INNER-CITY NEWS

A Big Dog Christmas Arrives On Dixwell Avenue

Lucy Gellman

Rudolph had made landfall at the Stetson Branch Library, and the audience was ready to dance in his arrival. Beneath musician Timmy Maia, a record scratched and spun, then a beat dropped. Rapper Mike G channeled the red-nosed hero, and sprang into the action. At the front of the group, students bobbed their heads in time with the music, and a dozen red and green soft antlers danced atop their heads. The North Pole came to Stetson last Saturday afternoon, as Grammy-nominated pianist and producer Chris “Big Dog” Davis and fellow musicians rang in the Christmas spirit on Dixwell 197 Dixwell Ave. From the very first flurry of notes to a final, jazz-kissed take on “White Christmas,” the concert doubled as a triumphant celebration of life and of gathering in the coldest, darkest season of the year.

Musicians included Timmy Maia, Barbara Fowler, Kris Jensen, Joquan Kinsey, Mike G, and students from Waterbury’s 3D Music Academy, as well as drummer Isaac Monts and bass player Lawrence White. The event, a longtime Stetson Branch tradition that the pandemic put on hold, received support from the city’s Department of Arts, Culture & Tourism.

“I’ve played a lot of places, and the one that touches me the most is being inside like this,” Davis said as he took a seat at the keyboard, and looked at the dozens of New Haveners who had gathered around him. “As a music producer, I am drawn to these melodies. Christmas songs have some of the best melodies. And you don’t know this yet, but you’re going to sing today.”

With a small smile, he pressed down gently on the keys, as if to tell the instrument that he was home. Then he looked up at the audience, where listeners ranged from eight months to 98 years old. He tapped out the first few notes of “Deck The Halls,” and nodded as the audience tentatively joined in. A thin “Fa la la la la la la la la?” gathered steam, voices building steam as they swelled in the space. By the time he had gotten to “Jingle Bells,” the sound rose to the ceiling.

“All right, keep em’ comin, keep em’ comin,” he said. He turned a knob on his keyboard, and soaked the room in velvety synth that welcomed in a “Noel” that was familiar, and yet totally new. “This will be nice and beautiful.”

It opened the floor to an afternoon of music that filled the library with something entirely of Davis’ own making. From a “Noel” from the audience fit for Sunday services, Maia welcomed in a swinging cover of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” cymbals tap-tapping in time beneath buttery vocals. As Maia improvised between verses, White came in with a thrumming, deep bass line that undulated all the way through the floor, in a gentle call-and-response with the keys.

“Chris ‘Big Dog’ Davis, y’all!” Maia

said as Davis took the solo, keys dancing with the bass and drums. White kept it mellow, waiting for the right moment to bring in a whisper of cymbal and crisp downbeat. Bah dah da dop! Maia sang before beaming at the audience, and busting out a key change for the end of the song. A cry of “Come on now!” came from somewhere in the center of the room.

Davis was just getting started. Locking eyes with Monts, he introduced his take on “Little Drummer Boy,” first recorded and released six years ago. After easing into the piece with a jammy, smooth jazz riff, he began a back-and-forth with the drums, letting Monts take it away as the audience caught on and clapped.

“Take it, Isaac!” he said. As keys retreated into the background, Monts hit a rhythm, leaning into the cymbals. Drums hammered through the floor, until listeners could feel it in their chests and shoulders. Monts burst into a smile, eyes never entirely leaving Davis.

“Yes! Nice” yelled Branch Manager Diane Brown from the front row, her arms glittering as her silver-sequined sweater bobbed up and down. “C’mon Isaac!” yelled someone from the back row, and Monts smiled.

That spirit flowed through a smoldering “Santa Baby” from Fowler, rousing round of “Jingle Bells” from Maia, and emceeing from DJ Al Taylor that sealed him on Santa’s nice list. Before a short intermission, Davis welcomed a performance of “Silent Night” from Kinsey that had many in the audience in tears.

After starting with the slow, quiet rev-

erence that the song demands, Kinsey loosed a songbird from somewhere in his ribcage, wailing his way to the chorus. When he declared Oh Night! Divine!, Jensen’s sax wailing, it felt holy. Pulling away from the traditional verses entirely, he began to riff, and took the audience to church.

Earlier this year, Davis connected with the young musician after hearing him sing the National Anthem before the Connecticut Sun playoffs. “I was like, ‘Wow, this guy is just incredible,’” Davis recalled Saturday. And he was: Kinsey pulled out a range that could jump from quiet, intimate vocals to a rafter-raising one-man

choir in seconds. When Kinsey returned for a jaw-dropping version of “A Change Is Gonna Come” during the second half of the show, the audience welcomed him back with cheers before he even began.

Nowhere, perhaps, was the sense of celebration clearer than Davis’ hip-hip inspired take on “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” a collaboration with Maia and Mike G that grew out of the old Stetson Branch Library across the street. When Davis first recorded the piece in 2017, it was with kids who had a second home at Stetson—some of whom are now in high school and college. He had wanted to write a song about bullying, and found in

the song the right subject.

“Rudolph was bullied,” he said. “But what happened to Rudolph? He went down in history because of that bright red nose. So whatever you’re going through, believe in yourself.”

No sooner had he introduced the song than students streamed in through the back door, fabric antlers dancing atop their heads. Lining up, they introduced Rudolph as a historical hero, shouting out his name letter by letter. “L is for leader!” one small voice shouted. “P is for powerful!” added another.

As Maia crooned the first few bars of the classic carol, Mike G stood at the ready, the mic hovering for a moment in front of his mouth. On cue, he went airborne, bounding to the front of the group. Around him, students cheered Rudolph’s name. Dozens of audience members stood, clapping in time with the piece. What I’m saying/I wish you could see from my eyes! Mike G rapped.

I see potential! The devil really is a lie! You gotta try, and give it everything you got!

Between songs, Davis also noted that he doesn’t take his time at Stetson for granted. In January 2020—just after a Christmas show at the old Stetson Library across Dixwell Avenue—the musician was diagnosed with metastatic lymphoma for the second time. When he went into the hospital, he didn’t know if he would see the outside world again. By the time he was discharged, Covid-19 had hit New Haven, closing businesses and halting live music in its tracks.

His brush with death—and the clarity that emerged from it—became the inspiration behind his 2020 album, Focus and huge-hearted 2020 single “Heal The World.” Saturday, he said he was thrilled to be back on the cusp of Christmas, celebrating with Stetson. The feeling was mutual; Branch Manager Diane Brown cried multiple times during the show.

“That’s my present I give to God,” he said of his craft. Before bringing on fellow musicians for a merry and bright finale, he thanked Brown, who has championed his work for years. “She don’t play,” he said.

Fittingly, Davis played out the concert in the most Big Dog of ways: by inviting back his musical family to jam with him. As fellow vocalists and musicians filled the makeshift stage, audience members stood to move to the music one last time. As they did, “White Christmas” got a groovy new spin that it didn’t know it needed. Somewhere beyond the veil, even Irving Berlin smiled.

When Davis ended the song, vocalists trading verses and swaying in place until the last notes, the room exploded in applause.

“Thank you! And good night!” Davis said.

The audience included music educators, pint-sized and grown arts enthusiasts, former and current Stetson Branch family and everyone in between. Pictured listening is Joncie Maybin.

Chris “Big Dog” Davis in action. Lucy Gellman Photos.

Appeals Court Upholds Ruling On Transgender Athletes

by Christine Stuart

A three judge panel agreed with a federal judge in Connecticut that allowing transgender students to compete in high school sports does not violate a student athletic policy nor non-discrimination clauses in federal law.

The Second Circuit Court found that the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference was justified in allowing two transgender women to compete in track competitions.

The plaintiffs, four cisgender females, sued the CIAC back in 2020. The athletes claimed they were deprived of scholarship and employment opportunities by being forced to compete against the transgender female athletes.

In their ruling, the panel of judges noted that, on numerous occasions, the cisgender plaintiffs placed first in various events, even sometimes when competing against Andraya Yearwood and Terry Miller.

“Plaintiffs simply have not been deprived of a ‘chance to be champions’,” the ruling reads.

“Indeed, the races were run in conformity with the rules in effect at the time; times were recorded; medals for gold, silver and bronze were in fact awarded

to athletes who finished first, second, and third; and the records accurately reflect those results,” the court ruled.

The court also affirmed discrimination against transgender students violates Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in educational program. The Alliance Defending Freedom, which

represented the cisgender plaintiffs, said it is considering its options for further appeal.

“The 2nd Circuit got it wrong, and we’re evaluating all legal options, including appeal. Our clients—like all female athletes—deserve access to fair competition,” Alliance Defending Free-

dom Senior Counsel Christiana Kiefer said. “Thankfully, a growing number of states are stepping up to protect women’s athletics. Right now, 18 states have enacted laws that protect women and girls from having to compete against males, and polls show that a majority of Americans agree that the competition is no

longer fair when males are permitted to compete in women’s sports.”

The decision was applauded by the ACLU.

“Today’s ruling is a critical victory for fairness, equality, and inclusion” Joshua Block, senior staff attorney for the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project, said. “The court rejected the baseless zero-sum arguments presented by the opposition to this policy and ultimately found transgender girls have as much a right to play as cisgender girls under Title IX. This critical victory strikes at the heart of political attacks against transgender youth while helping ensure every young person has the right to play.”

Elana Bildner, an ACLU Foundation of Connecticut senior staff attorney, said “Trans student athletes belong on our sports teams and in our schools, and all trans youth should be celebrated and protected for who they are. Today, the courts have once again dismissed this lawsuit seeking to attack trans student athletes.”

The CIAC maintained that it did the right thing by allowing the transgender females to participate in the competitions.

“The CIAC believes that its current policy is appropriate under both state and federal law,” the organization said back in February 2020.

Meditator-Turned-Bartender-Turned-McKinsey Consultant Prepares Mayoral Run

by PAUL BASS

ECA. To an ashram. To the bar at Pacifico. To McKinsey & Company. To … New Haven City Hall?

That would make for a first-of-its-kind career path in New Haven. That would be Tom Goldenberg’s path if he succeeds in becoming New Haven’s next mayor.

Goldenberg, 40, is winding down his “engagement manager” job at the McKinsey consulting firm. He is expected to file papers next week as a Democratic candidate for mayor in the 2023 election. He’ll take on incumbent Mayor Justin Elicker, who is seeking a third two-year term; two other New Haveners, community organizer and retired police Sgt. Shafiq Abdussabur and former federal prosecutor and current Hartford inspector general Liam Brennan, are also expected to launch campaigns next month.

Goldenberg, who lives on Nicoll Street, has been meeting with politically active New Haveners across town for months about his likely campaign for mayor. He was asked during an appearance Thursday on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” program why he is interested in running for the position rather than

starting out running for, say, alder.

He responded that leaving McKinsey will leave him without a full-time salary.

“For me to give up my job that is supporting my family, I need to be able to at least replace it with a salary,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say it’s just the salary. It’s also the level of impact. As a mayor I think you can do some very exciting things. I flirted with the idea of being a comptroller or something like that.

You just have more breadth to create meaningful changes. A lot of these problems are so interconnected as well.” (Goldenberg asked after this article was published to add that being an alder would present a conflict of interest and the mayor’s job would offer the best role for addressing urgent issues like education.)

Some people have also asked him if he has enough experience in New Haven to qualify for the job.

He responded on “Dateline” that he has been involved in the city since he was a kid growing in West Haven. He said he and father used to bring bread to the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen’s (DESK) then-location on Orange Street.

He learned jazz piano with Warren Byrd in high school when he spent his afternoons as a student at Educational Center

PAUL BASS PHOTO Tom Goldenberg at WNHH FM.

for the Arts (ECA) on Audubon Street. He spent his 20s doing service work, doing yoga and meditating, and mastering Sanskrit and Malayalam on an ashram in southern India. He returned to Connecticut and lived for a few years in Westville. During that time he bartended downtown at Pacifico and waitered

at Thali.

He and his wife then moved to New York, where Goldenberg learned computer coding, helped start a tech company, launched his own stock-tradingadvice firm (which eventually closed), then went into consulting. He landed at McKinsey, where he has worked on issues ranging from public education to sanitation. In an MBA program at Columbia, he befriended former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who he said has become a political mentor whose successes he would seek to emulate as New Haven’s chief elected official.

Goldenberg’s family returned to town four and a half years ago, settling in the East Rock neighborhood. He has since joined the board at DESK.

“I do have a lot of experience working on relevant topics in my current work” that a New Haven mayor tackles, including K-12 education, workforce development, and inclusive growth, he said. So far Goldenberg has spoken most in campaign conversations about the state of public education in New Haven.

“I think New Haven currently faces a crisis of leadership,” he said.

“What do I mean by that? You look at education. You see that last year we had the worst chronic absenteeism in the

state of Connecticut. Almost six out of eight students were chronically absent. Eight of 10 third-graders are below grade level for reading.

“What I would want to have is an administration that truly cares about and is hands on with public education. What do I mean by that? Showing teachers the respect that they deserve. Engaging with families and students… Ensuring that there is rigor and there is accountability, and transparency in district leadership.”

Mayor Elicker was asked Thursday afternoon about that critique. He responded by citing his administration’s just-announced math and literacy initiative, its recently Board of Education-approved contract raising teacher salaries, and the opening of youth and community centers in city park buildings across town. He also spoke of “never seeing” Goldenberg at public meetings “until he started running for mayor.”

“These issues are very, very challenging. I and my team have worked very hard to be present and confront them head on,” Elicker said. “We lost a 16-year-old boy, Joshua Vazquez, earlier this week. We have challenges around youth and education that are deep and we all are very committed to addressing them.”

Selina Soule, a senior at Glastonbury High School and the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit (Christine Stuart / ctnewsjunkie) Credit: Christine Stuart photo

New Haven Independent

Opinion: Build Affordable Housing Without Bulldozing Playground

by PATRICIA WALLACE

The following op-ed was written by Patricia Wallace, who is a resident of the Dwight neighborhood and President of the Friends of Kensington Playground. The organization has an ongoing lawsuit against the city over the sale of a Dwight public greenspace to an affordable housing developer.

These holidays offer a moment of grace. John McCutcheon’s song, “Christmas in the Trenches,” a true story, about the Christmas Eve truce in the midst of World War I when German and European soldiers, for one night, traded chocolate, played soccer at midnight, and sang “Silent Night” in German and English, was such a moment.

Friends of Kensington Playground has asked City officials to consider anew the decision to use Kensington Playground as a site for housing. We hope that this can be seriously considered, in part because we believe that City officials did not know that the net increase in affordable housing from this deal would be only seven units.

This week we wrote to the Mayor, Board of Alders, the Parks Commission, and other City officials. We asked them to

make a correction now that will save taxpayers money and help children of our City. This is a story of good people trying to do good things.

City officials wanted to meet a vital need for affordable housing and decided

New Connecticut Laws to Take Effect on Jan. 1

by Hugh McQuaid

A highway tax on large commercial trucks, an expansion of the state bottle bill, and the elimination of criminal records of certain cannabis-related convictions are among the new Connecticut laws that will take effect on Jan 1.

The mileage-based fee on trucks using Connecticut highways was approved by state policymakers back in 2021 in an effort to generate ongoing revenue to support the Special Transportation Fund, which pays for the upkeep and improvement of roads and bridges.

At the time, state fiscal analysts estimated the law would raise about $90 million a year through a per-mile tax on big rig trucks which will scale with the weight of the vehicle. The fee will range from 2.5 cents per mile for trucks weighing between 26,000 and 28,000 pounds to 17.5 cents per mile for trucks weighing more than 80,000 pounds.

Another policy that will kick in after the end of this month will broaden the slate of beverages to which 5-cent bottle deposit charges will be applied. Beginning in January, the containers of hard ciders and seltzers as well as coffee drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks will be subject to the deposit charge.

The change was part of a 2021 bill, which updated for the first time in decades Connecticut’s “bottle bill” designed to encourage recycling and reduce litter. The same legislation will increase the deposit fee to 10 cents in

2024.

During a special legislative session last month, lawmakers made a minor tweak to the bottle deposit plan to allow store owners to sell off their existing inventories of affected beverages which will not yet have packaging that reflects the bottle deposit charge.

The beginning of January will also see the expungement of records related to roughly 44,000 cannabis possession convictions. The automatic erasure of the records stems from the 2021 law which legalized the possession of marijuana by adults and set in motion the recreational cannabis market expected to launch later next month.

A much broader expungement of criminal records had been scheduled to take place in January under the “Clean Slate Act,” written to erase records of misdemeanors and certain low-level felonies after a period of between seven and 10 years. However, state officials recently announced that implementation of the law affecting roughly 300,000 people would be delayed.

Another new law will give state lawmakers their first pay raise in more than two decades. The policy will boost the base salary of Connecticut legislators from $28,000 to $40,000 beginning next year, then tie the pay to the Employment Cost Index to be adjusted every two years. The law will also tie the salaries of state constitutional officers to the salaries of Connecticut judges.

to give Kensington Playground to a nonprofit developer.

The non-profit developer promised to build 15 units of affordable housing. It turns out that the net number of affordable units to be built on the park is

only seven –– not 15. That is because the developer will convert eight existing affordable units to office space. Only the new units were presented publicly. We first learned of this in the Kensington Square II Fully Executed Environmental Assessment, dated February 2021 – – well after the Park Commissioners, City Plan and the Board of Alders approved the lot transfer for development.

We make no assumptions of bad faith. One was part of a financing deal for rehab of existing units; the other was a plan for new construction. We do not believe most City officials or taxpayers understood this when the decision was made.

In our letter, we stated: “In this season of light and goodness across many traditions, the children and residents of Dwight need your help.

• Sacrificing Dwight’s only public playground for only seven units of affordable housing is, of course, a significantly different deal than what was presented and understood by most when the deal was approved.

• Dwight has the lowest park acreage per capita in the city – – even with Kensington Playground – – according to the recent New Haven ParkScore Index, Septem-

Feds Give Approval To Low-Income Health Insurance Plan

by Christine Stuart

The federal government has approved a $40 million plan that will help Connecticut residents who fall into the health insurance affordability gap.

The plan, dubbed Covered Connecticut, will help provide insurance premium coverage for those who make too much money to be covered through Husky, yet not enough to afford a subsidized plan on the exchange.

“This federal funding will be instrumental in supporting our state’s actions to improve health equity and reduce health disparities by improving the affordability and accessibility of health care coverage,” Gov. Ned Lamont said.

In 2018, individuals with incomes between 100% and 200% of the federal poverty level made up 13% of Connecticut’s population but 26% of its uninsured residents. The new federal waiver will close the gap by offering no-cost coverage to individuals who make up to 175% of the federal poverty level, which is around $48,000 for a family of four and $40,000 for a family of three. It’s expected that this will cover up to 40,000 Connecticut residents.

Under the waiver, the state will directly reimburse the qualified health insurance plans offered by Anthem Health, ConnectiCare Benefits and ConnectiCare Insurance for the monthly premium and the cost-sharing amounts that the enrollee would normally have to pay after using all available federal supports, such as out-of-pocket costs for deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.

Dental and non-emergency transportation services that aren’t covered by the health plans, will be provided through HUSKY.

The waiver was sought on behalf of the Lamont administration by the Connecticut Department of Social Services with support and collaboration from the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy, the Connecticut Insurance Department, and Access Health Connecticut.

“The new Covered Connecticut program has already helped more 10,000 state residents get no-cost access to high-quality health care,” Department of Social Services Commissioner Deidre Gifford said. “With this support from our federal partners at CMS, we will be able to continue our work in closing healthcare coverage gaps and improving the health of our state residents.”

Access Health CT CEO James Michel said the goal is to decrease the number of uninsured in the state.

“Innovative approaches, such as the Covered Connecticut program, go a long way in helping us achieve these mission-driven goals,” Michel said. “And more importantly, the federal funding approved to continue the Covered Connecticut program will have a significant, positive impact on the health and wellness of Connecticut residents who qualify for no-cost health care, dental, and non-emergency medical transportation benefits.”

Sen. Matt Lesser, who co-chairs the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, said he wants to help grow the program, as the cost of health insurance increases.

“Going forward we should expand Covered Connecticut to help middle income families struggling with sky high copays and deductibles,” Lesser.

To sign up for a Covered Connecticut plan visit AccessHealthCT or call 1-855-805-4325 to receive free assistance from an Access Health CT representative.

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Editorial Team

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COURTNEY LUCIANA FILE PHOTO

West River Food Giveaway Hits The Doors

by LISA REISMAN

It was all there for the Frosty’s Food Giveaway in the brightly-lit lobby of Barnard Environmental Science & Technology School on Tuesday afternoon, with families filing in and leaving with arms laden with bags and beaming faces.

“We gotta get to the people,” said Spell, vice president of the West River Neighborhood Service Corporation (WRNSC), adjusting his grip on the four canvas bags he was holding, two in each hand, each containing two whole chickens.

West River Alder and Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker-Myers and the New Haven Youth and Recreation Department co-hosted the giveaway, with the WRNSC lending a hand.

Youth and Recreation Department Director Gwendolyn Busch-Williams said the chickens came from Minore’s Poultry & Foods and Stop & Shop, both on Whalley, and were purchased with city funds.

“This is about helping with food insecurity, and also, with the toys, giving them that holiday spirit,” she said. The giveaway, she said, coincided with the end of the school day, “so we were able to hand the bags to the families as they picked up their kids.”

“This brings the community out,” said

Coyle, over the squawk of the P.A. system. “You got toys, food, you’re helping impact people in a good way. A lot of people need assistance but this is also about showing we’re there for them.”

Outside, Spell was greeting a policewoman, then passing school nurse Cynthia Harris-Jackson, whose hands were filled with bags. She told him she was delivering them to families in the community who needed it.

“We’re all working toward the same thing, which is community building,” Spell said, as he crossed Derby Avenue toward the Berger Apartments in the bone-chilling air. “Normally we did this every year, but Covid put a crimp in that, so we’ve had toys that we’ve been holding onto.”

Spell said Back at the school, there was an air of satisfaction.

“It went wonderful, we gave away over 400 chickens, 200 to 300 toys, T shirts, maps of the city,” said the Youth Department’s Lisa Staggers, as another group headed out with bags of chickens to The Shack, the Valley Street community center spearheaded by Alder Honda Smith.

“We made a lot of people happy.”

Board Prez Keeps Focus On Policing, Schools, Housing

by PAUL BASS

The relationship between police and the community improved in 2022 and the Board of Alders helped make that happen by doing their job.

So argued Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker-Myers.

She also reflected on how the year’s events reflected the way that elected officials need to keep after big goals over the long term rather than believing they can finish the job with a “finger snap.”

Walker-Myers offered those reflections Thursday in an interview on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” program about the board’s work in 2022 and goals for 2023.

She cited the board’s work on a oncein-a-decade ward redistricting and passing an “inclusionary zoning” ordinance amendment as among the highlights. She highlighted the board’s work in holding hearings and pushing for action on low reading scores and other challenges facing the public schools. Within her West River ward, Walker-Myers succeeded in ensuring that residents of under-demolition Antillean Manor received new homes and promises of future apartments in the rebuilt complex; and supported the $838 million neuroscience center Yale New Haven Hospital has begun constructing.

One of the board’s boldest moves was sticking with a late-2021 rejection of the mayor’s nomination for a new police chief amid widespread grassroots concern about a return to unaccountable military-style “beat-down posse” style policing, despite mayoral efforts to ignore or reverse the vote. The board subsequently approved the selection of a different nominee; gunshots and fatal violence have since dropped.

Alders were able to cast that vote because of a charter change Walker-Myers and allies succeeded in passing a decade ago giving the board veto power over police chief nominations. Walker-Myers called that an important role for the legislative branch of government to play in the system of checks and balances.

“I believe we did an important job,” she said of the police chief votes. “We actually did what was best for the city. That is one of our priorities on our legislative agenda. We had an opportunity to really make sure that we were pushing what the neighborhoods actually needed. That’s not to say the person that was in place is not a good person. It’s not personal at all. It’s what we see and what we need in the city and how we could move it forward. It wasn’t just one person. It was the board taking a stance.”

Since then, she observed, “I believe there has been an improvement in how

PAUL BASS PHOTO Tyisha Walker-Myers at WNHH FM.

the police are communicating and dealing with the community. .. People feel that the relationship with the police is getting better. They’re seeing them more in different places not only when something terrible happens, but on other oc-

casions.”

Walker-Myers was reminded that when she and a slate of fellow laboraffiliated alders won their first election in 2011, their first joint action was to call for a new police chief and a return to community policing. They succeeded then, too, in having walking beats restored and a new chief brought in with a renewed focus on community policing and success in violence reduction.

Walker-Myers drew two lessons from the repetition of history (with a twist) after 11 years: The long-term nature of the work of seeking change, and how approaches to the same issue evolve over time.

“When I first came into office, I believed you could just snap your fingers and fix everything. After being in office, I understand it’s a process. Things that are really important, you should always keep in the forefront. That’s how you make it better,” she said.

She also noted that “ten years ago what we envisioned community policing to be is different today.” Back then the focus was almost exclusively on walking beats, she said, while today people have come to see the challenge as encompassing a broader understanding of the roots of and responses to criminal behavior.

In 2023, Walker-Myers said she’s looking to continue focusing on ways alders

can contribute to boosting reading and math and improve overall education in the city and promote affordable housing and community policing, among other priorities. She spoke of a need to help more New Haveners buy homes that would otherwise fall in the hands of megalandlord companies.

Unlike many other powerful political figures, Walker-Myers doesn’t conduct many media interviews. She doesn’t call many press conferences or call attention to herself. She has approached her role as alder president as guiding a team of people committed to improving their neighborhoods and the city as a whole. She said she sees herself continuing to seek playing that role for years to come. Though she wasn’t committing to any particular plan.

“It’s a lot of hours. It’s a lot of time spent away from my family,” she said of the alder president job. “But it’s worth it when my constituents come and I can see where we used to be in the neighborhood and where we are now.

“I’m not one of those people that say, ‘Oh, in the next five years I have to do this,’ ‘Oh, in the next ten years I’m going to do this.’ I really don’t work like that. “I just continue to do the work. If my community continues to elect me and I have the strength to continue representing them, that’s what I’m going to do.”

LISA REISMAN PHOTO Part of the food giveaway crew: Stacy R. Spell, Virginia T. Spell, Tyisha Walker-Myers, Ronald Huggins, Pat Dillon, Gwendolyn Williams, Lisa Staggers.

New Haven Independent

Connecticut Budget Overflowing With Black Ink

by Christine Stuart

Connecticut is still expected to end the year with a budget surplus even after it increased general fund spending by $45 million following a special session last month when it extended the gas tax holiday and free bus fare.

With a $1 billion surplus, which increased slightly by $12.7 million last month, Connecticut is still in good shape. The projected surplus represents about 4.6% of the general fund.

“The operating surplus is comprised of $571.0 million in increased revenue and $148.0 million in net expenditures below the amounts included in the enacted budget plan,” Office of Policy and Management Director Jeffrey Beckham wrote in his monthly letter to Comptroller Natalie Braswell.

He added that Connecticut’s economy remains strong based on stable tax revenue and a strong job market.

“Thanks to conservative revenue estimates in the enacted budget we have been

able to provide budget stability during the current fiscal year,” Beckham said. “However, as we develop the budget for the next biennium, we must recognize the potential softening of the global economy could impact the state’s finances and our ability to achieve and maintain a balanced budget.”

The first budget forecast since the special session last month doesn’t take into account any additional federal funds that may be on the way to the state.

The state, according to the monthly forecast, will transfer nearly $4 billion to the state employee and teacher retirement funds.

Recently, Connecticut Voices for Children, advocated against transferring any additional dollars above what is required to the pension funds. They say it increases income inequality in the state and could be used elsewhere.

The additional nearly $5.8 billion in pension payments over the last few years has received praise from both Democrats and Republicans, but Connecticut Voices

for Children’s research and policy director Patrick O’Brien said it has “the substantial cost of increasing the unfairness of the budget.”

He concluded that if Connecticut stopped making those additional payments it would see between $490 and $735 million a year in available revenue. He added that it could generate an average of an additional $1.5 billion in revenue if it further reformed the volatility and revenue cap.

Connecticut lawmakers also received some good news earlier this month about the budget, which it has struggled to keep out of deficit for years. For the first time, in at least five years tax receipts are growing faster than fixed costs.

“Revenues are growing essentially faster than fixed costs,” Neil Ayers, director of the Office of Fiscal Analysis, told lawmakers Dec. 6.

So far there’s nothing in the budget forecast that changes those projections.

COMMENTARY: Don’t Spread Yourself Too Thin: Avoid Burnout with These Simple Tips

By Megan Sayles | AFRO Business Writer Report for America Corps Member

We’ve all heard the age-old saying that “hard work pays off.” But, sometimes, working too hard can do more harm than good.

“Burnout” is a form of work-related stress in which an individual experiences physical, emotional or mental exhaustion caused by their job’s demands. It can also make workers feel distanced from their jobs and engender negative feelings about them, according to the World Health Organization.

Although it cannot be medically diagnosed, burnout can lead people to lose their sense of self and feel as if they are not accomplishing enough. Since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Psychological Association found that the risk of burnout has increased for workers due to extra stress, increased household demands and longer working hours.

This makes it even more important for people to know the signs of burnout and the strategies to combat it.

Natasha Charles is the founder and CEO of Intuitive Coaching with Natasha Charles, a comprehensive life coaching and consulting firm. She created the business after gaining 20 years in senior administration roles.

Charles was motivated to open the firm in 2018 out of a desire to create a business focused on inspiring continuous improvement. There, she works with individuals and executives to create lives that they love and offers them personalized solu-

tions to address critical work and business challenges.

“It’s really about thinking about you, the person, and all that you are,” Charles said. “People tend to be very focused on one aspect of their life, and a lot of times, it’s about their career, so it’s really about making space for all of your goals and all of your dreams.”

When someone experiences burnout, Charles said they could be actively doing their job while simultaneously worrying about their other responsibilities and priorities, whether personal or work-related. She also stressed that burnout can be experienced no matter what profession you are in and what you are being paid.

Aside from the physical and mental impacts of stress, burnout can impact finances if it causes an employee to take extended periods of time off or miss work, according to Charles. It can also reduce their productivity.

In the beginning of 2022, the term “quiet quitting” emerged, and for some, it’s being used as a method to avoid burnout.

It involves individuals meeting the minimum requirements of their job descriptions, investing no extra time or effort than what is mandatory.

For Charles, quiet quitting is a signal that a person is not fulfilled by their job and may need to think about changing workplaces or careers.

“I get that people are not always able to up and quit, and it can take time to find what that next role is,” Charles said. “I would come from a space of encouraging the person to start thinking about what that is. What is it that you ultimately

desire to be doing in your life and seeing your work?”

One of the most important steps in reducing and preventing burnout is educating yourself about the syndrome, so you can be aware of the warning signs, according to Charles. She also said it was crucial for employers to talk to their employees about it.

Awareness can help prevent the shame and guilt that comes with burnout and allow people to give themselves grace.

After a person has weighed whether they are experiencing burnout or not, they

should think about how they want to confront it. This could include engaging in self-care, asking for extra support at work or home, and creating stronger boundaries between their personal and professional lives.

When burnout is impacting your performance, it’s time to consider making a career change, Charles said.

To ensure your work life does not invade your personal life, Charles said people need to assess the goals they have for all areas of their life. Once you’ve set goals, it’s easier to devise a plan and set

the necessary boundaries to achieve them. Charles also said it’s important to carve out time for yourself where you’re not constantly checking your phone or email for work reasons.

“There is life beyond your work. There is an entire world out there to be discovered,” Charles said. “There’s a world within us to be discovered as well, and I encourage everyone to invest in discovering those pieces.”

This article originally appeared in The Afro.

Harvard University Announces Dr. Claudine Gay as New President

By Stacy Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Dr. Claudine Gay, the dean of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, becomes just the second woman to hold the post as University president in the institution’s history.

The university was founded in 1636. Dr. Gay will take office in July 2023.

“Claudine is a remarkable leader who is profoundly devoted to sustaining and enhancing Harvard’s academic excellence, to championing both the value and the values of higher education and research, to expanding opportunity, and to strengthening Harvard as a fount of ideas and a force for good in the world,” Penny Pritzker, senior fellow of the Harvard Corporation and chair of Harvard’s presidential search committee, told the Harvard Gazette.

“As the Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences since 2018, and previously as dean of social science, Claudine has brought to her roles a rare blend of incisiveness and inclusiveness, intellectual range and strategic savvy, institutional ambition and personal hu-

mility, a respect for enduring ideals, and a talent for catalyzing change. She has a bedrock commitment to free inquiry and expression, as well as a deep appreciation for the diverse voices and views that are the lifeblood of a university community.

“As her many admirers know, Claudine consults widely; she listens attentively; she thinks rigorously and imaginatively; she invites collaboration and resists complacency; and she acts with conviction and purpose,” continued Pritzker.

“All of us on the search committee are excited by the prospect of her bringing her high aspirations and interdisciplinary outlook across the Yard from University Hall to Massachusetts Hall. We are confident Claudine will be a thoughtful, principled, and inspiring president for all of Harvard, dedicated to helping each of our individual Schools to thrive, as well as fostering creative connections among them. She is someone intent on affirming the power of curiosity-driven learning. And she is someone eager to integrate and elevate Harvard’s efforts — throughout the arts and sciences and across the professions — to address complex challenges in the wider world.”

The Gazette reported that since 2018, Gay has served as the Edgerley Family

ences

and innovation in teaching and research, enhance aspects of academic culture, and bring new emphasis and energy to areas such as quantum science and engineering; climate change; ethnicity, indigeneity, and migration; and the humanities. She has successfully led FAS through the COVID pandemic, consistently and effectively prioritizing the dual goals of safeguarding community health and sustaining academic continuity and progress.

The disruptive effects of the crisis notwithstanding, the school newspaper reported that she has also launched and led an ambitious, inclusive, and faculty-driven strategic planning process, intended to take a fresh look at fundamental aspects of academic structures, resources, and operations in FAS and to advance academic excellence in the years ahead.

“I am humbled by the confidence that the governing boards have placed in me and by the prospect of succeeding President Bacow in leading this remarkable institution,” Gay stated.

“It has been a privilege to work with Larry over the last five years. He has shown me that leadership isn’t about one person. It’s about all of us, moving forward together, and that’s a lesson I take with me into this next journey.”

Dean of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), the University’s largest and most academically diverse faculty, spanning the biological and physical sci-

and engineering, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts. As dean, she has guided efforts to expand student access and opportunity, spur excellence

Dr. Claudine Gay, the dean of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Should I Celebrate Kwanzaa?

by Ty McDuffey, BlackDoctor.org

Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and head of African Studies at California State University, Long Beach, founded Kwanzaa as an African-American holiday in 1966.

Kwanzaa is observed from December 26 to January 1.

Karenga’s initial idea was to offer Black Americans a time to reflect on Africa’s cultural history and values as an alternative to Christmas.

Karenga took inspiration for the seven “Nguzo Saba,” or principles of African ancestry, from various African harvest celebrations, Black Nationalist philosophy, and other cultural influences. Each of these ideas has its own tangible sign, one for each day of Kwanzaa.

The Black community has struggled to build a cultural identity, so if you’re wondering whether to celebrate Kwanzaa, dedicating a few days of the year to African history and fostering a feeling of belonging to the past may be beneficial.

Christmas and Kwanzaa May Both Be Celebrated

Christmas and Kwanzaa are not incompatible.

Karenga envisioned Kwanzaa as a nonreligious festival for African-American families to gather and commemorate their ancestors. So you may have a Merry Christmas as well as a Happy Kwanzaa. It’s OK to Be Eager About the Feast

If you didn’t like your Christmas feast, Kwanzaa gives you a second chance.

On December 31, Kwanzaa celebrants gather for a pan-African feast known as Karamu Ya Imani (Feast of Faith), with everything from Ghanaian stew and jollof rice to jerk chicken, catfish, and collard greens. It generally consists of many phases, including a greeting, memory, celebrating, and departure.

A Worldwide Celebration?

Kwanzaa is a holiday where every day has a concept, and you light a candle in your family house. Then you’re expected to hold a great feast with the whole family and community.

Now that Juneteenth (June 19) is a federal holiday — one with particular meaning for Blacks, but one that all people are urged to observe — it may be time to consider if there is anything universal about Kwanzaa. Something we can all be proud of, regardless of our origin.

Everything is founded on seven universal principles.

Every individual should have a vision, choosing where they want to go, what they want to learn, and where they want to be successful.

Kwanzaa is about keeping your community together and having a positive view of life.

Is there harmony in your family? Are you self-assured? That is not limited to Black Americans. Everyone needs it.

Kwanzaa Makes No Distinctions

It’s clear that Kwanzaa is a holiday designed for African-Americans. However, other races and ethnic groups are permitted to join Kwanzaa festivities, as individuals other than Mexicans celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

Kwanzaa is not a substitute for Christmas; rather, it is a supplement to it.

Despite not commemorating the holiday, former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, released a statement in 2011 in which they expressed their gratitude “to all those celebrating Kwanzaa.”

“We recognize that there are still far too many Americans who are struggling to make ends meet,” the president added. “But we also know that by working together in the spirit of Umoja, or oneness, we can overcome those problems.”

Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush issued similar declarations during their tenures.

The festival has also gained traction with the United States Postal Service, which has produced Kwanzaa stamps since 1997.

Conclusion

We must stay unified.

People may have their own politics. Everyone has their own set of views. But there’s still a way for us to respect each other and have togetherness. No matter what, we must maintain communal togetherness.

So, you want to observe Kwanzaa? If you were not raised with it, seek out others familiar with it. Try attending a municipal event or a library program in your community. Happy holidays!

Op-ed: The insensitivity of speculation when someone dies by suicide

By ReShonda Tate

By now you have heard of the unfortunate passing of dance star Stephen “Twitch” Boss, who took his own life in Encino, California. last week.

The social media mental health specialists are out in full effect. And it’s nauseating.

I have read so many comments of people saying things like “something seems off” and “he seems so happy and excited about his work.” Someone even said there was “no way he committed suicide because he was rich.”

People don’t understand what internalized depression looks and feels like for people and there’s a whole different level to it with Black men. His wife lost her husband and instead of people sending condolences, folks are diving deep into conspiracy theories.

Some think his wife should have acted sooner. Others have concluded that Twitch was rich, had a beautiful family

and friends–he would never have taken his own life. Right?

The reality is that it is absolutely possible to be genuinely happy for someone else and still have an internal struggle with your own reason for living. I don’t know what he was going through. Twitch was someone that I actually met. He was an absolute light, but often people who are able to be lights for others, can’t see the light for themselves.

I think it’s difficult for some people to understand that you absolutely can be in both of those spaces at the same time: genuinely happy for someone else and unable to grasp and hold on to happiness for yourself. But we don’t know what truly was going on with him. Happiness may be something he had in his life and there’s something else that may have been a burden on him.

We will never know exactly what pushed Twitch to feel as if suicide was the best choice. As someone who has a clinician as a mate, we’ve had these discussions about how people can mask being OK when they absolutely are not– including

with their significant other, because he may have felt guilty for not feeling fully complete within himself.

We don’t know if there was an illness–physical or mental. Similar to how our

bodies can get sick, sometimes the mind can go through something as well.

No matter what we may think about what happened with Twitch, it clearly was something that he planned. There’s no doubt that he loved his wife and his children, but that love did not override whatever internal thing that he was dealing with.

It bothers me that people are trying to lean into blaming someone else without accepting that it’s a choice Twitch made. He was going through something that he felt like no one would understand or maybe he didn’t want anyone to understand. Maybe it was something so intense that he just wanted it to stop and people don’t know how to accept that you cannot guilt people into wanting to live. Whatever pain he was going through, he decided that living was not the best option.

Let’s not blame anyone else for the decision he made while in a state that was clearly based on pain. I understand pain and sometimes it can be so unbearable. I pray for his family and his friends.

I hope that whatever ails you–whether

it’s physical or mental–you can find peace and contentment within yourself. Take care of you!

This belief that we have a right to know everything is hurting our society. Leave it alone, leave Twitch’s family alone and if you want to do something–pray. Your words and your “discernment” can make it worse for the families. And if you don’t think your words will ever be seen, trust me, there is always someone out there heartless enough to share and broadcast the messages.

You never know!

Please be sensitive–stop speculating on the internet!

ReShonda Tate is a former television and radio announcer, who has worked as a reporter for The National Enquirer, NBC, ABC-TV and FOX news. Tate is the author of more than 30 novels including, “Let the Church Say Amen,” which was adapted into a film directed by actress Regina King in 2013.

6 Powerful Things You Can Do For Someone Grieving This Holiday

by Jasmine Browley, BlackDoctor.org

While most people are looking to connect with family and friends, others are bracing themselves for the waves of sadness that grieving a loved one during the holidays can bring. There are small but mighty ways you can show support for those who are dealing with loss and grief. Here are 6 ways to show you care this holiday season:

1. Inquire About Their Current State, But Don’t Feel Obligated To Fix Them

A person dealing with grief can often feel stagnant. Understandably, they may be struggling to move beyond their loss while watching others go on with normal activities. To connect, you can say, ‘I’ve been thinking about you. How have you been feeling since the loss of XX?’

Once they’ve shared, keep it at ‘I hear you’ or simply offer a hug and let them know they can talk about it anytime they want. Giving them space to talk freely goes a long way, especially when you do it without believing we have to take their pain away or do anything to fix it. It can be extremely relieving for them.

2. Share Words Of Encouragement

Whether you’re far away from your grieving loved one or they just want to be alone, a quick note can go a long way. An email or text can show them you’re thinking of them during the holidays.

The messages should highlight positivity and focus on lifting their spirits, not what they’ve lost. Remind them in subtle ways that grieving is a life-long process, but the pain will diminish over time, especially with the help of surrounding friends and family.

3. Make Your Support Real

It’s easy to tell someone who’s grieving to call you if they need anything during the holidays, but more than likely they won’t. Not only is it against our culture to willingly burden others with our problems, but we especially don’t want to unload our sorrow onto anyone during what’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year.

After the loss, immediately people are often supported for a short few days or weeks. But then people get on with their own lives and the grieving are left with their loss. This is usually when the depression creeps in. The last thing they want to do is invite someone into their pain.

Instead of leaving the option open-ended, try offering something concrete and purposeful that will help lift their mood.

Asking if you can stop by and cook dinner or taking their kids off their hands so they can do a bit of holiday shopping or perform a type of self-care.

4. Be Careful With How You Speak About The Person Who Died

Perhaps one of the most common mis-

conceptions of what grieving people need, people tend to avoid talking about their loved one who passed away in order to not conjure sad feelings associated with the loss.

It can be very healing to hear other people tell stories or share funny memories about the departed and for the grieving to be able to do the same. Just make sure that you asses their mood first and make sure

that the timing is right.

Additionally, it might even be helpful to practice your story before being in the grieving person’s presence, so you don’t say anything that may be insensitive.

5. Create Your Own Traditions

The holidays can be particularly challenging for those who are grieving because of previously established traditions

that may now be too painful to continue. If they have the energy, try doing something new moving forward.

Work with them to curate new memories and create a different tradition or practice that serves as a holding place for their grief, as well as helps them honor the life of their lost loved one.

Perhaps volunteering at a local food pantry or starting a food or toy drive for families in need can be a great tribute and means of paying it forward during a difficult time of year. This activity of extending care and concern to others is a positive means to manage grief and sadness as you transfer your energy to someone else’s well-being versus your own feelings.

6. Stay Consistent

It’s easy to show up once or twice immediately after the loved one’s passing, but consistency is key when supporting someone who is grieving.

Checking in periodically without smothering the grieving person is a supportive way to let them know that you are there and that you care. Your consistency is the difference between you feeling sorry for them and showing you care about them as a person. And it also shows them that you understand grief is a life-long process, not a phase that just stops over time.

We hope these tips help your friend or family member with their grief this season. Happy holidays!

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Black College Students Lead Movement to Eliminate Bias in Tech

By Nadira Johnson, Word in Black Courtesy of The Afro

From self-driving cars that can’t detect folks with darker skin to keep from running them over, to digital assistants like Siri that have trouble understanding nonWhite accents, technology is biased, and it is hurting Black folks.

“A lot of people will look toward technology as the end all, be all solution to a lot of social issues, but often social issues are not solved by technology, and technology often exacerbates these social issues,” said Cierra Robson, associate director of the Ida B. Wells Just Data Lab which brings students, educators, and activists together to develop creative approaches to data conception, production, and circulation.

Founded in 2018 and led by Ruha Benjamin, a sociologist and professor in the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University, the lab focuses on finding ways to “rethink and retool the relationship between stories and statistics, power and technology, data and justice.”

“Civics of technology derives from a lot of related concepts, but it’s about how we can use technology to further civic engagement, the democratic process, and social justice — especially anything that will galvanize a group of individuals to create social good,” Robson explained.

In her role at the lab, Robson works closely with Princeton students on a variety of projects that look at how technology bias is contributing to bias in all areas of our lives, from healthcare, to labor, and education.

Robson first became passionate about finding solutions to biased technology after learning about how the issue leads to violent over-policing.

“When I was an undergrad at Princeton, I had access to this entire wealth of resources that was kind of stuck in the university,” Robson said. “One of the biggest things that I wanted to do when the labs started in the summer of 2020 was figure out a way to get those resources from Princeton into the community, to people who needed them.”

And people do need this information, desperately, because biased technology is killing Black and Brown folks and contributes to higher rates of incarceration and injustice.

“Predictive policing technologies — there’s a whole bunch of them — but one of the ones I focus on a lot is that it predicts where crime is likely to happen in a given city, and that prompts police to go be deployed in those areas so that they can catch whatever crime might happen there,” Robson said. “What they base that data on is an algorithm that uses data on historic police interaction, but no one really stops to think that those historic police interactions are colored by all sorts of discriminatory processes.”

Robson points out that a recent study

conducted by Aaron Chalfin, a criminologist at the University of Pennsylvania, found that in Southern cities with large Black populations the homicide rate did not change when more police presence was added. But, more officers made arrests for low-level offenses like alcohol-related infractions, “which are not typically seen as contributing to public safety.”

“The fact is that Black communities are historically over-policed even before the advent of these technologies and algorithms,” Robson explained. “When you feed the data that focuses on arrests only in Black communities into an algorithm that predicts where crime is likely to happen, what you are going to get out of it is that crime only happens in Black and Brown neighborhoods when that’s not true.

“As a result,” Robson said. “Police are deployed overwhelmingly to Black and Brown neighborhoods, and it creates this cycle where more data is being created because there are more police there. This obviously has negative impacts on people’s lives. From the waves of violent policing that we’ve seen for quite some time, it’s evident why you would not want police in your community all the time. There has also been chronic over-policing and under-protection. Just because police are in a neighborhood, does not equate to greater safety in that neighborhood.”

Through her work with the lab and the Civics of Technology conference, Robson hopes to inspire more students to ask critical questions about how data is sourced and how technology is used in Black and Brown communities so that they can use their newfound knowledge to create better practices in whatever fields of work

and study they choose to venture in to. “A lot of them will end up in politics, in the tech industry, as lawyers, doctors, and all sorts of things,” Robson said. “One of the best things that comes out of teaching students of all kinds about this work is that it ripples out in every single environment in our daily lives, whether that be the law, whether that be healthcare, whether that be worker justice and labor.”

Participants in the Ida B. Wells Just Data Lab might go on to earn a doctorate degree or work in the tech industry, but that isn’t required. Robson says if they end up working in another industry entirely, she wants students to be “able to take some of the tools that we teach them about — about fair design practices and questioning what it really means to have something be objective or questioning what it really means for something to be data-driven — into whatever area they’re going into in the future. Hopefully, if we can create enough students to do that, we are creating a new generation with a new awareness so that people are thinking twice about the technologies that they deploy and the data that they use in every area.”

To that end, in early August, the student members of the lab participated in Civics of Technology, a free, two-day virtual conference designed to bring the knowledge they’ve acquired while participating in the lab to the greater public.

Technology and education justice

During the virtual conference, Collin Riggins, a junior at Princeton and a research associate at the lab, and Payton Croskey, a senior at Princeton and creative content director for the lab, led “Reimagining Education Justice: Practic-

es and Tools for Tech Freedom Schools,” a workshop which focused on education justice — from early childhood to college and beyond the traditional classroom. Their goal was to determine how technology can be used to promote better education practices for diverse students if it is used properly.

“The theme for this summer’s convention is Freedom Schools,” Croskey said, “Freedom Schools is where all of the research groups and products stem from. We are rooting ourselves in history before we try to build something new for the future.”

Freedom Schools were created in 1964 as entirely new schools specifically designed for the education and advancement of Black students. Supporters of these schools believed in paying attention to and meeting the unique needs of each individual child. Bringing that concept into the present day, Croskey and Riggins say that if we want to eliminate bias in education, we must similarly listen to and respond to the needs of the communities we wish to serve with technology.

We need to shift to “Thinking how we can build technology and community with those that the technology is seeking to serve,” Croskey said. “If we are building technology for young Black students in New York City, and we are saying that this is going to help them learn, then they also need to be part of that conversation and need to be included in that design.

“Technology is not going to be one size fits all,” Croskey said. “Especially in the education field, technology is going to need to be curated for a specific group and specific environments. Not pushing this one model that everyone needs to follow.”

“Although our goals are revolutionary,

our work spawns from a long tradition of Black radical education,” Collins added. “We’re looking at the Freedom Schools, which decided in the summer of 1964 to create entirely different schools for Black students so they could learn frameworks for how to resist and how to function in daily life.”

“Across any institution, and even maybe across the world in general, there is a fixed approach to how you engage with technology,” Collins said. “One of the things the Lab does beautifully is allow people from different backgrounds and disciplines to come together in conversation. This has been very radical to me, especially at an institution like Princeton, which is very tech-driven and quantitatively driven. It’s nice to be able to engage with these concepts through art, or through storytelling, or through speculative fiction, and that not only be accepted but embraced. That inclusivity is rare.”

The two students have also used their time in the lab to focus on the use of surveillance in schools, which has significantly increased given the rising rates of school shootings. Although surveillance may prove useful in keeping some students safe from shooters, Croskey worries this will prove dangerous for Black students and students from other marginalized backgrounds.

“There is a lot of surveillance being used these days with the rise of school shootings. There is a lot of data being collected and a lot of tracking done on students who do not have the power to consent,” Croskey said. In addition, there are “Parents who are not being given the power to truly consent because they are not being given full explanations about how this data is being used or where it will be sent to.”

Their hope is that technology can be reimagined in a way that is “curated for a specific group and specific environments. Not pushing this one model that everyone needs to follow,” Croskey explains.

Connecting technological and environmental justice

It’s been a boiling hot summer with historic droughts ravaging the globe, but many people don’t often think about the connections between technology and environmental justice.

“When you look into it, there are a lot of ways that the technologies that we are using can be harmful to the environment,” said Kenia D. Hale, a fellow at Princeton’s Center for Information Technology. During the Civics of Technology conference, Hale, who is also a graduate of Yale University, led “Reimagining Environmental Justice: Practices and Tools for Tech Freedom Schools,” a session that explored the intersection of the two topics.

Hale says that although the energy need-

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VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

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

Invitation for Bids

Agency Wide Roofing Repairs/Replacement

Union Company seeks:

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

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

Contact Dana at 860-243-2300

Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com

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

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

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Grant Administration Lead Planning Analyst position.

Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at:

https://www.jobapscloud.com/ CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?R1= 221121&R2=0007AR&R3=001

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

360 Management Group, Co. is currently seeking bids for agency wide roofing repairs/ replacement. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway

beginning on Monday, December 12, 2022 at 3:00PM.

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

Request for Proposals

Communications Media Consultant

Elm City Communities is currently seeking proposals for a communications media consultant. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/ gateway beginning on

Monday, December 12, 2022 at 3:00PM.

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

Invitation for Bids

Cornell Scott Ridge

I

437 M&N Eastern Street Fire Damage

Elm City Communities is currently seeking bids for Cornell Scott Ridge I 437 M&N Eastern Street Fire Damage. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Monday, December 12, 2022 at 3:00PM.

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

@ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO EMPLOYER

Invitation for Bids

Uniform Services

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

Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 3:00PM.

2016 -

02, 2016

Custodian

NOTICE

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

Request for

Proposals

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Maintenance workers needed for the Wallingford Public Schools to work the 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. shift. Hourly rate: $19.78 to $24.83 hourly. Requires some experience in building maintenance work. The closing date for applications is December 28, 2022 or the date we receive the fiftieth (50) application whichever occurs first. Apply: Human Resources Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Human Resources Department or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone #: (203) 294-2080 Fax # 203-294-2084. EOE.

Building Maintenance Worker Training and Testing

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.

LEGAL NOTICE

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT MANAGER

Request for Proposals (RFP) for Services

Elm City Communities is currently seeking proposals for building maintenance worker training and testing. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/ gateway beginning on

NOTICIA

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

FHI Studio is seeking a full-time Community Engagement Project Manager to join our team. As a Project Manager, you are vital to managing project teams, project budgets, schedules, workflows, and responsible for high quality project deliverables. Strong candidates have strong organizational and planning skills and have experience in developing and implementing engagement strategies. Our ideal candidate preferably has experience with a variety of stakeholders and presenting public presentations. A bachelor’s degree in urban planning, event organizing, public relations, or related field with a minimum of 8 years of experience is required. Salary ranges from $93,600 to $145,600 yearly, commensurate with level of experience. Please apply at https://fhistudio.isolvedhire.com/jobs/ or send a cover letter and resume to Bonnie Torres, 416 Asylum Street, Hartford, CT 06103.

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management, is seeking proposals to provide certain services related to financial management of the City of West Haven, Connecticut. The intent of the request is to identify individuals or firms with the necessary expertise to provide these services within a stated timeframe.

Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 3:00PM.

THE GLENDOWER GROUP, INC.

FHI Studio is an EEO/AA /VEV/Disabled employer. For more information, visit fhistudio.com.

INVITATION TO BID: SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 2:00 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for ROOF

REPLACEMENT at the Reverend Albert Callahan House, 32 Smith Street Seymour. The work includes the removal and replacement of asphalt shingle and built-up roofing as well as ACM abatement.

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

A non-mandatory pre-bid conference will be held at the Reverend Albert Callahan House at 2:00 pm, on Tuesday, December 20, 2022.

The RFP is available online at: https:// portal.ct.gov/DAS/CTSource/BidBoard and https://portal.ct.gov/OPM/Root/RFP/ Request-For-Proposals or from Kevin Meakem, Office of Policy and Management, Finance Division, 450 Capitol Ave., MS# 54FIN, Hartford, Connecticut 06106-1379. E-mail: Kevin.Meakem@ct.gov. Telephone (860) 418- 6313. Deadline for response submission is 3:00 PM EST February, 3, 2023.

Request for Qualifications

Architectural Design for 201 Hazel Street

The Glendower Group, Inc. is currently seeking proposals for Architectural Design for 201 Hazel Street. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Glendower’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway

beginning on Monday, December 12, 2022 at 3:00PM.

Information Technology

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

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

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.

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

Data Application Specialist: The Wallingford Public Schools is seeking a highly technical individual to assist in managing its organizational data system needs. Candidates must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent and 2 years’ experience working with computer software applications with 1 year working with PowerSchool, or an equivalent combination of experience and training substituting on year-for-year basis. School or district office experience is preferred. Must possess and maintain a valid State of CT motor vehicle operator’s license and a personal vehicle to travel between schools. Compensation is $32.86 per hour plus an excellent fringe benefits package. A complete job announcement and application may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page and can be mailed to the Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492, or emailed to: wlfdhr@wallingfordct.gov by the closing date of December 28, 2022. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 2942084. EOE

DISPATCHER

Invitation for Bids

Plumbing Repair Services

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.

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

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

Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 3:00PM.

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

The Town of Wallingford is seeking responsible candidates to perform 911, police, fire and EMS emergency dispatching duties. Must be able to work under stressful conditions and be able to type information with a high rate of speed and accuracy. Must be able to work all three shifts including weekends and holidays and be able to work additional shifts beyond the regular shift schedule. Requires a H.S. or business school diploma with courses in typing and 2 years of responsible office work experience. Wages: $ 23.72 ~

$28.28 hourly plus shift differential and excellent fringe benefits. Closing date is January 9, 2023, or the date of receipt of the 50th application, whichever occurs first. Apply: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main St., Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone: 203-294-2080, Fax: 203-294-2084. EOE.

BALDWIN HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTICE

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.

Town of Bloomfield

Building Maintainer

NOTICE OF INVITATION FOR BID HOUSING

AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DANBURY

Power Washing

IFB No. B23001

NOTICIA

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Baldwin Holdings, Inc. a nonprofit development instrumentality of the Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport (HACB) is currently seeking proposals from qualified firms to partially finance the rehabilitation of Harborview Towers. Solicitation package will be available on December 20, 2022, to obtain a copy of the solicitation you must send your request to bids@parkcitycommunities.org, please reference solicitation number and title on the subject line. A pre-proposal conference will be at 376 East Washington Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06608 on January 10, 2023, @ 10:00 a.m. Although attendance is not mandatory, submitting a bid for the project without attending conference is not in the best interest of the Offeror. Additional questions should be emailed only to bids@parkcitycommunities.org no later than January 17, 2023 @ 3:00 p.m. Answers to all the questions will be posted on PCC’s Website: www.parkcitycommunities.org. Proposals shall be mailed, or hand delivered by January 24, 2023 @ 3:00 PM, to Ms. Caroline Sanchez, Director of Procurement, 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604. Late proposals will not be accepted.

$25.37 hourly (40 hrs weekly) Pursuant to Teamsters Collective Bargaining Unit This position has a 9-step hourly range ($25.37 to $28.54) Pre-employment drug testing. For more details, visit our website – www.bloomfieldct.org

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

APPLY NOW!

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders

BID SUBMITTAL RETURN:

Housing Authority of the City of Danbury, 2 Mill Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 Envelope Must be Marked: IFB No. B23001, Power Washing

SUBMITTAL DEADLINE

January 31, 2023, at 2:00pm (EST)

Custodian

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

Maintenance workers needed for the Wallingford Public Schools to work the 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. shift. Hourly rate: $19.78 to $24.83 hourly. Requires some experience in building maintenance work. The closing date for applications is December 28, 2022 or the date we receive the fiftieth (50) application whichever occurs first. Apply: Human Resources Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Human Resources Department or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone #: (203) 294-2080 Fax # 203-294-2084. EOE.

PUBLIC WORKS

MAINTAINER II - Performs a variety of semi-skilled tasks in road and grounds maintenance. Must possess 2 years’ experience as laborer in construction work involving operation and care of trucks and other mechanical equipment used in construction OR two (2) years training in one of the skilled trades and one (1) year of experience in construction operations OR an equivalent combination of experience and training. Must possess and maintain a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) Class B to operate equipment. (Provide a copy of your CDL license with your application) $23.73 - $27.82 Hourly. Applications may be obtained at the Department of Human Resources, 45 S. Main Street, Room 301, Wallingford CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Fax (203)-294-2084 Phone: (203)294-2080. The closing date will be the date the 50th application or resume is received or January 9, 2023, whichever occurs

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

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

Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Town of Bloomfield

Finance Director

Salary Range $101,455-$156,599 Pre-employment drug testing.

AA/EOE. For Details go to www.bloomfieldct.org

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

CONTACT PERSON FOR IFB DOCUMENT: Devin Marra, Director of Financial Operations Telephone: 203-744-2500 x1410 E-Mail: dmarra@hacdct.org [Minority- and/or women-owned businesses are encouraged to respond]

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for an Agency Labor Relations Specialist Trainee position and an Associate Accountant position.

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

APPLY NOW!

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders

Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/sup/bulpreview.asp? R1=221207&R2=5989VR&R3=001 and https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/sup/bulpreview.asp? R1=221207&R2=0941AR&R3=001

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

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

Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY 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.

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

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

Invitation for Bids

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.

Snow Removal at McConaughy Terrace

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.

Elm City Communities is currently seeking bids for snow removal services at McConaughy Terrace. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

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

Monday, December 12, 2022 at 3:00PM.

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

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Municipal Finance Policy Development Coordinator

Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/ CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?R1= 221215&R2=1581MP&R3=001

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

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

The

City

Bridgeport

Park City Communities (PCC)

from

owners of New Construction, substantial

or existing

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO EMPLOYER

that desire to enter into an Agreement for a Housing Assistance Payment (AHAP) Contract for Project Base Vouchers (PBVs) for Contract Units under PCC’s Project Based Voucher Program. Under this Request for Proposals, PCC will make available PBVs for units that will house extremely low and very low income households. A complete set of RFP documents can be obtained on October 24, 2022, by emailing your request to bids@parkcitycommunities.org, please reference solicitation number and title on the subject line. Additional questions should be emailed only to bids@parkcitycommunities.org. Proposals shall be mailed, or hand delivered to Ms. Caroline Sanchez, Director of Procurement,150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604. This RFP will remain Open until Completion of PBV.

An Instrumentality of The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport Request for Proposals (RFP)

Low Income Housing Tax Credit Equity Syndicator, Construction and Permanent Lender Solicitation Number: 25-BH-23-S

COMMENTARY: Tis a Time for Political Change

By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher | San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper

Locally in the State of California, we have a first with an African American woman as the first female Mayor of the City of Los Angeles. The significance of this is not that she is a woman, but that she is qualified for the position.

A former member of the U.S. Congress and chairperson of The Congressional Black Caucus; former member of the California Legislature where she served as the first woman to ever become Speaker of the Assembly; and member of the Legislative Black Caucus in the Assembly with a string of achievements.

But perhaps the most important thing about the new Mayor, which represents a change, is her stated commitment to attack the problem of the 40,000 individuals in the City of Los Angeles who are homeless.

Although we have millions of dollars here in California allocated to the issue of

homelessness, one unanswered question is how do we reduce or eliminate homelessness without addressing the issues of “rent control?”

The absence of rent control means that landlords can raise rents almost at will, force people out of their homes because they complain about the lack of repairs or other problems with their dwellings and not experience any real problems under the very laws that call such actions “Retaliatory Evictions.” In the City of San Diego, we added one new council member, with those running for office, reelected. We also experienced redistricting, with changes in the areas now being

represented by people re-elected to office.

We also have new mayors in the cities of Chula Vista and National City, California cities connecting with the City of San Diego. All of this represents elements of change and new opportunities for governance for those who see such possibilities. The question here is where do you stand? Do you see the opportunities? Are you concerned about the mounting problem of homelessness and making tough decisions beyond how much money is available to tackle the problem?

Let us hear from you on these issues and opportunities as we confront the changes before us.

Congressional Black Caucus Names Nevada’s Steven Horsford as New Chair

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who earned the distinction of Nevada’s first African American State Senate Majority Leader, will lead the Congressional Black Caucus during the 118th Congress in January.

Horsford, who won reelection to Nevada’s fourth congressional district in November, was announced on Thursday as the CBC’s choice as its 28th chair.

“Over the last 50 years, the CBC has served as the ‘conscience of the Congress,’ helping guide the legislative priorities that have shaped our nation and helped improve the lives of African Americans and all our constituents,”

Horsford, 49, said in a statement.

“As Chair, I will provide the leadership, strategic vision and execute on our plans to guide us on a path that will deliver positive socioeconomic outcomes for the communities and constituencies we serve.”

Horsford’s selection as chair comes as the Democrats fall into the minority in the House.

Known for successfully working across party lines and being calm under the everyday pressures of Congress, has continued his work to ensure veterans and seniors citizens, receive needed benefits.

He authored and passed the Nevada Lands Bill to create jobs across the state and fought to protect a woman’s right to

make healthcare decisions.

In addition to Horsford’s chairmanship, the CBC announced Rep. Yvette Clarke, 58, of New York as first vice chair; Rep. Troy Carter, 59, of Louisiana as second vice chair; Rep. Lucy McBath, 62, of Georgia as secretary; and Rep. Marilyn Strickland, 60, as whip.

“I am so honored to have been elected as the CBC Secretary for the 118th Congress. It is always necessary we continue to forge a path toward getting into Good Trouble and do the work to make life better for American families,” McBath asserted.

“Together, we must build a brighter, more just future for our communities, our caucus, and our country.”

Former Texas Cop Gets 11 Years in Atatiana Jefferson Killing

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Aaron Dean, the white police officer who shot and killed Atatiana Jefferson in her home in Texas, has received an 11year prison sentence following his conviction on manslaughter charges.

Dean,38, counted among the officers responding to an “open structure” call at Jefferson’s home in October 2019.

Jefferson, 28, left her door open while she and her 8-year-old nephew, Zion, were inside.

Noticing the open door, a neighbor called police for a welfare check.

Jefferson and her nephew were playing video games that night and Jefferson opened the doors to allow smoke from hamburgers to dissipate after they burned.

Zion, now 11, testified that he was in the room when his aunt was shot.

After the sentence was pronounced, one of Jefferson’s sisters, Ashley Carr, read

statements, including one from her sister, Amber Carr, Zion’s mother.

Amber Carr said Jefferson, who planned to go to medical school, “had big dreams and goals” and that her son “feels he is responsible to fill the whole role of his aunt, and he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.”

Ashley Carr called her sister “a beautiful ray of sunshine.”

“She was in her home, which should have been the safest place for her to be, and yet turned out to be the most dangerous,” she said.

The manslaughter conviction allowed the jury to sentence the disgraced former officer to 11 years rather than the 20 years he could have served on murder charges.

Body-camera footage revealed that Dean and his partner did not identify themselves as police officers.

Dean and Officer Carol Darch testified that they thought the house might have been burglarized and quietly moved into the fenced-off backyard, looking for signs

of forced entry.

Dean drew his service weapon and fired through the window a split-second after shouting at Jefferson to show her hands.

Dean testified that he had no choice when he saw Jefferson pointing a gun at him. But under cross examination he admitted to several errors and conceded that actions before and after the shooting were “more bad police work.”

Zion testified that Jefferson took out her

gun because she thought there was an intruder in the backyard.

Ashley Carr said the family wanted the officer sentenced to more time but was still pleased with the 11 years he received.

“Eleven years, that’s the same age as Zion,” Carr said. “Ten months, 12 days, that’s the day that it happened. It’s a message in this. It might not be the message that we wanted and the whole dream, but it’s some of it.”

Black College Students

ed for a single internet search or email is small, there are approximately 4.1 billion people, or 53.6 percent of the global population, who now use the internet, and the associated greenhouse gasses emitted with each online activity can add up. It turns out that the carbon footprint of our gadgets, the internet, and the systems supporting them account for about 3.7 percent of global greenhouse emissions. This is similar to the amount produced by the airline industry globally.

“I wanted to figure out ways to challenge the idea that technology is automatically better for the environment and spreading more awareness about the ways it can be quite harmful. People think there is no physical impact, but there is actually a lot of physical impact,” said Hale. “You can’t do anything without a laptop, so this isn’t to shame people into not buying one, but more so to spread awareness. Get engaged with the environmental organizations and activist groups that are in your city. It’s better to be more proactive in getting organized with our communities on how to collectively combat these things.”

Hale says that some questions that folks should be asking themselves when determining the environmental impact of a technological tool are who is mining the materials that go into your car, computer, or smartphone, and does the company that makes this product overly contribute to global pollution?

Learning more about the effects of technology on our lives

To learn more about how to spot technology bias and how to advocate for better data sourcing practices in your community, the lab’s research and resources page lists plenty of useful information.

In addition, the lab’s founder and director, Ruha Benjamin, has written extensively about the connections between technology and inequality. Her 2019 book “Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code” explores how new technologies are framed as “benign and pure,” even though they perpetuate social inequities. The book, which was a 2020 winner of the Oliver Cromwell Cox Book Award (for anti-racist scholarship) from the American Sociological Association Section on Race & Ethnic Minorities also shares ideas on how we can combat these inequities.

In addition, “Black Power: The Politics of Liberation, by Kwame Ture and political scientist Charles V. Hamilton, which defines Black Power, presents insights into the roots of racism in the United States and suggests a means of reforming the traditional political process for the future through technology and other tools.

The post Black college students lead movement to eliminate bias in tech appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford

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