roxanne Coady, owner of RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison and Middletown, CT. -
This hour, we talk about how the cannabis industry continues to evolve. Inspiring cannabis entrepreneurs can now take classes and learn everything about the industry from “seed to sale.” We also learn about efforts in West Hartford to "Save Conny The Whale." -
Voters will be asked about an early voting option at the polls this November. We'll hear from former Secretary of the State Denise Merrill and Common Cause in Connecticut. Plus, News 12's John Craven joins. -
In his new book, 'The Storm is Here: An American Crucible,' author Luke Mogelson outlines what happened during the January 6th Capitol Riots. Host Lucy Nalpathanchi talks to him about what he saw at the Capitol that day and what led to this violent attack. -
This hour on Where We Live, we look at stress and burnout among teachers and paraeducators, and what’s being done to support people who care for our children.
