© 2026 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The complexities of belonging and not belonging in U.S. culture

FILE: Miriam Cruz dances to the Bomba Sica rhythm during the adult Bomba class held by Movimiento Cultural at Viva Dance and Fitness Center for the Arts in West Haven, Connecticut on February 3, 2026.
Ryan Caron King
/
Connecticut Public
Miriam Cruz dances to the Bomba Sica rhythm during the adult Bomba class held by Movimiento Cultural at Viva Dance and Fitness Center for the Arts in West Haven, Connecticut on February 3, 2026. This nonprofit community organization based in Connecticut is dedicated to preserving, teaching, and spreading Puerto Rican bomba and plena.

Connecticut has a higher percentage of Puerto Rican residents than any other state. That’s according to 2020 U.S. Census data. But Puerto Rican residents still make up less than 10% of the state’s population.

So how do Puerto Rican people in Connecticut find community?

This hour, we’re talking about community and belonging.

We'll talk to CT Public's Puerto Rican Communities Reporter. And we'll hear from a sociologist who says Asian Americans can build political power by intentionally not assimilating into the predominant U.S. culture.

GUESTS:

Disrupted is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Kevin Chang Barnum is a producer for Connecticut Public Radio’s weekly show Disrupted. Kevin grew up in Connecticut and started his radio work at his graduate university’s radio station, KUCI. He has also worked for HRN, a network of food and beverage podcasts.
Dr. Khalilah L. Brown-Dean is an award-winning scholar at Wesleyan University, author, and host of 'Disrupted' on Connecticut Public.
Erica McIntosh is Senior Regional Editor for Southern Connecticut. Erica was born and raised in Connecticut.
Robyn Doyon-Aitken is the Deputy Director of Audio Storytelling and Talk Shows
Meg Fitzgerald is the senior manager of projects and radio programming.
Talei Ricketson is a temporary producer for The Wheelhouse for spring 2026. She was a Talk Show Production Intern for fall 2025. Reach her at tricketson@ctpublic.org.

Funding provided by:
The Connecticut Office of Film, Television and Digital Media

Related Content