JANUARY 08,

Coach Saulsbury (right) with Olympic gold medalist Alexis Holmes and invitational founder Neil Richardson.

Blumenthal Anticipates Signing of Social Security Fairness Act ‘Within Days’

by Jamil Ragland

US Sen. Richard Blumenthal revealed on Monday morning that President Biden had “assured” him he would sign the Social Security Fairness Act, bringing to a conclusion a fight that public sector employees have been engaged in for decades.

“I know folks out there are hearing, oh, they repealed the windfall elimination provision. So our public service workers are getting a windfall now. Trust me, believe these folks. There is no windfall here,” Blumenthal said at a news conference Monday with representatives from public sector labor unions.

Blumenthal was referring to the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These laws, passed decades ago, prevented municipal public sector employees who qualified for a pension from receiving their full Social Security benefits, and from receiving death benefits if their spouse passed away.

“They paid into Social Security just like everyone else,” he said. “They deserve to be paid by Social Security, just like everyone else, without an offset, a penalty, just because they did public service work … Everybody ought to be treated equally. They’ve earned it. They’ve paid into it.

There’s no windfall for anyone here. And I’ve been assured by the White House that the President will be signing this measure literally within days.”

Passage of the Social Security Fairness Act will impact more than 32,000 Connecticut residents, and more than 3 million people across the nation. Retirees will be eligible to receive up to an additional $600 in Social Security benefits, calculated retroactively to 2024. The bill had broad bipartisan support, with a majority of Democrats and Republicans in both houses of Congress voting yes.

Mary Moninger-Elia, an organizer with the American Federation of Teachers Connecticut, described her own experiences with being denied benefits due to the WEP/GPO.

“[Repealing WEP/GPO] became personal for me at some point when I retired, and I applied for my benefits, and they said, you’re not getting $400 a month of your earned benefits because of the WEP,” she said. “And then it became more devastatingly personal two years ago when my husband died, and though he had paid him Social Security for over 40 years, his wife got nothing. All the money he had put into Social Security was now going to pay other people’s spouses for their survivor benefits, but his spouse got noth-

ing. That just seemed more than I could stand, or more than seemed necessary to happen.”

Moninger-Elia credited their success to forming a coalition of many public sector employees that crossed political and ideological lines and had support around the country to put pressure on legislators everywhere to support repeal.

“I believe, having worked on this for so many years before that, that getting people out of their silos helped. All of us had worked on it in our own little silos,” Moninger-Elia said. “[Betty Marafino, president of the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans] helped bring us out of those silos to work together. We started doing what we called the Hollywood Squares on Zoom meetings, where we would see one another, so we got to know one another that way, and we planned the strategies.“

Blumenthal ended by reiterating that public sector employees had earned the money they were receiving.

“We ought to be saying thank you to our public service workers, thank you to our firefighters, thank you to our police and our teachers who are in the classrooms day in and day out, year after year,” he said. “We’re righting a 50-year-old wrong here.”

Comptroller To Ask Legislature For More Funding For Additional Applicants

$9 Million In Flood Relief Helped 500-Plus Hartford Residents

by Viktoria Sundqvist

HARTFORD, CT

– More than 500 property owners, renters, and business owners have benefitted from the Hartford Flood Relief and Compensation Programs, but more money is needed, officials said this week.

Comptroller Sean Scanlon, who was in charge of drafting the flood relief program, on Monday released a report outlining how it allocated $9 million to assist and provide compensation to residents and property owners impacted by ground flooding, calling it “tangible relief.”

“This program has demonstrated the positive impact government can have when we partner with communities to address chronic challenges and better the lives of citizens,” Scanlon said in a news release. “We would not have been able to do this without our legislative partners, community leaders, (program administrator) Dr. Gary Rhule, and the Blue Hills Civic Association.”

So far, 523 property owners, renters, and business owners received $8,191,494.97 in relief through this program since September 2023, Scanlon said. The average payout per claim was $15,722.25.

An additional 34 applications have been approved and almost $600,000

more allocated, but due to lack of response for paperwork needed to process those payments, those checks have not yet been sent out, he said. The majority of applicants who were

approved are in the North End of Hartford, an area plagued by ground flooding for a long time, according to the report. Applications could be filed for flooding damage sustained after Jan. 1,

2021.

“The neighborhoods of Blue Hills and Upper Albany had the highest rate of applications compared to the other neighborhoods in the city,” according

to the report’s summary.

The government contracted with Crawford and Company to assess and inspect flood damage and with Blue Hills Civic Association to perform outreach and help residents fill out applications.

“This program has been a lifesaver for many members of our community, who have been dealing for too long with the devastating impacts of flooding across the North End,” said state Sen. Doug McCrory, who represents Hartford.

He said the funds have helped many families “put their lives back together.”

Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam agreed the program has been a lifeline for residents, especially those who have suffered as a result of “chronic neighborhood disinvestment.”

“I’m encouraged to see so many residents taking advantage of this funding opportunity, and I hope our state legislature continues to support and expand the program,” Arulampalam said in the release.

Based on average claim payouts and 139 applications that have not even had their homes inspected yet to assess damage, Scanlon is proposing the legislature allocate an additional $4 million in the upcoming session to cover the remaining applications.

US Sen. Richard Blumenthal speaks Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, during a news conference on the passage of legislation repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which he said President Joe Biden agreed to sign. Credit: Screengrab / CT-N

FILE PHOTO: State Comptroller Sean Scanlon speaks Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, during a news conference regarding his office’s audit of the Social

Council. Credit: Jamil Ragland / CTNewsJunkie

CTNewsJunkie

CTNewsJunkie

Tourney Lifts Coach Saulsbury’s Legacy

by Lisa Reisman

Under the bright lights of the Floyd Little Athletic Center, shoes squeaked on hardwood. Bodies collided and scrambled for loose balls. The 800 people in the stands groaned over every missed jumper. The scintillating affair, between the Hillhouse High School Academics and the New London Whalers, was just one matchup in the annual Robert Saulsbury Basketball Invitational.

In its eighth year, the all-day invitational took place on Dec. 27, and featured five marquee games.

The annual event is “about basketball and a lot more,” said founder Neil Richardson, as the PA announcer named two MVPs, one from the winning team (Hillhouse) and also unconventionally the losing team (New London).

That’s in keeping with Coach Saulsbury’s influence, according to Richardson, his former player at Wilbur Cross in the late 1960s. The first African American to coach in New Haven, Saulsbury authored a dynasty that included nine state titles, 497 games won with 10 All-Americans and 18 All-Staters, and a 1974 squad that the Washington Post named “the best high school team in the nation.”

The idea of dual MVPs came from the tournament committee. “Someone on the losing team played hard to win and came up short, and someone on the winning team played hard to win, and they both should be honored,” said Richardson in a phone interview after the event. “That’s all Coach Saulsbury. Winning was wonderful, but playing the game the right way was just as important.” He was a “great father figure who held

his players to a high standard, a positive role model back when they weren’t saying ‘positive role model,’” Richardson said. “He wanted his players to represent

about dignity and respect, about us projecting a positive image because he knew that would get us further than we could imagine,” he said.

Following the Hillhouse-New London tilt, emcee Rodney T. Moore introduced Coach Saulsbury, 95, who was in attendance for most of the day. The crowd cheered.

Then came the awards ceremony and the announcement of the four 2024 award recipients.

Those included Hillhouse girls outdoor track coach Gary Moore and Hillhouse boys outdoor track coach Michelle Moore for their “exceptional leadership and their positive influence on young people.”

There was also Michael A. Jefferson., for his work as a civil rights lawyer, author, and community activist, and Wilbur Cross culinary educator Nathaniel Bradshaw.

The common thread: “Each of them is furthering the legacy of Coach Saulsbury,” Richardson said, who thanked the tournament committee, in particular Sharon Bradford Fleming, for their hard work in putting the event together.

Perhaps the highlight of the ceremony was the final award winner, gold medalist Alexis Holmes of Hamden, who anchored the women’s 4x400 meter final in the Paris Olympics last summer.

“Be fearless in pursuit of your dreams,” she told the crowd, before being surrounded by fans.

Proceeds from ticket sales benefitted the Robert H. Saulsbury Scholarship Fund.

John P. Thomas Publisher / CEO

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

Team Keith Jackson Delores Alleyne John Thomas, III

Team Staff Writers Christian Lewis/Current Affairs Anthony Scott/Sports Arlene Davis-Rudd/Politics

Contributing Writers

David Asbery / Tanisha Asbery

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

Michelle Turner / Smita Shrestha William Spivey / Kam Williams Rev. Samuel T. Ross-Lee Contributors At-Large

the school and the city in the best way possible, and that meant jacket and tie every day of the season.

“That was unusual at the time, but it was

Two students from area universities, Shecardo Williams of Gateway and SCSU’s Christian McClease, were this year’s recipients of financial aid.

Christine Stuart www.CTNewsJunkie.com Paul Bass www.newhavenindependent.org

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Lisa Reisman photos Hillhouse soars at latest Saulsbury Invitational.

Losing MVP from the New London Whalers with Maurice Williamson, Wilbur Cross assistant basketball coach and son of NBA standout Super John Williamson.

A giant in New Haven hoops.

The New Haven independent

"Big Dog" Gets Stetson In The Christmas Spirit

By Abiba Biao, The Arts Paper newhavenarts.org

When Melba Moore took up the stage, it was as if the world stopped. She sang the first bars of “Over the Rainbow,” her voice smooth as silk. She pressed forward, jumping from high octaves and whistle notes to a rich bass voice. She was warm and gentle, but demanded the audience’s attention.

“You know, you got to have a dream. Ev-errry-body-s got a dream. God gave it to you. If you have a dream—" she paused to take the microphone away from her mouth— “How you going to make a dream come true?”

Holiday spirits were high early this month at the Stetson Branch of the New Haven Free Public Library, as the Village Holiday Celebration took over the building’s second floor for a bright and merry afternoon of music. The semi-annual celebration, led by Grammy nominated producer and performer Chris “Big Dog” Davis, featured artists including Dawn Tallman, Mike G., Moore, Rahsaan Langley, and Timmy Mala.

The event had a turnout of over 11o attendees, according to Stetson Branch Manager Diane Brown. During the music-filled afternoon, Davis received the second-ever “Stetson Star” award, given to community members who have nurtured and supported New Haveners of all ages in reaching their dreams.

“I just wanted people to come and enjoy the holiday spirit and being together as a community and being together as one,” Brown said, describing the inspiration behind the event. “I'm very appreciative to the producer, Chris Davis, for doing what he does. He does it for free every year.” Davis is the second Stetson Star awardee this year; the first went to Hamden native and Olympic athlete Alexis Holmes in November. Davis, who has made Stetson something of his musical home in the past several years (read more about that here, here, and here), described earning the award as a “humbling experience.” With his band, Chris Davis and Friends, Davis kept the concert moving on piano, with Carl Carter on bass guitar, Bryce Thompson behind drums, and Will Davis as audio engineer.

“Chris is just a genius. He really is a

genius,” Carter said in an interview after the performance. “I haven’t played with him in a while so it’s good to reconnect with him.”

Davis, who grew up in Waterbury and comes from a musical background, took time Saturday to remember his humble beginnings at a a Yale after-school program at the Dixwell Avenue Congregational UCC. It was there he got exposed to many of the creative resources at Yale,

honing his classical abilities, and was able to experience what it was like to be a Yale student.

Later, Davis went on to study at the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford.

“I give my mother all of this because she seen everything in me,” Davis said in a speech to the crowd. “So I say to the parents, when your kid is doing that and you see it push them, push them, push them.”

Mike G and Rahsaan Langley. "To see her up there singing just touched my heart," Mike G said of Moore's performance.

Mike G and Rahsaan Langley quickly took up the mic, with Mike launching into a R&B version of “Deck the Halls” and Langley performing “Let it Snow.”

Mike G’s infectious energy soon rubbed off on the crowd. As he jumped into the hook, participants got up and started wav-

ing their hands in the air. He later said this is part of the show’s magic: he gets to hype up the audience, but also takes time as an attendee to watch people perform. “To see such an icon like Melba Moore come up there, I had to come from the back and sit on the floor watch it … because she pioneered the way for all of us, you, her and everybody, all of us,” he said. “And to see her up there singing just touched my heart.”

The musician also had some words of advice and encouragement for up-andcoming artists.

“Respect the art. Put the time in, put the work in. It doesn't have to happen overnight,” he said. “I always tell people, you know, [as an] artists microphone is my paintbrush, you know? And just like you paint a picture, you write a song. You want people to hear the song. You want to hear their different takes on what you just did.”

In the crowd were friends Ella Smith and Beverly Barnes. After hearing about the event from a flier in the Stetson Library, the friends knew they had to turn out for a chance to see Moore.

“She's just so unique. It's going to be a twist, whatever it is. And as you were listening, I'm sure you could see her voice range can go up and down without effort, without effort! She can hit a high note, low note, just all in one beat. And that is, it's a naturally gifted person, just amazing,” Barnes said.

Barnes said that she liked the free, accessible nature of the event and emphasized the importance of accessibility to recreational activities and barriers of attending concerts and shows due to high costs.

A self-proclaimed jazz fan, Barnes’ never misses an opportunity to attend free shows, like the free jazz concerts every summer on the New Haven Green hosted by the International Festival of Arts and Ideas.

“Melba touches people,” she said. “I'm excited to see who Chris is going to bring next year, but I'm sure it'll be something special.”

To hear more from the celebration, click on the video above or listen to this episode of "Dateline New Haven" on WNHH-LP New Haven.

Chris "Big Dog" Davis with his "Stetson Star" Award. Abiba Biao Photos.

Senate Passes Social Security Fairness Act, Connecticut Educators Celebrate

by Jamil Ragland

The US Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) over the weekend, sending the bill that will expand Social Security benefits to millions of public-sector employees to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.

The bill reverses the windfall elimination provision (WEP) and the government pension offset (GPO), two policies that significantly decrease the amount of money received from Social Security by public employees who also earned a municipal pension.

The WEP reduces benefits for retired or disabled workers who have fewer than 30 years of significant earnings from employment covered by Social Security if they also receive pensions on the basis of noncovered employment. The GPO reduces the spousal or surviving spousal benefits of people who receive pensions on the basis of noncovered employment. The laws have been on the books for decades impacting the retirement earnings of police officers, teachers, firefighters, and other public sector employees.

The Senate passed the SSFA on a 7620 vote, with Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy joining a bipartisan coalition of supporters. This follows last month’s House passage of the bill by an overwhelming bipartisan margin of 327 to 75. The bill now heads to President Biden, who is expected to sign it into law.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, celebrated the bill’s passage

“Today, justice was finally done for the millions of American workers who dedicated their lives to serving the public but had their retirements throttled by a punitive and unnecessary loophole. The Senate joined the House and delivered

on its promise to pass the Social Security Fairness Act so that every public employee can retire with dignity and grace,” Weingarten said in a statement. “This bill had wide bipartisan support from lawmakers and their constituents for one simple reason: It’s about basic fairness. President Biden, from the start of his administration, has acted decisively on retirement security and we hope he will sign the bill quickly.”

Weingarten said everyone knows a teacher, firefighter, police officer, nurse, or public worker of some kind who has paid into Social Security year after year, only to have their payments curbed by the WEP and GPO when they retire.

“Now, that penalty will be consigned to the dustbin of history, where it belongs,” she added. “Ensuring a fair and secure retirement is how we respect the workers who uplift our communities. And it’s how

we recruit and retain the next generation to help our country thrive.”

The Connecticut Education Association lobbied for the passage of the bill. Several members of the CEA traveled to Washington two weeks ago to directly appeal to lawmakers.

“The repeal of WEP/GPO would not have been possible without the collective power of members in unions across the country and the support of a bipartisan group of congresspeople who understand the importance of repealing this law,” said CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey.

In a phone interview, CEA President Kate Dias said that the passage of the SSFA not only would allow teachers and other municipal workers to retire with better benefits, but that by eliminating the Social Security penalties, the field of educators could grow.

“To be perfectly honest, [the SSFA]

also allows us to recruit people as second career educators,” she said. “These penalties really made it undesirable for somebody who had worked in business and industry to become an educator as a second career because they would have to take on these penalties and see a reduction or potential elimination of their Social Security. So now we can invite people from other careers into the teaching profession, and we’re quite frankly ecstatic about the repeal of these penalties.”

She responded to critics who pointed to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, which stated that passage of the SSFA will have a large impact on the solvency of Social Security. The additional benefits paid out as a result of passage of the bill will cost $190 billion over the next 10 years, and will lead to the exhaustion of the Social Security trust fund roughly six months earlier than currently projected.

“To those individuals, I would say the problem that exists needs to be solved regardless of how we treat our public servants,” Dias said. “I would also say that we have tried to balance Social Security on the backs of municipal workers for too long. We’re not asking for benefits that we haven’t paid in. We’re asking for the same benefits as anyone else that has paid in. So in that regard, what we’re currently doing is just taxing municipal employees to balance Social Security for an extra six months, which I would argue is an absolutely inappropriate budgeting mechanism.”

Dias said that the next legislative priority for the CEA at the federal level is to help protect Social Security and ensure that it is fully funded. She said that she is ready to work with Congressman John Larson, who has proposed changes to Social Security to keep it solvent in his Social Security 2100 Act. Currently, the Social Security Trust Fund is funded enough to pay 100% of benefits through 2033. After that, benefits would have to be cut or other dramatic changes to the Social Security program would need to be made. At the state level, Dias said the CEA will be focused on elevating the teaching profession in Connecticut, including measures to diversify the workforce, shore

up special education and improve teacher pay.

“We’re really focusing on teacher salary,” she said. “One of the reasons we’re in this conundrum [regarding Social Security benefits] is that teachers must work a second job, and that’s because of the salary level. And so really, we do need to talk about elevating the teaching profession through compensation.”

Draughn Chosen To Run Housing Authority

New Haven’s housing authority is starting the new year with permanent new leadership built on continuity.

The authority’s board has voted to name Shenae Draughn its permanent president from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027. Draughn, who has worked her way up through the authority and its affiliated Glendower Group since 2009, has served as interim director since October, when previous CEO Karen DuBois-Walton was named the new CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

In a release issued Monday, Draughn spoke of “renewing” the authority’s “promise” to tenants for quality housing and strengthened community through job-training, education, and healthcare programs.

“Together, we’re shaping a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive,” Draughn stated.

The Housing Authority of New Haven (HANH), aka “Elm City Communities,” houses and provides services for over 14,000 people and builds affordable housing through its Glendower Group development affiliate.

AFT President Randi Weingarten screams over nursing staffing shortage. Credit: Hugh McQuaid / FILE PHOTO / CTNewsJunkie

At Co-Op, Three "Soles" Tap Into Cross-Cultural Storytelling

Lucy Gellman, Editor, The Arts Paper newhavenarts.org

"One two three four five! One-two .. three four five! One - two - three - four - five! Onetwothreefourfive!" Amanda Castro called out, and an entire dance studio snapped to attention. Across the room, feet pounded the floor, feeling out the fundamentals of Kathak dance, tap, and flamenco. In three rows, dancers spun gently, rocked on their toes from front to back, lifted their arms as if they were about to take flight.

The count, steady as a drum, never stopped. Beside a floor-to-ceiling window, Quinton White never took his eyes off the mirror in front of him, hands raised at his waist. Each time he extended his arms, he added another chapter to the story he was telling with his wrists, fingers, and feet.

That rhythm came to Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School last Friday, as Soles of Duende arrived to teach a master class before their performance of “Can We Dance Here?” at the Yale Schwarzman Center on Saturday night. In just over an hour of movement, the trio— tap dancer Amanda Castro, flamenco artist Arielle Rosales and Kathak dancer Brinda Guha—showed how percussive dance can tap into a shared humanity, as much a cross-cultural bridge builder as it is a heartbeat.

The Dec. 14 performance closed the Schwarzman Center’s 2024 fall season. For Castro, it was also a homecoming: she grew up in New Haven and attended Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School (BRAMS) and ACES Educational Center for the Arts (ECA). More on that below.

“I feel like for me, there’s always a little bit of curiosity and a little bit of fear, and you have to like, give that permission to face the unknown,” said Guha, who learned Kathak dance from her mother and has since worked to demystify and democratize the form. “Giving them permission to explore. It [Kathak dance] feels precious, it feels ancient and it feels untouchable. And that’s the point [of teaching it].”

Soles of Duende, which was founded in 2016, captures that spirit from its collective brain to its members’ arms, legs and feet, which seem to be constantly in motion. That’s even in the title of the group: “duende” translates literally to “elf” or “goblin” in Spanish, but its deeper, more intangible meaning is a kind of transcendent state of being, particularly when it is tied to music.

Castro, Rosales and Guha don’t just work across their respective forms: they share them generously, in service to the rhythm that binds them together and tell stories across cultures. Each brings a different expertise and tradition: Kathak is a North Indian form of classical dance, flamenco originates in Southern Spain, and tap is indigenous to the U.S., where its genesis is inextricably bound to jazz music, nineteenth-century Black dance, and a tradition of minstrelsy and oppression that is still stingingly, surprisingly recent.

Friday, the three brought that into CoOp’s second floor dance studio, where first-year dance teacher Tayvon Dudley is usually teaching his juniors during that time (Dudley, who attended BRAMS with Castro, stayed for the class). As students formed a circle around Castro, she counted to five, then counted again, then again, changing her speed and tone each time. Beneath her, her feet hammered out a rhythm, never still for more than a quarter of a second.

As she moved, students loosened up, making the five count their own. Shoulders relaxed, falling from where they had been just moments before. Arms flew upward, following Castro’s lead; knees bent and stretched out as thunderous, then syncopated, footfalls filled the studio. On a dry erase board behind students, a suite of ballet terms peeked out in blue and red marker, momentarily forgotten.

“Okay,” Castro said as the class prepared to fan out, students finding their familiar spaces on the floor. “Let’s take that and put it in your pocket.”

With her back to a mirror that ran the length of the room, Guha stepped forward, tracing the origins of Kathak dance from Northern India to New York, where she is working to take it down from its pedestal. She guided students through mudras, or hand gestures, channeling centuries of politics, war and migration into a fluid set of movements.

Her right arm swept to the side, thumb tucked in, as the left elbow bent. Her wrist bent towards the floor, exposing a duet of tattooed stars on her forearm. One row behind her, junior Vanessa Serrano looked down at her right hand and then up at the left.

“It’s a welcome,” Guha said as her arms came closer to her core and rested there for a moment. As she shifted, the rich sound of her Ghungroos echoed through the space. “It’s a greeting. It’s a beautiful example of these two ideologies coming together. It’s about understanding how far from each other we’ve gotten.”

She took a pause and looked at the students around her. It was time to add the feet. As she began to step, she described it as both dance and dialogue, through which she connects with history, with fellow artists and with the audience. “We really are talking to the audience all the time,” she said.

In the center of the room, junior Dianalys Boyer focused her energy on each movement, extending her arms with a slow, gentle grace that didn’t feel quite like the classical porte de bras she was used to. As a dancer in school and at church, she’s used to different forms, she later said—but she had never experienced anything like Kathak dance. For her, each movement was a way to reach out and touch a new tradition.

“It was different from what we usually do [in class]—we’re getting to experience different cultures,” she said. “For me, it’s more international. Every style comes from a different place. You get to challenge yourself.”

Back at the front of the classroom, it

seemed that dancers were just getting started. Stepping to the front, Rosales clasped and unclasped her hands and pounded the floor, travelling from Northern India to Southern Spain without ever leaving College Street. Not far from Boyer, Quinton White watched every movement, smiling as even Rosales’ earrings—chickens with calf-high red boots for dancing—began to sway and dance with her body.

“If you look at a world map, which I encourage you to do, you will see how close Spain is to Morocco,” Rosales said, talking through flamenco’s Andalusian and Arab influences as she moved onto her back leg, then fixed a thick, tidy imaginary belt around her waist. She rested her hands atop it for just a moment. “We’re going to take flamenco and put it into the world of Soles.”

Turning towards the mirror, she began

That remained clear as Castro rounded out the lesson with a crash course in tap, teaching students to find their footing in the city that raised her. As she asked who in the room had ever done tap—only three hands went up—she encouraged dancers to rearrange themselves, watching them buzz through the space like excited electrons.

As they did, she tried to get a read on what students knew about the form.

“It’s very grounded?” said Payton Goodwin, with a lift at the edge of her voice that suggested a question.

Castro nodded. “It’s very grounded!” she said. “What else?” The room was silent for a rare moment.

“Look to your neighbor and say percussive! Dance!” she said, and waited as the room filled with the chirp and bellow of young voices. “Look to your other neighbor and say percussive! Dance!”

Turning the clock back to the nineteenth century, Castro described tap’s origins as an art form that is both uniquely Black and American, bound to both the history of jazz music and the economic oppression and disenfranchisement of Black Americans.

From 1740 to 1865, the Negro Act of 1740 prohibited the use of drums (among other musical instruments) among enslaved Black people. While the law ended with the emancipation of enslaved people in 1865, the use of feet and hands as percussive instruments has remained and evolved since.

“People didn’t have access to drums, so we did it with the body,” she said. She traced the evolution of tap from William Henry Lane—more commonly known as Master Juba—to contemporary tap dance today, taking the same sort of long view of history that Guha had earlier in the class. As she talked students through a cramp roll, she paused briefly, encouraging them not to favor their right sides. She was firm but gentle, smiling as she spoke. “Everybody look to your neighbor and say love! That left!” she said. Again, young voices filled the classroom, followed by a joyful explosion of footfalls that got a few glances from students making their way through the hallways.

to clap, a drumming, one-two one-two sound that filled the room as students joined in. Planting her left foot, she displayed a golpe or stomp, listening as the thud of over a dozen left feet joined in. Between claps, feet smacked the floor, the sound hard and certain as students practiced in unison. As Castro joined in, it became a full-body movement, with hands hitting shoulders and thighs with the unmistakable slap and smack of skin on skin.

“Don’t be afraid to use your whole body to fill the space,” Rosales said. As in on cue, White seemed to stand a little taller, taking a moment to feel where his shoulders, hips, legs and feet were in space. As a student at the Hamden Academy of Dance and Music, he later said he was grateful for the opportunity to push himself beyond his comfort zone. “It was different!” he said.

That Castro looked at home was perhaps not a surprise: she later recalled feeling like BRAMS and ECA “saved me,” she said. She now wants to give people she teaches the same kind of foundation that she had dancing with Nikki Claxton, Sheri Caldwell, and Liz Glover right here in New Haven. When she suggested that students put a Kathak-flamenco-tap routine together, it was as though the room murmured in delight.

At the center of the room, junior Jasmine Tolson soaked up the sound around her as Castro, Guha and Rosales arranged students in three groups and ran their routines. As she returned to her normal Friday morning minutes later, she praised the artists for helping her challenge herself all before the third period bell.

“You have to be more open with your body,” she said.

Amanda Castro, whose primary medium is tap dance, does Kathak dance during Brinda Guha's portion of the master class

Jasmine Tolson, Quinton White and Dianalys Boyer.

How Angel Brought Back Christmas In The Hill

by Laura Glesby

“I don’t put up a tree,” said Paula Pouncey. “I stoapped buying presents.” She wasn’t planning to do anything for Christmas.

The flyer, which advertised a neighborhood toy and grocery giveaway in honor of the winter holidays, led Pouncey to the Hallock Street police substation on Sunday afternoon alongside 414 other Hill families who made the trek through the frigid December cold.

Pouncey was excited for the collard greens. She was even more glad for the moment of neighborhood connection in what has sometimes been a challenging holiday season.

Hubbard had organized the giveaway alongside the New Haven Police Department’s Hill district manager, Sgt. Jasmine Sanders.

“I try to do something for every holiday,” Sanders said. “I come in contact with a lot of families” in need of some extra support. The events are a way of “giving back” and they “help with the relationship with the Police Department,” Sanders said. “It helps them see us as humans.”

Sanders had laid out a massive array of toys ranging from dolls to remote-controlled cars to the ever-popular LEGOs most of which she’d purchased using her police district’s budget. Ken-

neth Redding, of Hamden’s Best Choice Barber Shop, donated items such as sunglasses and earphones geared toward older kids. Each kid could pick out one toy to take home.

Once siblings Ivy, Kiara, and King selected their toys from the table, they eagerly showed each other what they’d found.

7 year-old King had chosen a yellow toy car.

12-year-old Kiara had picked a doll who came with several changeable outfits. “I’m gonna play with this as soon as I get home!” she beamed. And 15-year-old Ivy said she decided

on a pink pretend beauty set to give her 2 year-old niece, who’s “obsessed with makeup.”

They made their way to the next room inside the substation, where Hubbard took the lead on groceries. Hubbard purchased and packed bags upon bags of food with the help of her kids.

She got financial support for the event from Next Level Empowerment Program, Chuck & Eddie’s Used Auto Parts, the Board of Alders Black and Hispanic Caucus, Yale’s Office of New Haven Affairs, Local 34, and COGIC.

Each family received one package of poultry as well as two bags, which included potatoes, boxed mac and cheese, rice, cake mix, and collard greens, among other items.

Residents of Hubbard’s ward got priority for the items, but the giveaway had enough supplies for other neighbors who showed up.

Christmas often brings up complicated feelings for Pouncey, who lost her husband a few years ago.

“My son has special needs,” she said. He hasn’t always been treated as a full person at Christmas gatherings throughout his nearly 40 years. Pouncey grew tired of people leaving him out during Christmas gift exchanges, so she no longer does much to celebrate the holiday. When Pouncey saw the flyer that Hubbard left on her door, that simple act of

reaching out felt meaningful.

Hubbard, who took office in a special election early this fall, had first met Pouncey while knocking on neighborhood doors to register voters this summer. After that, she became someone Pouncey felt comfortable reaching out to whenever she had a concern about the neighborhood.

“For her to personally leave a flyer on my door she was thinking of me,” Pouncey said. “I thought that was really nice. We just met when she was registering me to vote.”

She is, now, planning to cook for her son using the groceries in Sunday’s bags.

Meanwhile, for Hubbard, the giveaway brought a sense of purpose to a winter that’s been hard for other reasons. She recently lost a sister to cancer, and she put the event together through a period of grief.

“I really needed this,” she said. “I feel her here.”

On Sunday, she hadn’t yet bought the tree and gifts for her own family; those were tasks for Monday, she said. For now, she was constantly in motion, ensuring that bags were replenished and families were staying warm. She was surrounded by family, friends, and even some of her Hill colleagues on the Board of Alders, who volunteered to help out.

Dinner & A Movie Return To Fair Haven Shelter

by Lisa Reisman

On a bone-chilling night, Talia Cardoba spooned spicy chicken onto a heaping plate and handed it to an elf who scurried out of the kitchen.

“Careful, it’s hot,” she said, as the conversation of 16 mothers and their children floated in from the dining room of Life Haven, a 40-bed Ferry Street facility that provides temporary shelter to homeless pregnant women and women with young children.

The occasion was the second iteration of “Dinner & A Movie” hosted by Best Video and Newhallville’s Fresh Starts, a nonprofit founded on the belief that the first step toward helping someone realize their aspirations is nutritional sustenance.

“These families are learning to make it out of adversity, and we’re here to celebrate with them,” said Fresh Starts founder Marcus Harvin, dressed as Santa Claus, as another of his six elves hurried back into the brightly lit kitchen for another plate of food.

Life Haven is among the area shelters and warming centers where Harvin’s Fresh Starts team has been providing thrice-weekly meals since the city closed the brick-and-mortar Freshtaurant in February for lack of a food service license.

The meals, numbering 800 – 1,000 a week, according to Harvin, come from

excess dining hall food from area universities. Recently, Fresh Starts has started delivering breakfasts to Life Haven.

Harvin said the idea of pairing a movie with dinner arose in the midst of discussions about screening a documentary about his life. Julie Smith, Best Video’s executive director, immediately signed on.

The meals, the breakfast, and the dinner & movie nights are all an enormous help, according to Joanne Sciulli, director of development at New Reach, Life Haven’s parent organization. Since 2021, homelessness in Connecticut has increased 32 percent, and rents have gone up 22 percent, the result, she said, of inflation, stagnant wages, and lack of affordable housing.

“Whether you are on a living wage or you’re a mom who can’t afford to work and provide child care, there’s just not enough housing,” she said.

She said New Reach has the ability to provide a safe place for people to stay and provide resources to help them afford to live independently, but public dollars only fund 58 percent of the cost to run the shelter.

“Folks like Marcus and his group step into that gap,” she said. “They keep us going.”

For Bradley Woodworth, one of the elves, as well as Harvin’s history profes-

sor at the University of New Haven, it’s simple.

“Being a part of this lets me make a contribution to the lives of people I might never have met and that’s very satisfying,” he said, as he cleared two plates from a mother and her young son.

“This was amazing,” she told him. Her son nodded.

Woodworth’s son, Axel, 19, brought a can of soda to a client.

“Bringing people together, you feel like you’re helping the world,” he said, as a baby squealed. “It’s hard to feel that way a lot of the time.”

By then, dinner was wrapping up. Harvin brought his team into the dining room.

“We get inspired by you because you’re learning to put your best foot forward,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with being unhoused for a fraction of your life, but don’t let that get inside of you, don’t let that define you.”

“This is just a pit-stop,” he went on. “This is a chance to have a reset.” With that, Harvin announced it was time for “Home Alone,” which would be shown on a theater-quality projection screen in the conference room, with popcorn and candy.

“I love this,” said a young girl as she followed her mother out of the dining room.

Alder Angel Hubbard hands out grocery bags.

Talia Cardoba in action.

The New Haven independent

The New Haven independent

New Havener Of The Year

by LAURA GLESBY

Then there are years marked by someone like IfeMichelle Gardin, who in 2024 “exposed the questions that the answers hide” — as artists do, according to James Baldwin.

Gardin is authoring a new chapter of New Haven’s literary history in the form of Kulturally Lit, an organization that blossomed over the past year during what would have been James Baldwin’s 100th year of life.

In previous years, Gardin organized an annual Elm City LIT Fest — a day teeming with literary discussions and activities, often centered around themes such as Black romance or Afrofuturism.

In 2024, she and her team institutionalized Kulturally LIT as a non-profit and took on a year of continual programming: “The Year of Baldwin.” Gardin stewarded a series of dialogues, performances, and celebrations throughout the year in honor of the civil rights-era writer known for prescient and piercing observations about race and power in America.

“I’ve been to book festivals in other places,” Gardin recalled — places like Harlem, Brooklyn, Boston, Detroit — “and I was like, I want to do that. I want to make that happen here. And create that kind of literary community.”

Her efforts led to the naming of New Haven’s first-ever poet laureate this year, to panel discussions featuring nationally-acclaimed writers, to intergenerational book clubs poring over Baldwin’s words, to DCComic characters coming to life through costumes at DiasporaCon. New Haveners watched films, heard play readings, and waded through books together, their fervent conversations spilling out into the parking lot.

At each gathering, Gardin and her collaborators resurrected a new cluster of questions: Will it ever be possible, and is it even desirable, to be free from history? Is Black speculative fiction intrinsically radical? What does it mean for artists to retain their integrity while making money from their work? Why is America so hungry for stories of Black suffering? How do you hold onto hope in an enduringly unjust world?

New Haven is a city often known for its answers — especially for the research findings and intellectual theorizing within the iron gates of Yale. Books are among the starkest markers of the town-gown line: local public schools are racing to shore up students’ reading skills blocks away from deeply-funded, intricately-guarded Ivy League libraries.

But Gardin is cultivating another narrative about New Haven’s local literary culture: one created for and by the public, rooted in a local tradition of Black artistic life that has long bubbled outside university walls.

“Ms. Ife is a giant. She is an icon,” said Kulturally LIT team member Shamain

IfeMichelle Gardin Shows

off her James Baldwin earrings.

McAllister. “This is her vision, her dream, her baby, her passion for literature, writing, culture, and really highlighting those of the African Diaspora in a very inclusive way.”

According to the city’s poet laureate, Sharmont “Influence” Little, “Kulturally LIT right now is the heart of urban art in New Haven.”

"If You Read, Then You'll Start Thinking"

Gardin, 65, is the descendant of Macon, Georgia sharecroppers. Her grandparents moved to New Haven during the Great Migration in the 1930s; her grandfather found work at the Winchester Arms Rifle Factory, which had only recently begun to hire Black workers. They moved to New Haven initially in public housing, and eventually bought a house of their own on Read Street. Art and culture pulsed through her family, from one grandmother’s quilting circles to another’s involvement with Black Expo at the New Haven Armory.

Gardin grew up in a large and tight-knit family, spending afternoons on her grandparents’ front porch. She was always aware of her neighborhood’s perimeter:

“Prospect Street was a barrier,” the line delineating Newhallville from East Rock Yalies. Within Newhallville, however — a neighborhood where Black families were increasingly moving as white residents fled to the suburbs — Gardin and her siblings would roam freely, trick-or-treating from Division Street to the Hamden town line on Halloween.

As a kid, she studied dance from the renowned Black lesbian academic and activist Angela Bowen, who at the time ran the Bowen/Peters School of Dance. And she read three writers in particular who opened up the world for her: Zora Neale Hurson, Langston Hughes, and James Baldwin. “Once I started reading those three authors,” she said, “I wanted everything.”

She went on to study communications and media at Morgan State, and then after a brief stint working at a bank on Wall Street, she took a job at Essence Magazine, and then at the Harlem Cultural Council. Over the course of the next few decades, she zig-zagged between Harlem, Brooklyn, and New Haven, until moving back to the Elm City full-time in 2017. She worked for a variety of arts organizations in New Haven, from Long Wharf Theater to the Arts Council to the Yale

To Gardin, these restrictions are the latest iteration of an old tactic — and a reminder of why she does what she does. “When people were enslaved in this country, they didn’t want the enslaved to learn how to read,” she said. “Because if you read… then you’ll start thinking.”

"From Seed To Flower"

Kulturally LIT originally grew out of Gardin’s Westville kitchen, where an intergenerational team comprising Gardin, Shamain McAllister, Juanita Sunday, and Zanaiya Léon met regularly to plan and dream.

Their initial focus was Elm City LIT Fest (now Kulturally LIT Fest), an annual literary festival celebrating Black literature that took place for the fifth year in a row this past October. In just a couple of years, the festival came to garner hundreds of attendees, taking on themes like Black romance and Afrofuturism. Last year’s event, in collaboration with Yale’s Department of African American Studies and Popular Romance Fiction Conference, featured nationally renowned writers Beverly Jenkins and Roxane Gay.

Meanwhile, Sunday took the lead on planning DiasporaCon, an annual comic convention for a community of self-described “Blerds” (Black nerds). And the team decided that they were ready to take on more.

Drama School’s Dwight/Edgewood Project. And she organized a litany of artistic gatherings, from the Ifetayo Cultural Festival to an exhibit at the Shubert Theater in honor of the dancer Paul Hall.

She now works as a facilitator for the Institute Library’s Social Justice Reader Fellowship, the city’s Comprehensive Plan public input process, and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s Neighborhood Leadership program, while serving as a city Cultural Affairs commissioner. With each step in her career, she sought to make Black art and literature more public and accessible.

Gardin’s focus on Black literature has taken on a particular political resonance this year. According to PENAmerica, the 2023 – 24 school year saw record numbers of school book bans, which disproportionately targeted books discussing racial identity and queerness. Three school districts in Iowa and Florida specifically prohibited Baldwin’s Go Tell It On The Mountain.

Meanwhile, incoming President Donald Trump has vowed to defund schools that discuss what he’s called “inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content” in his “Agenda 47,” suggesting that more censorship is to come.

In 2024, the organization officially became a 501(c)3 non-profit. The team moved into an official office at Southern Connecticut State University. And they decided to embark on a “Year of Baldwin” with events every month of the year. This October, LIT Fest took place for the first time at ConnCAT’s Winchester Avenue headquarters. Simultaneous programming drew scholars, vendors, artists, playwrights, and poets, casual readers and fervent annotators and children still learning to sound out words.

Panels and workshops all day were devoted to James Baldwin. Speakers included the poet Kimberly Collins, Collective Consciousness Theatre (CCT) founder Dexter Singleton, and screenwriter and playwright Marcus Gardley, who’s written an upcoming biopic of Baldwin set to star Janelle Monae. Alongside these formal discussions were participatory activities, including arts and crafts inspired by Baldwin’s words and storybook reading with local Black authors. And outside, poetry and music wafted from a stage, as booksellers, local authors, and artists tabled under tents throughout ConnCAT’s parking lot.

In short, LIT Fest was bursting at the seams with literary programming. There was too much for any one person, but something for everyone — a description that could describe Kulturally LIT’s work all year.

The New Haven independent

Civil Rights Group Opposes New Canaan’s Affordable Housing Moratorium

by Niveen Ghoneim

A Connecticut-based civil rights organization has filed an intervenor brief in opposition to the state Department of Housing’s decision to grant a moratorium on affordable housing to the town of New Canaan under the Affordable Housing Appeals Act.

The civil rights group – Open Communities Alliance – cited Housing Department data claiming that only 3.93% of the town’s housing units are affordable.

Issued in August, the Housing Department’s decision exempts New Canaan from complying with state law 8-30g, which designed to promote affordable housing development, granting the town a second four-year moratorium. However, Open Communities argues in its brief that the town’s application for a moratorium should have been denied due to several

disqualifying factors.

“DOH is preparing to issue a declaratory ruling on this matter, and [Open Communities], a civil rights organization in Connecticut advocating for fair housing, is calling on DOH to adhere to the intent of 8-30g and rescind New Canaan’s application,” the organization explained in a press statement. “The Affordable Housing Appeals Act permits developers to bypass local zoning regulations if a town fails to meet the affordable housing threshold [of 10 percent]. However, a town can receive a four-year moratorium only if it demonstrates annual compliance by making efforts to increase its affordable housing stock, something New Canaan has not effectively demonstrated.”

In its brief, Open Communities argues that New Canaan has failed to prove that only low-income households occupy the units counted toward the moratorium.

The organization has also alleged that the town improperly included 80 demolished affordable housing units in its moratorium application count.

“If New Canaan is allowed to secure a moratorium without providing necessary supporting evidence, it sets a precedent that could enable any town to make unfounded claims, undermining the statute’s effectiveness,” Open Communities added in its statement. “Additionally, allowing New Canaan to retain points for demolished affordable units contradicts the fundamental purpose of the law.”

New Canaan town officials were not immediately available for comment on this story.

The Housing Department is set to issue its declaratory ruling on the matter by March 2025.

DEEP Announces Selection Of 4 New Clean Energy Projects

by Jamil Ragland

HARTFORD, CT – The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced its selection of four clean energy projects Friday that it says will help improve the reliability of the grid and save ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

“We are pleased to announce the selection of new grid-scale solar and battery storage projects that will provide affordable, reliable clean energy to Connecticut residents and businesses,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “These selections represent continued progress toward securing a diverse portfolio of energy resources to meet Connecticut’s growing needs.”

Three of the projects focus on solar energy and are expected to produce 518 MW once they are up and running:

• Solar Nursery – 200 MW to be developed in Connecticut by New York-based D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI)

• Freedom Pine Solar – 250 MW to be developed in Maine, also by DESRI.

• Crooked Trail Solar – 68 MW to be developed in Maine by West Hartford-based Verogy.

According to DEEP, the solar projects will add 816,000 megawatt-hours per year to the New England grid, which is equivalent to over 3% of Connecticut’s current electricity consumption and enough to power 97,000 of the state’s homes with clean electricity.

The fourth project is Connecticut’s first grid-scale electricity storage project, and was awarded to Texas-based Naugatuck Avenue Storage LLC. It’s a 200 MW project that will be developed by Jupiter Power, which is also a Texas company, and located in Connecticut.

DEEP estimates that the projects will save Connecticut ratepayers $424 mil-

lion in energy supply costs, net of the costs of the contracts, in the first 20 years of operation. That comes out to about a $0.57/month reduction for the average residential customer electricity bill.

The two top Democrats on the Energy & Technology Committee praised the projects as a commitment to clean, renewable energy for the state.

“I’m excited about adding clean energy resources to our grid,” said state Sen. Norm Needleman, co-chair of the energy committee. “Adding additional generating capacity is critical, and it’s equally as important to do so through renewable sources whenever possible and practical. This is a big step forward for Connecticut.”

“These critical investments are important demonstrations of our state’s commitment to develop non-fossil fuel energy resources to meet our future energy demand,” said state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, who serves as the other cochair of the energy committee. “We will need even more, particularly as the cost of these resources continue to decline.”

Gov. Ned Lamont also lauded the news.

“Growing and diversifying our energy supply, especially our supply of low-carbon sources of energy, is the key to bringing down the cost of electricity for Connecticut ratepayers,” Lamont said. “These investments will also ensure we have a reliable and green grid that helps us meet demand now and well into the future.”

Energy costs are a top concern for Connecticut’s residents, especially in light of the recent credit downgrades of several of Connecticut’s utilities by S&P Global and Moody’s rating agencies.

At a news conference following the state bond commission meeting, Lamont and Dykes were asked first about a decision not to participate in an offshore

wind project with Massachusetts and Rhode Island and also fielded questions about the high cost of energy in the state and their plans to address it.

“We took a pass on this round,” Lamont said, referring to the offshore wind decision and citing its cost to ratepayers. “But as you know, we’re the state right now that’s building out Revolution Wind. That’s going to turn on in about a year and a half. We contracted for solar coming down from Maine. That gets going in about a year or two. We’re looking at the nuclear deal as well. We’re doing a group purchase of onshore wind out of Maine. We’ll be able to load that up. So every state has got different priorities

about how we increase capacity, which is how ultimately we’re going to bring down the cost of electricity and do it in as green a way as we can.”

Dykes said that the state was looking into ways to mitigate cost increases in energy production due to increased interest rates and supply chain challenges in recent years.

“Investing in transmission is one of those things that will help to reduce the cost of buying the offshore wind generation to the extent that we can socialize that across six states,” she said. “That helps to make that more affordable. We obviously will be looking to the new Congress around the future of the tax

credits. We see those as being very important, not just for New England and the Northeast, but for clean energy development and clean manufacturing that we’ve been successful in on-shoring over the last few years across the country, so I’m optimistic about what we’ll see there.”

Dykes said that bending costs down is a long-term project for not just offshore wind, but many resources, and that the state is going to continue to use every policy lever to work with our neighbors and deliver resources at a lower cost. Senate Republicans later claimed victory in a news release regarding the state’s decision not to partake in the latest offshore wind project with Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Sen. Ryan Fazio, who serves as a ranking member on the energy committee, and Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding said, “Make no mistake: The Lamont administration made this decision because it had no answers for the questions Republicans had been asking. For example: ‘How much money would this cost already overburdened ratepayers?'”

Republicans – Fazio in particular – has drawn a line at clean energy costs that are two, three, four, or five times the price of electricity from Natural Gas, claiming that adding offshore wind to the state’s portfolio would increase costs for consumers.

They said “Republicans urged the governor not to make this purchase. We are glad the governor followed our advice” and that they looked forward to “working in a bipartisan way for reasonable and realistic energy policies that keep the ratepayers in mind and make CT more affordable. Because right now, electricity costs are too damn high.”

The Royale, an affordable housing development. Credit: Courtesy photo / Town of Darien

Katie Dykes, commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and Gov. Ned Lamont listen to a question during a news conference in the Legislative Office Building on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. Credit: Jamil Ragland / CTNewsJunkie

The New Haven independent

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Stetson AI Art Exhibit Beams Light On Future

by Lisa Reisman

A camera, held by a man in a hoodie, dominates a scene of seeming chaos. Two more hands help hold it up. Someone else’s finger rests on the shutter button. Still another hand shifts the lens. Look more closely and virtually everyone in the crowd is shooting pictures.

The piece, “You Have The Power To Determine Who You Are” by Santana Brightly, was among the works spotlighted at the opening of an exhibit on Saturday at Stetson Library. Santana, a seventh-grade student at Hamden’s Sahge Academy, produced the piece while taking part in a month-long graphic arts workshop in AI Art this summer at Stetson.

“We are about giving our young people outlets for creative expression as a way toward mental wellness and to enrich their communities,” said Jessica Gilliam, co-founder of Ignite the Voice, which sponsored the workshop as part of its Youth Resilience Project.

She said she had reached out to Cody Norris, who teaches AI art at Arts FOR Learning CT, and traditional art at Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School.

“AI art in itself is a journey through cutting-edge new technology,” Norris said. “To be able to give students a chance to be a part of what is brand-new and fresh gives them a huge start for different paths

to the future.”

As much as traditionalists may scoff at any form of AI-generated art, it’s a reality. AI applications are “likely to effect just about every job that requires creativity,” according to forbes.com. “Generative AI is a tool, and those who learn to harness its potential are those who are likely to prosper rather than find themselves being replaced.”

That’s perhaps true of Santana, who explained the process of creating her crowd scene. “We learned how to describe the image we wanted, apply a prompt, and then put chaos at the end to make it more spectacular,” she said, referring to an AI image generator.

Amayah Smith, another member of the eight-person workshop, said she’s been drawing “in realism,” as she put it, “people, faces, body parts” from a young age. The AI discipline “forced me to work bigger and in a different way,” she said, as she stood in front of her Kandinsky-text-to-image generated design. “I definitely want to keep going with it.” That means a lot to Norris, it seems. “This workshop was a way to show these kids that their work has value, that they can create value with their own hands, and that they don’t have to go out and work some place they don’t like,” he said. “You put in the time, you develop those skills, you got options.”

Survivors of Rwandan Genocide testify at Paris trial over 1994 massacres

by Kweku Sampson, Face2FaceAfrica.com

Gunfire rang out as men armed with machetes and clubs stormed a convent in Rwanda, where civilians had sought refuge during the 1994 genocide. The attackers killed almost all the boys and men they found. Angélique Uwamahoro, then just 13 years old, survived by walking through the bodies of the dead.

Three decades later, Uwamahoro has shared her story in a Paris courtroom. She testified at the trial of former Rwandan doctor Eugène Rwamucyo, who is accused of participating in the genocide that claimed more than 800,000 lives, mostly from the Tutsi minority. Rwamucyo, now 65, faces charges of genocide, complicity, crimes against humanity, and conspiracy to commit those crimes. He denies all allegations.

Uwamahoro lost several family members in the violence and said she came to court to “seek justice for my people, who died because of who they were.” The trial, which began earlier this month, is expected to conclude next week. If convicted, Rwamucyo could face life imprisonment.

According to prosecutors, Rwamucyo played a key role in spreading anti-Tutsi propaganda and supervising the mass burials of victims. Witnesses traveled to Paris from Rwanda to testify, providing graphic accounts of the atrocities that took

place in the Butare region, where Rwamucyo was allegedly present.

On Monday, another survivor, Immaculée Mukampunga, described the brutal attacks on Tutsi civilians who had sought shelter at a seminary. “They attacked us using the same method: first the machete on top of the head, then the throat, then the ankles,” she said. Mukampunga, who was hiding with her two young children, covered them with bodies to protect them.

“I put blood on myself and on my children so they would think we were dead,” she testified.

Antoine Ndorimana, another witness, was 9 years old when the genocide began. He recounted how his family was hiding in a church when they were discovered.

“Those with machetes and clubs started hitting people. Some slit their ankles, others their throats,” Ndorimana said.

He was struck by a club but remained still, pretending to be dead. The next day, he witnessed men placing both bodies and wounded people into mass graves. Ndorimana narrowly avoided being buried alive.

Rwamucyo has denied the accusations, claiming that his role in mass grave burials was purely motivated by hygiene concerns and rejecting claims that survivors were buried alive.

This trial is the seventh in a series of prosecutions in France related to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Since 2014, French

courts have convicted several Rwandan nationals for their roles in the genocide, which saw extremist Hutu militias massacre Tutsis and moderate Hutus over a period of 100 days.

In December, another former Rwandan doctor, Sosthene Munyemana, was found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison but has appealed the ruling.

The ongoing trials are part of France’s effort to address the role played by some Rwandan nationals who fled to Europe after the genocide. Although many of the accused have denied involvement, prosecutors argue that individuals like Rwamucyo were instrumental in inciting violence and ensuring the systematic elimination of Tutsis.

During the genocide, Rwanda’s Hutu-led government and its militias targeted the Tutsi population in a campaign of mass violence that shocked the world. Despite warnings from international observers, the international community largely failed to intervene, allowing the killings to continue unchecked.

More than 800,000 people were killed during the genocide, most of them Tutsis, along with moderate Hutus who tried to protect them. Many survivors, like Uwamahoro, continue to seek justice for the horrors they endured. In her testimony, Uwamahoro said she hoped that the trial would bring accountability and closure.

Jessica Gilliam, Nevae Brightly, Amayah Smith, Cody Norris, and Santana Brightly at Saturday's event.

The New Haven independent

CONGRESSWOMAN YVETTE CLARKE LEADS PUSH FOR MARCUS GARVEY’S EXONERATION

In a letter to the president, the lawmakers described the case as rooted in prosecutorial misconduct designed to discredit Garvey and undermine his work for racial justice and empowerment.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and 20 of her colleagues are urging President Joe Biden to exonerate Marcus Mosiah Garvey, the Pan-Africanist leader whose 1923 conviction for mail fraud has long been viewed as politically motivated. In a letter to the president, the lawmakers described the case as rooted in prosecutorial misconduct designed to discredit Garvey and undermine his work for racial justice and empowerment.

“Exactly 101 years ago, Mr. Garvey was convicted of mail fraud in a case that was marred by prosecutorial and governmental misconduct,” the letter stated. “The charges against Mr. Garvey were not only fabricated but also targeted to criminalize, discredit, and silence him as a civil rights leader.”

Born in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica, in 1887, Garvey was the youngest of 11 children. His father, Marcus Garvey Sr., a stonemason, steered him to achieve. Garvey described his father as “severe, firm, determined, bold, and strong,” qualities that shaped his own steadfastness. His father’s extensive library sparked Garvey’s love for reading and ideas.

At 14, Garvey became a printer’s apprentice and later moved to Kingston, where his involvement in union activities and participation in a 1907 printer’s strike ignited his passion for activism. He traveled through Central America as a newspaper editor, highlighting the exploitation of migrant workers, and studied at Birkbeck College in London, where he worked for the African Times and Orient Review, advocating for Pan-African nationalism.

In 1912, Garvey returned to Jamaica and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) to unite the African diaspora to “establish a country and absolute government of their own.” His correspondence with Booker T. Washington brought him to the United States in 1916. Garvey settled in Harlem, establishing a UNIA chapter and promoting economic independence for Black communities.

Garvey launched the Negro World newspaper in 1918, which reached hundreds of thousands of readers globally, and the Black Star Line in 1919, a shipping company intended to foster trade among Africans in the Americas, Caribbean, and Africa. The Negros Factories Association, another Garvey initiative, aimed to create

manufacturing hubs across the Western Hemisphere and Africa.

Garvey’s work peaked in August 1920 when the UNIA claimed 4 million members and held its first International Convention at Madison Square Garden, where Garvey addressed a crowd of 25,000, urging pride in African history and culture. However, his separatist philosophy faced criticism from established Black leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois, who called Garvey “the most dangerous enemy of the Negro race in America.” Garvey dismissed Du Bois as a tool of the white elite.

Despite his achievements, Garvey’s growing influence made him a target of federal authorities. His 1923 mail fraud conviction centered on selling Black Star Line shares. Historians and advocates

Santa, Kids Meet Up At Firehouses

The occasion this past weekend was the seventh annual “All Hands Toy Drive” organized by Local 825 of the firefighters union along with American Legion Post 132 (which includes active and retired city firefighter military veterans), the probate court, AMR, and the NHFD Emerald Society.

The event took place at 10 different firehouses in town. St. Nick arrived not through the chimney, but on the back of a tiller truck straight from the North Pole.

Each kid sat with Santa and got a gift, then got a chance to swap it for another in a present pile. The families took home holiday meal-starter packages with veggies and starches.

Mike Rickaby and Dan Del Prete started the annual holiday event “to make sure these kids had a chance to have a Christmas experience with Santa, music, gifts, dinner and first responders/military. We are always there for the worst times, we deserve some good times too.”

have long argued that the charges were baseless and designed to dismantle his movement. President Calvin Coolidge commuted Garvey’s sentence in 1927, and he was deported to Jamaica.

Garvey continued his advocacy until his death in London in 1940. His remains were returned to Jamaica in 1964, where he was proclaimed the country’s first national hero. His legacy is honored through symbols like Ghana’s Black Star Line and national soccer team, named in tribute to Garvey’s vision of African unity and empowerment.

Efforts to clear Garvey’s name have persisted for decades, with hearings led by Congressman John Conyers in 1987 and resolutions introduced by Congressman Charles Rangel in 2004. Congresswoman Clarke has now taken up the mantle.

“A pardon for Mr. Garvey would honor his contributions to Black history, remove the shadow of an unjust conviction, and reaffirm this administration’s commitment to advancing racial justice,” the letter stated.

Garvey’s influence on the civil rights movement and his advocacy for economic independence continue to inspire newer generations. His speeches, writings, and initiatives laid a foundation for Black empowerment and unity worldwide. In Washington, D.C., Garvey’s legacy is commemorated with a bust in the Organization of American States’ Hall of Heroes, a testament to his impact on the fight

for racial justice.

The lawmakers' letter also addressed the broader implications of exonerating Garvey, particularly as debates over the teaching and preservation of Black history intensify. They argued that correcting this historical injustice would reinforce the importance of preserving the truth about leaders like Garvey.

“Clearing Mr. Garvey’s name would set the record straight and restore his legacy as an American hero,” the lawmakers wrote.

Garvey’s advocates see his exoneration as not only a long-overdue correction of a historical wrong but also as a reaffirmation of the contributions of Black leaders to global progress. Clarke, alongside colleagues such as Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), and Congresswoman Nikema Williams (D-GA), has called on President Biden to act.

“This is about justice, not just for Marcus Garvey, but for all those who believe in the power of truth and reconciliation,” Clarke stated.

“A pardon for Marcus Garvey would not only honor his life’s work but also correct a stain on history,” the lawmakers wrote further. “This is a moment to ensure his name is remembered for his accomplishments, not for an unjust conviction.”

There are no comments yet.

34-Year-Old Black Woman Makes History as the Oldest Winner of Miss France Pageant

its diaspora as well as all the women who were once told that it was too late.”

Angelique Angarni-Filopon, 34, has made history as the oldest woman to win the Miss France crown. Hailing from Martinique, she won the Miss France 2024 pageant, which recently changed its rules to allow women over 24 years old to compete.

In her acceptance speech, Angelique shared her journey, saying, “Today, it’s the same young woman aged 34 who stands before you to again represent Martinique,

Angelique competed alongside contestants from various professions, including dentists and doctors, according to the Republic World. They showcased regional costumes, swimsuits, and ballgowns while performing to a mix of 90s hits and country music.

As the winner, Angelique will receive a residence in Paris, several sponsored gifts, and a year-long allowance.

Evergreen Cemetery

& Crematory We’re Here When You Need Us!

• Cremation (Choose to be cremated at Evergreen.)

• Columbarium in the Most Beautiful Cremation Garden

• Reserve your Niche in a secure location pre-need.

• Reserve a Niche for family and friends or purchase at-need to safely place your Loved One in the Columbarium.

• Burial Lots (infant, single, two-grave, or four-grave)

• Monuments & Markers (black, gray, or pink granite)

• Flower placement (single or multiple placement)

• All orders can be placed at the Evergreen office or the website.

769 Ella T. Grasso Boulevard, New Haven CT 06519 203.624.5505 or evergreencem.org

Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies at age 78

NEW YORK — Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster, has died from cancer, according to a statement from family released by CBS on Friday. He was 78. "He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten," his wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement.

In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties.

Sponsor Message

In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship.

David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Gumbel as breaking

barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness.

"A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time," said Berson.

Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998.

He hosted CBS' coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime. In 1995, he hosted the World Figure Skating Championships and the following year hosted NBC's daytime coverage of the Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta.

But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS' NFL studio show, "The NFL Today" from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004.

He also called NFL games as the net-

work's lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season.

Sponsor Message

"Like all who knew and loved him, I too am saddened by his death, yet also so very grateful to have known him in my life," Clark Kellogg, a CBS Sports college basketball game and studio analyst, said in a statement. "What a gift to be touched by such a good man and partner."

Gumbel, the older brother of sportscaster Bryant Gumbel, grew up in Chicago and graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1967 with a degree in English. He won local Emmy Awards during his long career and was the recipient of the 2007 Pat Summerall Award for excellence in sports broadcasting.

Outside of his career as a sportscaster, he was affiliated with the March of Dimes for three decades, including as a member of its board of trustees. He also was a member of the Sports Council for St Jude's Children's Research Hospital for 16 years.

by Kofi Oppong Kyekyeku Face2FaceAfrica.com

On Christmas Day, Beyoncé graced the NFL halftime stage during the Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens game, performing hits from her acclaimed country album Cowboy Carter for the first time live.

Entering Houston’s NRG Stadium on a striking white horse and dressed in all white, Beyoncé opened with “16 Carriages” before transitioning into a soulful rendition of The Beatles’ “Blackbird.” Joining her were country music collaborators Tiera Kennedy, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, and Reyna Roberts, all featured on the album.

The star-studded show featured surprise appearances by Shaboozey for their duet “Sweet Honey Buckiin’” and Post Malone, who performed “Levii’s Jeans” alongside Beyoncé in front of a stage adorned with denim-covered trucks. Both

artists contributed to the Cowboy Carter album.

The setlist also included fan-favorites like “Jolene,” “Ya-Ya,” and a mashup of “Spaghetti” and “Riiverdance.” As a special treat, Beyoncé performed an excerpt of her non-country track, “My House.” In a heartwarming moment, Beyoncé’s 12-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, joined the performance during the final number, “Texas Hold ’Em.” Hand in hand, the duo dazzled the crowd before Beyoncé ascended into the air on a platform to close the show.

After the performance, Beyoncé teased a mysterious announcement slated for January 14 with an Instagram post featuring her atop a white horse.

Netflix streamed the halftime show as part of its Christmas NFL doubleheader, which began with Mariah Carey’s recorded performance of “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Netflix later announced plans to release Beyoncé’s performance

as a standalone special, though no release date has been set.

Fans attending the game shared photos of glowing wristbands distributed before the show, which enhanced the immersive stadium experience. Netflix’s social media account referred to the concert as the “Beyoncé Bowl.”

Cowboy Carter, released on March 29, debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 200 and Top Country Albums charts, making Beyoncé the first Black woman to lead the country chart. The album has since earned 11 Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year.

In December, Beyoncé also broke the record for the most certified titles for a female artist, according to the RIAA. Billboard recently named her the greatest pop star of the 21st century, a testament to her extraordinary influence and longevity in music.

Greg Gumbel

THE GLENDOWER GROUP

AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA PARA

Request for Proposals

Firm to Assess, Market and Lease Commercial and Office Space

LA AUTORIDAD DE VIVIENDA DE NEW HAVEN (ECC/HANH)

Town of Bloomfield

Salary Range:

REVISED VERSION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR

Job Posting: Construction Project Coordinator

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

INFORME ANUAL DE TRABAJO (MTW) DEL AÑO FISCAL 2024

The Glendower Group, Inc is currently seeking proposals from qualified firms to Assess, Market and Lease Commercial and Office Space. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Position: Construction Project Coordinator

Location: East Granby, CT

Company: Galasso Materials LLC

La Sección II y la Sección VII del Acuerdo de Trabajo de la Autoridad {el "Acuerdo") exige que antes de que la Agencia pueda presentar su Plan y Informe Anual de Trabajo Aprobado al Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los EE. UU. (el "HUD"), debe realizar una audiencia pública, considerar los comentarios del público sobre las enmiendas propuestas, obtener la aprobación de la Junta de Comisionados y presentar las enmiendas al HUD.

Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 3:00PM.

Job Summary:

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.

Job Type: Full-time

THE GLENDOWER GROUP

Request for Qualifications INTERIOR DESIGN

NOTICIA

CONSULTANT(S)

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

Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE.

For Details go to  www.bloomfieldct.org

THE ELM CITYCOMMUNITIES, HOUSING AUTHORITY OF NEW HAVEN (ECC/HANH) MOVING TO WORK (MTW) FY2024 ANNUAL REPORT

The Town of East Haven is currently seeking qualified applicants to fill the position of Police Accreditation and Crime Analysis Manager. This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with the East Haven Police Department, salary for this position starts at $61,000. The Town offers an excellent benefit package. Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in criminal justice, criminology, public administration or a related field. Proficient with Microsoft Office Products (i.e., word, excel, PowerPoint, Power Bi, etc.) and Adobe Acrobat. Ability to learn and become proficient in the use of other specialized software as maybe required. Must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license, and successfully pass a background investigation. Please see job description with application for a complete listing of duties and required qualifications. Please apply at www. PoliceApp.com/EastHavenCT. The application will be open until the position is filled.

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Responsibilities:

We are seeking a detail-oriented and motivated Construction Project Coordinator to join our team. In this role, you will play a critical part in ensuring efficient project management by tracking job productivity, reviewing contracts and timesheets, conducting field measurements, and verifying material quantities. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills and a collaborative approach, working closely with both field and office personnel to ensure accurate billing summaries and project progress.

The Glendower Group, Inc is currently seeking proposals from qualified firms for Interior Design Consultants. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems. com/gateway beginning on

El período de comentarios de treinta (30) días comienza el viernes 1 de noviembre de 2024 y finaliza el sábado 30 de noviembre de 2024. Se pondrán a disposición copias del Informe Moving to Work (MTW) del año fiscal 2024 en el sitio web de la agencia www.elmcitycommunities.org o a través de Twitter, www.twitter.com/ECCommunities o a través de Facebook www.facebook.com/ElmCityCommunities. Se le invita a enviar comentarios por escrito dirigidos a: ECC/HANH, Moving to Work FY2024 Annual Report, Attn: Evelise Ribeiro, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511 o por correo electrónico a: eribeiro@elmcitycommunities.org. De conformidad con las Secciones II y VII mencionadas, se ha programado una audiencia pública en la que se aceptarán y registrarán los comentarios públicos para el lunes 25 de noviembre de 2024 a las 3:00 p. m. a través de RingCentral: https://v.ringcentral. com/join/185686287?pw=d7db4e4f735df6289ed5adfb24f3f113

• Job Productivity Tracking: Monitor project timelines and productivity metrics to ensure project goals are met.

ID de la reunión: 185686287

Monday, January 6, 2025, at 3:00PM.

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

APPLY NOW!

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders

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

The Town of East Haven is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities, Females, Veterans and Handicapped are encouraged to apply.

• Contract Review: Assist in reviewing project contracts to ensure accuracy, compliance, and alignment with project goals.

Contraseña: yaw6Zk28PK

O marque:

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

+12679304000 Estados Unidos (Filadelfia, PA)

Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT

• Timesheet Review: Oversee and review timesheets, ensuring accurate reporting of work hours for field personnel.

Código de acceso/ID de la reunión: 185686287

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 .

• Field Measurements: Conduct accurate field measurements to support project planning, budgeting, and resource allocation.

Construction

Contraseña de acceso telefónico: 9296952875

Request for Proposals

Andrea M. Liquori

Chief Examiner

Civil Service Commission

Section II and Section VII of the Authority's Moving to Work Agreement {the "Agreement") requires that before the Agency can file its Approved Annual Moving to Work Report and Report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (the "HUD") that it must conduct a public hearing, consider comments from the public on the proposed amendments, obtain approval from the Board of Commissioners, and submit the amendments to HUD.

The thirty (30) days comment period begins on Friday, November 1, 2024 to Saturday, November 30, 2024 and copies of the Moving to Work (MTW) FY2024 Report, will be made available on the agency website www.elmcitycommunities.org or via Twitter, www.twitter.com/ECCommunities or via Facebook www.facebook.com/ElmCityCommunities.

250 Main Street East Haven CT 06512 (203)468-3375

Meeting ID: 185686287

Password: yaw6Zk28PK

Or dial:

+12679304000 United States (Philadelphia, PA)

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

Pursuant to said Sections II and VII), a public hearing where public comments will be accepted and recorded is scheduled for Monday, November 25, 2024 at 3:00pm via RingCentral: https://v.ringcentral.com/join/185686287?pw=d7db4e4f735df6289ed5ad fb24f3f113

• Material Quantities Confirmation: Verify that material quantities align with project needs and orders.

HCV- Project Based Assistance Program to Support the Development of Affordable Housing

Números internacionales disponibles: https://v.ringcentral.com/teleconference

• Billing Summaries: Prepare detailed billing summaries for client invoicing, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.

NEW HAVEN

Cualquier persona que requiera una adaptación razonable para participar en la audiencia puede llamar al Gerente de adaptaciones razonables (203) 498-8800, ext. 1506 o al número TDD (203) 497-8434.mber (203) 497-8434.

• Collaboration: Work closely with field personnel to gather project updates and ensure alignment on timelines. Collaborate with office personnel on project documentation, reporting, and billing.

Qualifications:

The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking proposals from qualified firms HCV- Project Based Assistance Program to Support the Development of Affordable Housing. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

242-258 Fairmont Ave 2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA

Listing: Mechanic

• Experience in the construction industry, with a focus on project coordination or related roles.

Monday, January 6, 2025, at 3:00PM.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

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.

Access Code / Meeting ID: 185686287

Dial-in password: 9296952875

Eastern Metal Works is actively seeking bids and employment applications for the Steel Point project in Bridgeport, CT. SWMBE businesses, minorities and local residents are encouraged to apply. To request bid documents or employment applications, please contact EMW at mchernesky@easternmetalworks.com. Bids and applications must be received before January 15, 2025 Eastern Metal Works is an Equal Opportunity Employer

International numbers available: https://v.ringcentral.com/teleconference

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

Any individual requiring a Reasonable Accommodation to participate in the hearing may call the Reasonable Accommodation Manager (203) 498-8800, ext. 1506 or at the TDD Number (203) 497-8434.

Listing: HVAC Installer/Technician

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

• Proficiency in project management software and MS Office Suite.

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

Immediate opening for a full-time mechanic; maintenance to be done on commercial diesel trucks and trailers. A valid driver’s license is required in order to run company errands efficiently and safely. Send resume to: HR Manager, P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437 or email hrdept@eastriverenergy.com

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

***An Affirmative Action/Equal

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

Why Join Us?

• Competitive salary and benefits package.

Invitation for Bids Unarmed Security Services

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

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

HVAC department has openings for experienced, full time, installers for mechanical systems. Trade license and 3-5 years of experience preferred. Benefits, 401k, Paid Time Off, Company Vehicle. Send resume to: HR Manager, P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437 or email HRDept@eastriverenergy.com

LEGAL NOTICE INVITATION TO BID

• Opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team.

• Career growth and development opportunities within the company.

If you are an organized, detail-oriented professional with a passion for construction and project management, we encourage you to apply!

Elm City Communities is currently seeking bids for Services of a firm to provide Unarmed Security Services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

To Apply: Please send your resume and a brief cover letter to KLamontagne@galassomaterials.com

Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 3:00PM.

Galasso Materials LLC is committed to creating an inclusive environment for

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.

Listing: Commercial Driver

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.

Immediate opening for a Class A full time driver for petroleum/ asphalt/like products deliveries for nights and weekends. Previous experience required. Send resume to: HR Manager, P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437 or email: hrdept@eastriverenergy.com

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

LEGAL NOTICE INVITATION TO BID: CONTINUUM OF CARE, NEW HAVEN is requesting licensed and insured contractor bids for their property located at 979 Quinnipiac Avenue, New Haven. Complete first floor kitchen renovation. Scope to include new kitchen layout. Owner to supply new cabinets. Scope to also include new flooring of area. Job also includes complete first floor bathroom renovation. This includes a complete gut (down to studs) of the bathroom. Environmental testing will be conducted by the owner. Scope includes supplying and installing new step in shower stall, vanity, toilet, tile flooring and wall finishes, tile 4ft wainscot is desired, lighting, grab bars by toilet and showers, exhaust fan with motion sensor, and baseboard heating. The scope of work to include floor drain for the bathroom. Scope to include replacement of existing windows, entry doors. Owner to select tile style, colors, and style of faucets and light fixtures. Further detailed information will be given on the scheduled site visit. GC price should include dumpster and permit feeds. Minority/women’s business enterprises are encouraged to apply. A bidding site meeting will be held at 979 Quinnipiac Avenue, New Haven on 11/22/2024 at 1pm. All bids are due by 12/6/2024 at 10 am. All bids, W9, work scope timeline and copy of license and questions should be submitted in writing to Monica O’Connor via email moconnor@continuumct.org or delivered to 109 Legion Avenue, New Haven.

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.

WATER QUALITY FIELD TECHNICIAN

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

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

Galasso Materials LLC, a quarry and paving contractor, has positions open for the upcoming construction season. We are seeking candidates for a variety of positions, including: Scalehouse Dispatcher/ Equipment Operators and Laborers. NO PHONE CALLS. Please email resume and cover letter to “Hiring Manager”, Galasso Materials LLC, PO Box 1776, East Granby CT 06026.

Galasso Materials is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016

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

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO.

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

Invitation for BIDS Agency Wide Plumbing Services & Preventative Maintenance

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

360 Management Group, Co. Is currently seeking bids for Agency Wide Plumbing Services & Preventative Maintenance. A complete copy of the requirements may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s vendor Collaboration Portal. https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Monday, September 23, 2024, at 3:00 PM.

The Town of Wallingford Water Division is seeking qualified applicants to perform field and administrative tasks involving the protection of the utility’s water quality from its source of supply to the customer’s faucet. Must possess a H.S. diploma or equivalency diploma plus 1 years’ experience as a Maintainer/Laborer for a water utility or in the construction field with work experience in the installation and maintenance of pipelines (water main, sanitary sewer, storm drain or gas main). A Bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental science, sanitary engineering, chemistry, civil engineering or related field may substitute for the 1-year experience requirement. Must possess a valid State of CT Driver’s License. Must possess or be able to obtain within the probationary period certifications as a General Backflow Preventer Tester and Cross Connection Survey Inspector, a State of Connecticut Department of Public Health Water Treatment Plant Class I Operator (WTP I) or a Water Distribution Operator Class I (DSO I). Wages: $$27.95 to $33.59 hourly. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, individual and family medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and deferred compensation plan. To apply online by the closing date of December 31, 2024, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/ government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator (Attendant II)

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Granby, Connecticut

Employment Type: Full-Time

Company Overview:

The Town of Wallingford Sewer Division is seeking qualified applicants to perform skilled duties associated with the operation and maintenance of its modern, upgraded Class IV wastewater treatment facility. Applicants should possess a H.S. diploma or equivalent, plus possess a State of Connecticut DEEP Class II Operator or higher, or a Class II Operator-in-Training or higher certification. Must possess and maintain a valid State of Connecticut Driver’s License. Wages: $28.44 to $33.89 hourly plus on-call pay when assigned. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, individual and family medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and deferred compensation plan. To apply online by the closing date of November 26, 2024, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

MANAGEMENT GROUP, CO.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF NORWALK, CT IS REQUESTING PROPOSALS FOR INSURANCE AND BENEFITS BROKERAGE SERVICES FOR HEALTH (Medical, Dental and Vision) BENEFITS.

TO OBTAIN A COMPLETE COPY OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS, CONTACT GUILLERMO BENDANA, PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST AT GBENDA@NORWALKHA.ORG PROPOSALS ARE DUE AT

5:00 P.M. ON 11/25/2024.

Galasso Materials LLC is a leading construction company and materials supplier dedicated to delivering high-quality projects while maintaining efficient operations. With a focus on safety, teamwork, and excellence, we are seeking a detail-oriented Administrative Assistant to support our logistics and billing processes in the construction and materials supply industry.

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.

Key Responsibilities:

NOTICIA

NORWALK HOUSING IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ADAM BOVILSKY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

ELECTRIC UTILITY DISTRIBUTION SUPERINTENDENT

• Data Entry: Accurately input project-related data, including material orders, construction contracts and subcontractor information, into company systems.

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

• Customer Communications: Professionally handle email and mail correspondence with clients, addressing inquiries and providing updates related to project progress and billing.

• Invoicing/Billing: Prepare, review, and send invoices to customers for completed work or progress billing, ensuring all details align with project agreements.

• Subcontractor Agreements: Review subcontractor agreements for compliance with company policies and project requirements.

• Credit Applications: Manage the review and maintenance of client credit applications, ensuring proper documentation and approvals are in place

• Daily Ashpalt Tickets: Enter and reconcile daily asphalt tickets for construction material deliveries and purchases, ensuring accuracy and proper documentation for billing and project records.

Qualifications:

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

• Prior administrative experience in the construction industry is highly desirable.

• High school diploma or equivalent; an associate degree in business, accounting, or a related field is preferred.

NEW HAVEN

• Familiarity with construction management software (e.g., Procore, Sage 300) and accounting tools is a plus.

242-258 Fairmont Ave

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).

• Excellent organizational skills and keen attention to detail.

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

• Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a professional demeanor.

The Town of Wallingford is offering an excellent career opportunity for a strong manager and leader in the electric utility industry to oversee the construction, operation, and maintenance of the electric transmission and distribution systems and related facilities of the Town’s Electric Division. This highly reliable municipally-owned electric utility, located 10 miles from New Haven, CT, serves 25,000 customers in a 50+ square mile distribution area with a peak demand of 130 MW with an excellent rate structure. Applicants should possess 8 years of progressively responsible experience in electric utility distribution construction, maintenance, and operations which includes at least 4 years of experience as a supervisor, plus a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering (power), or an equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience substituting on a year-for-year basis. Must possess, or obtain within 12 months of hire and maintain ESOP-100 Switching and Tagging qualifications. Must possess and maintain a valid State of Connecticut Driver’s License. Salary: $119,632 to $149,540 annually plus on-call stipend when required. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, individual and family medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and deferred compensation plan. To apply online by the closing date of November 22, 2024, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

What We Offer:

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

• Competitive pay based on experience.

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

POLICE OFFICER City of Bristol

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

$75,636 - $91,939/yr. Required testing, general info, and apply online: www.bristolct.gov

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

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

LEGAL NOTICE

• Comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

SCRCOG’s Regional Purchasing Consortium is accepting sealed Request for Qualifications for:

• Opportunities for professional growth within a dynamic and growing construction company.

• A collaborative and supportive work environment that values teamwork and excellence.

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

ON-CALL GRANT SERVICES

To Apply: Please send your resume and a brief cover letter to KLamontagne@galassomaterials.com

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

DEADLINE: 01-03-25 EOE

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.

Galasso Materials LLC is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and encourages applications from all qualified individuals. We are an affirmative action equal-opportunity employer.

The South Central Regional Council of Governments (“SCRCOG”) will be accepting sealed Qualifications for On-Call Grant Services. SCRCOG is seeking proposals to provide “On-Call” services to all fifteen municipalities in the region. Disciplines include, but are not limited to, grant management and comprehensive technical assistance, grant writing, strategic grant planning, and other disciplines. Disadvantaged, minority, small, and women-owned business enterprises are encouraged to respond.

TRADE SUBCONTRACTORS AND IRONWORKERS.

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.

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 complete request for qualification (“RFQ”) document can be obtained on the SCRCOG website, www.scrcog.org/ RFQs shall be submitted in the manner specified to the SCRCOG Regional Purchasing Consortium, 127 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor West, North Haven, CT 06473 until 12:00 P.M. local, eastern standard time on Monday, December 23rd, 2024

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.

Eastern Metal Works is actively seeking bids and employment applications for the Steel Point project in Bridgeport, CT. SWMBE businesses, minorities and local residents are encouraged to apply.

To request bid documents or employment applications, please contact EMW at mchernesky@easternmetalworks.com.

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

Bids and applications must be received before January 15, 2025

For questions concerning this RFQ, contact Brendon Dukett, Municipal Services Coordinator at bdukett@scrcog.org. SCRCOG is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Eastern Metal Works is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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

sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 241003&R2=6856AR&R3=001

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

a CT based construction firm, has an immediate opening for a Project Accountant. This role is crucial in managing financial records, ensuring the accuracy of project costs, and supporting our accounting functions tailored to the construction sector. The ideal candidate will have experience in construction accounting and a strong understanding of project-based financial management. Minimum of 5 years or equivalent experience. Fax

A Day Without Child Care

By Emma Biggs and Dee Dee Fields

As we end the year, we look back at some of the important viewpoints about early childhood education shared during 2024. Here’s one from leaders in North Carolina that applies on a national level. On May 16, we will be closing our childcare centers for a day — signaling a crisis that could soon sweep across North Carolina, dismantling the very backbone of our economy: childcare. This one-day action, organized by a coalition of partners under Child Care for NC: United for Change, is not merely a protest; it’s a stark preview of the devastating impact awaiting us as federal pandemic-era funding ends. Without decisive action, North Carolina risks losing over 1,500 child care programs, affecting nearly 92,000 children and their families. This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about our state’s future and the lives of the working families who depend on these essential services.

We are not newcomers to this field. With over half a century of combined experience in childcare, we’ve dedicated our lives to the education and well-being of children. From operating small family childcare home centers to managing large facilities, our careers have been built on the belief that every child deserves a nurturing, stimulating environment to grow. Chronic underfunding threatens the very foundation of this belief. I was thrust into the world of childcare out of necessity when I lost my childcare voucher as a single mother. This personal crisis not only led me into the field but has fueled my commitment ever since. At Pathway Preschool Center, we’ve used the latest round of federal funds to improve teacher salaries and enhance our facilities significantly. These changes aren’t just numbers on a page — they mean that parents can go to work knowing their children are in safe, stimulating environments.

This May 16th, we are not only closing our center; we are taking our cause to Raleigh, where we will join hands with many to demand sustained support. Without the necessary funding or resources, I will have to continue raising fees for families and reducing our hours to manage costs; something we just cannot afford to do. I am stepping out because I know my center is not alone in this battle. On May 16th, I’m bringing a busload of staff from my center and the families we serve to share our personal stories, handwrite letters to legislators and speak out about what these cuts mean for not only our community and state but the rest of the country. My question to legislators is this: “Who stands to lose care if you don’t act now?” We will not fail the marginalized Black and brown children who will be the most impacted by your inaction, and until you recognize the value of what early childhood educators do every day, we will not rest.

Like Emma, I started my career in child-

care to make a safe space for my daughter and give her the quality experience I envisioned for her. I did not know at the time that there were so many aspects of the profession that were detrimental to childcare providers and that I would face many costly lessons over the years. Even though I still love what I do and hold early childhood education close to me, I am completely drained mentally, physically, and emotionally. As the director of Landeeingdam Daycare Inc., I see every day how crucial adequate funding is to maintain quality care. Thanks to the recent grants, the additional assistance I could afford was a game-changer for our children’s daily educational experiences. Without continued funding, not only might I lose this help, but we may also be

forced to cut services or close, decisions that would reverberate throughout our community. On May 16th, I will stand with Emma and other childcare providers at Halifax Mall to share my story and those of the families we serve.

Financial instability is a standard to many in our field, forcing numerous providers and childcare workers to take on second jobs just to make ends meet. Despite our designation as ‘essential’ during the pandemic, this status was short-lived, and the support that once seemed like a breakthrough is now a failed promise. The recent stabilization grants briefly expanded our capabilities and allowed for critical hires that profoundly impacted our children’s daily experiences. Yet, as this funding expires, the risk of reducing ser-

vices or even closing our centers remains heavy, a decision that would devastate our communities. It’s not just about keeping the doors open; it’s about maintaining a quality of care that includes providing our staff with necessary benefits like paid time off, health insurance, and other essentials that help retain them, ensure their well-being, and ensure a safe and pleasant environment for our children.

The childcare crisis demands more than temporary solutions; it requires a fundamental reevaluation of how our society supports those tasked with caring for its youth. Our firsthand experiences underscore the critical role of childcare as more than just a service — it is an economic driver and a pillar of stability within our communities. The end of federal fund-

ing threatens an essential service that is already difficult for many families to obtain. For many centers, particularly those serving low-income families, the end of these funds will mean drastic cuts in services or straight-up closures. We’ve already begun to see the strain on our centers in Charlotte and Durham, where operational adjustments — from reducing hours to increasing fees — are Band-Aid solutions to a bleeding financial wound. The potential closure of childcare centers carries broader implications beyond the immediate disruption to family routines. The economic impact is significant, hampering North Carolina’s recovery and growth when many are still dealing with the pandemic’s lingering effects. The end of stabilization grants threatens the livelihood of thousands of care workers, with nearly three in ten programs facing closure. This is not just a disruption; it is a devastation to the community and economic threads that hold our state together. Every cut in childcare funding is a cut to a child’s future, a family’s stability, and our state’s economic vitality. Behind the numbers are stories of real people making painful choices: educators like us who love our work but face financial instability and parents who may no longer have access to affordable care. These are not just policy failures; they are personal crises affecting thousands. It is time for North Carolina’s legislators to step forward and recognize childcare for what it is: an essential infrastructure critical to economic stability and deserving of sustained investment. We need a reinvestment in our state’s future through robust support of childcare. This means not only preserving but increasing state funding to ensure that childcare centers across North Carolina can continue to serve their communities without sacrificing quality or accessibility. To our fellow North Carolinians, we ask you to join us, whether in person on the steps of the General Assembly, in spirit or by contacting your representatives. Support us in demanding that our legislators act now to preserve and enhance this vital sector. Our actions today will define the future of our state and the legacy we leave for our children.

We are closing our centers on May 16 to stand up for this cause, but more importantly, to ignite a movement that echoes through every legislative hall and into every corner of our state. This is not just about childcare. It’s about the kind of North Carolina we want to live in. We refuse to step back into a past where childcare is undervalued and underfunded. Instead, we demand a future where our children and families flourish.

Emma Biggs is a member of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) and the director of Pathway Preschool Center in Charlotte. Dee Dee Fields is a National Domestic Workers Alliance member and director of Landeeingdam Daycare Inc. in Durham.

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