THE INNER-CITY NEWS

American Ideals, Hypocrisy Brought To Life At Frederick Douglass “Essential Texts” Reading

by THOMAS BREEN

Clifton Graves Jr.‘s voice boomed throughout the cavernous, marble-enclosed library his eyes locked with the audience’s, his right hand raised in admonition, his words traveling 170 years from past to present.

“What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?” he asked. “I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.”

Graves, a longtime local attorney and the city’s probate court judge, uttered those words and temporarily, rhetorically, transformed into 19th-century abolitionist, author and orator Frederick Douglass on Tuesday afternoon in the second floor gallery space of Yale’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library downtown.

He joined a handful of other local readers including Erik Clemons, Babz Rawls-Ivy, Dee Marshall, Trina Lucky, Charles Warner Jr., Tubyez Cropper, Meghan Beirne, and George Miles before a 50-person audience for what has quickly become an annual Independence Day-adjacent tradition at the Beinecke. That is: a public reading of Douglass’s July 5, 1852 oration, “What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July?” alongside that of the Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776.

The selection of “essential texts of our nation” as Beinecke Director of Community Engagement Michael Morand put it at the top of the program that were read aloud in full or in part expanded to include a 1780s-era petition from a group of enslaved New Haveners to the Connecticut General Assembly, the introduction to the 1825 autobiography of fugitive slave and New Havener William Grimes, and the Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments from 1848.

Original copies of all of these documents (except for the 1780s petition) sit within the Beinecke’s collection and are available for public viewing, to Yalies and non-Yalies alike.

Read aloud side by side by side with one another on Tuesday, they transported listeners to the very core of this country’s past and present, illuminating the ideals on which this nation was founded and the hypocrisy with which so much of its history has unfurled.

“These texts are at once timely and timeless,” Morand said. “They show that words matter, that ideas matter, that ideals matter, that actions matter. … We hope these living documents are resources to use, remember, learn, and contribute, individually and collectively, to the ongoing building of a more perfect union.”

Cropper, a New Haven native and Amistad High School graduate who also works at the Beinecke, agreed with Morand that a close reading of these documents serves as a powerful counter to what Gore Vidal

once dubbed “the United States of Amnesia.”

“Let the words that you heard today, let them change this [country] into the United States of Acknowledgment,” he said. “The United States of Learning. The United States of Caring. The United States of Prosperity.”

After the nearly two-hour reading had concluded, Graves reflected on how Douglass’s 1852 speech about the state-sanctioned harm faced by Black Americans and the 1848 Seneca Falls declaration about the deprivation of women’s liberty resonate today in the wake of the police murder of George Floyd and the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.

“We still have a ways to go,” he said. "The Very Ring-Bolt In The Chain Of Your Yet Undeveloped Destiny"

So. What did these century-spanning texts say? And how did they speak to one another when read aloud one after the other on Tuesday?

To this listener, a number of political and rhetorical motifs returned again and again over the course of the event.

For one, they all contrasted an allegiance to universal political and philosophical principles with historical events and grievances specific to the time and place in which they were written.

The Declaration of Independence’s “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal” is followed by a castigation of King George III for “cutting off our trade with all parts of the world” and for “imposing taxes on us without our consent.”

Douglass’s 1852 oration’s heralding of the 4th of July as “the very ring-bolt in the

chain of your yet undeveloped destiny” stands alongside a detailed critique of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.

“We hold these truths to be self-evidenct that all men and women are created equal,” the Seneca Falls declaration begins, before lambasting the then-current state of American political life that deprived women of the right to vote and that “compelled her to submit to laws in the formation of which she had no voice.”

The documents also underscored just how much the various authors’ appeals to an American conception of freedom were grounded in what Cropper, reading from an introduction written by Yale historian David Blight for the 1780s petition, described as an Enlightenment-era conception of natural rights as well as a religious

And they all pointed time and time again to how the reality of American history has failed its founding liberatory ideals, and must be changed through diligence, commitment, courage, and a clear-sighted understanding of what has come before.

“I would in my will, leave my skin a legacy to the government, desiring that it might be taken off and made into parchment, and then bind the constitution of glorious happy and free America,” Grimes wrote in his 1825 autobiography. “Let the skin of an American slave bind the charter of American Liberty.”

And at Seneca Falls: “Now, in view of this entire disfranchisement of one-half the people of this country, their social and religious degradation, in view of the unjust laws above mentioned, and because women do feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights, we insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of these United States.”

And in Douglass’s 1852 speech in Rochester, N.Y.: To the American slave, “your celebration of the 4th of July] is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States at this very hour.”

commitment to moral inclusion.

“Gentlemen, is this to be right and justice? Is this a free country? No, it’s murder,” Cropper read from the 1780s petition by enslaved New Haveners, followed soon by “We that can live, pray let us live.”

And Douglass, speaking about the 72 crimes that the State of Virginia listed as punishable by death if committed by a Black man, said: “What is this but the acknowledgment that the slave is a moral, intellectual, and responsible being? … When the dogs in your streets, when the fowls of the air, when the cattle on your hills, when the fish of the sea, and the reptiles that crawl, shall be unable to distinguish the slave from a brute, then will I argue with you that the slave is a man!”

On Tuesday, the final reader of the afternoon, Trina Lucky, concluded Douglass’s speech with the following words: “Allow me to say, in conclusion, notwithstanding the dark picture I have this day presented, of the state of the nation, I do not despair of this country. There are forces in operation which must inevitably work the downfall of slavery. “The arm of the Lord is not shortened,” and the doom of slavery is certain.”

Hearing those words Tuesday afternoon, this reporter couldn’t help but think of still another luminary of Black American literary and political thought.

A man whose words were not included in Tuesday’s reading lineup inside the Beinecke, but whose portrait photograph is posted outside of the building, in between those of Langston Hughes, Margaret Bonds, Marian Anderson, and Richard Wright.

“I love America more than any other country in the world,” James Baldwin wrote in 1955, “and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”

Local readers at the Beinecke on Tuesday: George Miles, Charles Warner Jr., Babz Rawls-Ivy, Dee Marshall, Trina Lucky ...

...Clifton Graves Jr., Erik Clemons, and Meghan Beirne.

The new haven independent

Symposium Shows The Love For Newhallville

by LISA REISMAN

Back in 2019, then-NHPD Lt. Manmeet Bhagtana and then-Newhallville Alder Delphine Clyburn drove around the neighborhood identifying the light posts that were either out or low. At night Bhagtana had her officers check the same. Bhagtana wrote up a list for UI, and gave them the crime stats from CompStat. Then she learned UI would replace the light posts.

“After that, residents felt safer and they started talking to us because that’s what they wanted, to know that we see them and we respect them and we care,” Bhagtana, now assistant police chief, said at Saturday’s lively “I Love Newhallville” symposium at Albertus Magnus College’s Behan Community Room.

Divided into a presentation by board members and a one-stop-shopping spree for an array of neighborhood resources, it was the first official event of the newly-registered Newhallville Community Services Development Corporation. The mission of the community-driven development organization, according to director Jeanette Sykes: to promote homeownership and overall a stronger sense of connection and investment in the neighborhood.

“This used to be an area where there were a lot of homeowners because they worked at Winchester, where everyone took pride in their properties and looked out for each other, and we need to bring that back, and we can,” said board member Linda Davis-Cannon.

“We know homeownership seems unat-

tainable for many but there are programs out there that can help,” said board member Chanelle Goldson, encouraging residents to engage with representatives from Livable City Initiative about programs that help with down-payment assistance, and with Liberty Bank to learn about its affordable housing program.

Among the audience members spotlighted by Sykes for investing in the community was Believe in Me Empowerment Corporation ’s Barbara Walker. Along

with a 28-bed transitional housing with 24-hour staff, as well as commercial space that it leases for free, she shared another project BIMEC has been working on: 24 SRO units at 53 Shelton Ave.

“Our goal is to get it under Section 8 so that anyone can have a one-bedroom apartment and not pay $2,000 a month,” she said. She said BIMEC hires 90 percent of its employees from the neighborhood — “if they work in the community, they’ll respect the community, and they

can walk to their job, not have to worry about a bus” — including people with records. “We don’t hold it against them,” she said.

Matthew Denney was also on hand as a representative from Jubilee New Haven, an “intentional Christian community” created to address housing insecurity in Newhallville. “We’re in the process of starting a community land trust as a way for people to have affordable housing and build equity,” he said.

Denney cited the group’s renovation of a blighted property on Sheffield Avenue. “We’re trying to make it available for folks to be able to pay less than they would in rent for much higher quality housing, especially for long-term residents who are in danger of being priced out,” he said.

Near a table with a volunteer sharing information on free rain barrels and another with Yale New Haven Health employees offering coupons for free early screenings, Neighborhood Housing Services’ Stephen Cremin-Endes was discussing the Project Lighten Up initiative to foster a safe and well-lit community.

“Beginning in 2012, we went around the neighborhood and asked the residents, ‘What would you like to see different in this neighborhood?’ and people said they wanted better lighting,” he said. That effort led to the installation of 2,000 LED lights, and in subsequent phases, porch lights and lamp posts, as well as having the city cut back trees and keep them trimmed.

In 2021, Project Lighten Up, which eventually included Bhagtana and her team, was awarded $7,000 for the Dwight Hall at Yale’s Civic Innovation Prize, funding the installation of motion-detector lights outside of homes.

“I think everyone likes this initiative,” Cremin-Endes said. “The police like it because they can see better, and the residents like it because they feel safer. If people feel safer, then they’re more likely to go outside and walk, and talk to their neighbors, and spend time on their porch. There’s a lot more work to be done, but this is all a good thing.”

RFK Vibe-Bus Blasts Into Town

by PAUL BASS

An AI-generated reggae song blasted onto the Green Tuesday afternoon from atop a cross-country bus on a mission to elect a third-party presidential candidate — while bringing about world peace through “high-vibration” partying.

The song was called “Kennedy.” Kyle Kemper, the man behind the wheel of the bus, created it to promote Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine-skeptical, bitcoinbullish, Deep State-targeting third-party presidential campaign.

Kemper took words from a campaign theme song Kennedy’s uncle, JFK, used for the 1960 presidential campaign. He tapped into AI to generate a reggae track out of it.

He blasts the song from the truck as he visits cities across the country promoting the campaign as, he said, a volunteer “independent grassroots” activator. Click here to watch a video he made with the candidate last year when he launched the tour.

Kemper is neither a Democrat nor a Republican, he said. “I’m a liminal being, meaning I don’t identify with either of these two party constructs.”

He’s also the half-brother of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — who didn’t fare well in a conversation Kemper just had with Tucker Carlson. Kemper also has made the news as a promoter of the Dogecoin cryptocurrency.

As the “Kennedy” reggae number blared from the “The Remedy Is Kennedy”-emblazoned bus parked on Church Street alongside the Green Tuesday, Kemper and Meriden-based Kennedy campaigner Amber Webster handed Kennedy flyers to passersby. They asked people to sign petitions to place Kennedy’s name on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

“This is my first campaign,” Webster said. “I’m a mom. I have two little ones. So I’m a big medical freedom advocate.” Kemper urged people to “release themselves from the identity of being a Republican or a Democrat. You are a human being.”

Kemper, who is based in Sarasota, Florida, actually does belong to a party, he clarified: the Decentralized Dance Party. The group bills itself as an “Open-Source Party Movement on a mission to unite the world in celebration and win the Nobel Peace Prize for Partying.”

“We host gigantic street parties,” Kemper said. “We have an FM radio transmitter. We get hundreds of boom boxes all tuned to the same channel. We go to public spaces and invite everybody to come participate in dance. Music can bring people to come together and drop their egos, get people to dance. We encourage costumes and props. High vibration music. “That’s how we bring world peace. It’s not through bombs. It’s through music.” The group planned just a brief stop. The itinerary called next for picking up some pizza, then driving to Brooklyn to meet with fellow Kennedy supporters. Next they’ll be making stops in Pittsburgh and Grand Rapids, Michigan, gathering all the vibes they can muster along the way.

LISA REISMAN PHOTO Sykes brainstorming with Asst. Chief Bhagtana.

The new haven independent

PAUL BASS PHOTO Justin Trudeau's half-brother promoting RFK Jr. and open-source peace-through-dance on Church Street.

The new haven independent

Retreat Owes City $230K & Climbing; Deeper Financial Chaos Revealed

by THOMAS BREEN

A drug rehab company that shuttered its two New Haven facilities amid two executive suicides over the last week is nearly $230,000 behind in local real estate taxes — with its next $103,000-plus city tax bill due next week.

That’s among the revelations that are emerging about years of financial woes and “corporate anarchy” that plagued forprofit Retreat Behavioral Health before its sudden collapse this past week throwing hundreds of patients and workers into the cold in three different states.

According to New Haven Tax Collector Karen Gauthier, Coal New Haven LLC owes $226,397 in back taxes and interest for unpaid real estate tax bills that were due on July 1, 2023 and Jan. 1, 2024 for the Retreat in-patient facility it owns at 915 Ella T. Grasso Blvd. that abruptly closed last weekend.

Starting on July 1 — i.e., Monday — Coal New Haven LLC will owe another $103,209, which constitutes the first half of a $206,418.14 city real estate tax bill for that same property. The second half of that bill is due in January.

Translation: Coal New Haven currently owes more than $226,000 in back taxes to the city. That aggregate tax bill number will jump to $329,000 by next week. And then, assuming the debt isn’t paid by then, to $432,000 by January.

Gauthier, who is only four days into

her new job as the city’s tax collector, declined to comment on if or when the city would initiate a tax foreclosure lawsuit for the property.

Coal New Haven LLC is controlled by Brooklyn-based investor David Silberstein. He could not be reached for comment by the publication time of this article.

The Ella T. Grasso Boulevard property itself is the site of the now-closed 80-bed in-patient drug rehab facility that was run by Retreat Behavioral Health. Coal New Haven LLC purchased the 2.7-acre nursing home site in 2012 for $2.3 million; the city last appraised it for tax purposes as worth $7.6 million in 2023. Retreat opened its 80-bed in-patient facility at that site in January 2020.

As the Independent first reported, the company abruptly closed its Boulevard facility last Friday and its Long Wharf outpatient clinic on Monday. The company has also shuttered similar facilities in Florida and Pennsylvania over the past week — stiffing employees on their last two-week paychecks and discharging patients en masse who now need to seek out substance use disorder and mental health care elsewhere.

The company’s CEO Peter Schorr and then its chief administrative officer, meanwhile, have both died by suicide – the former last Friday, the latter on Wednesday. Silberstein’s company owned the Retreat’s real estate and provided the financ-

ing for the three-state enterprise; Schorr ran the medical/therapeutic operation. Reporting by local news outlets in Florida and Pennsylvania in recent days have increasingly shined a light on the company’s financial disarray.

“The company ran out of cash,” Retreat’s CFO told the West Palm Beach TV news station WPTV on Thursday. That left 750 employees unpaid — and the CFO himself unsure as to whether or not he still has a job.

Financial trouble at Retreat did not begin this week, as evidenced by last year’s unpaid $230,000-plus New Haven tax bill. And so much more.

State court records show that, in September 2022, Fulton Bank filed a foreclosure lawsuit against Coal New Haven LLC, Coal’s Brooklyn-based manager Silberstein, and the now-deceased Retreat CEO Schorr, among others, regarding an overdue $9.2 million mortgage loan secured by the property at 915 Ella

T. Grasso Blvd.

A July 2023 affidavit by Silberstein details the relationship between his company and Retreat, about the big money they borrowed, and about how they handled various debts.

That affidavit refers to Fulton’s $9.2 million mortgage loan from 2016, as well as that same bank’s $5.5 million mortgage loan from 2012, its $1.5 million “working capital loan” from 2016, and its $1.5 million “time loan” from 2018. That was all part “of a larger group of loans extended by Fulton to CNH and certain of its affiliates … all of which are engaged in the business of acquiring and developing real properties that are used to provide drug rehabilitation and mental health treatment, under the name Retreat Behavioral Health.”

In aggregate, he continued, Fulton advanced loans to Coal New Haven worth $17.7 million, with a current remaining balance of $13.5 million as of July 2023. He also wrote that Fulton Bank provided additional loans to other Coal-related companies worth an aggregate principal of $21.3 million, of which $15.1 million remained due as of July 2023.

A month later, on Aug. 25, 2023, Fulton Bank withdrew its foreclosure lawsuit against Coal New Haven LLC and the other defendants for the overdue mortgage loan at 915 Ella T. Grasso — thus ending that state court case.

The New Haven Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (NHE3) is a business-support network partnering with entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs) to build an inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem for historically marginalized entrepreneurs in Greater New Haven.

With a focus on funding BIPOC-and Woman-owned businesses, NHE3 intentionally provides grants to help small businesses thrive.

Grant round dates:

2nd round opens on Dec 1st and closes on Jan 31st (review and awards: end of February)

3rd round opens on Mar 1st and closes April 30th (review and awards: end of May)

4th round opens on June 1st and closes July 31st (review and awards: end of August)

At 9 a.m. Monday, Estefania Guanoluisa Valdez became the first undocumented teenager in Connecticut to newly enroll for health insurance with HUSKY, the state’s Medicaid program — thanks to a new state law that expands such coverage to children up to the age of 15, regardless of their immigration status.

Freshly 13 years old, Valdez would not have been eligible to sign up for the state’s Medicaid program last month, under the previous cap limiting new enrollment to kids 12 and under.

The new law that took effect statewide on Monday — and for which Valdez was the first to sign up — means that she can now enroll. The law also allows kids who sign up for Medicaid when they are 15 or younger to re-enroll through the age of 19.

Valdez attended a press conference Monday at Fair Haven Community Health Care at 374 Grand Ave. to celebrate the new law. Fair Haven Community Health Care CEO

Suzanne Lagarde opened the press conference in the center’s parking lot, adjacent to the site of its new building. She provided an update on the program’s impact to date, citing the 3,400 undocumented patients the center has served, 500 being children under the age of 12 who gained insurance when Connecticut state legislature signed into effect the first iteration of HUSKY’s expansion to cover undocumented children on January 1, 2023.

Lagarde invited several of Fair Haven Community Health Care’s HUSKY patients to join her at the podium, including Valdez, who hails from Ecuador.

Since arriving in the United States nearly eight months ago, Valdez has been able to schedule ophthalmological, dental, and regular pediatric appointments at Fair Haven Community Health Care under HUSKY insurance. “I feel secure knowing that she will be in good hands thanks to HUSKY,” said Valdez’s mother, Nancy, to an audience of over 70 attendees.

State Sen. and President Pro Tem Martin Looney, a driving force behind the program’s legislative success, shared his hope that kids would no longer have to go untreated or resort to the emergency room due to lack of adequate health care. “This law has already made timely and expert care available to children under 12, and will now help kids up to 15.”

The expansion of HUSKY follows the implementation of several other laws aimed at alleviating barriers for undocumented immigrants, including expanding eligibility for in-state tuition and providing guidance on the path to obtaining a Connecticut driver’s license. According to Gov. Ned Lamont, who spoke after Looney, “Connecticut will continue to take the lead” in equitable legislation, but does not anticipate any federal funding.

Husky 4 Immigrants Coalition Manager Luis Luna closed the press conference, emphasizing access to health care as a human right. “Sixty percent of undocumented immigrants don’t have access to healthcare. When people don’t have healthcare, not only do their physical and mental health suffer, but their financial health, too.”

Up for Sickle Cell Disease WALK RUN BIKE

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Dear Friend,

At the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Connecticut (SCDAA,CT), we embrace prevention strategies to enhance the quality of life and well-being of the communities in CT impacted by Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and Sickle Cell Trait (SCT).

We’re looking for partners & participants like you; individuals who want to support the underserved communities of color and who desire to reshape the social, economic and academic landscape of those who are most vulnerable—our SCD youth.

See the list on the right for various ways you can support our event.

Sincerely,

James Rawlings

SCDAA,CT | Michelle’s House

Call: 203-859-5355

Email: info.scdaasc@gmail.com

Web: michellesHouseCT.org

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, CT

Support Your Community

WALK RUN BIKE

Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024

https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/NewHaven/scdaascrunwalk

College Woods East Rock Park 41 Cold Spring St., New Haven, CT 06511

(Arrival: 7:30am. Start: 9:00am)

1 Mile Walk, James Barber 5K Run or Bike with Friends. Entry fee:

• Children under 12 yrs = Free (registration required)

• 13-18 youth = $12

• 19 & up = $25

T-shirt & race bib included Register: https://runsignup.com/ Race/CT/NewHaven/scdaascrunwalk

ONLINE FUNDRAISING

Create your own fundraising webpage that will enable you to collect donations for SCDAA,CT on a secure website.

Create a fundraising TEAM webpage where you are the captain and you invite others to fund raise with you!

To get started, visit: https:// runsignup.com/Race/Donate/64149/ BecomeFundraiser

We’re expecting a huge turn-out and we need your help with everything from set-up, to registration, to hospitality. Call: 203-859-5355

Website: Visit MichellesHouseCT.org and click ‘Volunteer’ located on the menu bar.

WALK, RUN OR BIKE

A&I Techies Brings Down The House

by ELEANOR POLAK

Stormy weather was a challenge. Working with Afropop sensation Dobet Gnahoré was a delight.

Arts & Ideas techies offered those takeaways on Monday as they worked hard to dismantle the festival’s main stage on the Green and reflected on their work coordinating events, arranging sound production, and providing lighting that illuminates the artists for the people of New Haven to see

Genevieve Peters was just one of the techies who helped to keep this year’s festival up and running throughout June. Through heavy rains that jeopardized a few performances and even caused some to be canceled, the staff worked hard to ensure that the show went on.

Peters recalled one night when a rainstorm threatened to stop a performance.

“We got through like a quarter of the set, and I was doing the spotlight,” she said. “Some of the other staff had to help me hold the curtain shut over the stage to keep the water out.”

Peters’s favorite performance of the month was Grammy winner and Afropop icon Dobet Gnahoré on Friday. Audio Exec Manager JP Queenan agreed.

“It was my fourth time mixing front of house for a big festival sound system, so I got to employ everything I’ve learned before,” he said about his experience at this year’s fest.

As the audio exec manager, Queenan worked closely with the sound manager to provide performers with the per-

fect sound.

“For the first two weekends I was running the deck, running monitors,” he said. It was Queenan’s second (nonconsecutive) year at Arts & Ideas, and he noted that the events seemed more widespread throughout New Haven, many taking place inside University Theatre instead of on the main stage in the Green.

Bryan Butler worked as part of the audio crew. Artists send instructions in advance regarding what sound equipment they need and where they need it, and Bryan’s job was to provide it. “It’s our job to have that mostly set up before the town arrives,” he said.

Butler also had fond memories of Do-

bet Gnahoré’s performance. “She had an absolutely killer band and her stage presence was amazing,” he said, describing how she inspired the crowd to come right up to the stage to dance. Also, “I was a very big fan of DakhaBrakha, a Ukrainian group,” he added. “They had a lot of really cool influences.”

Butler said of both Dobet Gnahoré and DakhaBrakha that “working with them was amazing, they were really nice.”

Arts & Ideas Director of Artistic Planning and Operations Melissa Huber has been with the festival for 21 years, and in her current position for three. She agreed that the largest challenge the staff faced

was the weather.

“Weather’s always an issue,” she said. “One of the things that is great about the crew and working here is we always try and go until we can’t.” Either they go until they “run out of day,” or until the weather makes it too hazardous to continue.

“Every day is different, and it’s like fitting a bunch of puzzle pieces together,” said Huber. “Working at the festival is like building a puzzle every day.… During the festival, it takes 160 people to make the events happen. These folks work so hard to make wonderful art all across Connecticut.”

CitySeed Taps Sarah Miller

by PAUL BASS

New Haven’s pioneering grassroots food-justice organization CitySeed is entering its third decade with a new home, a broadened mission and a new leader. That leader is Sarah Miller. CitySeed announced Tuesday that Miller is the group’s new executive director.

Nonprofit CitySeed launched in 2004 by organizing farmers markets across town. It still does. It has added a small-business food incubator program as well as a culinary program for immigrants and refugees called Sanctuary Kitchen.

All those functions will be headquartered in a new building City Seed is moving into at 162 James St. across from Martinez School in Fair Haven.

Miller represents Fair Haven as a city alder.

“We have this very exciting opportunity with the new building” to scale up CitySeed’s core programs while “integrat-

ing” with efforts to promote health and economic opportunity in the surrounding neighborhood, Miller told the Independent Tuesday.

Board Chair Christine Kim said MIller’s “proven leadership and passion for community-driven initiatives and dedication to New Haven make her the ideal choice to lead CitySeed into its next chapter.”

Miller has most recently worked for Clifford Beers Community Care Center. She has served as that group’s point person in organizing a five-year $2.5 million federally-funded “community schools” initiative in the neighborhood in conjunction with the Board of Education and 14 nonprofits.

On Tuesday Miller said the planning phase she oversaw for the effort has been completed. “There’s a good team in place that’s managing the logistics” day to day, she said. She plans to remain involved as a member of the project’s steering committee.

John P. Thomas Publisher / CEO

Babz Rawls Ivy Editor-in-Chief Liaison, Corporate Affairs Babz@penfieldcomm.com

Advertising/Sales Team

Keith Jackson Delores Alleyne

John Thomas, III

Team

Staff Writers Christian Lewis/Current Affairs

Anthony Scott/Sports Arlene Davis-Rudd/Politics

Contributing Writers

David Asbery / Tanisha Asbery

Jerry Craft / Cartoons / Barbara Fair Dr. Tamiko Jackson-McArthur

Michelle Turner / Smita Shrestha

William Spivey / Kam Williams Rev. Samuel T. Ross-Lee

Contributors At-Large

Christine Stuart www.CTNewsJunkie.com Paul Bass

www.newhavenindependent.org Memberships

National Association of Black

Inc.

The Inner-City Newspaper is published weekly by Penfield Communications, Inc. from offices located at 50 Fitch Street, 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06515. 203-387-0354 phone; 203-3872684 fax. Subscriptions:$260 per year (does not include sales tax for the in State subscriptions). Send name, address, zip code with payment. Postmaster, send address changes to 50 Fitch Street, New Haven, CT 06515. Display ad deadline Friday prior to insertion date at 5:00pm Advertisers are responsible for checking ads for error in publication. Penfield Communications, Inc d.b.a., “The Inner-City Newspaper” , shall not be liable for failure to publish an ad or for typographical errors or errors in publication, except to the extent of the cost of the space in which actual error appeared in the first insertion. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The entire contents of The Inner-City Newspaper are copyright 2012, Penfield Communications, Inc. and no portion may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher.

THOMAS BREEN FILE PHOTO

Sarah Miller: Taking on a new Fair Haven-based mission.

Genevieve Peters.

Audio crew member Bryan Butler: Dobet Gnahoré "had an absolutely killer band, and her stage presence was amazing."

Melissa Huber.

The new haven independent

The new haven independent

Osmanu Re-Hits The Doors

by JABEZ CHOI

Carrying a white tote bag and a handful of door hangers and a campaign pitch focused on affordable housing and powered by youthful activism, Abdul Osmanu knocked on door after door after door after door in his bid to become the next state representative for Newhallville, Prospect Hill, and southern Hamden.

At the age of 22, he’d already been there before.

He did that canvassing in Newhallville on Saturday afternoon as part of his campaign to represent the 94th General Assembly District at the state Capitol, following a kick-off rally in Villano Park. Osmanu noted during Saturday’s outing that he doesn’t get nervous talking to people. He attributed it to his early start in politics, which has included long hours of door-knocking.

At the age of 19, Osmanu became a member of Hamden’s Legislative Council. Three years later, the 22-year-old is now eyeing the state House seat that has been held for the past ten years by State Rep. Robyn Porter.

Porter, who is not running for reelection, has thrown her support behind Os-

electricity bill “insane.”

Vargas remembered that when he left his last residence, his landlord raised the rent by $400 on the tenant who replaced him. The reason? To pay for a fresh coat of paint. (“That’s abusive,” Vargas said.) The housing market is so bad, he said, that his own mother who stood behind him at his front door has been looking for a place to live for almost ten years, not being able to afford a studio.

“In our case, we have to choose either keeping up with the utilities and me not getting my meds,” Vargas said. “Or I stretch out my meds and skip days so we can pay utilities.”

The state representative hopeful didn’t skip a beat: “That shouldn’t be happening in the sixth richest state in the country.”

No one answered at the first few doors

Osmanu had stopped by Vargas’s house earlier in the year when he was trying to be put on the primary ballot. Now, Osmanu’s name is on. And he was asking for

Housing problems have been at the forefront of Vargas’s concerns. He said his utility bills have been racking up to insurmountable amounts. He called his

Osmanu’s supporters all mentioned his commitment to housing equity and tenant rights as reasons to why they are voting for him. Just before canvassing Saturday afternoon, CT Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and Working Family Party (WFP) hosted a rally for Osmanu and Hamden legislator and state representative hopeful Laurie Sweet in Villano Park in Hamden.

Attendee Liam Conway had heard about Osmanu through social media, and was

Con’t on page 07

Questions about your bill?

Yale New Haven Hospital is pleased to offer patients and their families financial counseling regarding their hospital bills or the availability of financial assistance, including free care funds.

By appointment, patients can speak one-on-one with a financial counselor during regular business hours. For your convenience, extended hours are available in-person at Yale New Haven Hospital once a month.

Date: Monday, July 15, 2024

Time: 5 - 7 pm

Location: Children’s Hospital, 1 Park St., 1st Floor, Admitting Parking available (handicapped accessible)

An appointment is necessary. Please call 855-547-4584.

In light of COVID-19, patients may call 855-547-4584 any time during regular weekday hours to speak with a counselor on the phone.

Spanish-speaking counselors available.

Osmanu: "Are you in?" The crowd: "I'm in!”

manu. The Democratic Party, meanwhile, has endorsed New Haven city climate director and former Alder Steve Winter. City school administrator and pastor Tarolyn Moore is also seeking the position. The Democratic Party primary for the role is scheduled for Aug. 13.

Osmanu knocked on Saturday afternoon. Eventually, one person opened up. And Osmanu knew the man’s name John Vargas.

Vargas’s vote.

“John, right?” Osmanu asked. Vargas nodded.

No one's home!

The new haven independent

Breast Cancer Preventers Raise Awareness

by ABIBA BIAO

Jacquelyn Crenshaw isn’t new to spotting breast tumors. Having worked in mammography for more than 40 years, she urged a crowd of over a dozen women to get their annual mammograms, perform monthly breast self-examinations, and above all, “know your breast density.”

This was just some advice Crenshaw, who works as a senior manager of breast imaging at Smilow Cancer Hospital, gave last Wednesday afternoon at the Westville boutique BLOOM at 794 Edgewood Ave. for a breast cancer workshop.

The workshop was organized by Sister’s Journey, a nonprofit aimed at raising awareness on breast cancer treatment and prevention strategies.

Proudly sporting a pink breast cancer shirt was Carolyn R. Jackson, 64, as she watched friend and Sister’s Journey board member Eileen W. Esdaile arrange chairs for the incoming attendees.

Jackson has known about Sister’s Journey since its inception in 1999, thanks to her close friendship with its founder, Linda-White Epps. It wasn’t until she was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago that she became more active and described the group as a “lifesaver.”

“I’ve always listened to everything that she [Esdaile] had to go through,” Jackson said about Esdaile’s own journey with breast cancer. “I’ve learned over the years what to do. I paid attention to all the different things that were out there, so when it came time for me, I knew what I had to do.”

A two-time cancer survivor, Esdaile, 63, was first diagnosed at 37 and later at 50 years old. After her second diagnosis, she went through genetic testing twice and educated herself on her family history. It was through these experiences that she learned that you should redo genetic testing every 10 years to test for different genes that may surface.

Esdaille emphasized the growing number of breast cancer diagnoses amongst younger women, saying that she organizes a group chat with metastatic breast cancer patients, all of whom are under 40. She encouraged women to self advocate and take part in clinical trials to “be a part of the solution” and help tailor medical solutions for minority women.

She also noted how distrust of medical professionals amongst the Black community can impede people who need the most assistance from seeking it.

“It’s so important at a young age to know your body … so that when you do feel something that’s a little suspicious or odd you can equip yourself to know how to question your doctor and ask for

further testing,” she said.

Sitting in the audience was Tatiana Tate, the 31-year-old founder of the nonprofit Chemo Divas Foundation. For Tate, Wednesday’s event was a platform to get a sense of cancer treatment and awareness organizations around the city, learn how to support other groups, and “fill those gaps in the area” in terms of cancer support.

Tate founded the nonprofit in honor of her mother Paulette A. Steeves, who died in 2021 from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Tate was her mother’s caregiver during that time. She said that Steeves’s diagnosis increased her perceived susceptibility to diseases and medical barriers when seeking treatment. An avid bodybuilder and personal trainer, Steeves was training for a marathon when she was diagnosed in 2019.

“Even across different socioeconomic statuses, there’s people who have all the resources in the world and they’re still getting this disease,” she said. “When a patient says ‘Why me?’ my mom would say ‘Why not me?’”

An Atlanta native, Tate moved to New Haven over a year ago and is now using her nonprofit to advocate for women of color cancer patients and survivors, provide community support and link to outside resources and organizations, and provide financial assistance for those in need.

“It’s just something that I think is better to learn and understand and prepare for because even if you may not get cancer, someone in your family might or a friend or a co-worker,” she said.

“Community support during a cancer journey is so important that it will only benefit us all to better understand how to support those going through the dis-

ease.”

Sister’s Journey member Rachael Mccray-Leftridge is also no stranger to cancer, having lost her to from the disease and having also been diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in November 2015.

After discovering the cancer during a mammogram appointment, she subsequently underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Now a cancer survivor, Mccray-Leftridge strongly advocated for learning and sharing medical history. She attributed her successful recovery to her supportive medical and care team.

“At my age, my elders didn’t share their medical history,” she said. “All you knew was maybe aunt such-andsuch was in the hospital … You were led to assume [what happened]. The only history I knew of definitively was my mom.”

Near the end of Wednesday’s presentation, attendee Tanasia Edwards popped the million dollar question: How do you properly self-examine breasts? It was then Crenshaw beckoned her to the front and demonstrated with some models.

For people to remember to self-examine their own breasts, Crenshaw suggested doing a such a self-exam once a month on the day of their birthday. Using the pads of your index and pointer finger, touch around the nipples and sides of the breast, paying attention to any lumps and abnormal spots.

Crenshaw advised those with highly dense breasts to get an ultrasound in addition to a mammography to accurately screen for lumps and abnormalities. Mammograms are done multiple times to get accurate screenings and the amount of attempts done is related to the size of one’s breasts.

Edwards, 28, said that she didn’t know how to self-examine her breast until this workshop, previously relying on exams done by her doctor. Now, she hopes to gain more agency and autonomy over her own health, seeking out resources. She described Wednesday’s educational session as “very eye-opening” After having her first mammogram in 2021 and spotting dense tissue on the right side of her breast, Edwards has been more aware of her breast health and has discarded old habits such as sleeping with bras.

“Ever since then, I’ve been more open and informing myself on breast cancer because it is serious and it’s something that does impact African-American women,” she said. “This was amazing to hear these stories and to know that there is a group of women who have been through the journey and support each other.”

ABIBA BIAO PHOTO

Crenshaw (right) teaches Tanasia Edwards how to perform a breast self exam.

At Wednesday's workshop at BLOOM.

Carolyn R. Jackson and Eileen W. Esdaile.

The new haven independent

LEAP’s Pool To Open This Summer, Too

by MAYA MCFADDEN

A privately owned pool will be open for free public access on Friday evenings and for low-cost swim lessons throughout the summer thanks to a youth athletics and tutoring nonprofit’s commitment to keeping the community in the water.

LEAP (Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership, Inc.) Aquatics Director Oscar Rodriguez confirmed that paid swim lessons and free weekly open swim will kick off July 1 at LEAP’s 31 Jefferson St. headquarters.

The expected LEAP swimming programming comes as New Haven Public Schools has reported that only one of the district’s five school pools will be open to the public this summer due to ongoing needed maintenance work. That sole public pool, at Hillhouse High School, will be available for open swim from June 24 to Aug. 2, on Mondays through Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

LEAP’s pool on Jefferson Street, meanwhile, will be available for free public open swim only on Fridays, from 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m., starting next week.

Rodriguez also told this reporter that LEAP will offer adult, youth, and baby and caregiver swimming lessons this summer. The five-week swim lessons totaling to 10 classes will cost $80 per child and $100 per adult. Five baby and caregiver swim lessons will cost $45. This is new to LEAP’s swim offerings, as lessons are typically offered to youth ages 5 and up.

Rodriguez, who stepped into his role in October, said he received an increase in requests from the community for adult swim programming.

The Jefferson Street pool as of Wednesday was drained and being fixed up, but

LEAP expects it to be open by July 1. Rodriguez hopes to add more opportunities for swim practice earlier in the afternoon to help the community combat expected intense mid-day heat waves, he said.

Rodriguez concluded that he hopes for the open swim schedule to allow youth to grow more interested in the sport of swimming. For those that do, he plans to point them in the direction of local swim teams that can open up careers and scholarship opportunities to youth who otherwise may not typically have access to free swimming.

This reporter also got a look at LEAP’s free summer programming for 7- to 12-year-olds focused on academics and skill enrichment. Programming will run from June 24 through August 2 and still has slots available at all sites except

Troup and Lincoln-Bassett.

Available sites include Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School, Family Academy of Multilingual Exploration (FAME), KingRobinson Inter-District Magnet School, the LEAP Office on 31 Jefferson St., and Ross Woodward School.

The summer programming runs Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m until 4 p.m, and on Fridays from 8 a.m until 1 p.m.

While visiting LEAP classes at Ross Woodward Wednesday, a 9- to 10-yearold girls group played multiplication bingo, filling their cards with the answers to questions like 9 x 10 or 4 x 11.

In another room of 9- to 10-year-old boys, the group played a multiplication race in four teams, answering addition, division, and multiplication problems in seconds. At around 9:50 a.m., two teams

tied at 11 points for the final game and so played a final round to determine the winners.

As problems appeared on the smart board, the groups huddled up to come up with their answer and called it out. The first to give the correct answer got the final points.

LEAP Director of Programs Nikilia Reid said that this year LEAP received a two-year grant to onboard mental health workers at all of its sites. Additionally, 60 of LEAP’s Leaders in Training teenagers will take a week-long trip to Maine. Field trips, mentorship, and programming in phonics, dance, and tennis will be offered to students throughout the summer.

LEAP Deputy Director of Programs Da’Jah Bradshaw said this summer’s mental health workers will help teach youth about normalizing mental health

services, seeking help, and building selfregulation skills.

“It gives the kids the language to now know what to look for,” Reid added. The students’ first field trip this summer will be to the Peabody Museum. The summer will also include camping, community service, and free breakfast and lunch. Reid added that the summer programming is geared toward allowing kids to go more places and learn about both their city and beyond.

When asked how the start of programing has been thus far, Jackson said energy has been high from students and families regarding everything from academics to athletics. Bradshaw said she’s felt camaraderie between youth and their mentors, and Reid said attendance has been off to a great start and parents are committed to getting their youth to programs every day.

LEAP Director of Children’s Program

Chance Jackson once attended LEAP as a summer student when he was around 7 years old. Now 33 years old, Jackson recently returned to help give students the same sense of safety and busyness LEAP provided him as a child for four years. Though he recalled preferring to be less busy in the summers, LEAP instead offered him with opportunities for new skills and relationships.

“It propelled me to have this new type of thinking toward summer programming,” he said. “As a kid I wanted to get out of school and have no programs, but LEAP afforded me opportunities to keep my mind busy during the summer, which helped me when I transitioned back to school.”

Jackson’s experience as a child inspired him to continue to be a counselor in summer programs while in high school and at the University of Connecticut. “I walked in their shoes, and I want to open doors for them, too,” he said.

Indy Wins Prizes For Education, Evictions Coverage

by STAFF

Independent reporters placed first in five hyperlocal 2023 Mark of Excellence reporting categories: Breaking News, Continuing Coverage, Education, Government, and Reporting Series.

The Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists announced the winners of the 2023 Mark of Excellence awards last week.

Nora Grace-Flood won in Breaking News for her coverage of the bulldozing of the Lamberton Bridge encampment; Thomas Breen, Laura Glesby, and GraceFlood were awarded in the Continuing Coverage category for their reporting on local evictions; and education reporter

Maya McFadden received first place in Education for her story from inside Ms.

Chambers’ ninth grade math class at First Achievement Amistad High School, where Algebra 1 doesn’t have to be scary. Breen and Glesby placed first in both Government reporting and Reporting Series for their work breaking and following the story of a city official placed on leave for reporting “suspicious” immigrant marriages to federal officials.

The Independent also placed third in Arts & Entertainment (for Breen’s story about New Haven’s porno theater), second in Feature Story (for Paul Bass’s story about a bottle collector with a change in plans), second in Investigative (for Glesby’s reporting of an alder’s hit and run), and third place in Local Reporting, for Glesby’s end-of-year story about three men who spent decades in prison due to wrongful convictions.

WNHH Radio and station manager Harry Droz received both second and third place in the hyperlocal Podcasting category: second for an episode of Dateline New Haven with Proud Boys attorney Norm Pattis, and third for an episode of LoveBabz LoveTalk with Babz Rawls-Ivy featuring the American Modern Opera Category.

The Online Journalism Project-affiliated Valley Independent Sentinel won first in the hyperlocal Investigative category and third in the In-Depth category for Jean Falbo-Sosnovich’s story about a Seymour cop with a long disciplinary record who was permitted to retire in good standing.

The Valley Indy also placed top-three in the Breaking News and Government categories, the latter for its coverage of the 2023 municipal elections.

MAYA MCFADDEN PHOTO Math teacher Charity Ann Chambers helps students "embrace mistakes."

The new haven independent

The new haven independent

Refugees Recognized Amid Ukrainian Dolls, Sudanese Spices

by ABIBA BIAO

Kallou Gindeel knew how to get the crowd moving. As traditional Sudanese music played from the speakers behind him, attendees around the room joined to form a conga line.

Propelled by the rhythmic drum and strings, the line quickly turned into traditional Sudanese dancing from the Nuba Tribe of South Sudan. Women launched into a flurry of movements, stomping on the floor with one foot each. As people gathered around to cheer them on, others from all nationalities and cultures joined in on the fun.

Music, dance, and celebration took place as 175 people celebrated World Refugee Day last Saturday at Shalom United Church of Christ at 323 Temple St. The celebration was held in collaboration with nonprofits New International Hope for Refugees and Immigrants, Elena’s Light, Refugee Congress, Havenly, and Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS).

While World Refugee Day falls on June 20, festivities are not exclusive to that day, with organizations and groups celebrating all throughout the month of June, said Kelly Bee, public relations and advocacy manager at IRIS.

For Jane Kinity, founder and executive director of New International Hope of Refugees and Immigrants, creating safe spaces for refugees has been a major motivation behind her work. She emphasized the importance of employment opportunities and community support for refugees. A refugee from Kenya, Kinity came to America in 2000 and has been advocating for refugee rights since. Before starting her own nonprofit, Kinity volunteered with IRIS for 15 years. She also serves as Democratic co-chair of Ward 2 working alongside Alder Frank Douglass, and has been a Connecticut delegate for the Refugee Congress for three years.

“We all want [to] help refugees in every

community where they are,” she said.

“We want our voice heard.”

Before heading up to perform, Ukrainian singer Olichka took a picture with Mila Cale, and Zhanna Pylypchuk behind a display of Motanka dolls. Motanka dolls are handmade traditional Ukrainian dolls which date back to over 2,000 years.

The dolls, made by Pylypchuk, represent women at different life stages and occupations. The funds generated from Montanka sales go toward Ukrainian charities.

Although her daytime job is in finance, Olichka performs on the weekends to help with fundraising efforts for Ukrainian soldiers and buying medical supplies.

Having family back home, Olichka views her music as a medium to create change and inspire “hope and love.”

“I have all of my family pretty much there. It’s tough,” she said. “They have to pretty much hide every night because of the missiles flying… and so whatever

I can do to help them [I do].”

Her setlist included Ukrainian folk songs and songs that focus on independence, peace, and the unbreakable spirit and unity of Ukrainian people.

Later, Pylypchuk got a chance to share her creations with the audience.

As Pylypchuk spoke in Ukrainian, Svetlana Maskvitch translated, explaining the meaning behind the dolls.

“Each Motanka, each dress has a history and a soul,” Maskvitch said, while Pylypchuk held up a Montanka that had sentimental meaning to her.

With Ukraine having a population of over 42 million people with different regional differences, Maskvitch said that Pylypchuk felt that she had much inspiration to make dolls based on each region’s traditional attire.

In the back of the room were educational displays on different cultures, traditions, and customs. This display

referenced the Nuba people of Sudan, a group of Indigenous people who live in the Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan, located in the central part of the country.

Across the table was an assortment of spices used in Nuba cuisine like sesame butter and millet, as well as traditional tableware and decor.

Gindeel, who was a speaker at the event, is a proud member of the Nuba community. He said he seeks to create a stronger community for the people of the Nuba Tribe in Connecticut and amplify Sudanese culture.

Before arriving in America, he spent time in a refugee camp in Egypt. Now, after living in the U.S. for three years, he hopes to give back and strengthen support for refugees seeking asylum and increase the opportunities to be welcomed.

“Our heart and our mind is still in Africa,” he said. “We’re still looking for our brothers and sisters and neighbors that are still

suffering there.”

Standing proudly behind his collection of traditional Afghan carvings was Mosa Sadat, which caught the eye of Nranwar Tiea who struck up conversation.

Originally from Afghanistan, Sadat, 30, has spent the past 15 years turning to the arts, carving jewelry boxes and making wooden furniture. Sadat noted that their favorite wood carving style was Nurisanti carving, which originated in the Afghanistan city of Nuristan. One of his most notable and favorite projects was when he used to create wooden chairs from Nurisanti carving.

For Sadat, the creative process is nothing less than rewarding. He is also wellversed in Classical and Jolly wood carving styles from Afghanistan and creates his boxes using a wide variety of wood such as walnut, cherry, and rosewood.

“When I do carvings they take hours, hours, [and] hours,” he said, “but I like to do it because I take energy from that.”

It’s this creative energy that drew Tiea to his table. Living in the U.S. for almost 25 years, Tiea still makes his way to support the local refugee community. Using his immigration experience, Tiea said he hopes to ease the burden to newcomers.

“At the very beginning, it’s always hard. When you come to a new country you don’t know the language, you don’t know the culture, you don’t know who to go to, but you have to start from scratch,” he said.”It’s a long journey. That’s why we always come over here to support the refugees, especially the new ones.”

Tiea left Sudan before the country separated in 2011 from South Sudan’s secession, but recently visited family back home two years ago. He noted that he had a pleasant time and recalled the inviting demeanor of people, the natural beauty of the land, and the fun his kids had playing in the countryside.

“No matter where you go, home is home,” he said.

Svetlana Maskvitch and Pylypchuk.

ABIBA BIAO PHOTO Dancing to

Osmanu The Doors

pleasantly surprised by his platform and advocacy history especially Osmanu’s three-page Gaza ceasefire resolution.

“One thing I’m looking for in a candidate is for someone to stick to their principles. To see two candidates who are able to stick up for genuine left-wing values in a place where it’s pretty hard to do that was attractive to me,” Conway said. “And he’s only 22 not much older than me. It makes me think I can do something like that.”

Alongside Osmanu and Sweet, the rally was joined by representatives from DSA and WFP, as well as former state senate candidate and Hamden councilman Justin Farmer and outgoing state representative Robyn Porter. Porter addressed potential critiques about Osmanu’s age during the rally: “We talk about a future. I want to remind people the movers and the shakers of the ’60s, like the great reverend Martin Luther King, started out as a teenager in that movement,” Porter said. “And I’m saying that about my boy Abdul.”

During the rally, Sweet and Osmanu spoke to a crowd of 30 supporters about a variety of platform topics. Sweet, who is a doula of seven years, highlighted Connecticut’s efforts to subsidize doula care. But the focus remained on housing inequities and what Sweet and Osmanu have done to combat these issues in Hamden. Sarah White, a member of the DSA, pointed to Sweet and Osmanu’s efforts in reinvigorating the Fair Rent Commission in 2023, and most recently, amending Hamden’s Code of Ordinances to include landlord registration, increasing accountability to landlords’ actions.

“I’ll say it clear. Your boss is not the reason the state runs. You are the reason the state runs,” Osmanu said to the cheering crowd. “In instances like this, sometimes you got to pop out and show your opponents what separates the machine powered candidates from the people powered candidates.”

Just the day before, CT AFL-CIO delegates voted to endorse Winter in August’s contested Democratic primary.

“All in all, I very much thank everybody that was a part of that process. I have a great respect for labor here in the region,” Osmanu said. “I look forward to running a race where, should I win, I’m looking forward to finding ways to work with these people. At the end of the day, it’s about the issues…Let’s get down to work.”

And on stage, Osmanu’s energy reflected these sentiments:

“Once upon a time, I was told I was too young to be an elected official. I proved them wrong. I was told I was too young when I ran for reelection. I proved them wrong,” Osmanu said. “And on Aug. 13th, we have one more opportunity to prove folks wrong.”

Marquis Cultivates Next Gen Excellence

by ASHER JOSEPH

“Prepare your minds,” Marquis Brantley announced to his squad of six young athletes, “to crab.” He crouched down on all fours, alternating between his left and right limbs as he “crabbed” to the opposite side of Bowen Field.

“Just because I can do it fast doesn’t mean that you should, too. My hands are a burning mess, so slow down. Feel every moment.”

As Olympians across the globe prepare in advance of the hotly contested 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, Brantley trained the next generation of local athletic excellence on Wednesday at their home turf at 175 Crescent St., adjacent to Hillhouse High School.

Since the beginning of June, Brantley has brought his children Mariah, Robert, Ezekiel (“Zeek”), Kalina, nephew Jairus, and niece Jadah to Bowen Field three times for preseason training. As Brantley spoke to this reporter, basketball star Jadah practiced handstands with gymnast Kalina, while Zeek watched Chad Dawson-mentee Jairus toss a football around with Robert.

“Their summer camps don’t start for a while, but I mean training with me is as good as any summer camp,” Brantley explained. The family is looking into making the most of New Haven-based offerings, including sports programming through LEAP and the Connecticut Center for Arts & Technology (ConnCAT).

“I’m still looking for a camp,” said Mariah, a rising freshman.

“Sure, it can be a tough workout, but these kids would come home and complain that they were bored. And it’s also a nice chance for them to hang out,” Brantley said about Wednesday’s outing. The family arrived around 11:30 a.m. with plans to leave at 3 p.m.

The kids’ regimen usually consists of stretching followed by a few laps snaking through the bleachers overlooking Bowen Field, various drills, and an hour-long cooldown football game or cartwheels.

Once he reached the other side of the field, Brantley cheered on the remaining crab-walkers before giving each of them a high-five. “It’s not a race, it’s about doing your best.”

On the crab-walk back to the bench, Kalina hitched a ride on her dad’s back. “She’s a little acrobat,” Brantley chuckled.

At 40, Brantley, who is also an artist, has generated pieces that have been featured throughout Connecticut. “I spent a year at Paier [College], I didn’t graduate, but I’m still out here making a living and getting involved with the community.” In May, his painting “Together We Stand” was featured in Yale’s

Trumbull College.

Hailing from Newhallville, Brantley spent his childhood summers playing basketball and football at Lincoln-Bassett Park. He now lives off of Whalley Avenue, just a few minutes from his brother’s home on Winthrop.

Brantley’s relationship with his brother, Jay Brantley, has also inspired several of his pieces, all exploring themes of the Black male experience. His painting “Baptism” draws from his and Jay’s likenesses and touches on growth and transformation.

Jay, a cross-genre photographer, will also play an integral role in two of Brantley’s upcoming projects. “Unveiled Roots” is a multimedia series of “interviews, photoshoots, and paintings of the people who made me” funded by a $20,000 grant slated to debut in March 2025, while “Braggish Rights” focuses

on Black male excellence in academics and extracurricular activities.

“‘Braggish Rights’ is pretty much the same concept [as ‘Unveiling Roots’], but instead of one painting of the subject, I’ll make two: one of the son, and one of the father.” Brantley intends to gift the paintings to father-son duos to kickstart their art collections.

Brantley is seeking exhibition space at various New Haven venues including ConnCAT at 4 Science Park, where he previously freelanced as an art instructor for K-12 students. “The dream is NXTHVN, because those guys are going global.”

At the thought of collaborating with the art center’s greats, Brantley dropped his phone on the turf, the screen already splintered into a mosaic art in and of itself according to the artist’s philosophy, which places strong em-

phasis on observing the world through diverse lenses.

“I mean, Titus Kaphar? His work is just… like, c’mon, man!” Brantley whipped off his New York Yankees baseball cap and threw his head back, his hands on his head. A black-beaded bracelet reading “DAD” encircled his right wrist an original piece by Kalina.

He continued to gush over prolific artists Kehinde Wiley, known for his vibrant and floral portraits, and Amy Sherald, who painted the portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama that hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Black excellence is a central theme in Brantley’s work, so much so that he named his brand “Black XLNC”. He explained, “[Life] is not a race. It’s about

how you carry yourself. It’s about [the kids] seeing themselves succeeding now so that they can push forward with confidence on their own walks.”

According to Brantley, excellence runs in the genes: “All these kids, they’re on the honor roll. I told them, ‘Once you get a taste of honor roll, stay up there.’ I don’t just want them to work hard, I want them to want to work hard.”

“I mean, Jairus is an artist, too, and he just goes out and sells his work. I look up to him, because I can be self-conscious of my own art, so seeing him feel confident in his work brings me joy.”

When asked what he wants for his kids, “I just want everything good for them. We all strive for excellence in our own way, so I want to see them shine in an excellent way— no, in a way of excellence.”

ASHER JOSEPH PHOTO Marquis Brantley (right): Father, uncle, artist, trainer.

The new haven independent

Senate Passes Car Tax Fix, Waits For House To Confirm

by Hudson Kamphausen

HARTFORD, CT – Car taxes would be assessed differently, and at a different starting rate, after the Senate passed an omnibus bill that included language to fix a 2022 law during its special session Wednesday.

The House will have to confirm the decision Thursday during its special session.

As part of a large omnibus bill – Senate Bill 501 – containing numerous legislative provisions, the Senate voted to alter parts of a state statute that will go into effect in October if it is not changed Thursday by the House.

That statute put in place a fixed depreciation schedule for assessing car taxes that began with 80% of the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), which would be assessed at 70%.

The tax would now be assessed at a depreciating rate, beginning with 85% of the MSRP and decreasing by 5% each year. Effectively, cars would be taxed at a little over 50% of their value to begin with.

It’s been said that the change would put even more strain on local taxpayers, especially as some residents choose to register their cars in other states.

However, Senate President Martin

Looney, D-New Haven, said that was not the case Wednesday.

“Well, that’s certainly not true because the rates are set by the municipalities. The municipalities decide what it would be,” Looney said. “It’s up to the town to decide how much to tax.”

Republicans argued that the change is effectively a tax increase, with Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-Greenwich, saying that he thinks leaving the number at 80% shows the state is moving in the right direction.

“We all acknowledge that, of the property taxes and the taxes we pay in this state, that the car tax makes the least sense,” Fazio said. He highlighted the individuals that are registering their cars in other states to escape the tax, and said the practice by Connecticut residents is putting more strain on those who do pay the their taxes.

Fazio said that, “quite simply,” the legislation raises taxes on Connecticut residents.

Sen. Norm Needleman, a Democrat from Essex who also serves as the town’s first selectman, said that the increase is not a definitive raise on taxes. He said that there will be “some winners and some losers.”

Looney agreed with that assessment. “Absolutely, it is not a tax increase.

It leaves it, as always, to the towns to make the decision on what mill rates

they can apply,” he said.

Looney said that another key fix of the bill would be that commercial vehicles will still be taxed as motor vehicles, rather than as commercial property. Commercial property is subject to higher mill rates than regular property or motor vehicles.

The fix would have been made during the legislative session that ended May 8, but an amendment was added to House Bill 5172 in the Senate that meant it had to go back to the House. The amendment would have allowed towns to completely repeal the car tax at a local level – an authority towns already possess – and also provide an assessment increase to regular property taxes that they could employ if they chose to do so.

Another fix that would be made if the bill is approved in the House is the removal of a 25% penalty if a taxpayer fails to register their motor vehicle on a list of personal property.

Republicans, as with other issues in the omnibus bill, argued against the inclusion of myriad issues and provisions into one bill.

They argued that it took away some senators’ voices on certain issues, saying that in order to support one measure, they would have to support the changes to the car tax put forth in the same bill.

RIDE. VOLUNTEER. DONATE.

Senate President Martin Looney listens to a reporter’s question outside the Senate chamber during the special session on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at the state Capitol in Hartford. Credit: Doug Hardy / CTNewsJunkie

L to R: Sens. Doug McCrory and John Fonfara, both Hartford Democrats, talk during a break between votes during the special session Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at the state Capitol in Hartford. Credit: Doug Hardy / CTNewsJunkie

Young Filmmakers Capture Newhallville

by DAWN M. SLADE

It may not win an Oscar. Yet it may be the most important film they ever make.

Young filmmakers as part of a group called Young Filmmakers from four different schools James Hillhouse High School, King-Robinson Inter-District Magnet School, Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School, and Eli Whitney Technical High School joined forces to write, film, edit, and premiere a documentary on the effect of the War on Drugs on the New Haven community of Newhallville.

The documentary was filmed by Young Filmmakers, and premiered on Saturday, June 22, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., under a tent by the Long Island Sound.

The premiere was attended by Young Filmmakers and their families, interviewees featured in the film, and members of the community. Two showings of the documentary were held, at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.

Between showings, a panel of Young Filmmakers answered questions from attendees concerning the documentary and the impact of drugs on youth, their families, and their communities.

After noshing on roasted chicken, stuffed spinach bread, green salad, and fresh fruit platters, the awards ceremony took place under the tent. Awards ranged from the cinematographer award to the multi-talented award.

The Young Filmmakers include Ynyce Gallishaw, Mozay Harris, Aleik Griffiths, Anahla Griffiths, Corin Smith, Jahsai Johnson, Ibrahim-Nyiass M. Abubakari, Abdul-Rahman M. Abubakari, Teairra Curtis, and Montaya Worthy Ladson. Young Filmmakers who participated in the program and created music for the documentary include Teairra Curtis, Axel Rosado, and Lilli Encarnacion. Additional Young Filmmakers worked on photography for the program at Hillhouse High School.

The documentary was created through Resurgence Now, Inc.’s Young Filmmakers Program. Resurgence Now Inc is a New Haven-based nonprofit. The Young Filmmakers Program was funded with a grant from The Prosperity Foundation, Inc., which is spearheaded by Executive Director Orsella Hughes.

Two film crews worked on site in Newhallville during the school year and their entire spring break to write and edit interview questions, then conduct interviews of current and past Newhallville residents and business owners, at various locations in Newhallville. The film instructor and program coordinator is Veronica B. Chandler, a young filmmaker and Executive Director of Blue Plum Productions, Inc. Blue Plum Productions is a nonprofit organization which teaches filmmaking skills to youth, to increase youth access to the arts. Blue Plum Productions, Inc. teaches youth how to write scripts, oper-

ate professional camera equipment, conduct interviews, secure permission to use interviewees’ names and likenesses, produce, cast, edit, design sets and costumes, and market films.

“Working with the Young Filmmakers was extremely rewarding,” says Chandler. “The kids blossomed from first-time camera operators to full-blown creative directors, resulting in a fantastic audiovisual presentation.”

Young Filmmakers conducted and filmed 28 interviews of Newhallville residents, stakeholders, and business owners. Young Filmmakers then edited the film. While the documentary does not sugar coat the impact of drugs on Newhallville, it showcases how Newhallville, a proud New Haven community, has demonstrated strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

“I’m really happy that my daughter had the opportunity to experience the Young Filmmakers Program,” said Manesha Gallishaw, mother of Ynyce Gallishaw. “I loved the Newhallville documentary and was impressed that all the kids especially my daughter got out of their comfort zone to complete this project. Watching my daughter made me proud. This was a stepping stone for her!” “It was beautiful. I really enjoyed it,” says Ms. Rosa Joyner, Mozay Harris’ grandmother. Ms. Joyner watched the documentary and actively participated in the panel discussion, which was led by Manesha Gallishaw.

To measure and showcase the filmmaking skills they learned during the Young Filmmakers Program, under the tutelage of Blue Plum Productions, Young Filmmakers will participate in this year’s 48Hour Film Project from July 26 to July 28. They will have 48 hours to write, cast, design costumes and sets for, film, edit, and submit an original short film.

Resurgence Now’s collaborative partners, Abraham’s Promise, Inc. Executive Director Barry Abraham and Managing Director Ann Slade, and Culturally Correct Creative, Inc., Executive Director Reginald Slade, supported the Young Filmmakers Program by providing transportation, refreshments, and a crew to help set up and break down the tables and chairs for the premiere.

Young Filmmakers Program also received community support from Yale Repertory Theatre, which donated free tickets to The Far Country, and Shubert Theatre, which provided discounted tickets to STOMP. These field trips helped expose the young filmmakers to professional set design in two vastly different genre.

A third showing of the documentary will take place in late summer in Newhallville. For more information on the late summer showing, contact Dawn M. Slade, DMS Communications (203) 675-8157.

The new haven independent

Where personal breakthroughs are powered by medical ones.

At Yale New Haven Health, we’re delivering pioneering research from Yale School of Medicine to improve people’s lives every single day. Like Dr. Ozan Bahtiyar and the team who perform in utero surgery to successfully treat spina bifida before birth. Together, we’re powering breakthroughs with the greatest of care.

Caribbean Fest Dances

Lucy Gellman | July 1st, 2024

At one end of the New Haven Green, Jo. L. was giving a history lesson one step at a time. He sailed to one end of the stage, a Haitian flag tucked into his back pocket. “Huge shout out to Toussaint Louverture!” he cried in time with a throbbing beat. Reine Boyer lifted a Haitian flag above her head. “Huge shout out to Dessalines!” he continued. The crowd cheered.

Finger-picked, lush guitar came over the track behind him. “Jamaicans, do you know who Boukman is?” The word Guerriér—warrior, in both French and Haitian Creole—peeked out from his shirt. “We led the first successful slave rebellion with the help of a Jamaican leader called Boukman! Jamaicans, if you don’t know who Boukman is, please make sure you Google it!”

Saturday afternoon, that performance captured the infectious joy and deep island pride of the 10th annual New Haven Caribbean Heritage Festival, held on the New Haven Green on the final weekend of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. A celebration of the depth and diversity of the Caribbean, it brought in hundreds of attendees, with representation from well over a dozen island nations and territories in the Caribbean and West Indies.

“We did it!” said Jamaican American Connection Founder and President Karaine (Kay) Smith-Holness, who founded the festival in 2014 and has steered it through a global pandemic and move downtown. “June is Caribbean Heritage Month, so we have no choice but to celebrate our culture during this month … We are using this as a way to show other people, like, ‘Hey, we can come together and be happy.’”

“We’re in the middle of New Haven, and we’re thankful that our community that was with us at Goffe Street, followed us down here and brought more people,” added co-organizer Shermaine CookeEdmonds, who hails from Dominica and has worked with Smith-Holness since hearing her on the radio in 2014. “It’s about visibility. Here we are—you see all of us together.”

Saturday, a decades-long vision came to life in vibrant color, as hundreds of flags became a dazzling patchwork against the low-hanging sky. As Braata Productions’ Andrew Clarke welcomed performers to the stage, organizers fanned out across the space and ducked beneath tents meant to educate attendees, from bright, feathered costumes worn at Mas to vegan fish curry and Grapenut ice cream.

Representing Saint Lucia for the first

time—it’s usually her parents who take up the educational mantle—28-year-old designer Najah Josie buzzed between a series of hand-sewn blouses, her hands grazing the soft, bright fabric as she chatted with attendees. Born and raised in New Haven, Josie loved “everything in the arts” from a young age, she said—but it was her Caribbean heritage that instilled in her an interest in fashion.

That happened on both visits to the island and during one longer stay, she explained.

At 13, Josie attended high school in Saint Lucia for two years, spending time with family as she navigated the island’s educational system. After learning to sew in a home economics class, she fell in love with design and craft. The earliest seeds of her brand, Najah Nialah, were born.

Fifteen years later, she’s growing her business one hand-sewn piece at a time.

After a temporary pandemic pivot to masks with Caribbean-inspired names like “Rum Punch” and “Saint Lucia," she is working largely on blouses, tops, and dresses on commission, each piece custom made for a client. While she has her own style, she said, she’s especially inspired by designers like Fe Noel, whose Grenadian roots influence her work.

“I’m really proud of my heritage,” Josie said, gesturing to bright, candy-colored plaids, florals, and the quintessential Saint Lucia Madras that remind her of where she comes from. When she sits down to sew, she’s able to connect back to her roots, and the island that helped raise her. As she made her way through the crowd, that was also true for Miss Connecticut Shavana Clarke, a first-generation Jamaican American whose ties to the island informed her choice to run for the title.

Growing up in New York City, Clarke felt close to Jamaica, and especially to aunts and uncles in Parish with whom she would spend the summers. Her mother, who immigrated at 24, made sure she never felt too far from it.

On her visits back, “I loved tying up the goats, going in the river,” she said with a smile that spread across her whole face, as if she was suddenly back there. Back in New York, Clarke started to compete in pageants, and Miss U.S.A. became a fixture in her home. She excelled in school, ultimately heading to UConn to pursue acting.

Then in 2019, when South African actress and producer Zozibini Tunzi won Miss Universe, she began to see herself as part of something bigger. Suddenly, she realized that intersectionality needed to be part of her platform, and her approach to everything from the stage to the classroom.

“I thought, ‘I can do that!’” she recalled

as a tent from Dominica exploded into sudden, inexplicable cheers behind her, the air suddenly filled with streaks of green and yellow. “When people think of Connecticut, they don’t think about Jamaicans,” despite a huge immigrant population from the Caribbean.

“A huge part of my platform is talking about what it means to be Jamaican American,” she continued. She knows that “little girls from the West Indies” might be watching her, and wants to let them know that they can climb to the same heights in whatever they want to

do—whether it’s representing Connecticut or taking on a leadership role in their professional lives.

Back onstage, emcee Andrew Clarke had the audience under his spell, weaving in and out of patois as he spoke. Between jokes (“Where are people from? We’re

Carline Williams, Shavana Clarke's mom, shares her crown for a moment.

Elaine Peters and her Chihuahua, Coconut.

Miss Connecticut Shavana Clarke.

Tiana Ocasio, Juancarlos Soto, Joe Rodriguez and Alana Rodriguez of Puerto

Dances Into A Decade

not including Long Island, okay?”), he celebrated milestones in Caribbean history, from Grenada’s 50 years of independence this year to the importance of proverbs specific to one’s country.

“Poke ah poke!” someone at the front of the stage yelled out, lifting the familiar

red-and-black flag of Trinidad and Tobago over their head for a moment.

“What dat mean?” Clarke asked. He leaned in to hear the response, nodding as the mic returned to his mouth. He looked out at the audience with a glint in his eye.

“That means, ‘What’s sweet and good!’” he exclaimed.

“Ke Lo Ke!” another voice shouted from the audience, a sea of lawn chairs and strollers that had formed haphazard rows in front of the stage. The phrase, which comes from the Dominican Republic and riffs on "Qué lo que," translates

loosely to “What’s up?”

Boyer, who grew up in Hartford but was born in Haiti, never strayed far from the stage. An attorney and fierce advocate for human rights in and outside of work, she said she was thrilled to be out the festival repping Haiti, which Jo. L. affectionately referred to as a “big little island” with a history of rebellion and resistance.

When he pronounced the name in Creole, rather than English—Ha-i-ti—Boyer cheered. As she moved to the front of the stage, she waved a handheld Haitian flag while wrapping another around her shoulders like a superhero cape.

“We’re having a good time!” she said as she raised her voice over the music.

For her, repping Haiti means educating people about the first Black Republic— and what it means to continue fighting for Black liberation in the Caribbean and the U.S. “I am so proud to be Haitian.”

At times, the magic seemed to flow from the stage right to the grass, and back to the stage again, cutting through the humidity that had descended on the afternoon. In one moment, it was students from Hood Hula, who took an impromptu spin on the stage as Diamond Tree conducted from the grass,

In another, Jo. L. taught attendees about Kompa, a mélange of Dominican méringue and a Haitian barrel drum called the tanbou.

“If you’re not familiar with Kompa, it’s a little two-step,” he said, looking out over a crowd that seemed, initially, hesitant. “You don’t gotta be Haitian, just give me a little two-step.”

On the grass, people started to dance, some swaying from their seats when standing proved too much. From a closedoff Temple Street, The Elements of Abundance rolled in, dancing even as they entered the festival. With her daughters just steps behind her, Arden “Fire” Santana swayed back and forth, a whisper of méringue taking root in her feet.

“Hold on, we’re just getting started,” Jo. L. exclaimed, smiling, and Santana picked up the pace. “Right now, we’re about to turn it up. Grab your asthma pump, get your water!”

When his music cut out one track later, it also reminded attendees of how collaborative the festival has become, a testament to organizers’ bridge-building in New Haven and New York. Within seconds, the Colihaut Boyz—a group of cousins from Dominica, who now reside in New York City—had materialized, huge drums slung over their chests.

At the center of the group, Jefferson Laville lifted a long silver horn, and be-

gan to play. In every note was a history that criss-crossed space and time, telling the story of independence as the group played.

“It’s something we do for our hearts,” Laville later said of playing music, noting the drums’ ability to connect him to centuries of history. “It means a lot to us. We try our best to keep our culture … we carry it everywhere we go.”

Onstage, the party showed no sign of stopping. Taking the stage to Alison Hinds’ “West Indian,” 11-year-old Olivia Gaspard listened for a Soca beat, and let her knees do the talking as it dropped and floated over the grass. Minutes before stepping into the spotlight, she had called the chance to dance “an honor” and a chance to share her Barbadian heritage in the heart of New Haven.

“It’s everything,” said her mother, Sherina Gaspard, who came to Connecticut from Barbados at 11 years old. “It [opportunities like the festival] gives us an opportunity to bond. We get to share different parts of our culture.”

As they watched the festivities unfold, Smith-Holness and Cooke-Edmonds were rarely still, moving between vendor tents even as they nibbled on grapenut ice cream and checked in on everything from body butter soursop smoothies. It was only for an interview late in the afternoon that they stood for a moment behind the stage, sound wrapping around them as it floated out towards Chapel Street. For both of them, the festival now represents a decade of transformation and growth—and a commitment to keeping it going. After starting the event in Goffe Street Park in 2014, the two brought it through a pandemic, expanded partnerships with the Shubert Theatre and International Festival of Arts & Ideas, and made the move downtown.

For the second year in a row, it included a culminating concert, this time from the artist Lyrikal, that brought hundreds to the Green.

“We are happy,” Smith-Holness said. “We share customs. It’s a way for us to come together.”

That extended to people like 10-year-old self-appointed apprentice Lacy Charles, who has known Smith-Holness for her whole life through Hair’s Kay Beauty Salon. Growing up Jamaican and Dominican in Connecticut, Lacy said she likes the festival for the range of people and nationalities that it brings out. “I feel like I learned how to work with people more,” she said.

More from the Colihaut Boyz.

Puerto Ricans United rep the island for the second year in a row. Karaine (Kay) Smith-Holness, Lacy Charles, Olivia Gaspard and Shermaine Cooke-Edmonds.

Connecticut DOT Worker Killed

by Hudson Kamphausen

A state Department of Transportation worker was killed Friday while working along an exit ramp on I-91 in Wallingford – the second time in a month that a state worker has been killed by a driver on the side of the road in Connecticut.

The worker, Andrew DiDomenico, 26, was working on the Wharton Brook Connector along Exit 13 off of I-91 when he was struck by a vehicle that partially left the road, police said.

On May 30, State Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was killed by a hit-andrun driver on I-84 in Southington.

On Friday, State Police troopers cut off the highway exit after they arrived on the scene. Police said the driver of the vehicle has not yet been identified to the public, but remained on the scene after the incident and was arrested.

Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement that he was “both outraged and saddened” by DiDomenico’s death.

“I implore everyone getting behind the wheel to be fully alert and pay attention to what is happening on the road around them at all times,” Lamont said. “Show some respect for the workers on our interstates and roadways by following the speed limit and reducing your speed whenever you’re near work zones.”

DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalito said in a statement that DiDoemico’s death was a nightmare scenario.

“Andrew had his life cut tragically short and the bright future ahead of him will no longer be realized. It’s hard to express the

absolute sadness, shock, and outrage the 3,200 men and women of the Connecticut DOT are feeling in this moment,” Eucalitto said.

Carl Chisem, president of the Connecticut Employees Union Independent (CEUI), said his union is suffering from sorrow, shock, and disbelief.

“Our entire union is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Andrew,” Chisem said in a statement. “Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends, and loved ones. Our DOT union members face constant dangers on our roads, bridges and highways, no one should sacrifice

their life for their job. Our top priority as a union has always been safety first and what occurred today is a devastating situation everyone hopes to avoid.”

Chisem continued: “Andrew’s promising future was abruptly cut short, leaving us all with profound sorrow, shock, and disbelief. The men and women at the Connecticut Employees Union Independent across all agencies are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their union brother. As we process this heartbreaking news, we urge the public to drive cautiously and compassionately to ensure our roads are safe. Connecticut drivers need

take responsibility for the safety of everyone on the roads and slow down.”

A pilot program was put in place in 2023 to install speed cameras at some work zones around the state, following an increase in road workers being hit, or nearly hit, by vehicles. That program was codified and expanded by more legislation this session. Public Act 24-40 authorizes the program to continue in perpetuity and expands it to 15 work zones across the state. The bill also increased fines for violating traffic control and road safety orders, and allows for variable speed limits on limited access

roads.

Senate President Martin Looney, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, and Sen. Christine Cohen, co-chair of the Transportation Committee, said in a statement that DiDomenico’s death was an illustration of drivers needing to share the road responsibly.

“Andrew’s death was entirely preventable and we are outraged by the carelessness displayed on our roads. Traffic fatalities are not just statistics, these are loved ones who had so much life left to live,” their statement said.

House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said DiDomenico’s death was heartbreaking.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and Department of Transportation co-workers of Andrew DiDomenico,” Candelora said. “His tragic death at the age of 26 serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers inherent in transportation improvement projects. It also underscores the urgent need for the Governor and legislature to finally address what so many Connecticut residents are unfortunately experiencing – an undeniable safety crisis on our highways.” Attorney General William Tong said that DiDomenico’s death was intolerable and unacceptable.

“This is yet another preventable, tragic death of a young, dedicated state employee on our roadways,” Tong said in a statement Friday. “As a state, we must do absolutely everything we can to stop this rampant reckless driving.”

Lamont Taps Matthew Brokman As New Chief Of Staff

by Doug Hardy

Gov. Ned Lamont elevated senior advisor Matthew Brokman on Tuesday to serve as his chief of staff, succeeding Jonathan Dach.

Dach, who worked on Gov. Lamont’s 2018 campaign and has served in his office since the beginning of his first term in January 2019, is resigning as chief of staff in anticipation of a move out of state. He is expected to continue as a senior advisor to the governor to assist with the transition and focus on select initiatives. Brokman began serving as chief of staff effective Tuesday.

Lamont said described Brokman as incredibly talented, possessing a “comprehensive knowledge” of the policies and practices of Connecticut state government.

“He shares my commitment to making Connecticut the best state to live, work, and do business, and I am excited to have him serving in this new capacity,”

Lamont said in a release. “Jonny is one of the brightest minds I’ve ever worked with and has been an important partner to me and the other members of our team for the last six years. I thank him for his dedication and service.”

Brokman most recently served as senior advisor to Lamont in a role that he began at the start of the governor’s second term in January 2023.

Prior to joining the governor’s office, he served as chief of staff for House Majority Leader Jason Rojas from Jan. 2021 to Jan. 2023, and as chief of staff for former Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz from May 2018 to Dec. 2020. He was also director of policy, communications, and outreach in the Connecticut House Democrats Office from Jan. 2017 to April 2018. Brokman is a graduate of George Washington University and earned a master’s degree in economics from American University. He said he was honored to take on the new responsibility for the Lamont administration and hopes to live up to the

trust Lamont placed in him.

In a statement from the Governor’s office, Brokman said, “I have had the opportunity to work in the State Capitol under several different elected officials, and every day that I come to work is a day that I have the opportunity to do good for Connecticut – including by working to develop a budget that puts more money in families pockets, advancing legislation to make government work better for the people, implementing policies that keep our resident safe, and handling constituent issues to make sure they get the services they need.”

He continued: “Whether it has been Joe, Jason, or now Governor Lamont, I’ve been proud to execute their vision, and I look forward to continuing that work in this new capacity. I also want to thank Jonny for bringing me into the administration, his policy insights, and his friendship.”

FILE PHOTO: Members of the Connecticut Employees Union Independent, SEIU Local 511, who work at the state Department of Transportation. Credit: Contributed photo / Connecticut Employees Union Independent, SEIU Local 511

Matthew Brokman, Gov. Ned Lamont’s new chief of staff, speaks to reporters on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

Credit: Contributed photo / Lamont administration

July 16, 2024

Growing up in the early 1990s, Thuso Mbedu never dreamt of being an entertainment figure. At a very young age, she wanted to be a dermatologist, but after taking a dramatic arts class in the 10th grade, she became interested in acting.

Her acting career has earned her fame and fortune locally and internationally, rising to become one of the most sought after actresses from South Africa. At 27, she was named in the 2018 Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 List, and one of the 100 Most Influential Africans by New African Magazine.

Born on July 8, 1991, at the Midlands Medical Center in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, to a Zulu mother and Xhosa and Sotho father, she never enjoyed the care of her parents who died when she was barely four years old. She was raised by her grandmother, a very strict school principal in school and at home. Her name reflected the multicultural tribes of her parents – Thuso is a Sotho name, Nokwanda is a Zulu name, and Mbedu is Xhosa.

Mbedu went to Pelham Primary School and Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School and graduated from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa in 2013, where she studied Physical Theatre and Performing Arts Management. Earlier in 2012, she took a summer course at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City.

Her acting career began in 2014 when she played a minor role of ‘Nosisa’ in the popular South African Soap Opera ‘Isibaya’ from Mzansi Magic. In 2015, she played a guest role as ‘Kheti’ in the Second Season of the SABC 2 youth drama series ‘Snake Park.’

She got her first starring role in the teen drama television series ‘IS’THUNZI’ from Mzansi Magic where she played ‘Winnie.’

Her international debut was in ‘The Underground Railroad’ an American fantasy historical drama series based on the novel ‘The Underground Railroad’ written by Colson Whitehead.

In 2022, she starred in her first film ‘The Woman King’ an epic historical drama about Agosie, where an entire female warrior unit protected the West African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 17 – 19th century. She played ‘Nawi’, a zealous recruit in the military unit.

In 2017, Mbedu was nominated for the ‘DSTV Viewers Choice Awards’ and the ‘International Emmy Awards for the ‘Best Performance by an Actress’ for her role ‘Winnie Bhengu’ in the 2016 -2017 television drama series ‘IS’THUNZI.’

‘Black Reel Awards’ (Outstanding Actress – TV Movie / Limited Series), the ‘Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards’ (Best Actress in a Limited Series, Anthropology Series or Television Movie), the ‘Gotham Awards’ (Outstanding Performance in New Series), the ‘Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards’ (TV Breakout Star), and the ‘Critics Choice Television Awards’ (Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Movie), all for her role ‘Cora Randall’ in the 2021 TV series ‘The Underground Railroad.’

She won the ‘TV Breakout Star’ award from the Hollywood Critics Association TV and won the ‘Outstanding Performance in New Series’ award from the Gotham Awards.

In 2022, Mbedu was nominated for the ‘Independent Spirit Awards (Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series), for her role ‘Cora Randall’ in the 2021 television series ‘The Underground Railroad.’ She won the ‘Critics Choice Television Awards’ for ‘Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Movie’ for her role ‘Cora Randall’ in ‘The Underground Railroad.’ In her keynote speech at TheWrap’s Power Women Summit, Thuso Mbedu tearfully spoke of how she overcame the loss of her dear parents, grandmother, and aunt. But her role in Amanda Lane’s ‘IS’THUNZI’ gradually renewed her hope in life.

In 2018, she won the ‘South African Film and Television Awards’ for ‘ Best Actress – TV Drama’ for her role ‘Winnie Bhengu’ in the 2016 -2017 television drama series ‘IS’THUNZI.’ She was also nominated for the ‘International Emmy Awards for ‘Best Performance by an Actress’ for her role ‘Winnie Bhengu’ in the television drama series ‘IS’THUNZI.’

In 2021, she was nominated for the ‘Television Critics Association Award’ (Individual Achievement in Drama), the

“…my world was that blur, until Amanda Lane happened in 2016. The role that Amanda Lane gave me was the difference between life and death for me. Receiving that audition brief, I told myself that I would audition like it was my last audition. I gave it the last of everything that I had, that at the time I got the callback, I had nothing left. I secretly made the decision not to do the callback because I had nothing left to give. But fortunately, I received cause the role was mine. I had given up. I was in a very dark place at the time, and the character, the role, the opportunity, was a much needed light. And I told myself that I will act as if it was the last character that I will play. And through a great script and an amazing director, I earned two

tional Emmy Awards for that role…”

Thuso Mbedu. Photo -IOL

Medicaid Expands For Undocumented Teens

by ASHER JOSEPH

At 9 a.m. Monday, Estefania Guanoluisa Valdez became the first undocumented teenager in Connecticut to newly enroll for health insurance with HUSKY, the state’s Medicaid program — thanks to a new state law that expands such coverage to children up to the age of 15, regardless of their immigration status.

Freshly 13 years old, Valdez would not have been eligible to sign up for the state’s Medicaid program last month, under the previous cap limiting new enrollment to kids 12 and under.

The new law that took effect statewide on Monday — and for which Valdez was the first to sign up — means that she can now enroll. The law also allows kids who sign up for Medicaid when they are 15 or younger to re-enroll through the age of 19.

Valdez attended a press conference Monday at Fair Haven Community Health Care at 374 Grand Ave. to celebrate the new law.

Fair Haven Community Health Care

CEO Suzanne Lagarde opened the press conference in the center’s parking lot, adjacent to the site of its new building. She provided an update on the program’s impact to date, citing the 3,400 undocumented patients the center has served, 500 being children under the age of 12 who gained insurance when Connecticut state legislature signed into effect the first iteration of HUSKY’s expansion to cover undocumented children on January 1, 2023.

Lagarde invited several of Fair Haven Community Health Care’s HUSKY patients to join her at the podium, including Valdez, who hails from Ecuador.

Since arriving in the United States nearly eight months ago, Valdez has

been able to schedule ophthalmological, dental, and regular pediatric appointments at Fair Haven Community Health Care under HUSKY insurance. “I feel secure knowing that she will be in good hands thanks to HUSKY,” said Valdez’s mother, Nancy, to an audience of over 70 attendees.

State Sen. and President Pro Tem Martin Looney, a driving force behind the program’s legislative success, shared his hope that kids would no longer have to go untreated or resort to the emergency room due to lack of adequate health care.

“This law has already made timely and expert care available to children under 12, and will now help kids up to 15.”

The expansion of HUSKY follows

the implementation of several other laws aimed at alleviating barriers for undocumented immigrants, including expanding eligibility for in-state tuition and providing guidance on the path to obtaining a Connecticut driver’s license. According to Gov. Ned Lamont, who spoke after Looney, “Connecticut will continue to take the lead” in equitable legislation, but does not anticipate any federal funding.

Husky 4 Immigrants Coalition Manager Luis Luna closed the press conference, emphasizing access to health care as a human right. “Sixty percent of undocumented immigrants don’t have access to healthcare. When people don’t have healthcare, not only do their physi-

cal and mental health suffer, but their financial health, too.”

Luna uplifted a testimonial from a Husky 4 Immigrants volunteer from Venezuela who was diagnosed with prostate cancer 11 months ago, but was unable to access adequate treatment. As a result, his health deteriorated due to high levels of stress and anxiety.

In closing, the celebration not only marked significant progress in access to healthcare for undocumented immigrants, but also raised a call to action to continue the expansion of HUSKY.

When asked how she feels about her healthcare coverage under the new legislation, Valdez began to punch a lengthy sentence into Google Translate before

hesitating and deleting it, trying again once more before settling on a one word answer: “Fantástica”.

As Husky 4 Immigrants advocates posed for pictures after the press conference, alternating between chants of “HUSKY for all!” and “HUSKY para todas,” Valdez and a friend raced into the parking lot with Valdez’s mother in tow, giggling without a worry. Nancy Valdez, on the other hand, glanced back at the tent where Lamont was conversing with Husky 4 Immigrants volunteers.

“But what happens when [my daughter] turns sixteen?” Nancy had asked.

Husky 4 Immigrants has an answer: its next goal is to expand the program to all kids under 18.

ASHER JOSEPH PHOTO Celebrating the expansion of CT's Medicaid.

60th Anniversary of Civil Rights Act: Reflecting on Progress and Persistent Challenges

The landmark legislation emerged from a period of intense struggle and demand for the fulfillment of the 14th Amendment’s promise of “equal protection of the laws.”

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

As the United States commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the nation reflects on a transformative law that reshaped American society by prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The landmark legislation emerged from a period of intense struggle and demand for the fulfillment of the 14th Amendment’s promise of “equal protection of the laws.”

Due to widespread opposition to desegregation and the assassination of civil rights activist Medgar Evers, President John F. Kennedy urged Congress to pass a comprehensive civil rights bill in June 1963. After Kennedy’s death, President Lyndon B. Johnson, with crucial support from civil rights leaders Roy Wilkins and Clarence Mitchell, championed the bill’s passage.

On July 2, 1964, Congress enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law prohibited discrimination in hiring, promoting, and firing, extending these protections to public accommodations and federally funded programs. It also strengthened the enforcement of voting rights and mandated the desegregation of schools.

“The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the nation’s benchmark civil rights legislation, and it continues to resonate in America,” said Melanie Campbell, president of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. The Act dismantled “Jim Crow” laws upheld by the 1896 Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson, which had deemed racial segregation constitutional under the “separate but equal” doctrine. The Act’s impact has been profound and

far-reaching. “It propelled a movement that was able to make major civil rights gains,” stated Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League. “It has not only changed the arc for Black people. It has changed the arc for women and for other people of color in a profound way.”

Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, highlighted the tangible benefits of the Act, particularly in healthcare and education. “The Civil Rights Act of 1964 added years, literally about three to four years, onto the life expectancy of Black people when healthcare had to

open its once-segregated doors,” Wiley explained. The Act also significantly reduced segregation in Southern schools, benefiting both Black and white students. Despite these advancements, the 60th anniversary comes amid concerns over recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings perceived as eroding civil rights protections, including affirmative action, legalized abortion, and diversity initiatives. Critics argue that the Court’s favorable ruling in former President Donald Trump’s immunity case further threatens American democracy. The ruling, which rejected Trump’s sweeping immunity claim but

maintained protections for actions tied to presidential duties, has sparked intense debate about the boundaries of presidential power and accountability.

“Securing our civil rights remains the unfinished fight of our time,” President Joe Biden said in a proclamation commemorating the anniversary. “Our country is still facing attacks on some of our most fundamental civil liberties and rights, including the right to vote and have that vote counted and the right to live free from the threat of violence, hate, and discrimination. That is why my administration is remaining vigilant—fight-

ing actively to protect the rights of every American.”

Biden emphasized his commitment to reversing the legacy of segregation and creating new opportunities for all Americans. “My administration is investing more money than ever in Black families and Black communities,” Biden asserted. “We are reconnecting historic business districts and neighborhoods cut off by old highways, redlining, and decades of discrimination and disinvestment. We have invested over $16 billion in historically Black colleges and universities, which will help raise the next generation of Black leaders. At the same time, we are creating good-paying jobs on which people can raise a family; making capital and loans for starting small businesses and buying homes more accessible; and making health insurance and prescription drugs more affordable.”

In popular memory, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was seen as a legislative response to the demands of the March on Washington. “Sixty years later, we must be honest: the federal minimum wage, indexed for inflation, is lower than it was in 1964,” said Rev. William Barber, president of Repairers of the Breach and co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign. “What’s more, because the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in its 2013 Shelby decision and Congress has failed to remedy it, we have less voting rights protections today than we did on August 6, 1965.”

Barber continued, “The celebration of historic wins alongside this egregious decay is a source of discontent among everyday Americans. But we have no time for despair. We are determined to channel discontent for a resurrection rather than an insurrection.”

Celebrate America’s Birthday by Thanking Those Who Teach Our Youngest Learners

Andrew Davis, Chief Operating Officer, Council for Professional Recognition

As we mark America’s Independence Day, I’m reflecting on the role education played in my family’s journey to this incredible country and the educators who helped make it happen. I was born in Antigua in the Caribbean, where my father’s family had lived for many generations. They coped with extreme poverty and many challenges — my grandmother was blind, for instance. Yet, from a very early age, teachers pushed my father to fulfill his potential. Their encouragement led him to attend university in Barbados and eventually earn his doctorate at the University of Sussex in England. Later, we settled in the United States, where my dad is a professor at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Each step of the way, a mentor encouraged him to keep growing and expanding his mind. Their support not only changed his life but also paved the way for future generations of our family. I was so excited to spend time recently with about 150 students at Florida International University in Miami who completed their Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential coursework through the Professional Development Institute at the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe. Through articulation agreements with higher education institutions in Florida, these students can receive college credits toward an associate or bachelor's degree in early childhood education. Davis (left) met with education leaders and supporters who helped students complete their Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential coursework through

the Professional Development Institute at the Early Learning Coalition of MiamiDade/Monroe.

The CDA Credential is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education and it’s a key steppingstone on the path of career advancement in the sector. The CDA is based on a core set of competency standards that guide early childhood professionals toward becoming qualified educators of young children. Our nonprofit, the Council for Professional Recognition, works to ensure that the nationally transferable CDA is a credible and valid credential, recognized by the profession as a vital part of professional development. CDA educators know how to put the CDA Competency Standards into practice and have an understanding of why those standards help children move with success from one de-

velopmental stage to another. Put simply, CDA educators know how to nurture the emotional, physical, intellectual, and social development of children.

It was an honor to recognize and celebrate these scholars, who participated in 120 hours of instruction and at least 480 hours of on-the-job training. They also compiled a professional portfolio and created a center-based capstone project. At the graduation ceremony, I told these students that they should feel proud of their achievements and be empowered to become advocates for early childhood education. I emphasized the importance of cultivating resilience in the face of challenges and embracing lifelong learning. That lifelong learning can include earning additional degrees as well as serving as CDA Professional Development Specialists, who use their expertise to as-

sess CDA candidates’ competencies and facilitate reflective conversations with candidates for the credential.

Most importantly, the CDA scholars I met in Miami and other ceremonies this year are now serving as early childhood educators in communities across the U.S. They’re professionals who support safe and healthy learning environments, provide positive guidance, successfully engage, and interact with families and contribute to ensuring an early learning program is well run. I know their work will pay off. Years ago, my dad’s teachers had no way of imagining where their influence would lead. Indeed, when I look up to the sky on the Fourth to watch the fireworks, I’ll keep in mind the educators who help their students reach higher and higher for spectacular results and the bright futures they create.

CONSTRUCTION JOB FAIR

HIRING ALL TRADES!

CURRENT/FORMER RESIDENTS OF WESTBROOK VILLAGE, HARTFORD RESIDENTS AND APPRENTICES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND

CONTRACTORS AVAILABLE FOR ON-THE-SPOT INTERVIEWS!

DATE: WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2024: 3 PM – 6 PM

LOCATION

Village at Park River Community Building, 99 Park River Drive, Hartford, CT 06112

For more information, please contact Jennifer Lacombe PH: 203-888-8119

EMAIL: jlacombe@haynesct.com The Housing Authority of the City of Hartford

Town of Bloomfield

Salary Range:

NOTICE

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

INVITATION TO BID: SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

$87,727 to $136,071

Deputy Finance Director/Controller

Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE.

For Details go to  www.bloomfieldct.org

Town of Bloomfield

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.

Finance Director

The Housing Authority of the City of Danbury (HACD) is seeking sealed bids for the following Project:Ives Manor – Parking Lot Structure and Deck Repair. Bid Opeing date is 26th of June 2024 at 11:00 AM at the Housing Authority of the City of Dabury, 2 Mill Ridge Road, Danbury, CT 06811. All bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

NOTICIA

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

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Fully Benefited – 35 hours weekly

Pre-employment drug testing. For more details, visit our website –www.bloomfieldct.org

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

Portland

Police Officer

Go to www.portlandct.org for details

A pre-bid walk thru will be held on 12th of June 2024 at 10:00 AM at 198 Main Street, Danbury, Connecticut. Contract documents including Plans & Specifications can be viewed on-line and purchased from the Digiprint Plan Room Services website.Visit www.digiprintplanroom.com/jobs/public and select Ives Manor – Parking Lot Structure and Deck Repair beginning on 5th of June 2024. Bidders will note requirements of nondiscrimination/equal opportunity rules (Executive Order 11246) and related provisions in the General Conditions. No bid shall be withdrawn for ninety (90) days. Complete bidding requirements are noted in the Contract Documents. This project is federally assisted. Therefore, bidders must comply with the following requirements: Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968; Equal Opportunity provisions of Executive Order 11246; Non-Discrimination provision of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Labor Standards provisions of the Davis-Bacon Act and related acts and Contract Work Hours Standards Act; prevailing wage determinations as issued by the United States Department of Labor; and all applicable provisions under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. Section 3 requirements will be required on this project. HACD is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Ms. Devin Marra Acting Executive Director

Assistant Production Manager

NEW HAVEN

242-258 Fairmont Ave

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

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

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders

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

Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258 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 1:303:30 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

Large CT Fence and Guiderail Contractor looking for an experienced Assistant Production Manager to assist with vehicle inspections, shop and yard management, and support of daily operations of residential and commercial fence divisions. Duties include: Monitor and manage quality control for shop and yard activities, including labor hour utilization, process staff paperwork in a timely manner, assist with Inventory Management, attend daily meetings with Scheduling Manager and Superintendents to plan future material and production requirements and participate in weekly sales meetings. Will require physical work in wood, PVC and metal shops. Qualifications: Previous construction and personnel supervisory experience, Valid CT Driver’s License, DOT Medical Card, Demonstrate good time management skills, OSHA 10 certification and required to pass a physical and drug test. Medical, holiday, vacation & other benefits included. Starting pay $22.00 to $28.00 per hr based on experience level. We are an AA/EOE company. Submit resumes to: gforshee@atlasoutdoor.com.

Help Wanted –

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

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.

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 2:00 pm on Thursday, July 25, 2024 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for the ROOF REPLACEMENT at the Norman L. Ray House, 133 Walnut Street Seymour. The work includes the removal and replacement of asphalt shingle and rubber roofing as well as ACM abatement.

A non-mandatory pre-bid conference will be held at the Norman L. Ray House at 2:00 pm, on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

Bid documents may be obtained by visiting the Bid Opportunities tab at www.seymourhousing.org under the About Us tab, www.seymourct.org under the Bids and RFPS tab and the Connecticut State Contracting Portal www.das.ct.gov/portal.

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 Housing Authority.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR

Vinyl Siding and Soffit Installation at Oval Grove Development, New Britain, CT

The Housing Authority of the City of New Britain (Authority) is inviting sealed bids and fee proposals, in triplicate, for the complete installation of insulated vinyl siding and soffit at the Oval Grove Development. Submission Deadline: June 28, 2024, at 3:00 p.m.

To Obtain a Copy of the RFP: Visit our website at www.nbhact.org under the procurement section.

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Fence Installers:

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

Lg CT fence company looking for an experienced foreman in CT and surrounding states who will work as a leader of small crews. Individual will be responsible for all types of fencing installation. Specific tasks include but are not limited to: May be responsible for crew(s) of two or more individuals, manage and troubleshoot problems that arise on site and notify superintendent when needed, ensures employees adhere to all safety and company policies and practices, able to perform fence installation and setting posts as indicated by plans, project site clean-up. Job requirements include the following: preferably have up to 5 years’ experience, have a valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record, must be able to get a DOT medical card, OSHA safety training required prior to start of employment, pass drug screening and a physical test. Medical, vacation, 401K and other benefits included, all necessary equipment provided. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. Send resume to gforshee@atlasoutdoor.com

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.

Fence Erecting Subcontractors:

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

Large CT Fence & Guardrail Contractor is looking for Fence Installation helpers. Must have at least 2 years of experience installing chain link, wood, PVC and ornamental iron fencing. Work available 10-12 months per year. All necessary equipment provided. Medical, holiday, 401K, vacation & other benefits included. Must be able to pass required physical and drug test. An OSHA 10 Certification is required. A valid CT driver's license is required and must get DOT Medical Card. We are an AA/EOE company. Send resumes/inquiries to: rhauer@atlasoutdoor.com.

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.

PVC FENCE PRODUCTION

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

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. AA/EOE-MF

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

Large CT Fence & Guardrail Contractor is looking for Experienced Fence Subcontractors with at least 5 years of experience in commercial fence. Work available 10-12 months per year, highest labor rates paid. OHSA 10 safety training required and valid CT driver’s license. Must have a reliable truck, proper insurance coverage and your own tools. We are an AA/EOE company. Send resumes/inquiries to: rhauer@atlasoutdoor.com.

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

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

Large CT Fence Company looking for a full-time individual for our Wood 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. This is an in-shop production position. Duties include mortising & drilling wood posts for fence panels, building fence panels, gates & more. Use of table saws, routers, miter saws, nail guns and other woodworking equipment is required. Some pickup and delivery of materials will be required. Must have a valid CT driver’s license and 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. AA/EOE-MF

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:

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

Contact: Tom Dunay Phone: 860- 243-2300

Email: tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply

Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:

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

Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300

Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply

Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

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

Contact Dana at 860-243-2300

Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply

Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

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

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

The Housing Authority of the City of Danbury (HACD) is seeking sealed bids for the following Project:

Laurel Gardens – Stair Replacement Project. Bid Opening date is 19th of June 2024 at 11:00 AM at the Housing Authority of the City of Danbury, 2 Mill Ridge Road, Danbury, CT 06811. All bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. A pre-bid walk thru will be held on 10th of June 2024 at 10:00 AM at 385 Main Street, Danbury, Connecticut. Contract documents including plans & specifications can be viewed online and purchased from the Digiprint Plan Room Services website.

Visit ww.digiprintplanroom.com/jobs/public and select Laurel Gardens – Stair Replacement beginning on the 29th of May 2024. Bidders will note requirements of minimum wage rates, nondiscrimination/equal opportunity rules (Executive Order 11246) and related provisions in the General Conditions. No bid shall be withdrawn for ninety (90) days. Complete bidding requirements are noted in the Contract Documents. This project is federally assisted. Therefore, bidders must comply with the following requirements: Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968; Equal Opportunity provisions of Executive Order 11246; Non-Discrimination provision of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Labor Standards provisions of the Davis-Bacon Act and related acts and Contract Work Hours Standards Act; prevailing wage determinations as issued by the United States Department of Labor; and all applicable provisions under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. Section 3 requirements will be required on this project. HACD is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Ms.

Devin Marra Acting Executive Director

Finance Director

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

www.portlandct.org

WANTED TRUCK DRIVER

Please send resume to attielordan@gmail.com PJF Construction Corporation AA/EOE

SECRETARY-

The South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG) is accepting quotes for

GENERAL COUNSEL

SCRCOG is seeking quotes from qualified law firms and/or attorneys to provide general counsel. This RFQ is intended to result in a contract with a qualified law firm or attorney that can provide timely and effective legal support as needed. Disadvantaged, minority, small, and women-owned business enterprises are encouraged to respond. The complete request for quotes (RFQ) document can be obtained on the SCRCOG website, www. scrcog.org/. RFQs shall be submitted in the manner specified to Laura Francis, South Central Regional Council of Governments, 127 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor West, North Haven, CT 06473 until 12:00 P.M. on July 18, 2024. For questions concerning this RFQ, contact Laura Francis, at lfrancis@scrcog.org. SCRCOG is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

ELECTRIC UTILITY

SUBSTATION AND MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR

The Town of Wallingford, CT is offering an excellent career opportunity for a strong leader to supervise and manage the substation electrical operations and maintenance department of the Town’s Electric Division. Applicants should possess 5 years of progressively responsible supervisory or management experience in substation operations, plus a bachelor's degree in engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience substituting on a year-for-year basis. Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain ESOP-100 Switching and Tagging qualifications within six months. Must possess and maintain a valid State of Connecticut Driver’s License. Annual Salary: $116,798 to $145,998, plus on-call pay when assigned. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and deferred compensation plan. To apply online by the closing date of July 15, 2024, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/ government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

The Town of Wallingford is seeking a highly qualified individual to perform a variety of confidential and responsible administrative duties in support of the Economic Development Commission and its staff. Must possess a High school diploma or GED, plus 5 years’ experience in responsible office work with 1 year of the above experience being in economic development, planning, public relations/marketing or related field. Wages: $ 24.82 - $ 29.72 (Hourly). The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and a deferred compensation plan. To apply online, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492 by the closing date of June 28, 2024. Phone: (203) 2942080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

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

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

Senior Sales Representative Wanted

Penfield Communications, Inc. Publishers of The Inner-City News Weekly Print Publication is seeking a Senior Sales Representative The Inner-City News is a legacy, Black owned print publication, celebrating 30+ years as Greater New Haven’s urban news and information outlet. The Inner-City News is a weekly print publication with a readership spanning across Greater New Haven. From Hamden, New Haven, West Haven, Stratford, Milford, Bridgeport. This free weekly print publication is committed to sharing news and information important to the Black community.

Advertising and the cultivation of existing and new advertising clients is key to the growth and continued success of The Inner-City News. The paper is delivered weekly to businesses, schools, shopping outlets and wherever newspapers can be found. This is a remote sales position.

Town of Bloomfield

Salary Range:

Electrical Technician

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Invitation to Bid: PARCEL B PHASE 1

Old Firehouse Road Naugatuck, CT 06770

(One Mixed-Use 4-Story Building, 60 Units)

Project Description: New Construction of a Transit Oriented Development. Project is Taxable. No Wage Rate project.

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.

Project documents include but not limited to: Sitework, landscaping, paving, concrete, gypsum cement underlayment, masonry, misc metals, rough and finish carpentry labor & material, final cleaning, wood trusses, plastic paneling, waterproofing, insulation, siding, membrane roofing, firestopping, doors, frames & hardware, access doors and frames, plastic windows, storefronts, glazing, flooring, gypsum board, acoustical ceilings, painting, signage, toilet, bath & laundry accessories, fire protection specialties, storage lockers, postal specialties, closet specialties, residential appliances, facility waste compactors, horizontal louver blinds, window shades, casework & countertops, entrance mats, bicycle racks, elevators, trash chutes, fire suppression, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, utilities, traffic signs and sanitary facilities.

NOTICIA

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

This contract is subject to state set aside and contract compliance requirements.

If you are interested in bidding and have not received this invitation to bid from us please email: Taylor Els Tels@haynesct.com

$87,727 to $136,071

Deputy Finance

Director/Controller

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

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

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

your business name, contact information and trade, we will add you to Procore and send you the ITB.

Bid Due Date: July 10, 2024 @ 3pm Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang dlang@haynesct.com

NEW HAVEN

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

Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO 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

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR BID

No. B24006

Please register here to obtain Bid Package: https:// ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=49968

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.

Performs skilled work in the repair, maintenance and calibration of all electrical and electronic equipment pertaining to the wastewater treatment plant in the Town of Wallingford. Applicants should possess a H.S. or trade school diploma and 2 years of related college education or specialized maintenance training and 4 years of experience in the repair and maintenance of electrical and electronic equipment; or a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or related field plus 1 year of experience. Must possess a valid Connecticut Driver's License. Hourly rate: $32.24 to $36.79. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and deferred compensation plan. To apply online by the closing date of July 19, 2024, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 2942084. EOE

PUBLIC WORKS

MAINTAINER II

The Town of Wallingford Department of Public Works has openings for Maintainer II. Applicants should possess 2 years’ experience as a laborer in construction work involving the operation and care of trucks and other mechanical equipment, or 2 years training in one of the skilled trades and 1 year of experience in construction operations, or an equivalent combination of experience and training. A valid (CDL) Class B or higher is required. $24.87 - $29.16 hourly plus retirement plan, paid sick and vacation time, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, family medical & dental insurance, and promotional opportunities. To apply online by the closing date of July 19, 2024, please visit: www. wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Listing: Maintenance

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units) Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

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

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.

Immediate opening for a full-time maintenance person for ground and building maintenance. Position requires flexible work schedule. Some heavy lifting required. Must have a valid driver’s license to run errands in company vehicle. Computer knowledge a plus. Send resume to HR Department, hrdept@eastriverenergy.com, 401 Soundview Road, Guilford, CT 06437.

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Housing Authority of the City of Danbury, 2 Mill Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811

Envelope Must be Marked: IFB No. B24006, Laundry Services

Attn: Lisa Gilchrist, Purchasing Agent

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.

SUBMITTAL DEADLINE

July 15th, 2024 at 10:30am (EST) CONTACT PERSON FOR IFB

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.

Lisa Gilchrist – Purchasing Agent Telephone: 203-744-2500 x1421 E-Mail: lgilchrist@hacdct.org

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

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

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

Galasso Materials LLC, a quarry and paving contractor, has positions open for the upcoming construction season. We are seeking candidates for a variety of positions, including: 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 Affirmative Action/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.

SMALL AND MINORITY SUBCONTRACTOR OPPORTUNITY –

NOTICE

Enfield Manor at Enfield Terrace, Enfield, CT SOLICITATION OF SBE/MBE CONTRACTORS: Enterprise Builders, Inc. is the General Contractor seeking certified SBE/MBE Subcontractors/Suppliers and Section 3 Businesses to bid applicable sections of work/equipment/supplies for the following construction project: Enfield Manor at Enfield Terrace. This project consists of the demo/abatement of 18 existing structures and the construction of 2 new apartment buildings totaling 99 units and 109,552 sf. Project is anticipated to start late Fall 2024 and be completed in 2 phases over 26 months. BID DUE DATE AND TIME: 7/25/24 @ 3:00PM. Electronic Plans and specifications can be obtained at no charge by contacting the Enterprise Builders Estimating Department at (860) 466-5188 or bids@enterbuilders.com. Residential Prevailing Wage Rates are required. Section 3 Businesses are encouraged to apply. Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Minority/Women’s Business Enterprises are encouraged to apply. This contract is subject to State Set-Aside and contract compliance requirements.

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

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.

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay.

Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT

LEGAL NOTICE Request for Proposals (RFP) RFP# 2025-0904: AIDS CADAP

Project Description: The scope of the project includes: adaptive reuse of an existing vacant 31,690 sf, historic, three level school for 14, affordable one and two bedroom artist livework space, exhibit space and community space.New 50,660 sf 4 story construction for 44 affordable residential units in studio and one bedroom configurations.

NOTICIA

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

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

The Town of Wallingford Electric Division is seeking qualified applicants for the highly technical position of Distribution Engineer. Successful applicants will work in the design and development of overhead and underground power distribution lines. This highly reliable municipal-owned electric utility located 10 miles from New Haven, CT, serves 25,000 customers in a 50+ square mile distribution area with a peak demand of 130 MW with an excellent rate structure. Applicants should possess 2 years of responsible experience in utility engineering and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience substituting on a year-for-year basis. Annual Salary: $108,579 to $135,723 PLUS on-call stipend when assigned. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and deferred compensation plan. To apply online by the closing date of August 9, 2024, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

NEW HAVEN

The Department of Public Health (DPH) Infectious Disease Section is requesting proposals for the Connecticut AIDS Drug Assistance Program (CADAP). A qualified Pharmacy Benefits Manager or other organization is needed to provide enrollment, pharmacy benefits, insurance premium payments, and rebate management for CADAP.

The Request for Proposal is available in electronic format on the State Contracting Portal at https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/CTSource/BidBoard, on the Department’s website at https://portal.ct.gov/ DPH/Request-For-Proposals/Request-forProposals, or from the Department’s Official Contact: Mitchell Namias, 860-509-7718, Mitchell.namias@ct.gov

Deadline for submission of proposals is Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 4:30 PM.

Project Documents Include but not limited to: Selective & structural demo, asbestos abatement, earthwork, concrete, gypcrete, historic masonry restoration, misc. metals, rough & finish carpentry labor & material, wood trusses, stairs, final cleaning, thermal & moisture protection, fiber cement siding, EPDM roofing, firestopping, steel doors and frames, flush wood doors, access doors & aluminum windows, skylights, door hardware, glazing, gypsum board assemblies, acoustical ceilings, tin ceilings, flooring, toilet, bath and laundry accessories, terrazo tile, painting, wire mesh storage lockers, louvers & vents, signage, fire extinguishers/cabinets, bath accessories, postal specialties, residential appliances, facility waste compactors, residential casework & countertops, entrance floor mats, horizontal louver blinds, bicycle racks, vertical wheelchair lifts, elevators, fire suppression, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, EV charging stations, solar, radon mitigation, landscaping and sanitary facilities.

This is our project | Open Shop | Taxable | SHPO Standards City of New Haven Subcontracting Requirements will apply | Anticipated start Jan 2025.

Bids are due to Haynes: 7-10-2024 by 3 pm to Tiffany Domain – tdomain@haynesct.com If you have not already received this invitation to bid and would like to, please email your business name, contact information and trade to Tiffany Domain - tdomain@haynesct. com Tiffany will add you to Procore and send you the ITB for easy access to plans and specifications.

242-258 Fairmont Ave

Listing: Full Time Retail and Service Assistant

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

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

Petroleum/HVAC company has an immediate opening for a Full Time Retail and Service Assistant. Must have customer service experience, strong organizational skills, ability to multitask. A valid driver’s license is required in order to run company errands efficiently and safely. Computer knowledge is required. Petroleum or HVAC knowledge preferred. Send resume by email to: HRDept@eastriverenergy.com or send resume to: Human Resource Dept. P O Box 388, Guilford CT 06437.

****An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disabled and Veterans****

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 1:303:30 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

Laboratory Manager

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

Truck Driver with clean CDL license

All questions must be submitted in written form and directed to: Tiffany Domain - tdomain@haynesct.com (203) 888-8170 Nicholas Pappas - npappas@haynesct.com (203) 888-8111

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

Please send resume to attielordan@gmail.com PJF Construction Corporation AA/EOE

Walkthroughs are available as early as the week of June 24, please reach out to Tiffany tdomain@haynesct.com to arrange date and time. 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

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.

INVITATION TO BID

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016

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.

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 Town of Wallingford Sewer Division is seeking qualified applicants to supervise and perform high level tasks in the chemical, bacteriological and physical analyses of raw (untreated) and potable (treated) water and wastewater. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, microbiology, or related field, plus 2 years’ experience in chemical laboratory analytical work. Experience with water and wastewater analysis, atomic absorption, graphite furnace, complex analytical equipment and standard laboratory QA/QC practices is preferred. Must possess and maintain Laboratory Director Certification for chemistry from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health. Must also obtain and maintain Laboratory Director Certification for microbiology within two (2) years from appointment date. Salary: $77,589 to $98,418 annually, plus an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, medical insurance, life insurance, and 13 paid holidays. To apply online by the closing date of July 12, 2024, please visit: www. wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. 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 informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the

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

The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company (WT), the construction manager, is currently accepting bids for ConnCAT Place on Dixwell – Phase 1A for the following bid package: 03A - Concrete, 05A - Structural Steel, 14A-Elevators, and 31A - Sitework/Utilities for the new ~70,000 SF two-story ConnCAT headquarters which will contain teaching spaces, kitchen, offices, and daycare/early childhood facility. Interested firms may obtain a bid package and instructions to bid by emailing 020822@whiting-turner.com.

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE

Bids wills be accepted at The Lab at ConnCORP located at 496 Newhall Street, Hamden, CT 06517, Attn: Kaitlin Aviles – no later than 10AM on 8/2/24. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements. WT and the Owner reserve the right to amend this invitation to bid, reject bids, waive minor irregularities in the bid, and award the contract to the proposer that is deemed to be the best interest of the Owner, ConnCORP. WT is an EEO/AA; Disadvantaged, Small, Minority and Women Business Enterprises are encouraged to bid.

Poor People’s Campaign leaders bring fight against poverty, voter suppression to nation’s capital

By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO

National faith leaders, including Poor People’s Campaign co-chairs, Bishop William J. Barber II and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, held a press conference on June 10 at First Congregational Church Sanctuary in Northwest D.C., their goal was to drum up support for the June 29 “Mass Poor People’s and Low-Wage Workers Assembly and Moral March on Washington, D.C. and to the Polls.”

The vision was realized just days ago, after thousands descended on the capital in support of economic justice and voting rights.

Barber and his colleagues were not disappointed with the level of commitment and passion displayed by those in attendance on Saturday, June 29 – men and women representing their home states that included New Jersey, Alabama, California, New York and more than a dozen others.

Speakers both at the microphone and in the crowd seemed to have one thing in mind: devising and following a strategy that will force America’s political elite to take notice of the needs of the poor.

“Congress can pass legislation providing $20 million for war but cannot pass a budget to house the homeless. We deserve a place to live and we will take our

demands to the ballot box this fall,” said Bryant.

One attendee, Patricia Bryant, shared her view in the form of a spoken word manifesto.

“Dearly beloved, 140 million people are gathered here and across the nation to

form a more perfect union – that man and women who struggle daily to stay alive yet poverty is the way they die,” she said.

“We are strong– not weak. Our votes are our voices. The ballot box should be our choice. We will lift ourselves up from the bottom and rise. And we will demand that

America give this land of the free back to the people – to the natives – to the poor.” Similar to the first Poor People’s Campaign, a two-week initiative that began on Sunday, May 12, 1968, this year’s Campaign and March brought hundreds of activists and concerned citizens back to the National Mall. The first march included powerful sermons, speeches and personal testimonies about the myriads of challenges faced by the poor.

Exactly 56 years later, what began as a labor of love by Coretta Scott King and the Rev. Dr. Ralph Abernathy, following the tragic death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, continues. However, unlike in 1968, Barber and his colleagues are employing a new strategy that significantly expands the goals of the Poor People’s Campaign.

Armed with a 17-point agenda, Barber said they will call on all candidates running for elected office in the 2024 general election in November to step up and answer the needs of the poor.

“In this time, poor people, low-wage workers, religious leaders and moral advocates are bringing our voices together to tell America that we’re ready for protest and agitation in the street; litigation in the court and legislation in the suite; and we’re bringing our massive swing vote to the ballot box,” Barber said. ”We are

not accepting the silence from the media and political establishment that ignores 800 daily deaths of poor and low-wealth people. Together, we will take this nation to higher ground.”

A look at the numbers reveals America’s burgeoning working poor Barber’s cochair, the Rev. Dr. Theoharis, emphasized her colleague’s words.

“Poverty is a death sentence in the United States and it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Dr.Theoharis.

According to a 2021 report by the Brooking Institution, the pandemic hurt lowwage workers the most – and so far, the recovery has helped them the least.

The report defined low-wage occupations as those with a media hourly wage no greater than $17.50 per hour. Further, it is estimated that 53 million Americans ages 18 to 64 – 44 percent of all workers – earn low hourly wages. Their median hourly earnings are $10.22 and for those working full time year-round, median annual earnings are about $24,000.

While other Americans are optimistic about life in the “new normal” era of post pandemic life – the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that minimum wage workers have little chance of escaping the throes of poverty – at least not without state- or federal-based programs.

Con’t on page 30

CNN’s Shameful Spectacle: The First Presidential Debate of 2024 a Complete Disaster

CNN, which declined to provide Black-owned media with any of the more than 800 credentials it passed out, enabled a boatload of misinformation and flat-out lies to pass through their airwaves like bad wind.

By Stacy M. Brown @StacyBrownMedia

The first presidential debate of 2024 between President Joe Biden and criminally convicted former President Donald Trump was nothing short of a shameful display of unhinged and unchecked behavior. CNN, which declined to provide Black-owned media with any of the more than 800 credentials it passed out, enabled a boatload of misinformation and flat-out lies to pass through their airwaves like bad wind.

“Absolutely disgraceful that the CNN moderators refuse to fact-check Trump on anything,” said human rights activist and attorney Qasim Rashid. “This is journalistic malpractice, and it is decimating our democracy.”

Writer and attorney Olayemi Olurin tweeted, “It is a failure on CNN not to fact-check Trump’s lies, but the thing is… if Joe Biden were performing the way he’s supposed to in a debate, his answers would be the fact check. So, three things are true: Trump is lying his [butt] off, the mediator isn’t doing their job, and neither is Biden.”

Biden, whose campaign said he suffered from a cold during the debate, took some of his biggest shots at Trump after the former president refused to accept the results this fall regardless of who won. Trump said he would only accept the results “if

it’s fair, legal, and good.”

“You’re a whiner,” Biden said. “When you lost the first time… you appealed and appealed to courts all across the country. Not one single court in America said any of your claims had any merit, state or local, none. But you continue to promote this lie about somehow, there’s all this misrepresentation, all this stealing. There’s no evidence of that at all. And I tell you what, I doubt whether you’ll accept it, because you’re such a whiner.

The idea if you lose again, you accepting anything? You can’t stand the loss. Something snapped in you when you lost last time.”

Without any rebuttal, Trump also incredulously asserted that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was primarily to blame for the violent uprising on January 6.

The moderators then cut to a commercial.

And that was just a tiny part of CNN’s massive failure. Meanwhile, at the People for American Way reception and debate watch party at the Wharf in D.C., attendees sighed and expressed anger at their television sets as Trump told lie after lie.

Despite having two anchors and a mute button, the host network failed to challenge him. “The debate turned into a 90-minute Trump rally,” said Alice Wilkes of Northeast. “I waited and waited for the moderators to say something, or, at least, cut him off,” Wilkes said.

At Busboys & Poets on K Street in North-

west, where former lawmaker Nina Turner hosted a watch party, a packed house cheered as Biden called Trump “a sucker” and noted that he had “sex with a porn star” behind his wife’s back.

During the debate, Biden addressed questions about his age and stumbled when he tried to mock Trump’s fitness. “You can see he is 6-foot-5 and only 223 pounds or 235 pounds… well, anyway,” Biden said. Later, he agreed to Trump’s challenge of a golf match on one condition: “If you carry your own bag.”

Several Black voters expressed disappointment in the way both candidates talked about Black people. “It’s like they forgot about Black people,” Byron Cooper of Southeast stated.

“Trump commuted some sentences and pardoned some drug dealers. That’s supposedly what he did for the Black community,” Cooper remarked. “Unfortunately, to some Black people, that’s enough, which is ridiculous because the guy is a stark raving racist.”

During the debate, Trump revived attacks

on Biden and Democrats over the 1994 crime bill that disproportionately harmed African Americans. Neither Biden nor CNN failed to mention Trump calling for the execution of five Black and Brown teenagers who were innocent of sexually assaulting a white woman in Central Park.

Biden did mention how Trump has called skinheads and white nationalists “good people.”

In his two-minute closing argument, Trump personally attacked Biden’s record abroad. “They don’t respect you throughout the world,” he said. Trump claimed he had the largest tax cut and the largest regulation cuts in history, but the country is now “exploding.” “We’re a failing nation, but it’s not going to be failing anymore,” he said. We’re going to make it great again.”

For his close, Biden noted, “We have made significant progress from the debacle President Trump left in his last term.” Biden then summarized some of his signature policies. In terms of the economy, he vowed not to raise taxes on anyone making under $400,000 a year and to continue his work to reduce health care and childcare costs and give families financial breathing room. “We’re going to continue to fight to bring down inflation and give people a break,” Biden said in closing.

Rev. William Barber, II

Biden-Harris Campaign Energized by Weekend of Action Following Sleepy Debate

A “Weekend of Action” mobilization blitz with over 1,500 events held across crucial battleground states marked the surge in momentum.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Following a lackluster debate performance by President Joe Biden last week, the Biden-Harris re-election campaign has sprung into action, seemingly galvanized by the persistent falsehoods of former President Donald Trump, who will be sentenced this month for the 34 felonies a jury convicted him of in New York.

After the poorly moderated CNN debate, the Democratic base invested over $14 million in the campaign as a result.

A “Weekend of Action” mobilization blitz with over 1,500 events held across crucial battleground states marked the surge in momentum. According to the BidenHarris campaign, the weekend marked the most successful organizing effort of the campaign cycle so far, with volunteer signups tripling compared to an average day.

Kicking off the weekend, Biden rallied more than 2,000 voters in North Carolina on Friday, delivering a passionate speech that set the tone for a series of events, including door-knocking, phone banks, postcard parties, picnics, and more. Highprofile figures such as Governors Wes Moore and Tim Walz, Former U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Senator Chris Coons, and DNC Chair Jaime Harrison joined forces to boost campaign activities

across the country.

In Pennsylvania, U.S. Senator Chris Coons emphasized the stakes of the upcoming election during a rally in Montgomery County, urging volunteers to defend Pennsylvanians’ freedoms against Trump’s threats. Volunteers knocked on over 10,000 doors across Philadelphia, engaging voters in every one of the city’s

sixty-six wards.

Former Governor Jennifer Granholm, canvassing in Southeast Michigan alongside Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, highlighted Biden’s achievements, contrasting them with Trump’s agenda. “Ninety minutes does not wipe out three and a half years,” Granholm said. “You have more people under health care than

at any time in American history, and what does the other guy want to do? He wants to gut the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, Joe Biden is campaigning for the soul of America. The contrast is so clear.”

In Wisconsin, Maryland Governor Wes Moore participated in events focusing on Black voter engagement, while in Nevada, Vice President Kamala Harris ral-

lied supporters in East Las Vegas, criticizing Trump’s stances on Roe v. Wade, tax cuts for the wealthy, and the 2024 election results. Harris’s efforts led to a flurry of volunteer activity, with over 2,000 doors knocked and numerous events launched across the state.

Georgia saw a variety of campaign activities, from a happy hour in Atlanta with U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost to a viral video of Biden at a Waffle House in Cobb County. The enthusiasm extended to rural areas, significantly increasing volunteer signups.

Arizona and Florida also witnessed robust campaign efforts, with volunteers canvassing, phone banking, and participating in community events. New campaign offices were opened, and U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo and former Labor Secretary Hilda Solis helped to energize supporters across those states.

“To protect our communities, we have to double down and take action to combat the climate crisis – which is exactly what Joe Biden has pledged to do in a second term,” Frost stated. “President Biden’s investments are working. With emissions coming down, we’re proving we don’t have to choose between a strong economy and a healthy environment. While Joe Biden is fighting for us – Donald Trump is promising, actually promising, to drag us backwards and leave the world worse for younger generations.”

Mckenzie Ushers in Juneteenth, Highlighting Nation’s Difficult History at National Cathedral

By Deborah Bailey | AFRO Contributing Editor

Vashti Murphy McKenzie, the retired and first female bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, used the pulpit of The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., to render a searing sermon calling the faithful to “put feet to our prayers” as she set the stage for America’s celebration of Juneteenth on June 19.

McKenzie, president of the National Churches of Christ, delivered the morning message at the Cathedral on June 16, and went straight into dissecting the rationale behind America’s cultural wars in the form of book banning, and laws passed restricting how history is taught in schools across the U.S.

According to the Black Education Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, 18 states have imposed restrictions and bans on teaching race and gender since 2021. At least 32 states have jurisdictions that have passed some form of book ban.

“If we are a truly great nation, the truth cannot destroy us,” McKenzie said, quoting from Nicole Hannah Jones’ Pulitzer Prize winning 1619 Project. She then

asked the congregation: “If you could change the narrative to your liking, what would your truth look like? “

McKenzie led the audience on a whirlwind historical “roll call” of efforts to revise the narrative of cultural events around the globe, including in Hungary, China, and the United States. She reminded the audience of efforts to ban books and restrict the rights of Jews.

“Are you breathing?” she stopped and asked the congregation before reeling off a second roll call of U.S. riots, rebellions and mass shootings from 1863 to today, designed to restrict and destroy Black American institutions and communities.

“Here in the home of the brave and the land of the free, the New York City Massacre, the Memphis Massacre, the Camila Massacre, the Opelousas Massacre, the Danville Riot, Springfield Massacre, Tulsa Black Wall Street Massacre, the Orangeburg Massacre, Charleston South Carolina Mother Bethel Massacre, Massacre at Tops Market, the Jacksonville Dollar Store Massacre…,” McKenzie said in the space of two minutes.

“That’s here,” she added as the audience became silent.

“Are you breathing? Are you still in the

Vashti Murphy McKenzie is the president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States.

She is also a retired bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

room?” McKenzie asked as she moved on quickly to share more.

“Remembering Juneteenth serves as a historical reminder of what did happen,” she said before taking the audience through a vivid tour of brutal historical events characterizing slavery and the disenfranchisement of Black people.

Reflections from the audience were var-

ied.

Longtime parishioner Jim Fulton thought McKenzie’s sermon was needed at the National Cathedral.

“This is the kind of message I want to hear, and I want other people to hear,” he said.

Others added that the sermon was so packed with information, they needed to

do a second take.

“For some of our audience, people may be hearing the historical references for the first time. But this is an audience that will listen carefully to the sermon, go back, study the transcript, and ask questions,” said the Rev. Jo Owens, pastor for digital ministry.

Owens said National Cathedral is considering an online community for people who want to ask follow-up questions and reflect more deeply after messages like McKenzie’s.

Grace Matthews was one of those parishioners who was ready to ask the deeper questions right away. Matthews admits she has political positions on most issues and wants to ensure her views are consistent with her faith and values.

As she listened to McKenzie’s description of the often bloody and brutal history leading up to Juneteenth and continuing today, she has questions about how America moves forward with its troubling past and present divisions.

“Where is the line between forgiving and forgetting when you’ve turned the cheek so many times that you’ve run out of cheeks?” Matthews reflected after the sermon.

Survey Finds Black Adults Develop Unique Coping Skills for Racism

The study, as reported by Duke Today, suggests that these coping mechanisms are not typically found in their white counterparts, highlighting the unique resilience cultivated through lived experiences of racial discrimination.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Black adults in the United States often develop distinctive coping skills by adulthood to handle the chronic stress of racism, according to a new survey by Duke University researchers. The study, as reported by Duke Today, suggests that these coping mechanisms are not typically found in their white counterparts, highlighting the unique resilience cultivated through lived experiences of racial discrimination.

The study identifies that social support and religion are among the most common coping strategies employed by Black Americans. Social networks and religious communities offer emotional support and a sense of belonging, which buffer against the negative psychological impacts of racism.

Additional strategies include avoidance, substance use, positive reframing, and activism. Some respondents reported using avoidance techniques, such as disengaging from stressors or using substances like alcohol and tobacco, for temporary relief. Cognitive strategies like positive reframing—focusing on positive aspects in difficult situations—and working harder to overcome obstacles help maintain a sense of control and purpose. According to the study, activism and affirming one’s identity through positive self-statements were also significant strategies. “By educating others and advocating for social change, individuals reclaim a sense of agency and counteract feelings of helplessness,” the researchers wrote.

The study also reveals gender differences in coping strategies. Black women are more likely to engage in activism and use social support, whereas Black men often employ passive strategies like ignoring racism. They determined that physical activities are more effective for men, reflecting social and cultural influences on coping behaviors.

The findings have crucial implications for mental health practices, researchers assert. Mental health professionals are encouraged to recognize and validate these coping strategies, tailoring their support to enhance their effectiveness. “By fostering open discussions about these mechanisms, professionals can help Black individuals navigate racial stress more effectively,” the researchers determined. However, the study emphasizes the need for more comprehensive research. The study found that there remains a call for research exploring coping strategies across different ethnic groups and intersecting identities, such as LGBTQ+ and disabled communities. Further research is needed to understand the overall effectiveness of these strategies in reducing racial stress and improving well-being, the authors noted.

They concluded that the survey highlights the resilience of Black adults in the face of racism, underscoring the necessity of culturally informed mental health support. The findings also “emphasize the importance of recognizing diverse coping mechanisms and call for continued research to better support marginalized communities,” experts said.

An earlier study by the University of Georgia found that the negative effects

of racial discrimination and the unfair or prejudicial treatment of individuals based on race on Black Americans are well documented. Researchers said “experiences with racial discrimination are associated with negative mental (e.g., depression, anxiety, hopelessness, violent behavior) and physical (e.g., hypertension, thickening and calcification of the arteries, and heart rate variability) health outcomes.” These detrimental effects on health are found independent of socioeconomic status, age, and gender, the university reported. Moreover, over 60% of Black

Americans endorse at least one experience of racial discrimination in their lifetime, and findings suggest that the links between experiences of racial discrimination and negative health outcomes are stronger for Black Americans than for any other group.

University of Georgia researchers added that while individuals of all racial-ethnic minority groups (i.e., Latinx, Indigenous peoples, etc.) are at risk of experiencing racial discrimination and racial trauma, Black Americans are especially at risk, as anti-Black racism is individual, systemic,

and historical. Additionally, researchers noted that it is important to consider the compounding impact of belonging to multiple marginalized and oppressed groups, including (but not limited to) race, gender, and sexuality, and how these intersections interact and increase susceptibility to experiences of racial trauma.

Researchers noted that the toll of racial trauma and stress is not limited to psychological outcomes. The negative effects of racial trauma also affect physical health outcomes. The common lack of access to quality medical care for people of color as a result of institutional racism frequently makes these symptoms worse.

Further, the study found that there’s a “clear positive relationship between racial discrimination and poor psychological functioning.” Racial discrimination is also associated with low infant birth weight, lower self-esteem, self-worth, and adaptation. In a sample of African American college students at predominantly white institutions, experiences of racism and racial discrimination were associated with subsequent increases in sleep difficulties. Furthermore, greater levels of internalized racism (i.e., believing racist messages like Black Americans are “lazy” or “criminals”) are associated with a stronger relation to sleep difficulties.

Researchers added that racial discrimination experiences are associated with poorer mental health (i.e., more symptoms of depression and anxiety) as well as lower individual and collective selfesteem. “Being seen and heard is essential to healing,” University of Georgia researchers posited.

Businesses you probably didn’t know are linked to Kendrick Lamar

by Abu Mubarik, Face2FaceAfrica.com

Kendrick Lamar is an American rapper born on June 17, 1987. Inspired by Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre, Lamar started rapping while in elementary school and even released his first mixtape at the age of 16 while still in high school.

His mixtape attracted the attention of major record labels and by the early 2000s, he inked a deal with Top Dawg Entertainment. In 2008, he made an appearance in a music video for Jay Rock’s “All My Life (In the Ghetto).” He also worked with Ya Boy, The Game and he was featured on songs including “The Cypha” and “Cali Niggaz”.

In 2010, he dropped a mixtape called “Overly Dedicated” and the album even reached the Billboard 200 charts that year. He subsequently released his very first album known as “Section.80” and it reached number 13 on the Billboard

charts.

By 2011, his popularity started to rise and was even named “The New King of the West Coast” by The Game, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg. Since then, he has embarked on several tours and made guest appearances for other musicians.

Lamar is the first non-classical or jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize for Music for his album “Damn”. Also, his feature on the remix of “Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift in 2015 won them a Grammy for Best Music Video and an MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year.

In total, he has won 17 Grammy Awards. The rapper was once named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. Lamar’s net worth is now reportedly $140 million. The rapper has minted millions from endorsement deals with Nike and American Express, according to Forbes.

Lamar and Drake have been embroiled

in what has been described as one of the most high-profile and heavily discussed hip-hop feuds in recent history. Over several weeks, the two renowned emcees traded jabs and also made scathing allegations against each other in their respective diss songs. Their feud, however, has seemingly died down after Lamar released his Not Like Us diss track to the Way 2 Sexy rapper on May 4.

Beyond his music and diss tracks, Lamar is also an entrepreneur with several ventures. Some of the properties linked to him include;

PGLang, LLC: the musician co-founded PGLang, LLC, a dynamic American entertainment powerhouse alongside accomplished record executive Dave Free in 2020. The company has collaborated with talents like Baby Keem and esteemed brands such as Calvin Klein.

EngineEars: Founded by Grammy winner Derek “MixedByAli” Ali, EngineEars

became a marketplace for audio engineers. Its first round of funding raised $1 million and it features investments from Lamar.

“Quality of sound is still important in music,” Lamar said to TechCrunch in 2021 after investing in the Los Angelesbased music startup. “Ali has always been a progressive thinker. Engineers will transcend the culture.”

Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE): Lamar is a part owner of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). The company contributes to the heartbeat of American hip-hop and R&B music, making it one of the most powerful hubs for growing talent.

Lamar is also into real estate. He has many properties, including a $2.65 million home he owns in Calabasas, Calif. In 2014, he purchased another home for $523,400. He also owns a $9.7 million mansion in Manhattan Beach

Kendrick Lamar at Pulitzer Prizes 2018 award ceremony.

Photo: Wiki/Fuzheado

Commentary: New study shows 1.8 billion adults are ‘physically inactive’ Special to The Inner-City News

By Wayne Campbell

A recent study by researchers from World Health Organization (WHO), together with academic colleagues and published in The Lancet Global Health journal, found that nearly one third (31 percent) of the world’s adult population, 1.8 billion adults, are physically inactive. That is, they do not meet the global recommendations of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. Alarmingly, this is an increase of 5 percentage points between 2010 and 2022.

The WHO says if this trend continues, the proportion of adults not meeting recommended levels of physical activity is projected to rise to 35 percent by 2030. Shockingly, the global estimate of the cost of physical inactivity to public health care systems between 2020 and 2030 is about US$ 300 billion (approximately US$ 27 billion per year) if levels of physical inactivity are not reduced.

WHO officials define physical activity as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Physical activity refers to all movement including during leisure time, for transport to get to and from places, or as part of a person’s work or domestic activities. Research indicates that both moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity improve health. Popular ways to be active include walking, cycling, wheeling, sports, active recreation and play, and can be done at any level of skill and for enjoyment by everybody.

Physical activity is beneficial to health and well-being and conversely, physical inactivity increases risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and other poor health outcomes. Together, physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors are contributing to the rise in NCDs and placing a burden on healthcare systems. WHO states that improving levels of physical activity will benefit health and well-being and contribute to attainment of global NCD targets and a number of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, this will require increased commitments and investments by member states; innovation and contributions from non-state actors; cross sector coordination and collaboration and ongoing guidance and monitoring from the World Health Organization. Benefits of physical activity

Mental health and physical health are closely connected. Although not a cureall, increasing physical activity directly contributes to improved mental health and better overall health and well-being. Exercise causes your brain to release ‘feel good’ chemicals like endorphins and serotonin that help improve your mood. Physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases mortality.

People who are insufficiently active have a 20 percent to 30 percent increased risk of death compared to people who are sufficiently active. Sedentary behavior

is any period of low-energy expenditure while awake such as sitting, reclining or lying. Lives are becoming increasingly sedentary through the use of motorized transport and the increased use of screens for work, education and recreation. There is also a generational impact of physical inactivity.

Parents who are physically inactive are likely to nurture their children in a similar manner. It is therefore imperative that parents realize that they do not only have a responsibility for themselves but also for the future generations. It is also important that physical education, commonly called P.E., be taken more seriously in our schools. Too many of our children are overweight or are obese as the emphasis of our education system turns to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Evidence shows higher amounts of sedentary behavior are associated with the following poor health outcomes in children and adolescents: increased adiposity, poorer cardiometabolic health, fitness, behavioral conduct/prosocial behavior and reduced sleep duration. In adults, there can be increased all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality and cancer mortality and incidence of cardiovascular disease, cancer and type-2 diabetes.

Global statistics

The highest rates of physical inactivity were observed in the high-income Asia Pacific region (48 percent) and South Asia (45 percent), with levels of inactivity in other regions ranging from 28 percent in high-income Western countries to 14 percent in Oceania. Rates of inactivity in the Americas were also higher than the global average, at 36 percent. Of concern, disparities remain between gender and age. Physical inactivity is still more common

among women globally compared with men, with inactivity rates of 34 percent compared to 29 percent. This was also the case in the Americas, with inactivity rates of women at 41 percent, compared to 30 percent for men. Additionally, people over 60 are less active than other adults, underscoring the importance of promoting physical activity for older adults.

The WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity provides policy recommendations for countries and communities to promote physical activity and ensure everyone has more opportunities to be regularly active. Examples of these recommendations include policies that ensure access to walking, cycling and non-motorized transport; that increase physical activity opportunities in schools, workplaces, childcare centers and in healthcare service delivery; and that increase accessibility and availability of community sports and public open spaces.

The WHO states that implementing effective policies to increase levels of physical activity requires a collective effort, coordinated across multiple government departments at all levels, including health, transport, education, employment, sport and recreation, and urban planning. It also demands national and local engagement from nongovernmental organizations, various sectors, stakeholders and disciplines to support the implementation of policies and solutions that are appropriate to a country’s cultural and social environment. Priority should be given to policy actions that address disparities in levels of physical activity, promoting, enabling and encouraging physical activity for all.

Prioritize your health

Are you satisfied with your level of physical activity? If yes, you do not need

Poor

Keith Bullard, deputy director for the Union of Southern Service Workers, said he’s had enough.

to read any further. However, if your answer is no, let us continue the conversation. Many of us think of gym membership when the conversation of being physically active comes up. The fact is not many of us have that disposable income necessary to sign up at a gym. So what can we do? There are inexpensive methods such as YouTube that provide a host of videos on fitness and wellness that can be accessed. There is also a place for Human Resources departments in engendering a culture of physical activity in the workplace. It would be useful for companies to invest in after work, work out sessions in designated areas where employees can access a trainer or gym equipment at reduced cost or free depending on the company.

Collective efforts based on partnerships between government and nongovernmental stakeholders are critical in promoting a culture of physical activity and wellness. Without a doubt this is a public health emergency and urgent action is required. Governments need to find innovative approaches that will target the least active people and to reduce inequalities in access to measures promoting and improving physical activity. Too many of us complain about not finding the time. However, we all need to analyze our unique situations and create a plan that will increase our physical fitness and wellness.

In the words of Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, we must renew our commitments to increasing levels of physical activity and prioritize bold action, including strengthened policies and increased funding, to reverse this worrying trend.

“When workers’ rights come under attack, we fight back,” he said. “Workers today are being forced to work in this oppressive heat while we should be protected from it. Because of the negligence of our employers – the big corporations – workers are being denied even the most basic of needs. America’s major corporations make billions of dollars, so they have the money to do what’s right. But we know that the only way they’ll do the right thing for workers is if we are willing to stand up, keep standing up, speak up and continue to speak up,” Bullard said. In 2022, 78.7 million workers, 16 and older in the U.S. were paid at hourly rates, representing 55.6 percent of all wage and salary workers. Among those paid by the hour, 141,000 workers earned exactly the prevailing federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. About 882,000 workers had wages below the federal minimum. Together, these 1.0 million workers with wages at or below the federal minimum made up 1.3 percent of all hourly paid workers – little or no change from 2021. America’s poor advised to vote for the change they require

Barber emphasized that poor people — whether they identify as Democrats, Republicans or Independents – represent one of the largest untapped voting blocs in the country. Based on statistics compiled by the Poor People’s Campaign, he posited that poor and low-wealth people do not vote to their full potential, even though they represent nearly 30 percent of the national electorate and close to 40 percent of voters in battleground states.

He then challenged listeners to consider what would happen if the poor were to vote with full strength – how they could give their support only to candidates who endorsed policies critical to them and to others facing poverty – from voting rights and raising the federal minimum wage to housing issues, LGBTQ+ rights and climate change.

“Like the Prophet Moses, honored by Jews, Muslims and Christians, led the people out of bondage of Egypt, it’s time to rise,” Barber said. “Like the dry bones in the valley of Ezekiel’s vision, we’ve got to rise.”

One participant at the March and a fellow minister, the Rev. Hannah Broome, agreed with Barber saying the time to make their demands is now.

“As moral leaders, we cannot afford to waste time when the cries of the oppressed call for immediate action,” she said. “We are the swing vote that can steer our nation toward compassion, shift the political landscape for all and not just the few and can ensure that all voters have equal and guaranteed voting rights.”

S E P T E M B E R 2

L A B O R D A Y

New Haven kids run FREE in the Kids Fun Run courtesy of Town Fair Tire. USATF 20K National Championship

Post-race party on the Green features live music, great food, East Rock Brewing beer, and the ACES Kids Fun Zone!

Dive into Team USA with Xfinity

Stream all of the Olympic and Paralympic Games action with a reliable connection, on all your devices, and wall-to-wall WiFi coverage.

Restrictions apply. Ends 7/24/24. 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 300 Mbps internet. All other installation, equipment, taxes & fees extra, and subject to change during and after promo. After 12 months, or if any service is canceled or downgraded, regular charges apply to internet service. Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. Internet: Actual speeds vary and not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed visit www.xfinity.com/networkmanagement. Call for restrictions and complete details, or visit xfinity.com. All devices must be returned when service ends. 36 USC 220506