INNER -CITY NEWS

INNER-CITY

April 13-14

The Yale Institute of Sacred Music will host two days of events with the legendary Clark Sisters

Color Struck? Color Struck?

Community Institute of Sacred Music to host

Malloy To Dems: Ignore “Tough On Crime”

Malloy To Dems: Ignore “Tough On Crime”

The legendary Clark Sisters

Snow in July? Snow in July?

New Haven Public Schools

Cop-Review Board Frustrations Flow

by THOMAS BREEN

Three members of the city’s struggling police-accountability board joined the effort’s founding force to call for help investigating civilian complaints, a new location to review materials that is not at police headquarters, better community outreach, and more diverse representation among the group’s leadership and staff.

Civilian Review Board (CRB) members Iva Johnson, Jewu Richardson, and Jayuan Carter issued those calls Tuesday midday at a press conference held at the corner of Grand Avenue and John Murphy Drive.

The presser was the latest example of administrative, operational, and policyrelated frustrations among board members bubbling over into public view, all as the group continues to wade through monthly hours-long online meetings and subcommittee work to review civilian complaints of police misconduct.

Tuesday’s presser took place at the very same Fair Haven spot where, in 1997, East Haven police chased down and shot to death 21-year-old New Havener Malik Jones. The group was joined by Emma Jones, Malik’s mother and a decadeslong police accountability crusader who led the movement to reestablish New Haven’s CRB and who has served as a parttime consultant for the board since it officially relaunched in late 2020.

Over the course of a little more than an hour, Johnson, Richardson, Carter, and Jones detailed their concerns with how the CRB currently operates — and what they’d like to see going forward to make sure the board succeeds in realizing its mission and holds police accountable when they do wrong.

“It is going in the wrong direction,” Jones said.

“We need support,” added Carter. The board is not “fractured,” he said, but there are “frustrations that need to be addressed.”

“The leadership on the board,” Richardson said, “is not connected to the community.”

Some of the sources of frustration and proposed solutions that the group brought up on Tuesday included:

• They would like to have a space that is not police headquarters at 1 Union Ave. where board members can review the Internal Affairs (IA) materials, police body camera footage, and other documents related to a police misconduct investigation. Richardson stressed that he, as someone who survived being shot in the chest by a police officer more a decade ago, has a traumatic history with cops. He’s not the only one. Having to go to police headquarters to review materials is not conducive to the CRB being able to do its work well.

• They would like the board to prioritize

hiring an investigator or investigators to help the CRB members review all of the materials related to a police misconduct complaint. Johnson pointed out that she, like her fellow volunteer CRB members, is a civilian who is not necessarily fully equipped to evaluate all of the complex materials put before the board. She declined to say whether a full-time investigator or a per-case investigator would be best. But, she made clear, the CRB does need investigative help.

• The group also criticized board leadership, including Chair AnneMarie RiveraBerrios, for instead prioritizing hiring an administrator. In late February, the board hired Aly Heimer, who was also present at Tuesday’s presser to listen in to the board members’ concerns, as a contracted admin. She’ll be responsible for catching up on two years’ worth of meeting minutes that Jones failed to write up during her time as consultant. She’ll also be responsible for helping out with the day-today administration of the board, sending out agendas, and doing secretarial work. Jones does not currently have a contract with the CRB.

Johnson, Richardson, and Carter made clear on Tuesday they thought the hiring of Heimer was disrespectful to Jones, who would like to continue working with the CRB in training them on the origins, history, and purpose of the board and its enabling legislation and in helping find and interview a board-hired investigator. Jones also said she found the request that she perform secretarial duties liking writing up meeting minutes beneath her as someone who fought for decades to make the CRB a reality, who traveled the

country researching different models for municipal cop-accountability boards, and who is a lawyer. “They want to make me a glorified secretary,” Jones said.

• The group criticized the board’s leadership for not adequately representing Black and brown New Haveners who are most likely to be victims of police misconduct.

• They said the board has not done enough and is not supported enough to make sure the broader New Haven community knows what the CRB is up to, how to attend meetings, and how to file complaints. And they said the Elicker administration needs to work more promptly to fill existing vacancies and generally provide city support to the group, which does have a city attorney and a top police official attend each of their meetings.

Heimer, who also runs the city’s publicfinancing program the Democracy Fund and who served on a previous iteration of the CRB in 2011 and 2012, said she showed up at Tuesday’s presser to listen to board members’ concerns and try to figure how best she can support the board realize its mission. “It seems like I’m walking into something with a lot of pentup frustrations,” she told the Independent after the press conference. She promised to look into the various matters brought up by the CRB board members Tuesday — including seeing if they can review IA files outside of police headquarters and if the board can move from online only to a hybrid online-in-person model of meeting.

Rivera-Berrios did not respond to a request for comment by the publication time of this article.

Asked for comment after Tuesday’s presser, Mayor Justin Elicker sent along the following statement:

“The Civilian Review Board plays an important role of serving as an independent monitor and investigator of civilian complaints of police misconduct, and we’re committed to doing everything we feasibly can to help support the CRB fulfill its responsibilities while also respecting its autonomy and independence.

“These supports have included the Office of Corporation Counsel providing ongoing legal guidance and resources, the New Haven Police Department providing specialized trainings, and we’re also actively working to build a dedicated area at City Hall where board members can review confidential internal affairs investigatory materials in a secure manner that’s off-site from the police department.

“Ultimately, a strong CRB helps ensure that residents can have confidence in the integrity of our police officers and police department, and that serves the community, the police department, and the City well – and we want the CRB to succeed in their important responsibilities and work.”

CRB members Iva Johnson and Jewu Richardson (right) with Emma Jones: This board "is going in the wrong direction.”

Jayuan Carter (right): "We need support.”

Aly Heimer introducing herself to Jones: Here to listen.

New Haven Independent

Opinion:

Now Is The Time For Education Reform

it pertained to freedom (i.e. democracy) and Christianity.

by MICHAEL JEFFERSON

The history of anti-literacy laws in the United States dates back to the mid 18th century and the early 19th century. These laws were specifically designed to prevent Blacks both enslaved and free, from learning to read and write. The fear was a literate slave would have the means to forge documents that would aid in his/ her escape from bondage. The fear was not unfounded. Many literate slaves did just that.

The fear of the “literate” slave was heightened in 1829 when radical abolitionist David Walker published Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World. Among other things this remarkable pamphlet denounced slavery, racism and colonization. It also laid to bare America’s hypocrisy as

But the Appeal’s most frightening commentary, at least for whites in the slaveholding south, was the call for Blacks to engage in armed rebellion to secure their freedom. Again the fear was not unfounded. In August 1831 in Southampton County, Virginia, Nat Turner led the deadliest slave revolt in U.S. history.

Following the defeat of the South in the Civil War education became a major priority for the newly freed slave. Despite resistance among white lawmakers, policy makers and ordinary white citizens, Blacks with the help of sympathetic whites established schools throughout the South. By the turn of the century, in spite of the inequities in education between whites and Blacks, literacy rates increased dramatically among Blacks. It is instructive to note that the U.S. is the only country in the world to have antiliteracy laws.

Turning north, while segregation of the races in schools was not mandated by law in the North de facto segregation was quite common.

On May 17, 1954 in the case Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas the United States Supreme Court ruled segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Thus, rejecting the doctrine established by Plessy vs. Ferguson a half century earlier that “separate but equal” was constitutional. This landmark decision would serve as a major catalyst for legislative reform during the Civil Rights Movement. The 1964 Civil Rights Act; the 1965 Voting Rights Act; and the 1968 Fair Housing Act serve as notable examples.

The Brown decision was celebrated by most Blacks and rejected by many whites. Today, nearly 70 years later American public schools continue to struggle with the challenge of providing an adequate (i.e. equal) educational opportunity that meets the varying needs of the 21st century.

Thus, we now have this boisterous call for education reform in urban centers across the country. Including New Haven, Connecticut. This isn’t a “bad” thing. In fact exigent circumstances often times caters to such demands.

Not unlike other urban school districts

New Haven has its challenges: chronic absenteeism, low literacy rates, school climate (i.e. student misbehavior), and working conditions for teachers. To name just a few.

And while the hiring of a new superintendent in the district will undoubtedly alter surface dynamics it won’t be enough to significantly impact the titanic problems currently facing New Haven public schools. So the call for reform is not a speculative one. It is indeed legitimate and should be interpreted as such. However, (and this will sting a bit) those supporting this petition for transformation must be willing to hold parents, students and the respective community accountable for the role each play in undermining public education.

My mother, may she rest in peace, was raised in the Jim Crow south. She had a spectacular commitment to education. She believed in it. She valued it. She simply did not play when it came to education. Jean’s rules were simple: go to

Connecticut AG Calls ‘Bullshit’ on Federal Abortion Pill Ruling From Texas

by Hugh McQuaid

State officials and reproductive rights advocates gathered Monday to stress that the medication abortion pill mifepristone was still legal in Connecticut despite conflicting rulings by federal court judges in Texas and Washington last week.

A Friday ruling by Judge Mathew Kacsmaryk of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, placed a preliminary injunction on the Food and Drug Administration’s long standing approval of the pill, which has been used for decades for medical abortions as well as part of a cocktail prescribed by doctors to help women manage miscarriages.

Meanwhile, a nearly simultaneous ruling in a different case by Judge Thomas Rice of the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Washington required the FDA to maintain the availability of the drug in 17 states including Connecticut.

“It is the law of the state of Connecticut today, tomorrow and as long as we’re in this fight that mifepristone and medication abortion is, in Connecticut, legal, safe, effective and available. Period. Full stop,” Attorney General William Tong said during a morning press conference in Hartford.

Tong was among the attorneys general to challenge the FDA’s policies on dispensing the drug as too restrictive in the Washington case. On Monday, he railed against the ruling by the Texas-based judge as misogynistic.

“Even reading the decision that we like in federal court in Washington about the FDA and its imposition of these unduly

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restrictive requirements on the use of mifepristone, you just are left with the feeling and understanding that this just total bullshit,” Tong said, “and just reflects this ongoing, deep-seated, abiding, pervasive, pernicious misogyny in our law.”

Medication abortions represent more than half of all abortions performed nationwide and in Connecticut, according to Dr. Nancy Stanwood, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England.

Stanwood said that over the years, mifepristone has been shown to be safe and

more than 99% effective. If restrictions on the pill are eventually upheld by higher courts, patients would still have access to medication abortion through another pill, misoprostol, which she said is less effective and causes more side effects.

Stanwood called the judge’s decision to retroactively block the FDA’s 2000 approval of the mifepristone “unprecedented.”

“[It] could be deeply harmful for nationwide abortion access and also for miscarriage care that mifepristone is a part of,” she said. “If allowed to go into effect, it

could make it more difficult for patients seeking medication abortion to access care amidst an already crisis situation for abortion access across the country.”

Stanwood said the number of out-of-state patients seeking abortions in Connecticut has risen by 30% since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year.

In response to that ruling, state lawmakers passed legislation meant to shield patients and doctors who elect to conduct the procedure in Connecticut from legal action by states where abortion has been made illegal. The law also added certified APRNs and physician assistants to the providers allowed to perform aspiration abortions, the most common type of inclinic abortion.

In his two-year budget proposal, Gov. Ned Lamont included $2 million to assist patients in states with limited abortion access to travel to Connecticut. Although a bill on the matter did not pass out of the Human Services Committee, Lamont said he expected it would be included in the proposal currently being drafted by the legislature’s budget-writing committees. The governor called the recent court ruling “a big deal,” which he expected to have far-reaching political repercussions.

“You’re upsetting, in this case, 23 years of a drug that’s been very effective at providing women the reproductive choices they need,” Lamont said. “I think a lot of people worry, what next for a judge? You know, maybe they don’t like contraception. Where are they going to stop? Maybe they don’t like vaccines. How often are they going to start overruling the FDA?”

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Attorney General William Tong during a press conference on April 10, 2023 Credit: Hugh McQuaid / CTNewsJunkie

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New Haven Independent

Freddy Fixer Charts Its Return To Dixwell Avenue

By Lucy Gellman, Editor, The Arts Paper newhavenarts.org

Chanelle Goldson can already hear the drumline in her head, like a heartbeat on the sun-soaked pavement. Tracey Joseph is ready for the families who come back by the generation, because it's tradition. Both can envision the marchers cuing up in their uniforms, a shock of bright color beneath the wide blue sky.

One thing is for certain: The Freddy is coming back.

That news is came from the Elm City Freddy Fix Parade Committee this week, as President Chanelle Goldson and Vice President Tracey Joseph announced a spring of community-focused events culminating in a June 4 parade. It marks the first time since June 2019 that the parade, a celebration of sustained and sustainable Black New Haven, will return to Dixwell Avenue. This year, it also marks a leadership transition, as Goldson and Joseph work to keep the event running for years to come.

The parade will step off on June 4 at 1:30 p.m. at the intersection of Dixwell Avenue and Bassett Street. Its will follow a May 20 neighborhood cleanup on Dixwell Avenue and a June 3 festival in collaboration with the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. Diane X. Brown, Jacqueline Glover, and Petisia M. Adger, who have kept the parade alive for the past several years, will remain on the ECFFPC’s Board of Directors.

“We are back, and we have some great and exciting updates,” said Goldson on a recent episode of WNHH Community Radio’s “Arts Respond” program. “This year, we’re coming back even stronger than ever, and we hope that the community comes out, and they come out in large numbers. Bring your family! Call them up and say, ‘Hey, come down for this weekend!’ Because it’s not just a oneday event.”

The parade’s journey back to Dixwell Avenue, for which it is raising $100,000, has been years in the making. When Covid-19 hit New Haven in March 2020, it dealt a uniquely devastating blow to both the Freddy and to Black New Haveners, many of whom were already living in chronically underfunded and underresourced neighborhoods. As weeks became months, the Freddy lost money. It lost volunteers.

One year without a parade became two, and then three. The event, which grew out of a neighborhood cleanup in 1962 and an inaugural parade in 1963, struggled to find its footing once again.

Then last year, the committee began to regroup and rebuild. In March, Brown and Adger announced that there would not be a 2022 parade, in part because of budget funds that they simply did not have, and what they said at the time was new legis-

lation and a lack of support from the city.

At the time, they also named Goldson as acting president, in a move to make the parade more sustainable going forward.

In the year since, Goldson has reinstated monthly meetings, built a membership base, and brought in sponsors from the Mellon Foundation to the city’s Department of Arts, Culture, and Tourism.

For both herself and Joseph, it is also

One thing never changed: It was always the event of the season. This year, she’s also excited for her two young daughters to experience the parade.

“It’s like looking back at myself when I see them,” she said. “They’re excited about the parade—like, ‘Are we going to the parade? Are we going to the parade?’—and that used to be me as a child. I always explain to them the importance and significance of it, and they’re right alongside me when I’m at these events.”

Joseph, meanwhile, has a family connection to the parade that runs deep. Her uncle is the late Dr. Frederick Smith, one of the co-founders of the parade. As a young child, she would travel with her family from Bridgeport to New Haven, visit her extended family in town, and stay for the parade an a family cookout that inevitably followed. As she got older, she learned the history, including her family's role in keeping the tradition alive.

“It was almost like our Fourth of July,” she said. So when she heard that there were monthly meetings to bring the parade back, she jumped onboard to help. Before she joined organizing efforts last year, she said, she reached out for her family’s blessing. She received it in spades.

Fred Smith, Jr., the son of the late Dr. Fred Smith, was particularly elated. In an update on Facebook, he noted how excited he was to have it coming back.

"The success of Freddy Fixer and of many endeavors of those community leaders is that they didn’t care who got the credit, and they weren’t trying to parlay what recognition they did receive into adulation in other areas of their lives," he wrote. He recalled how much his dad loved his role as a "fixer," from decades working in medicine to trimming his own hedges at home.

“It’s part of our legacy,” Joseph said. “And so having that uncle to look up to and say, ‘Wow, you did that,’ having not just him but the support of the community, that is where the impact is. Together, we have that sound voice as one, and we take pride in that.”

trophy. The second-place winers will receive $300 and a certificate. “We are not the only ones feeling the negative impacts of Covid,” she said.

“The way we’re doing everything is a new norm for us, and so we’re adapting every day,” she said. “And every day it gets better. There are some struggles, but you know, we’re learning and we’re adapting. That’s the most important part—adapt with time, so that we can be sustainable.”

Goldson added that there is still very much an invitation to the community, to both attend monthly board meetings and spearhead individual fundraising efforts that will help the parade get to its $100,000 goal. She pointed to Stetson Branch Library, where she and Goldson recently hosted a career readiness workshop, as a particularly supportive partner in the parade’s work.

That too is a connection steeped in New Haven history: Stetson Branch Manager Diane Brown grew up with the parade as a girl, and helped run it for years. She still serves on the ECFFPC’s board of directors.

They are quick to say that they do not do it alone—although Goldson has served as the ECFFPC’s social media manager, development director and recruitment officer all on a volunteer basis for the better part of a year. In October of 2022, the committee began holding monthly meetings at the Stetson Branch Library at 197 Dixwell Ave. They have since gone hybrid in an effort to be more accessible to the community.

Goldson also pointed to a growing list of sponsors without whom the parade would not be possible. This year, she said, that includes the Mellon Foundation, Comcast and NBC Universal, the Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program (ConnCORP), the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, National Endowment of the Arts, Yale Office of New Haven State Affairs, New Haven Department of Arts, Culture & Tourism, the Cornell-Scott Hill Health Center, Goldson Investment Group, ‘R Kids Family Center, and individual donors.

a homecoming of sorts. Goldson, who is raising her two young daughters in Newhallville, grew up with the parade. As a kid, “I was a spectator,” she said, remembering how she and friends would agonize over their outfits months in advance.

As a teen, she marched in the parade as a member of her high school pep squad. Years later, she returned as a volunteer and a member of the executive board.

Three months from June, the parade’s contours are coming together. On May 20, the committee will host a Dixwell neighborhood cleanup that begins at Stetson Library at 9:30 that morning. Then just over a week later, the committee will return with a health and wellness fair also at Stetson, scheduled for May 31. On Friday, June 2, the group will have a meetand-greet and artist’s showcase, with a location to be announced.

It lays a path for the main events: the annual Dixwell Neighborhood Festival on June 3, followed by the parade on the afternoon of Sunday the 4th. While “it’s definitely a new normal,” Goldson said, she and Joseph are thrilled to be back. This year, the ECFFPC will be giving out new cash prizes in seven categories. First place winners will take home $700 and a

“We’re getting there,” Goldson said. “We still have a far way to go, honestly— it’s still a struggle. You know, we just have to keep putting our best foot forward and continuing to tell our stories. There are so many people who may not know the historical and cultural significance. And so, the more people that hear about it, the more people will get involved.”

“I would add to understand as well that we’re not just about the parade, we’re about the community as a whole,” Joseph added. She pointed to a recent career readiness workshop that she and Goldson held at the Stetson Branch. “We’re going to bring more of our skill set to the community in order to empower our people and empower our community.”

Lucy Gellman File Photos: Chanelle Goldson and Tracey Joseph last fall, at Stetson.

Money For Public School HVAC Improvements Tops Bond Commission’s Agenda Thursday

Sisters’ Journey April Survivor of the Month

Barbara Gray

In February (or maybe even March 2019), I noticed a small dimple in my left breast. I didn’t pay much attention to it because sometimes we get dimples in certain spots. Time passed and in July 2019 my youngest son who is special needs needed emergency surgery. He had to have hardware removed from his spine and was in the hospital for almost a month. I kept saying that I had to get my mammogram done but I was so consumed with him I never did it. I would have pain in my breast from time to time and I just ignored it. At one point I said to my sister that my left breast looked different. She said we all have one slightly bigger than the other, so I just left it alone.

In October 2019 there was a breast cancer walk in my neighborhood. I was walking my dog and stopped by a neighbor’s house. She gave me a breast cancer flyer/card that they were handing out at the walk. I took the card home, but never looked at it. I just put the card down and went about my day.

by Kevin Flood

With public school districts across Connecticut realizing they need to upgrade their heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems following the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday which projects will receive funding in the first round of allocations under a state grant program.

The HVAC Indoor Air Quality Grants Program for Public Schools, created under 2022 legislation, has a goal of allocating $150 million for the projects. Half of that amount is to come from the state’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the other $75 million will be put on the state credit card. Approving that borrowing leads the agenda of Thursday’s meeting of the State Bond Commission. Since the governor controls the commission’s agenda, it’s rare for an item to be rejected. The meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. in Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

One day ahead of the meeting, Lamont announced the awarding of $56 million in first-round grants. School districts had from September 14 to December 1, 2022, to submit their requests for this round, with the understanding that the districts would provide matching grants if they received approval.

The types of projects eligible for funding include:

• replacing, upgrading, or repairing boilers and other heating and ventilation components;

• replacing controls and technology systems related to HVAC operations;

• installing or upgrading air conditioning

or ventilation systems; and

• any similar work approved by the commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services, which administers the program.

“One thing the COVID-19 pandemic exposed is that many school buildings, particularly those that are of a certain age, are in serious need of air quality improvements,” Lamont said in his announcement of the allocations. “Modernized ventilation systems provide an important public health function that [filter] the air and reduce airborne contaminants, including particles containing viruses. Most importantly, these air filtration systems will help ensure that our students can continue receiving their education in-person, in the classroom, where they learn best.”

Lamont noted that the funding for this program comes on top of more than $165 million awarded for HVAC upgrades using funds the state received from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, which was approved by Congress in response to the pandemic.

More projects on the agenda

The Bond Commission’s agenda Thursday also calls for a total of $813 million in borrowing, including $620 million in sales of general-obligation bonds. The projects set to be funded include:

• Making technology improvements at two state agencies, costing $12.6 million. The Department of Revenue Services would receive “an off-the-shelf solution to streamline the administration of tax returns, and licensing programs.” The goal, according to agenda material, is to “provide taxpayers with a more timely, informative, and communicative experience, while also providing DRS with a

dynamic platform to support return processing, collections, audit, and other DRS processes.” Meanwhile, the Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services would get funding for the first phase of implementing an electronic health record system “to modernize patient medical recordkeeping at state-operated facilities to improve quality, safety, and efficiency.”

• Developing and implementing tech improvements at various state agencies, for a further $6 million.

• Performing infrastructure repairs and renovations—some of them on an emergency basis — at state police barracks statewide, for $4.8 million. The work includes removal and replacement of underground storage tanks, renovating the clean room at the State Forensic Lab in Meriden, and several projects at the Troop A barracks in Southbury, including HVAC and mechanical improvements, roof replacement, and masonry repairs.

• Carrying out projects in state buildings and other properties that improve energy efficiency and otherwise lessen environmental impacts, for $7 million. The projects are meant to reduce greenhouse emissions from the heating and cooling of buildings, bring renewable thermal heating systems, reduce waste generation and disposal, reduce water usage, and expand electric vehicle charging.

In addition to the state’s constitutional officers and department commissioners, members include the co-chairmen of the legislature’s Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee — Senator John W. Fonfara of Hartford and Rep. Maria P. Horn of Salisbury, both Democrats — and the committee’s highest-ranking Republicans, Senator Henri Martin of Bristol and Rep. Holly H. Cheeseman of East Lyme.

That Christmas my children and I went to Barbados by way of The Make a Wish Foundation. On New Year’s Eve, while cleaning my room, I found the breast cancer flyer. As I’m reading it, I noticed that it says one of the signs of breast cancer is dimpling. I run into my bathroom and look at the dimple which by this time was a little bigger. I started to panic. I called my best friend and told her what was going on.

She said you’re fine, don’t worry. And that’s what I did. I left it alone for four months.

On April 6, my 45th birthday, I asked my son’s nurse to look at the dimple. She asked me how long it had been there. I said I wasn’t sure. She then examined me and told me to call my doctor. I called the next day but had to leave a message. They called me back and gave me a number for a radiology center, but because of COVID-19 they weren’t doing any mammograms. By the time I hung up, Yale’s Breast Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut had called and left me a voicemail along with a text telling me to come in on April 9 for a mammogram.

When I arrived, I had expected to have my picture taken and go home. I was there for over two hours! They took three sets of pictures and they also did an ultrasound, which was new for me. As the tech was doing the ultrasound, she’s measuring and counting. I’m like “ok, this is new.” I was trying to see the screen and what they’re talking about. The doctor came in and said that I needed to come back for a biopsy, which I did on April 14. I asked the doctor if they can tell if it’s cancer when they pull the sample out. She said if the sample is solid, 90% of the time it’s cancerous. Once they were done, I asked if mine was solid and she said it was. They had already made an appointment for me to meet with the surgeon. I said, “Well if you get my results back before Monday, call me.”

On Friday, April 17, 2020, around 10:30 am – 11 days after my 45th birthday – the results came back positive for breast cancer. I told my family and close friends. When I met with the surgeon, she explained what the next steps would be. On May 7 I had a mastectomy of my left breast. Then, on May 22, I had my port put in; but I also lost my mom that day. It’s been difficult and I still haven’t been able to grieve. I started chemo the next week. The first round was difficult, as I experienced severe bone pain. After the second round, I had neuropathy in both my hands and feet. My doctor didn’t give me the last treatment because he didn’t want me to have permanent damage. I also had five weeks of radiation. After meeting with my oncologist, I found out I was Stage 3, borderline Stage 4. I also had 21 lymph nodes removed and 19 of them were cancerous.

After the chemotherapy and radiation were completed, I started hormonal treatments. Because of side effects, I changed types several times. I am now taking a pill daily and an infusion once a month for five years. During my infusion in December 2021, I asked about the size of my tumor and was told that it was the size of a mango. The crazy thing is that I took a picture of my breast a few days before my surgery and it was shaped like a mango. When they were looking at the ultrasound, they thought it was two separate tumors, but it was just one big one. It’s now three years later and I still deal with neuropathy and bone pain. I would have never thought that this would be the road that I would have to take, but I thank God for giving me the strength each day.

We acknowledge Breast Cancer Awareness in October, but for me it’s 365 days every year for the rest of my life. I encourage others wherever I go to make sure they stay on top of their mammograms. Saving the boobies can also save your life.

Barbara Gray

Gov. Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker Credit: Hugh McQuaid / CTNewsJunkie

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New 5-Year Parks Union Contract OK’d

by LAURA GLESBY

After alders approved a long-anticipated city parks and blue-collar labor union contract, Janice Parker slipped out of the legislative chambers, teary-eyed and grinning. The moment she passed through the door, she burst into a victorious dance. “It’s about time! Oh God,” she said.

Parker, a city park maintenance caretaker, and her colleagues in UPSEU Local 424’s Bargaining Unit 128 have worked for three years without a contract, throughout a pandemic that prompted residents to spend more time in the city’s public parks than ever.

Those 75 city employees — which include workers in the Department of Parks and Public works as well as animal control officers and public safety mechanics — now have a new five-year agreement in place, thanks to a vote taken by the full Board of Alders at its latest inperson City Hall meeting last Monday.

The five-year Parks and Blue Collar contract retroactively applies from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2025. It raises the retirement age from 62 to 65, narrows the healthcare options for employees, and implements a new salary step system on top of annual raises.

Specifically, union members will receive a retroactive wage increase of 2 percent for 2020 – 2021, after which a new twostep salary scale will be implemented.

Then, from July 2022 to July 2024, parks workers will receive an annual 3.5 percent raise.

By 2025, a union member at step 1 could make between $51,841 and $75,307, while a union member at step 2 could make between $57,217 and $84,887.

In a statement, the bargaining unit’s chief negotiator, Liz Ditman, wrote to the Independent, “UPSEU Local 424 Unit 128 is made up of extremely hardworking and

dedicated employees and it was imperative that this be recognized in this contract in the form of fair wages. Our number one goal going to the table was to address how underpaid these employees have been and to work towards righting that wrong.”

She continued, “To the City’s credit, they heard us and worked with us toward achieving that goal. … While there is, of course, room for more improvement in the next round of negotiations, a lot of progress was made in this contract and we all are very pleased with the outcome.”

The contract’s provisions will cost the city $1.5 million over five years, as Westville Alder and Finance Committee Chair Adam Marchand told colleagues on Monday.

While the bargaining unit has six vacancies as of mid-March, the contract “would make the positions easier to fill,” Marchand said.

After he spoke, alders unanimously voted to approve the contract.

Outside the chambers on Monday, Parker praised the pay raises provided in the contract. “Some people can’t even pay for daycare,” she said. Over the pandemic, “Rent went up, cost of living went up, daycare went up. Our wages didn’t go up.”

“We were patient,” she said of her fellow union members. “We show up every day. We do our jobs diligently, and we deserve this raise.”

LAURA GLESBY PHOTO

Janice Parker: "We do our jobs diligently, and we deserve this raise.”

Health Leaders Back Black Breastfeeding

by NORA GRACE-FLOOD

More rooms for moms to lactate at work and more Black mothers breastfeeding their babies.

A crew of local organizations concerned with Black maternal health gathered inside Whalley Avenue’s Community Action Agency Monday afternoon to push those two goals — and to announce their formal collaboration to decrease disparities in health outcomes of Black and white mothers and infants across the Greater New Haven area.

The main way those partners are hoping to improve Black maternal and infant health is by making space for mothers to breastfeed and pump at work.

The organizations joining forces to advocate for that change included the Community Action Agency of Greater New Haven, New Haven Healthy Start, DHJ Services, The New Haven chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and the New Haven chapter of Links Incorporated.

On Monday, leaders from those organizations were also joined by Lt. Gov. Susan Bysewiecz, State Rep. Robyn Porter, Mayor Justin Elicker, New Haven Health Director Maritza Bond and a host of other health professionals.

“I remember those days when I had to put my foot against the door so I could pump to make sure I had food for my daughters,” said Dawn Johnson, the CEO of healthcare consulting group DHJ Services.

Former Mayor Toni Harp, representing

the New Haven chapter of Links Incorporated, said that the struggle described by Johnson — figuring out how to preserve breast milk on the job without a place to pump it or a fridge to store it — is directly related to health outcomes for both mothers and their children. Babies who drink breast milk are at lower risks for asthma, obesity, diabetes and sudden death syndrome than those who consume formula, she said, while mothers who breastfeed experience lower risks for ovarian cancer, diabetes and blood pressure than those who don’t breastfeed.

However, Black women across the country breastfeed at significantly lower rates than white women.

“That issue goes back to slavery,” said State Rep. Robyn Porter, “when Black women were made to breastfeed white babies.” For a long time, she argued, there’s been a failure to reinforce the practice of breastfeeding among Black communities or to educate Black women about the benefits of breastfeeding.

New Haven Health Director Maritza Bond reported that in 2019, Black women in New Haven were seven times more likely to experience fetal death than white mothers and six times more likely to lose their infant.

Connecticut law already guarantees an employee’s right to breastfeed in the workplace and requires employers to make reasonable efforts to provide a other than a restroom where employees can do so in private.

However, only 67 businesses and orga-

nizations across the state are actually recognized and certified by the State of Connecticut’s Breastfeeding Coalition as having such a space. The Community Action Agency itself only just became certified; a private office on the second floor has since been set aside for lactating mothers and leadership said a refrigerator will soon be installed in that room.

By the end of the summer, and in line with the start of national Black Breastfeeding Week on Aug. 25, the new coalition is hoping to work with employers around the

region to boost that number up to 100 businesses.

Porter also pointed to Senate Bill 986: An Act Protecting Maternal Health, which could increase the number of birthing centers around the state and create new pathways to certify doulas and provide for maternal homecare. Read more in CT News Junkie here.

She recalled becoming pregnant with her daughter, who was born under two pounds in a premature delivery. Early on in her pregnancy, Porter was experiencing inti-

mate partner violence and began leaking fluids. She went to see a white lab technician who told her everything was fine and to return home for rest. Instead, she went to the doctor’s office — where her water broke and she was given medicine to postpone going into labor.

If she had gone home, she said, she would’ve lost her baby — who is now a 29-year-old woman. She stated: “It’s birth injustice we’re talking about.”

State Rep. Robyn Porter: "It's birth injustice we're talking about.”

New Haven Independent

Institute of Sacred Music to host the legendary Clark Sisters

From April 13-14, the Yale Institute of Sacred Music will host two days of events with the legendary Clark Sisters, a group that has been on the vanguard of gospel music for more than half a century. Winners of three Grammy Awards, and with sixteen albums to their credit, the Clark Sisters are the highest-selling female gospel group in history.

The events will include a daylong symposium and a masterclass on Thursday 13th at Yale’s Greenberg Center and Marquand Chapel respectively, and a concert in College Street Music Hall on the evening of April 14th. In-person tickets are sold out for all events, but they can be viewed either via livestream or via Zoom. The four sisters—Jacky Clark Chisholm, Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark-Terrell, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard— are the daughters of gospel musician and choral director Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. They are considered to be pioneers of contemporary gospel music. Some of their best known crossover hits include, You Brought the Sunshine, Is My Living in Vain?, Hallelujah, He Gave Me Nothing to Lose, Endow Me, Jesus is a Love Song, Pure Gold, and Expect a Miracle. The Clark Sisters are renowned for their vocal stylings, dubbed as “the Clark sound.” They incorporate high and fast melismas, acrobatic trills and riffs, and deep, soulful growls, or “squalls.” Each sister also contributes distinctive sounds. Jacky (contralto) is known for her soft, smooth, deep vocals. Dorinda (mezzosoprano), the “jazzy” sister, inputs scats and riffs. Karen (soprano) has a vast vocal range with unique riffs, runs, growls, scats, and the ability to belt whilst in the whistle range. Occasionally she implements an “echo” in her live performances. Twinkie (soprano/mezzo-soprano/alto/ contralto/tenor/baritone) is known for her complex runs, riffs, powerful mixedvoice belts, soulful squalls, and deep growls and is credited with being the “heart of the Clark Sisters.” Read more about the Clark Sisters

April 13 “Eternal Gain” Symposium and Masterclass

Timed to coincide with the Clark Sis-

ters residency at Yale, the daylong symposium will explore the distinctive musical, spiritual, and cultural contributions of Dr. Mattie Moss Clark and the Clark Sisters. A distinguished group of speakers—Ambre Dromgoole, Dr. Almeda Wright, Dr. Ashon Crawley, Dr. Cheryl Townsend Gilkes, Dr. Deborah Smith Pollard, Dr. Eboni Marshall Turman, Dr. Guthrie Ramsey, Dr. Henry Washington, Jr., Dr. Marla Frederick, and Dr. Todne Thomas—will discuss how the Clark family’s careers and legacies illuminate a host of issues for the music(s) of the Black church, including gender, kinship, instrumentality, fashion, media, and the music industry. View the symposium program here. For those who don’t have in-person tickets, you can join via Zoom by registering for one or both of the symposium sessions. Register for the 9 a.m.1:15 p.m. session and/or register for the 4-6 p.m. session.

The Masterclass will take place on Thursday April 13 from 2:15-3:45 p.m. and can be viewed via livestream..

April 14 An Evening With The Clark Sisters

The evening concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be livestreamed at this link.. In addition to the Clark Sisters set, there will also be an organ solo from Elbernita

“Twinkie” Clark, and a performance with a community choir composed of singers from New Haven and the surrounding areas.

During their visit, the sisters will be interviewed for the Yale Library’s Oral History of American Music (OHAM) collection. These video-recorded testimonies will then become part of the OHAM’s Major Figures in American Music Collection. Read this recent post for some background on ISM’s collaboration with OHAM.

The Clark Sisters’ visit is being co-sponsored by ISM’s Interdisciplinary Program in Music and the Black Church and the following schools and departments at Yale: Andover Newton Seminary, Yale School of Art, Belonging at Yale, Chaplain’s Office, Degraffenreidt Resource Fund and 320Y Fund, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office, Yale Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Yale Divinity School, Yale School of Drama , Yale School of the Environment, Film and Media Studies Program, Yale School of Medicine, Yale School of Nursing Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Department of Religious Studies, and the Program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Photo: Pari Dukovic

THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL

Trivia-Iftar Raises The Roof For Refugee Resettlement

by Gall Sigler, The Arts Paper newhavenarts.org

“What percentage of refugees are admitted for permanent resettlement in a third country?”

Over 50 attendees at the Trivia Night & Iftar event, organized by Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS), conversed with their groups, fumbling for an educated guess to the quizmaster’s question. Once the answer was revealed later in the evening—that only 1 percent of refugees are, in fact, resettled—gasps of surprise coursed through the room.

The sold-out event was held on Saturday at Havenly, a cafe run by refugee women, and sought to raise funds for IRIS’s food pantry, which serves 502 families a week on average. Beyond successfully securing over $2,000 for the cause, the event also enriched the participants’ knowledge of Muslim life and the plight of refugees.

IRIS is a non-profit organization whose goal is to support immigrants and refugees in acclimating to life in Connecticut (read more about that work here and here). Recognizing that many refugees arrive in the United States with financial, professional and language needs, IRIS provides housing, legal services, ESL classes and English language training, and more.

“There are so many people out there who are vulnerable, and are fleeing violence and looking for safety,” said Zeenie Malik, senior communications specialist at IRIS. “We want to support these people who are here, because once they have gone through those challenges and they arrive in Connecticut, they have a whole other set of challenges.”

IRIS’s food pantry, which serves clients and non-clients alike, is one mechanism by which the organization seeks to uplift immigrants and refugees. In 2019, IRIS hosted its first Trivia Night & Iftar fundraiser during Ramadan, a month of fasting in Islam. “Ramadan is a time when Muslims really focus on charity, so that is how the idea came about,” said Malik.

Raising the funds specifically for IRIS’s food pantry felt like a natural extension of the Ramadan tradition, Malik added. “There is this connection to us as Muslims fasting and putting ourselves in the shoes of people in need. It makes us stop and think about people who don’t have the luxury of just having meals whenever they want.”

Each of the three trivia rounds was led by a different host. Sprinkled between the typical trivia questions, such as “How many hearts does an octopus have?,” hosts saw an opportunity in the game to educate participants who may still not know a lot about refugees and immigrants.

Questions such as “how many Afghans have entered the country since the US military withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2020?” and “How many years must a refugee in the US wait before they can apply for citizenship?” forced attend-

ees to earnestly engage with the reality of US policies towards immigrants and refugees.

“Through these questions we want to raise awareness as to what the crisis is

like worldwide for refugees and immigrants,” said Malik.

Mohanad Mahmood, one of the quiz hosts at Trivia Night & Iftar, arrived in the United States from Iraq in 2014, when

fast, with a buffet from Havenly’s kitchen—including Havenly’s home salad, falafel and tea.

Havenly was founded in 2018, with the goal of equipping refugee women in New Haven with the skills to flourish in the United States. Co-founder Nieda Abbas, a former IRIS client herself, was displaced from her native Iraq in 2005, and resettled in New Haven in 2014. Together with an IRIS student volunteer who helped tutor her daughter, Dina Tareq, Abbas began selling home-made baklava.

Now, Havenly has its own brick-andmortar location on 25 Temple St., and offers a six-month fellowship program, providing immigrant women with employment at Havenly, English classes, and career coaching.

he was ten years old.

“I remember the day I arrived in this country, and I remember coming to IRIS for the first time because they were offering me the uniform for when I first started in middle school,” Mahmood said. Now at 19 years of age, he is a university student hoping to pursue a career as a software engineer.

As he reflected on the journey that brought him to this moment, Mahmood said he is determined to continue to give back to IRIS. “This event means a lot, especially seeing everyone get together. They are like family to us… It means a lot, to still be here, to participate.”

To IRIS, such stories are indicative of the significance of their work. Malik noted that when refugees and immigrants first arrive in the U.S., they are often burdened by educational and linguistic challenges. Former clients like Mahmood illuminate how significant IRIS’s work is in allowing them to actualize their aspirations.

As the event came to its conclusion, Johanna Snyder, IRIS’s food pantry and bike program coordinator, took to the floor to thank the attendees.

“There are so many difficult things going on in this world, some of which have impacted the lives of people in this room quite profoundly, and yet beautiful things like this also exist,” she said. “We are a diverse group of people gathered here tonight, Ramadan, Passover and Holy Week are all converging, and it really strengthens my faith in our community that we can come together to make a big change through seemingly small actions.”

Besides amassing funds for IRIS’s food pantry, the event also helped immigrants in another way: by supporting Havenly. As the sun set and the trivia session came to a close, attendees were invited to take part in Iftar, the meal breaking the daily

IRIS’s continued support to Havenly has allowed it not only to operate, but to grow. “Most of the women that we have now in the program come from IRIS,” said Tareq, currently the sales director at Havenly. In the first cohort in 2018, they had two Havenly fellows; now, they have 45 fellows each year. Tareq pointed to the way that the event helps Havenly grow its own mission to support refugee women. Currently, its fellows come from countries including Sudan, Ecuador, Syria, and Guatemala among others.

Since she began working as the Director of Global Program at Yale’s Macmillan Center, Hira Jafri became involved with many of the events that IRIS organizes, including its annual Run for Refugees. She also orders catering from Havenly often and has visited the cafe numerous times, so showing up to the event was an easy decision.

“It is one of the few avenues that I have in my life to support refugees in the community,” said Jafri. “Whenever there is a project I can support, I really want to come out for it.”

Though many of the attendees, like Jafri, frequent Havenly, it attracted many others who were not familiar with the cafe and its mission. Sumia Shaikh made the 25-minute commute from her home in Cheshire to join Trivia Night & Iftar.

“I base a lot of my Islam and my identity as a Muslim with social justice and treating people with common decency,” Shaikh said. “If I am going to be going to Iftar anyway, might as well support a good cause.”

After her experience at Havenly, she is certain that she will return. “I was sad I didn’t see this before, and I will definitely be back again.”

And Shaikh is not alone. “I have never been here before, and this is definitely not going to be the last time,” said Mahmood. IRIS’s fundraising campaign will continue through the end of Ramadan, and can be found here irisct.org/ramadan/

Rachel Peet Photos.

6 of 8 Ivy Leagues will soon have women as presidents

Special to The Inner-City News

by Felecia Commodore, Old Dominion University

For the first time, a majority of Ivy League schools will soon be led by women.

Starting July 1, 2023, Claudine Gay will assume the role of president at Harvard University, Nemat “Minouche” Shafik at Columbia University and Sian Leah Beilock at Dartmouth College. They will join current female presidents at Brown University, Cornell University and University of Pennsylvania.

Felecia Commodore, an associate professor of higher education at Old Dominion University, explains what this means for gender equity in the college presidency – and why U.S. colleges and universities still have a long way to go. Why does this matter?

While women make up about 60% of undergraduate as well as master’s and doctoral students in the U.S., only about 32% of presidents of American colleges and universities are women.

However, the Ivy League is not new to selecting female presidents – they have been doing so for a few decades. Judith Rodin was the first, in 1994, when she became president of the University of Pennsylvania. She was followed by Ruth Simmons at Brown University and Shirley Tilghman at Princeton University, both in 2001. Rodin was succeeded by another woman, Amy Guttman, in 2004.

Still, one reason this moment may be one to watch is that Ivy League institutions are often seen as exemplars of elite, complex institutions. So seeing what one could consider a critical mass of female leaders in the Ivy League could signal the

benefit of women in leadership to other boards that are hesitant or slow to hire women as presidents.

How unusual is this across higher ed?

I think it would be more surprising to see mostly female presidents at the majority of large public research universities, or at a majority of the schools in the Power 5 athletic conferences.

Despite what may seem like a boom in women leading institutions, the percentage of women in the presidency at colleges and universities more broadly has plateaued at between 25% and 30% for the past decade. This was after increasing from 9.5% in 1986 to 19% in 1998.

A number of factors contribute to this low percentage, including barriers within the college presidential pipeline – such as exclusion from networks that provide mentorship – reward and promotion structures that are not equitable across genders, and bias against women in academic leadership roles.

A recent analysis of data on college presidents explains how this bias against women occurs, specifically when it comes to academic leadership roles. This is important because college presidents typically find their way to the presidency through academic leadership roles such as deans, vice provosts and provosts.

What are the biggest challenges that college presidents face?

The biggest priority or challenge really depends on the individual college or university. However, all institutions must ensure they are financially healthy and identify opportunities to strengthen their financial resources. College presidents have reported that they spend the most

time on budget and financial management, followed by fundraising.

Particularly in the current higher education marketplace, where the average cost of college runs over US$35,000 per year, college leaders must work to keep their institutions fiscally strong and also competitive and affordable. This may involve, for example, building new infrastructure,

creating new programs and cultivating new sources of funding.

What effect does having a woman in the top seat have?

GFor colleges that have only ever had a man in the president’s role, hiring their first woman as president can signal that the institution embraces change and evolution. This can be an especially impor-

tant message to send to funders, alumni donors, philanthropists, state legislators and corporate partners, who all play a role in ensuring a particular college’s financial vitality.

Female presidents add to the diversity of the college presidency. They add different perspectives to conversations that shape practices and policies both within their college and across higher education. They might, for example, provide their particular perspective regarding compensation for female faculty members of color, who tend to engage in more unpaid service work on campuses.

Organizational scholars and business leaders affirm that diversity strengthens the decisions made by organizations and contributes to innovative solutions. A more diverse group of decision-makers can generate more decision alternatives than a homogeneous group that may be susceptible to group think.

And lastly, having women at the helm of academic institutions shows other women who aspire to become college presidents that it is indeed possible.The Conversation

Felecia Commodore, Assistant Professor of Higher Education, Old Dominion University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

This article was originally published by the New Pittsburgh Courier.”

Claudine Gay will become Harvard’s second female president and first Black president in July 2023. (Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The struggle Dr. King gave his life for

and Indigenous People joined the campaign being organized by King and Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

by Benjamin Todd Jealous

This month in 1968, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated leading a bold effort to teach America an urgent lesson: Racism is not just the boot on the neck of people of color, it is also the great wedge that divides Americans. And everyone who gets divided loses.

On Dec. 4, 1967, King announced a multiracial “Poor People’s Campaign” that would march on Washington, DC, that summer.

The idea gained traction as groups of poor Whites, Asian Americans, Latinos,

In promoting it, King would decry the “idle industries of Appalachia” in the same breath as the “empty stomachs of Mississippi.” The reality, King made clear, is the economic value of poor Whites’ labor had been depressed since the days of slavery by the forced labor and continuing oppression of Black people. The divided get conquered.

That idea that working people of all races had common interests to fight for threatened – as it still does today – the old colonial system of divide and conquer that allowed King George (and every wouldbe American oligarch since) to extract massive wealth by enforcing massive poverty.

Four months to the day after he announced his Poor People’s Campaign – 55

years ago – King was assassinated on a balcony at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where he had traveled to stand with striking sanitation workers fighting for decent working conditions.

It’s telling that after all he had been through fighting Jim Crow and segregation – the bus boycott, the first March on Washington, passage of the Civil Rights Act – King was murdered fighting to unite working people across racial lines.

He wasn’t alone. Robert F. Kennedy was gunned down not long after as he ran for President on a similar platform.

Even before King and Kennedy, Harry Moore and his wife were blown up in their home on Christmas 1951 by the Klan. The Florida NAACP leader was organizing the Progressive Voters League seeking to unite Floridians across racial lines and had just led an effort that registered 1 million new voters. Even Malcolm X was assas-

sinated after he returned from Mecca and said unity across racial lines was possible.

Killing those who would unite us is an American tradition older than our nation itself. The first revolt by American colonists was in Gloucester, Virginia, more than 100 years before the Declaration of Independence. Indentured Europeans and enslaved Africans organized to rise up against cruel Virginia plantation owners. The organizers were hanged.

Two years to the day after King announced the Poor People’s Campaign, Black Panther Fred Hampton was leading a “Rainbow Coalition” of Blacks, Hispanics, Asian Americans, and poor Whites in Chicago when he was murdered –premeditated and carried out with military precision – by local police.

As in 1968, it’s true today that there are almost twice as many Whites trapped in poverty as Blacks. The fact that the na-

tion’s news media render the White poor invisible doesn’t change the facts.

That so many of us still tolerate millions of Americans of every color being trapped in poverty is a factor in the toxic tensions that threaten our domestic tranquility.

It is also proof we never actually learned the lesson Dr. King gave his life trying to teach us.

If you ever forget the logic of King’s final strategy, just pull out a $1 bill and turn it over. It’s right there in the Great Seal of the United States, albeit in Latin. E Pluribus Unum. Out of many, one.

Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club, the nation’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. He is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and author of “Never Forget Our People Were Always Free,” published in January.

Editorial: We Need To Talk About Colorism in The Black Community

Nyah Peebles, hbcubuzz.com

“That bubble of doubt within? It’s time to stick a pin in it. And wear your dark and lovely face with a grin on it.” ― Princess Latifah, “Pretty For a Dark Skin?”

Colorism is a pressing issue that causes division amongst the Black community and other BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities.

Merriam-Webster defines colorism as prejudice or discrimination, especially within a racial or ethnic group favoring people with lighter skin over those with darker skin.

Indeed, colorism is the “daughter of racism” as stated by actress, Lupita Nyong’o, and continues to run rampant in society.

The History of Colorism

Colorism has roots in slavery as white colonists created a division between the Africans and furthered the idea that being as close to white as possible was the ideal image. Lighter-skinned slaves were allowed to work indoors and carry out domestic tasks, while darker-skinned slaves participated in strenuous hard labor outdoors in the field. Lighter-skinned slaves also were afforded better opportunities to become educated and learn to read a write while working in the house.

In addition, enslavers administered tests to determine who was light enough to work in the house called the brown paper bag test. If people’s skins were darker than a brown paper bag, they were deemed too dark to work in the house. Black people also used tests that perpetuated colorism. According to The African American Registry, Black people also used the comb and the door tests to determine who was allowed in certain establishments. The comb test measured the kinkiness of a person’s hair by using a comb to see if it could pass through the hair without stopping. The door test was used in some African American clubs and

churches, where they would paint their doors a certain shade of brown and if people were darker than the doors, they would not be let in.

Proximity to whiteness meant certain freedoms for Black individuals, which is why many lighter-complexioned Black people engaged in “passing.” According to PureWow Journalist, Chelsea Candelario, “White-passing is when someone perceives a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and Person of Color) as a white person. Some BIPOC people labeled as whitepassing are viewed as having more privi-

lege than other individuals in their community.”

The Continuing Legacy

Colorism has continued to live on and we see it working every day on social media, in film, in music, in families, and in school and work settings.

There are countless examples in media, such as light-skinned women being portrayed as more desirable and more feminine than dark-skinned women in shows like “Martin,” or light-skinned actresses

receiving more attention and getting roles over dark-skinned actresses. For example, the fiasco that was the 2016 Nina Simone biopic starring Afro-Latinx actress Zoe Saldana portraying the iconic singer. Instead of casting a dark-skinned actress, producers cast a lighter one and altered her to look like Simone. For the role, Saldana donned a prosthetic nose and skincolor-altering makeup to mimic Simone’s appearance. This just furthers the argument that darker-skinned people don’t get nearly the amount of opportunities that lighter-skinned people do.

Research shows people with darker skin experience an increased number of problems, including socioeconomic issues. Colorism is linked to smaller incomes, lower marital rates for women, longer prison terms, fewer job prospects, decreased mental and physical health, and a lower perceived intelligence for darker-skinned people. Dark-skinned girls are also three times more likely to be suspended from school than their light-skinned peers. Additionally, research by Stanford psychologist Jennifer Eberhardt found that darkerskinned Black defendants were twice as likely as lighter-skinned Black defendants to get the death penalty for crimes involving white victims

Countless dark-skinned people can recall being the source of name-calling growing up because of their skin color— not to mention how many dark-skinned Black women have been told that they’re “pretty for a dark skin girl.” This can be extremely detrimental to one’s selfesteem and can result in self-hatred and skin bleaching.

How Do We Eliminate Colorism?

As long as colorism has existed in our communities, many still deny its existence. In order to change the narrative of how darker-skinned people are seen, we must acknowledge that colorism exists and have the conversation. People must check their biases and champion for darker-skinned people to get the same opportunities that people of lighter complexion do. With shows showcasing dark-skinned black people leads like “Insecure”, “BelAir” and “Blood and Water,” there has been some progression of representation in media, but there is still much further to go. It’s also important that we begin teaching our youth about colorism and empower them to speak up for change. Colorism is a major form of discrimination that should be treated with the same seriousness as racism.

Registration Open for 5th Annual Moguls in the Making HBCU Student Pitch Competition

Digital financial services company Ally Financial and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the largest organization exclusively representing Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs), have opened registration for the fifth annual Moguls in the Making entrepreneur pitch competition, Sept. 7 – 10 in Charlotte, NC.

Sixty students will vie for the opportunity to learn vital business skills, while competing for over $185,000 in scholarships, paid internships, laptops and other prizes.

Registration is open until April 24. Students can learn more at http://www.ally.com/moguls.

Moguls in the Making was developed in 2019 to provide HBCU students with career-launching business experience, financial education, and networking access to executives and industry leaders, while also giving Ally a new path for reaching diverse talent. Since its launch four years ago, Ally has hired 41 of the participants as interns and 14 as full-time employees, working on teams across the company, from IT, finance and marketing to product design and development.

Moguls in the Making is a part of Ally’s commitment to promote economic mobility by preparing talented diverse students to become future entrepreneurs and leaders in their communities.

The Importance Of College Students’ Mental Health Routines

by Dakaria Williams, BlackDoctor.org

In today’s world, college students’ mental health routines and all surrounding it are widely practiced in college spaces. Whether listening to music before class, meditation, or writing down your weekly goals regarding mental health, we all need a routine and might even do it without thinking.

When talking to professional Dr. Jai Anderson, he stated, “sleep is the most important mental health routine of all, and good sleep at that.” Anderson spoke of using cell phones and disconnecting before bed also playing a pivotal role in securing the sleep needed every night.

Because of these professional statements, the understanding that psychology’s outlook on mental health routines starts before the typical college day, at night, with sleep habits having a positive role on most students.

Consistent Mental Health Routine Or Plan

While sleep can be adequate for mental health, its effects work best when added to a mentally stabilizing routine or plan consistently carried out over time.

When talking to Aniyah Sparks, a second-year psychology major at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), she was asked how a mental health routine impacts her life. In the following, she stated, “making a mental health routine has made me a lot less anxious.

Even something as simple as writing down things I must accomplish for the day helps me handle what the day has in store for me.” Life as a college student can cause anxiety with the overwhelming work and stress caused by a busy schedule.

Still, Anyia uses her routine to organize and calm these fears by writing her schedule out, consistently journaling, and writing down her emotions. “Sometimes I feel like I can’t say it out loud, so, at times, I just have to put it on paper,” she says.

Finding Alternative Mental Health Routines: Transitioning

In Anyia’s eyes, her mental health routine is what keeps her mentally ready for school, but in opposition, speaking with students that do not have as easy of access to their particular routine have found new ways to not only practice their routine but change and bring their routine to the college campus as a whole.

One FAMU student Mykyla Hooper, a second-year pre-occupational therapy major, spoke of her initial routines growing up in high school. “I would go to this after-school program. We would have dancing, singing, plays, and I was that kind of kid that would get involved in all of it.”

For many college students, realizing that they may not have the time to add some of these routines that gave them so much joy as a child can be disheartening. Still, Mykyla refuses to let newly found responsibilities hold her back from her passions.

Transferring her mental health routine from high school to college for Mykyla meant making vlogs for her viewing daily. “I watch my vlogs like an athlete watching tape,” she says. Makayla states that she is somewhat of her own mental coach.

She is satisfied with her progress if she can see where her head is at during whatever challenging moments she gets through them. Mykyla says that it is essential not to give up what you did in high school entirely if it helps you form a strong and positive mental routine. “Of course, we don’t have all of the time in the world but make time for what is important, and you will see the results.”

Mindfulness For Students’ Mental Health Routines

From attending class to a part-time job,

Black children deserve representation in STEM fields Special to the The Inner-City News, courtesy of the Afro

torials posted to YouTube that prioritizes the representation of Black girls in every video. This is not to pat ourselves on the back — CODE Along is an example of how organizations and institutions can work together to create innovative, bottom-up solutions to address the staggering lack of diversity in STEM educational content.

By Sofia Mohammed

As a former teacher and forever educator, my philosophy and approach to education was heavily shaped by Zaretta Hammond. Being a Black woman, I knew firsthand how important it was that the children in my class saw themselves represented across the content we consumed — especially for subjects like math and science, which often lack diversity or include cultural biases. This has led to industries, such as tech, being overwhelmingly dominated by White men. Black employees account for only eight percent of the tech workforce, and according to a report from AnitaB.org, Black women only 1.7 percent.

Culturally responsive education is not just a talking point, but an urgent need that has been demanded by Black students and students of color for years. There is a strong appetite for inclusive computer science curricula, and the numbers from CODE Along prove it. Post after post, the engagement has continued to increase, reaching 23 million impressions and over 600K views in just a matter of weeks.

studying can be straining for anyone. Dr. Candace Adir stated, “meditation or some type of mindfulness exercise, along with sleep or physical activity daily, could increase one’s overall mood and mental health over time.”

Over the past decade, it’s apparent that the mental health discussion in the black community is increasing in comparison to the past generations. We are in a time where racial injustice and inequality affect the community in sadly similar ways.

Between police brutality and school shootings, this next generation of college students has a new normal that exudes and tests their mental strength and willpower.

The only difference for this generation is that conversations about their mental health are more open than in the past. When examining and trying to exercise the brain’s ability to face daily challenges. Keeping A Balanced Life Mental health routines are more than necessary for a balanced college life. No matter what form your routine may take, always cater to your feelings and listen to yourself.

What one person may do may not work for you, but the best thing is always to experiment with your limits and goals, slowly working to where you want to be every day.

In order to increase the pipelines of historically marginalized communities in computer programming, engineering and other emerging fields, we must tackle the issue at its root: addressing the inequities that exist in education, particularly in computer science. This means developing and implementing STEM educational content that is intellectually challenging and culturally relevant for students — from the books they read, to the videos they watch, to the tests they take.

Studies show that culturally responsive education improves academic outcomes and benefits all students. The research supports what myself and thousands of other educators have seen firsthand — that children of color feel supported in school when they not only trust their teachers, but when the content they consume reflects their community and culture. This approach to teaching is not new or complicated, and has been happening in classrooms across the country for years. For example, as a teacher in Brooklyn, N.Y, I often had to adjust activities so that they would better resonate with my students. Instead of word problems that mentioned golf or farming, my assignments connected with their everyday experiences like riding the subway or familiar events like the West Indian Day Parade.

Representation and cultural competency across educational content is critical for children of color to stay engaged in those subjects. Right now, diversity in STEM curricula continues to miss the mark, often centering White, male, affluent communities. This major gap is why Black Girls CODE recently partnered with GoldieBlox on the creation of CODE Along, a series of free online coding tu-

This series is successful because every detail has been carefully designed to connect with our audience. Black girls not only see themselves in the host, who is both dynamic and affirming, but they also resonate with the material. Each video is infused with larger topics and trends that Black girls care about — such as the beauty of natural hair, how they can be changemakers in their school communities and more. CODE Along is just one small piece of a much larger puzzle to address a systemic issue that has locked Black girls and students of color out of career opportunities for decades.

Access to inclusive STEM curricula is a civil rights issue that directly impacts the ability for marginalized communities to exist as our full-selves within a new, emerging tech society. For too long, we have experienced the consequences of a mostly White, male-dominated tech industry that not only affects internal business practices, but also the products many of us need to use every day. The lack of diversity in STEM is how we ended up with self-driving cars that hit Black pedestrians because they cannot detect darker skin and pulse oximeter devices that provide less accurate results to Black users.

The solution is not impossible. Right now, politicians are waging a culture war — intentionally conflating critical race theory with social-emotional learning, Black history and gender studies in an attempt to force teachers back into a White-washed, “old boys club” curriculum that only further ostracizes students of color in the classroom. And although it may feel like a David and Goliath fight, the good news is that there are steps all of us can take to push back and create an inclusive learning environment for students. Moving the needle takes a village, critical thinking, and a challenge to the status quo – all essential investments to the future in which we should want our children to live.

Sofia Mohammed is the interim executive director of Black Girls CODE.

Kamala Harris Leads Tennessee Rally, Backs Ousted Lawmakers

Courtesy of The Los Angeles Sentinel

Vice President Kamala Harris made a last-minute trip Friday, April 7, to Tennessee where she called for tougher firearm laws and criticized the Republican-controlled state House, which a day earlier expelled two Black Democratic lawmakers for their role in a protest calling for more gun control following a school shooting in Nashville.

Harris received wild applause and several standing ovations as she told a crowd at Nashville’s historically Black Fisk University that the so-called Tennessee Three — ousted Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson and a third Democrat, Gloria Johnson, who avoided expulsion by a single vote — were being, in her words, silenced and stifled for standing up for the lives of schoolchildren.

“Let’s understand the underlying issue is about fighting for the safety of our children,” Harris said. “It’s been years now where they are taught to read and write and hide in a closet and be quiet if there’s a mass shooter at their school, where our children, who have God’s capacity to learn and lead, who go to school in fear.” She called for background checks, red flag laws and restrictions on assault rifles.

“Let’s not fall for the false choice — either you’re in favor of the Second Amend-

ment or you want reasonable gun safety laws,” Harris said. “We can and should do both.”

Harris met privately with Jones, Pearson and Johnson, as well as with other elected officials and young people advocating for tougher gun control laws.

Ahead of the event, students and others were lined up down the block, hoping to enter the school’s Memorial Chapel. Inside several young Black women wore sweaters with the initials for Alpha Kappa Alpha, a Black sorority that Harris belonged to.

“It’s exciting to see someone from my organization doing great and amazing things,” said one of them, Jasmyn Thrash.

Nashville Metro Councilperson Zulfat Suara addressed the crowd before Harris arrived, saying the expulsions “tell us exactly what we need to know about how the state views young Black men” standing up for what they believe. Evoking the city’s civil rights history, she said, “Just like John Lewis and Diane Nash did many years ago, we too will resist.”

Pearson, Johnson and Jones entered the packed chapel to a standing ovation.

President Joe Biden has called their expulsions “shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent.”

“Rather than debating the merits of the

issue (of gun control), these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee,” Biden said in a Thursday statement.

The White House also said Friday afternoon that Biden spoke with Jones, Pearson and Johnson via conference call, thanking them “for their leadership in seeking to ban assault weapons and standing up for our democratic values.”

The oustings of Jones and Pearson drew accusations of racism. Johnson, who is white, was allowed to continue to serve in the chamber. Republican leadership denied that race was a factor.

GOP leaders said Thursday’s actions — used only a handful times since the Civil War — were necessary to avoid setting a precedent that lawmakers’ disruptions of House proceedings through protest would be tolerated.

Republican state Rep. Gino Bulso said the three Democrats had “effectively conducted a mutiny.”

Most state legislatures retain the power to expel members, but it is generally a rarely used punishment for lawmakers accused of serious misconduct.

The post Kamala Harris Leads Tennessee Rally, Backs Ousted Lawmakers appeared first on Los Angeles Sentinel.

From left, expelled Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, and expelled Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville raise their fists as they walk across Fisk University campus after hearing Vice President Kamala Harris speak, Friday, April 7, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Town of Bloomfield

NOTICE

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO. Request for Proposals Benefits Consultant

360 Management Group, Co. is currently seeking proposals for a benefits consultant. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 3:00PM.

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

Salary Range: $87,727 to $136,071 Deputy Finance Director/Controller

Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE. For Details go to  www.bloomfieldct.org

THE GLENDOWER GROUP, INC. Invitation for Bids Development Consultant

The Glendower Group, Inc. is currently seeking bids for a development consultant. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Glendower’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing. cobblestonesystems.com/gateway

beginning on Monday, April 17, 2023 at 3:00PM.

NOTICIA

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT (HACB) SIGNIFICANT AMENDMENT TO THE FY2022 ANNUAL PLAN

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport d/b/a Park City Communities (PCC) plans to incorporate a significant amendment into its FY2022 Annual Plan. Copies of the plan and the significant amendment are available on the agency’s website www. parkcitycommunities.org.

Town of Bloomfield Finance Director

Salary Range - $101,455 to $156,599 (expected starting pay maximum is mid-range)

Payroll

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510

Members of the public are invited to provide written comments addressed to: Park City Communities, Significant Amendment FY2022 Annual Plan; Attn: Phoebe Greenfield, 150 Highland Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604 or via email to: agencyplans@parkcitycommunities.org. The forty-five (45) days comment period begins on February 24, 2023, and ends on April 10, 2023. All comments must be received by April 10, 2023.

Please be advised the Public Hearing will be held on Tuesday April 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom. The Zoom Link will be placed on PCC’s website. Please note, participants are limited to the first one hundred, (100) call-ins. The public hearing is scheduled for ninety (60) minutes and address concerns by residents and general public.

NEW HAVEN

Fully Benefited – 35 hours weekly Pre-employment drug testing. For more details, visit our website –www.bloomfieldct.org

Portland

Police Officer full-time

Go to www.portlandct.org for details

Payroll Clerk- Performs responsible office work in the processing of all general government payrolls and maintain all payroll records. The position requires a H.S. diploma or G.E.D, plus 5 years of experience in responsible office work involving typing, accounting, bookkeeping, data entry and payroll processing. $27.22 to $32.68 hourly plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or maybe downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. The closing date will be the date that the 50th application form/resume is received, or April 10, 2023, whichever occurs first. EOE

INVITATION TO BID

Subcontractors are invited to bid on the Temple Pine Renovations. 555 Pool Rd, North Haven, CT 06473. The project consists of Reno to 30 Apartment Units, Exterior Envelope Replacement, and sitework.

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO.

242-258 Fairmont Ave

2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

BIDS DUE 2:00 PM, April 07, 2023. Send email to kmcdonnell@pacgroupllc.com for copy of the detailed Invite and Trade Bid Packages. Project partially funded by DOH. This project is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements. An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Minority/Women's Business Enterprises are encouraged to apply.

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center

Invitation for Bids TRASH REMOVAL ALL SITES

Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258

APPLY NOW!

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

Listing: Lead Installer

Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay. Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT

CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s Certificate Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016

3:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S.

1:30-

360 Management Group, Co. is currently seeking bids for trash removal services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

(203) 996-4517 Host,General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor ofPitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster St. New Haven, CT

Monday, March 20, 2023 at 3:00PM.

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

POLICE OFFICER

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

HVAC department has an opening for an experienced, full time, lead installer for all mechanical systems (Hydronic, Duct-less, RTU’s). Candidate must possess a minimum D2 license, EPA Certificate, and a minimum of 5 years experience. Benefits, 401k, Paid Time Off, Company Vehicle. Send resume to: HR Manager, P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437 or email HRDept@eastriverenergy.com

**An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer**

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

The Wallingford Police Department is seeking qualified applicants for Police Officer. $ 1,301.20 weekly plus an excellent fringe benefit package to include a defined benefit pension plan. The written and oral exam processes will be administered by the South Central Criminal Justice Administration. To apply, candidates must register through the South Central Criminal Justice Administration webpage found under the “Associations” menu at www.policeapp.com by the registration deadline of Wednesday, April 5, 2023. The registration requires a fee of $ 85.00. EOE

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016

The Town of East Haven is currently accepting applications to participate in the examinations for the following positions:

Project documents available via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

Secretary II, Grade Level 10-$21.36/hour.

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Fiscal/Administrative Officer. Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/ CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 230309&R2=1308AR&R3=001

Account Clerk, Payroll-$55,412.00/year

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Information regarding qualifications and job duties are available along with the application online at https://www.townofeasthavenct.org/civil-service-commission/pages/ job-notices-and-tests or from the Civil Service Office, 250 Main Street, East Haven and must be returned by March 17, 2023. The Town of East Haven is committed to building a workforce of diverse individuals. Minorities, Females, Handicapped and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:

Construction

Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield CT We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

NOTICE

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Contact: Tom Dunay

Phone: 860- 243-2300

Seeking to employ experienced individuals in the labor, foreman, operator and teamster trades for a heavy outside work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valid drivers license required. To apply please call (860) 6211720 or send resume to: Personnel Department, P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ELM CITY COMMUNITIES/HOUSING AUTHORITY OF NEW HAVEN (ECC/HANH) MOVING TO WORK (MTW) FY2024 ANNUAL PLAN

Email: tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V Drug Free Workforce

PVC FENCE PRODUCTION

Section II (C) of the Authority's Moving to Work Agreement (the “Agreement") requires that ECC/HANH hold at least one public hearing per Annual MTW submission and make the Annual MTW Plan available for public comment for at least thirty (30) days. The Agency agrees to take into account public comments on the program design, including comments from current tenants/participants to the extent such comments are provided are provided.

Garrity

: Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators with current licensing and clean driving record, be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks

NOTICIA

Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300

Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

Large CT Fence Company looking for an individual for our PVC Fence Production Shop. Experience preferred but will train the right person. Must be familiar with carpentry hand & power tools and be able to read a CAD drawing and tape measure. Use of CNC Router machine a plus but not required, will train the right person. This is an in-shop production position. Duties include building fence panels, posts, gates and more. Must have a valid CT driver’s license & be able to obtain a Drivers Medical Card. Must be able to pass a physical and drug test. Please email resume to pboucher@atlasoutdoor.com.

The thirty (30) days comment period begins on Monday, April 17, 2023 and copies of the Moving to Work (MTW) FY2024 Plan, will be made available on the agency website www.elmcitycommunities.org or via Twitter, www.twitter.com/ ECCommunities or via Facebook www.facebook.com/ElmCityCommunities.

You are invited to provide written comments addressed to: ECC/HANH, Moving to Work FY2024 Annual Plan, Attn: Evelise Ribeiro, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511 or via email to: eribeiro@elmcitycommunities.org.

Union Company seeks:

Tractor Trailer Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction Equipment. Must have a CDL License, clean driving record, capable of operating heavy equipment; be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510

Contact Dana at 860-243-2300

Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

NEW HAVEN

242-258 Fairmont Ave

AA/EOE-MF

Full Time Administrative assistant position

for a steel & misc metals fabrication shop who will oversee the daily operations of clerical duties such as answering phones, accounts payable purchase orders/invoicing and certified payroll. Email resumes to jillherbert@gwfabrication.com

Pursuant to said Section II (C), a public hearing where public comments will be accepted and recorded is scheduled for Monday, May 15, 2023, at 4:00pm via: Teams Meeting ID: 246 405 833 591

Passcode: i82T6B

Any individual requiring a Reasonable Accommodation to participate in the hearing may call the Reasonable Accommodation Manager (203) 498-8800, ext. 1507 or at the TDD Number (203) 497-8434.

AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA PARA

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

LAS COMUNIDADES DE LA CIUDAD DE ELM/AUTORIDAD DE VIVIENDA DE NEW HAVEN (ECC/HANH) MOVIMIENTO AL TRABAJO (MTW) PLAN ANUAL FY2024

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Fiscal and Program Policy Section Director. Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/ CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 230303&R2=1585MP&R3=001

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

La Sección II (C) del Acuerdo de Mudanza al Trabajo de la Autoridad (el "Acuerdo") requiere que ECC/HANH celebre al menos una audiencia pública por presentación de MTW anual y que el Plan de MTW anual esté disponible para comentario público durante al menos treinta (30) días. días La Agencia acuerda tener en cuenta los comentarios públicos sobre el diseño del programa, incluidos los comentarios de los inquilinos/participantes actuales en la medida en que se proporcionen dichos comentarios.

El período de comentarios de treinta (30) días comienza el lunes 17 de abril de 2023 y las copias del Plan Moving to Work (MTW) FY2024 estarán disponibles en el sitio web de la agencia www.elmcitycommunities.org o a través de Twitter, www.twitter. com/ECCommunities o a través de Facebook www.facebook.com/ ElmCityCommunities.

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016

Project documents available via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

Lo invitamos a proporcionar comentarios por escrito dirigidos a: ECC/HANH, Moving to Work FY2024 Annual Plan, Attn: Evelise Ribeiro, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511 o por correo electrónico a: eribeiro@elmcitycommunities.org.

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO EMPLOYER

De conformidad con dicha Sección II (C), se programa una audiencia pública donde se aceptarán y registrarán los comentarios del público para el lunes 15 de mayo de 2023 a las 4:00 p. m. a través de:

ID de reunión de equipos: 246 405 833 591

Código de acceso: i82T6B

Cualquier persona que requiera una Adaptación Razonable para participar en la audiencia puede llamar al Gerente de Adaptación Razonable (203) 498-8800, ext. 1507 o al Número TDD (203) 497-8434.

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

NOTICE

Request for Proposals

QSR STEEL CORPORATION APPLY NOW!

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

Request for Proposals

Fully Integrated Web Based Housing Authority Software

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders

Fully

Integrated Web Based

Housing Authority Software

Elm City Communities is currently seeking proposals for a full integrated web-based housing authority software. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Monday, March 13, 2023 at 3:00PM.

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

NOTICIA

Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay.

Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Fiscal and Program Policy Section Director.

Elm City Communities is currently seeking proposals for a full integrated web-based housing authority software. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Monday, March 13, 2023 at 3:00PM.

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

Invitation for Bids

Bid Package #1 Scattered Sites East – CO and Smoke Detectors

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Project Engineer job opening available for a growing / established Heavy Highway Construction Contractor based out of Avon, CT. Tasks include takeoffs, CAD drafting, computations, surveying, office engineering, submittals, other miscellaneous engineering tasks. Competitive compensation package based on experience. Many opportunities for growth for the right individual. We are an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer. Please email your resume to Dawn@ rothacontracting.com.

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510

Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/ CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 230303&R2=1585MP&R3=001

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Elm City Communities is currently seeking bids for bid package #1 scattered sites east – CO and Smoke Detectors. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Monday, February 6, 2023 at 3:00PM.

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO.

MINORITY CONTRACTOR OPPORTUNITY

–

NEW HAVEN

242-258 Fairmont Ave

2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA

Waltersville Commons –Bridgeport, CT SOLICITATION OF SBE/MBE CONTRACTORS: Enterprise Builders, Inc., an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, seeks certified SBE/ MBE Subcontractors and/or suppliers and local business enterprises to bid applicable sections of work/equipment/supplies for the following construction project: Waltersville Commons, project consists of a conversion of two existing buildings into 70 new apartment units, additional there will be some historic renovation work involved. Bid Date and Time: April 14, 2023 at 10:00am. Electronic Plans and specifications can be obtained at no charge by contacting the Estimating Department at Enterprise Builders at (860) 466-5188 or by email to bids@enterbuilders.com. Project is Taxable on Renovation (labor and material) and prevailing wage rates DO NOT apply. This project is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements. EBI encourages the participation of certified SBE/ MBE contractors. EBI is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO.

Request for Proposals Benefits Consultant

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

360 Management Group, Co. is currently seeking proposals for a benefits consultant. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 3:00PM.

POLICE OFFICER

$70,915 - $86,200/yr.

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Invitation for Bids Landscaping Mill River

360 Management Group, Co. is currently seeking bids for landscaping services at Mill River. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems. com/gateway beginning on

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

Monday, March 20, 2023 at 3:00PM.

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

246 Fairmont Avenue, New Haven

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

Spacious 2 bedroom apartment, $1,750.00. Tenant pays all utilities including gas for heat and hot water. Includes appliances, private entrance, balcony, carpet and off street parking. Close proximity to restaurants, shopping centers and on bus line. Section 8 welcome. Security deposit varies. Call Christine at 860-985-8258.

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the

DEADLINE: 05-04-23

EOE

Town of Bloomfield

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

Request for Proposals

Payroll Services & HR Management Systems

Assistant Building Official $39.80 hourly

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016

Elm City Communities is currently seeking proposals Payroll Services & HR Management Systems. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Project documents available via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE.

For Details go to www.bloomfieldct.org

Monday, March 13, 2023 at 3:00PM.

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com

DRIVER CDL CLASS A

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO EMPLOYER

Full Time – All Shifts Top Pay-Full Benefits

EOE Please apply in person: 1425 Honeyspot Rd. Ext. Stratford, CT 06615

The Guilford Housing Authority is currently accepting applications for one bedroom apartments at Sachem Hollow in Guilford, CT. Applicants must be age 62 and over or on 100% social security or federal disability and over the age of 18. Applications may be obtained by calling the application line at 203-453-6262 EXT: 107. Applications will be accepted until end of business day or postmark of March 20, 2023 4PM. Credit, police, landlord checks are procured by the Authority. Smoking is prohibited in the units and building.

REQUEST FOR INTEREST

NOTICE

Solar Voltaic Power Panel System Installations

Town of Bloomfield

Patrol Police Officer

Electric

New Haven Parking Authority

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

New Haven, Connecticut NHPA Project #23-049

Responses due April 11, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. EDT

Documents regarding the Request for Interest are available at no cost on the New Haven Parking Authority’s website at https://parknewhaven.com/request-forbids/. Any subsequent addenda will also be posted on this website.

New Haven Parking Authority is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (EMT)

NOTICIA

$37.93 hourly ($78,885 annually) – full time, benefited Pre-employment drug testing. For more details, visit our website – www.bloomfieldct.org

Deadline: Applications will be accepted until position is filled

Town of Bloomfield Finance Director

Metering and Substation Maintenance Supervisor – The Town of Wallingford’s Electric Division is seeking a highly qualified supervisor whose responsibilities will include the supervisory and administrative work involved in the supervision and management of the meter and electrical departments of the Electric Division, including substation operations and maintenance. The utility serves approximately 24,500 customers in a 50+ square mile distribution area with a peak demand of 143 MW. The position requires a bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university in engineering, plus five years of progressively responsible supervisory or management experience in a utility, or an equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience substituting on a year-for-year basis. Must possess and maintain a valid State of Connecticut Motor Vehicle Operator's License. Salary: $ 93,254 - $ 119,313 plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply to: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Fax #: (203) 294-2084. Closing date will be May 9, 2023 EOE.

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

The Town of Wallingford is accepting applications for EMT. Must possess a H.S. diploma or G.E.D., plus one (1) year of recent experience as an EMT. Must be 18 years old and be a Connecticut or National Registry Certified EMT with CPR Certification and a valid State of Connecticut motor vehicle operator’s license. Starting wage $779.00 (weekly), plus an excellent fringe benefits package. Apply: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone (203) 294-2080. The closing date will be the date of the 50th application or resume is received or April 14, 2023, whichever occurs first.

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510

Construction Seeking to employ experienced individuals in the labor, foreman, operator and teamster trades for a heavy outside work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valid drivers license required. To apply please call (860) 621-1720 or send resume to: Personnel Department, P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V Drug Free Workforce

NEW HAVEN

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

242-258 Fairmont Ave

2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA

Salary Range - $101,455 to $156,599 (expected starting pay maximum is mid-range)

Fully Benefited – 35 hours weekly Pre-employment drug testing. For more details, visit our website –www.bloomfieldct.org

Portland

Police Officer full-time

Go to www.portlandct.org for details

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

DISPATCHER

The Town of Wallingford is seeking responsible candidates to perform 911, police, fire and EMS emergency dispatching duties. Must be able to work under stressful conditions and be able to type information with a high rate of speed and accuracy. Must be able to work all three shifts including weekends and holidays and be able to work additional shifts beyond the regular shift schedule. Requires a H.S. or business school diploma with courses in typing and 2 years of responsible office work experience. Wages: $ 23.72 ~ $28.28 hourly plus shift differential and excellent fringe benefits. Closing date is April 24, 2023, or the date of receipt of the 50th application, whichever occurs first. Apply: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main St., Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone: 203-294-2080, Fax: 203-294-2084. EOE.

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center

Invitation for Bids

Hotels/Temporary and Emergency Housing

Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258

APPLY NOW!

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

Lineman (First Class)

Elm City Communities is currently seeking bids for hotels/temporary and emergency housing. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/ gateway beginning on

Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay. Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT

formation of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016

3:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. (203) 996-4517 Host,General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor ofPitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster St. New Haven, CT

Monday, March 27, 2023 at 3:00PM.

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO.

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

Invitation for Bids TEMPORARY STAFFING SERVICES

360 Management Group, Co. is currently seeking bids for temporary staffing services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https:// newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

Monday, March 13, 2023 at 3:00PM.

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

State of Connecticut

Office of Policy and Management

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016

Electric utility is seeking highly skilled candidates for First Class Lineman. Applicants must be a H.S. graduate with 4 years’ experience as a second-class lineman in electric line construction and maintenance. Also, must be experienced with energized 13,800-volt equipment and must be able to work extended periods of time off the ground and under conditions requiring extreme care. Hourly rate: $41.46 to $46.09, plus an excellent fringe benefits package. The closing date for applications is May 9, 2023 or the date we receive the fiftieth (50) application whichever occurs first. Apply: Human Resources Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request form the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone: (203) 2942080, Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE.

Project documents available via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Fiscal/Administrative Officer. Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/ CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 230309&R2=1308AR&R3=001

Galasso Materials LLC, a quarry and paving contractor,

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

has positions open for the upcoming construction season. We are seeking candidates for a variety of positions, including: Office Clerks, Scalehouse Dispatcher/ Equipment Operators and Laborers. NO PHONE CALLS. Please email resume and cover letter to “Hiring Manager”, Galasso Materials LLC, PO Box 1776, East Granby CT 06026. Galasso Materials is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status

SURVEY: Black Professionals’ Ability to Focus Disproportionately Affected by Rising Cost of Living, Health Concerns

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Black workers prioritize their mental well-being more than any other racial group, according to a survey by the employment platform Oyster.

The platform surveyed more than 2,500 desk-based – or so-called knowledge employees — and found that more than 58 % of Black workers globally chose their mental well-being as their top priority.

Asian respondents came in second at 37.7 %.

“Bearing the brunt of systemic racism, prejudice, and societal injustice, perhaps Black knowledge workers must put more energy into protecting their mental health and can less afford to spend it elsewhere,” the report stated.

Study authors found the ability of Black knowledge workers to focus has suffered because of external factors like the rising cost of living and health concerns, particularly in America, Western Europe, and Canada.

For instance, 60.1 % of Black workers struggle with the cost of living, the survey found.

About 9.5% of respondents were Black knowledge workers, and the authors called it disheartening to see that they’re disproportionately affected by the everrising costs of living.

“In fact, Black workers are more affected by pretty much every category than other racial groups, notably by global health concerns – 41.6% of Black workers (compared to 14.8% of white workers) were very concerned about this, com-

pared office in many cases, against their will,” the authors wrote.

But nothing came close to spiraling living costs and personal concerns when factoring in the top external stressors, which the authors said was true across genders and geographies.

White workers reported being least affected in nearly every category – an example of privilege in practice, the authors concluded.

“What privilege does do is protect certain populations from being as negatively affected when taken as a group,” the authors noted.

They said the racial wage disparity pres-

ent at many companies (and in society in general) means it’s logical that Black workers are more affected by rising costs of living.

Systemic racism in healthcare and legislative environments means it’s logical that Black workers are more affected by health concerns and political instability.

Additional findings of the report:

• 5% of Black workers see a safe, inclusive work environment as very important, almost 14 percentage points higher than their white colleagues.

• 63 % of Black employees indicated that

regular raises affect their well-being at work, compared to 48.3% of white workers.

• Black employees value access to mental health support (64%) more than their white colleagues (22%).

Across all genders and geographies, the rising cost of living (75%) and personal worries or concerns (74%) are the top stressors impacting employees’ ability to focus on work, followed by:

• Global health concerns (61%)

• Economic downturn (55%)

• War and conflict (35%)

• Political instability (34%)

• Climate change (23%)

Black knowledge workers’ ability to focus on work is disproportionately affected by these external factors, more than any other racial group. Most critically:

• 60% of Black employees report struggling with the rising costs of living, compared to their Hispanic (46%), Asian (39%), and white (30%) colleagues.

• Global health concerns impact 42% of Black workers, compared to 15% of white workers.

• Younger generations are almost twice as affected by rising living costs and personal concerns than their Gen X colleagues.

“Our data broken down by race was also very revealing. Black employees valued a safe working environment almost 14 percentage points more than their white colleagues and were 20 percentage points more in favor of check-ins with their manager,” the study revealed.

“These employees also placed far more emphasis on regular raises (63.0% compared to 48.3% of white workers), which tracks given that our data also found Black workers were the most concerned with rising costs of living.”

The authors concluded:

“What we’re seeing is a greater need to support, include, and create equitable work environments so all employees can thrive. At the very least, managers should be aware that Black employees on their team may appreciate more face time and encouragement and be ready to provide this support as needed.”

April is National Minority Health Month (NMHM)

Better Health Through Better Understanding

April is National Minority Health Month (NMHM), a time to raise awareness about the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minority communities and reducing health disparities. Learn more about NMHM.

The 2023 NMHM theme is Better Health Through Better Understanding. Join NIMHD, our partners across NIH, and the Office of Minority Health (OMH), as we share resources to address health literacy, language access, and more.

Celebrated every year in April, National Minority Health Month:

Builds awareness about the disproportionate burden of premature death

and illness in people from racial and ethnic minority groups.

Encourages action through health education, early detection and control of disease complications.

The origin of National Minority Health Month was the 1915 establishment of National Negro Health Week by Booker T. Washington. In 2002, National Minority Health Month received support from the U.S. Congress with a concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 388) that “a National Minority Health and Health Disparities Month should be established to promote educational efforts on the health problems currently facing minorities and other health disparity populations.” The resolution encouraged “all health organizations and Americans to conduct appropriate programs and activities to promote healthfulness in minority and other health disparity communities.”

It takes a powerhouse to power a houseful.

Introducing the next generation 10G network. Only from Xfinity. A network that can effortlessly handle a house full of devices. All at the same time. Which means that you and everyone else can seamlessly watch, work, stream and play whatever you want on all your devices with ultra-low lag. Get ready for a network that can handle the entire house, no matter how full it is. The future starts now.

Restrictions apply. Ends 4/23/23. Not available in all areas. New Xfinity Internet residential customers only. Offer requires enrollment in both paperless billing and automatic payments with stored bank account. Without enrollment, the monthly service charge automatically increases by $10 (or $5 if enrolling with credit or debit card information). The discount will appear on your bill within 45 days of enrolling in automatic payments and paperless billing. If either automatic payments or paperless billing are subsequently canceled, the $10 monthly discount will be removed automatically. Limited to Connect More 200 Mbps internet. All other installation, taxes & fees extra, and subj. to change during and after promo. After 24 months, or if any service is canceled or downgraded, regular charges apply to internet service and devices. Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. Actual speeds vary and not guaranteed. Ultra-low lag based on median latency of 13 milliseconds or below for Xfinity gigabit Internet customers with xFi Gateway as measured by Xfinity Speed Test. For factors affecting speed visit www.xfinity.com/ networkmanagement. Call for restrictions and complete details, or visit xfinity.com. NPA244949-0005 NED-NEW10G Platform-V10