by Jisu Sheen
Jazz & Gospel Brunch
ConnCAT Culinary Arts Program
Science Park
Sept. 14, 2025
Three thumbs up for French toast casserole — that’s what I got from the kitchen crew at youth and adult education nonprofit ConnCAT’s second annual jazz and gospel brunch Sunday afternoon.
I was asking the cooks, who were students in the adult learners’ Culinary Arts Academy program, what their favorite item on the menu was. Three of the four students I asked gave me the same answer: the fluffy, soft French toast casserole (the fourth vote was for the shrimp and grits, which looked amazing as well).
The brunch was a fundraiser for the culinary program as well as an awards ceremony honoring three powerhouses in the community: Yale Office of New Haven Affairs’ Karen McIntosh, NewAlliance Foundation Director of Programs LaKisha Jordan, and New Haven Free Public Library Stetson Branch Manager Diane Brown. ConnCAT President Erik Clemons introduced each with admiration. Director of Programs Steve Driffin called them “pillars of community care.”
Clemons also took a moment to introduce the 13th and 14th cohorts of ConnCAT’s Culinary Arts Academy, inviting the chefs to line up in front of the afternoon’s audience and receive well-deserved congratulations on a brunch well done. They were the students, representing ConnCAT’s educational programs, but they were also the chefs, feeding everyone in attendance.
Culinary student Sol Concepcion called it “relieving and exciting” to see the crew’s food on display, noting how pretty it was all together. Fellow student Barbara Chow-Yea agreed, saying it was “awesome” and took a long time, keeping the chefs busy since 5 or 6 that morning. Aniya Brice said her favorite things to make were the cookies and muffins, as she loves baking in particular.
One of the students caught Brown’s eye before she went up to give her speech. When the awardee reached the mic, she looked around for him, saying she wanted to keep him close and that she would explain in a moment. It was Michael Spencer, who Brown knew by his childhood nickname, and now his musician name, Peedi.
Spencer grew up going to the Stetson branch of the New Haven Free Public Library, where Brown got to know him over the years. He and his sister, Brown emphasized, “beat all odds. They beat all odds.” At a recent music performance of Spencer’s, Brown recalled him wanting to avoid a few choice words in his song out of respect for her. Retelling that story to the ConnCAT crowd, Brown spoke with both high regard for Spencer’s craft as well as a reciprocated respect for his consideration of who was in the audience.
She was moved upon seeing Spencer in his role as a student and chef at the brunch Sunday, and even more so when she heard him say it was people like her that made all the difference in his life. “Little did Erik know that I had him as a little boy, and now he has him as a man,” Brown said at the mic, evoking tears and a standing ovation from the crowd.
“Let him know that you see him,” Brown continued as people applauded. She is looking forward to seeing Spencer achieve dreams like getting his own food truck.
After Brown’s speech, I asked Spencer to tell me more about that vision.
He said his future food truck would serve Southern food, like oxtail and loaded fries. He’s been in the culinary program for about seven weeks so far, and he’s moving forward surrounded by loving community.
Rachel Graziano, who works in ConnCAT’s youth program and was assisting with the event, kept a watchful eye on the festivities. At ConnCAT, her students call her “Miss Rocky,” which comes from her barber moniker at Girlz Code Suite, a hair, makeup, and nail salon in Hamden.
Looking toward William Fluker and his jazz band, Graziano called Fluker “ConnCAT family.” She told me he’s been there since day one, back at the start of ConnCAT in 2012. He’s been a consistent figure ever since, teaching music for the organization’s summer program.
Fluker’s band took a break to make way for gospel singer Lisa Bellamy Fluker, who is also William’s wife. She was flanked by backup singers and close friends who came from New York just for the occasion: Beatrice Cano, Letrice Sturdivant, and Esther Kennerly of the Bobby Lewis Ensemble.
The singers gave a moving rendition of “I’ll Go,” a gospel song about answering God’s call to help others, making their point in such glorious harmonies people kept referring to the message later as a fitting example of what ConnCAT and their honorees were aiming to do in the community.
Lisa told me she goes by just Lisa Bellamy in the industry. When she collaborates with her husband, though, she uses the full three-part name to highlight the family connection. She floated between identities for the show, sending her backup singers safely on their way back to New York and joining her husband’s band for an energized, playful version of jazz classic “Summertime.”
The three women honored in Sunday’s celebration talked about their commitment to, as Jordan put it, “keep lifting as we climb.” McIntosh talked about her church and thanked the people in her life who brought her to God. Jordan spoke of her dedication to “service to our people, service to our babies.” Brown said she has received many awards in her life, but that this one was dearest to her heart. She talked about the roles she plays in the community and how even when she’s struggling herself, she has to go to the library every day and give people hope.
If community means wearing many hats, ConnCAT might as well open a hattery. Sure, Michael Spencer, Rachel Graziano, and Lisa Bellamy were in attendance at Sunday’s Jazz and Gospel brunch. But so were Peedi, Miss Rocky, and Lisa Bellamy Fluker.
Diane Brown lifts up culinary student Michael Spencer.
LaKisha Jordan accepts her community award.
Karen McIntosh receives words of praise from Erik Clemons.