Robin Comey

I hope this email finds you and your family well. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time for our community to come together in reflection, gratitude, and hope. As we honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, we celebrate his enduring vision of love, service, and unity, and recommit ourselves to caring for one another and working toward a more just, compassionate world.

There is plenty to get to in the email below, so make sure to keep scrolling for more on:

• Celebrating MLK
• Around Town
• Connecticut Content Creator Collaborative
• CT History Day Judges Needed
• AARP Community Grant Program
• Vaccine Guidance
• Community Events

The 41st annual MLK Day Breakfast will be held on Monday, January 19 at 8:30 a.m. at Branford High School (185 East Main Street).

The breakfast has become an annual tradition, bringing together hundreds of community members for an incredible morning of food, music, and inspiration. Guest speaker is renowned civil rights Attorney Preston Tisdale.

Click here to buy tickets ($20) that include a full breakfast! Student tickets are just $5.

This week, I had the opportunity to speak at the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce’s annual legislative breakfast, held at Southern Connecticut State University. The well-attended event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from across the region—nonprofits, businesses, universities, and municipal leaders.

I had the opportunity to address the impact of upcoming federal Medicaid changes on our most vulnerable residents. My remarks focused on three critical areas:

• Strengthening Community-Based Safety Nets: Our local nonprofits, community health centers, and community organizations will be on the front lines as federal support contracts. We need to invest in these vital resources now.
• Supporting Healthcare Systems: As Medicaid coverage decreases, healthcare providers will face increased uncompensated care. Our hospitals and health systems need support to continue serving everyone who needs care.
• Municipal Preparedness: With state resources stretched thin, local leaders must start planning now. Municipal governments need to consider how they can support residents in their own communities as federal Medicaid cuts take effect.

I was honored to be invited by Eversource to Branford’s Canoe Brook Senior Center for their “Let’s Talk Energy” series. The program covered how to understand their energy bills, the Home Energy Solutions program, and available assistance programs.

It was great meeting community members, and I’m pleased that Eversource is scheduling additional sessions that will be open to the entire community at my request.

To receive a whole-home energy checkup including assessment, on-the-spot energy upgrades, and efficiency recommendations, visit eversource.com or call 877-WISE-USE (877-947-3873).

As America celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Branford organizations, businesses, and individuals are encouraged to consider scheduling programs or tie-ins to America’s 250th. A group of us gathered for a brainstorming session at the Community House this week. 

Visit ct250.org to learn more about the themes and to spark some ideas. 

If you’d like to be part of these efforts, reach out to me or Colin Sheehan at Branford Parks and Recreation: (203) 488-8304 or CSheehan@branford-ct.gov. 

This week, Governor Ned Lamont announced the launch of the Connecticut Content Creator Collaborative, or C4. This is a new digital platform designed to connect businesses, organizations, and agencies with content creators and influencers who authentically represent Connecticut.

C4 serves as a centralized, searchable database where content creators can list their profiles for free, and where businesses can easily discover, filter, and connect with creators based on industry focus, geography, audience demographics, and content specialty, from lifestyle and culinary to travel, culture, family, and entrepreneurship.

Users can explore creators by:

• Content category (culinary, lifestyle, travel, family, culture, business)
• Geographic focus
• Audience demographics
• Platform reach and specialties

C4 is free for creators to join, boosting visibility, credibility, and access to new opportunities while giving businesses a trusted, efficient way to find partners who bring stories to life.

Click here to explore what C4 has to offer.

A program called Connecticut History Day is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to serve as judges at one of its five Regional Contests. Judges play a crucial role in encouraging students as they share their historical research and creative work. Click here to learn more and sign up to judge at a regional contest.

Judges have the opportunity to meet students, evaluate and rank projects, and provide meaningful, constructive feedback to every participant. No prior judging experience is necessary, judges receive pre-contest training and clear materials to review in advance.

Contest day judging runs from 8:00 a.m. until the early afternoon with coffee, snacks, and lunch provided. Website and paper judges meet with students on contest day, but they review projects in the week prior to the event. Documentary, performance, and exhibit judges both view the project and meet with the students at the contest.