Remembering MLK and Human Trafficking Roundtable

January 23, 2025
 

Martin Luther King Jr. represents a pillar in the ongoing fight for racial justice. On MLK Day, we commemorate the life and work of Dr. King and reflect on the principles of racial equality and nonviolent social change.

There is plenty to get to in the email below, keep scrolling for more on: 
  • MLK Heritage Foundation Breakfast
  • Special Education Legislative Breakfast
  • Human Services Committee
  • Absentee ballot process
  • Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Legislative breakfast
  • Human Trafficking Awareness Roundtable
 
MLK Breakfast
The MLK Heritage Foundation held its 40th annual MLK Day Breakfast. This was the first time we were back at Branford High School since before the pandemic. What a great turnout!

The keynote speaker was Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jeffrey C. Stewart.
Dr. Stewart presented a rich conversation titled “Nonviolence: Now More than Ever,” centering on Dr. King's commitment to peaceful protest.
 
 
Thank you to the talented Branford High School students from the Culinary Arts Program and the Music Makers. The proceeds from the breakfast provide scholarships for BHS students who embody the spirit of Dr. King.

The foundation also provides a program titled “Meals for the Mind,” a new series of bi-monthly evenings where a small group of people from different backgrounds — whether cultural, racial, ideological, or generational — share a meal, talk and simply get to know each other.


 
For more information on the MLK Heritage Foundation, visit the MLKHeritageFoundation's Facebook page, or email MLKheritage5@gmail.com. 
 
 
Special Education Breakfast
The Connecticut State Advisory Council for Special Education held its Annual Legislative Breakfast on Wednesday to report on their recommendations from the past year of work. As a member of the council, I enthusiastically worked with the team to share our priorities with my fellow legislators. The recommendations will be integrated in our House Priority Bill, HB 5001, for discussion and debate. This committee is unique in the fact that it has wide representation from educators, providers, state agencies, parents, and students. This is an exciting time for special education in our state and I look forward to sharing our work.
 
One of the Special Education bills I have proposed this session is HB5517, An act concerning the inclusion of Special Education considerations as part of school safety and security. This bill requires districts to include a special education department member on the school security and safety committee and to require the accommodation of special needs in the design and implementation of crisis response drills and fire drills.  You can read the framework of the bill here and follow it as it advances.  
 
I have proposed additional legislation for the 2025 session. Click the link below to follow my work. 
 
Link To Proposed Legislation
 
Human Services Committee
Being selected as Vice Chair for the Human Services Committee is an enormous honor. This week we had our first meeting for the 2025 Legislative Session. The Human Services Committee has cognizance of all matters relating to the Department of Social Services, including institutions under its jurisdiction, and the Department of Aging and Disability Services. Our first agenda focused on voting to raise concepts, proposing bills to draft and reserving our first bill for a public hearing. This will continue until our deadline on March 20th.
 
 
Absentee Ballot Process
Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, Deputy Secretary Jennifer Barahona and I were pleased to accept an invitation from Branford’s Town Clerk Lisa Aprin, and our Registrar of Voters Jeff Rowan and Darren “Howie” Lawler.

The meeting at town hall was an opportunity to hear about the absentee ballot process and the resources it takes at the local level with an eye towards sustainability. With feedback from many of the staff I was also able to put through two pieces of proposed legislation about elections. The first, removes the mandate of certain office hours that may be no longer needed due to early and same day voter registration. The second, deals with ensuring each town has an understanding and standardized policy for folks who are temporarily unhoused.
 
The time I spent discussing the intricacies of these issues was certainly helpful and I extend a big thank you to everyone!


 
 
Greater New Haven Chamber Breakfast
At the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast I emphasized the critically important role that the non-profit community providers fill in our state.
 
We’ve come a long way since the time when my father, a champion for the developmentally disabled, led the fight to close down our state run institutions and move residents into the community.
 
Today, we have a more cost effective and humane approach to caring for our aging and disabled. However, our non-profits are squeezed. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money temporarily lifted them up but that is expiring. Our reimbursement rates are insufficient and services will collapse if we don’t invest in the organizations that help the vulnerable residents of our state.
 
 
We are unsure of the federal implications of a new administration on Medicare and Medicaid. Half of our budget is federal dollars and if there are cuts coming it's going to be catastrophic for our state and the services we provide our residents.
 
Along with raising rates, the Human Services Committee is exploring creative ideas such as allowing employers to access the partnership plan or a type of public option so that the staff, while their salaries are still woefully under compensated, would have access to an affordable quality health care option. Also, the employees often qualify for public benefits themselves and thinking about what we could do about the benefit cliff for these workers.
 
This is a human service crisis and we can’t have agencies closing their doors. These are public services and should be funded appropriately.
 
 
Human Trafficking Roundtable
January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month.  Please join me as I moderate a roundtable discussion on Saturday, January 25th from 10:00A.M. to 12:00P.M. at the Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main Street. 
 
I’m going to be discussing recent data with DCF, red flags with the New Haven District Attorney, and community resources with Underground New England and Love146. I will bring it together by discussing Connecticut’s policies as it relates to trafficking. I hope you can join me!