Dominique Johnson

MLK Day Celebrations, Updates to the East Norwalk Parking Lot, and More!

View this email in your browser Dear Neighbor, Happy Friday! I hope you had a wonderful week.  Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. On this day, we remember Dr. King's dream and our duty to fulfill it. He passionately laid out a vision for our country and its communities. He reminded us how our well-being and quality of life are all interrelated, that we as Americans are “tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” So much of what he fought for over 60 years ago is still a work in progress, and we will continue to push for progress in his memory. Please read below for information on a scam alert for Norwalk residents, upcoming events, and more!  MLK Day Events in the Community  The City of Norwalk will hold three events on Monday to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King.  To kick off the day, a community breakfast will be served at Grace Baptist Church, from 8:00 AM  to 10:00 AM. Tickets for the breakfast will cost  $15 and can be ordered by calling 203-838-3176. All proceeds will benefit the MLK Scholarship Fund. Next, the Norwalk Public Schools (NPS)  student and staff program will be held at Norwalk High School auditorium from 11:00 AM  to 12:30 PM. Norwalk Mayor Barbara Smyth will serve as the keynote speaker. The free program will also include NPS student performances and artwork as well as presentations of the Dr. King Service Award to high school seniors. Finally, the day of celebration will conclude with a free evening program at Norwalk City Hall, starting at 5 p.m. Dannel P. Malloy, the Chancellor of the University of Maine System, will deliver the keynote address. Westport Library will hold the 20th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration on Saturday, January 17, at 1 pm. Jelani Cobb, the dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, will be the keynote speaker. Click here for more information.  Update to East Norwalk Station Parking Lot Approximately 10 spaces on the south side of the East Norwalk Train Station parking lot will be temporarily unavailable starting Wednesday, January 21 through February 2. During this time, there will be additional parking at 182 East Avenue. Click here for more information.  Upcoming League of Women Voters Events The League of Women Voters of Norwalk and Nancy on Norwalk will hold a legislative forum on Thursday, January 22. The Norwalk delegation will be available to answer questions about the upcoming session, as well as listen to any comments or concerns about our community. The event will take place in the Norwalk City Hall Community Room from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. If you cannot attend in person, the event will also be streamed live on Zoom. Click here or the image below to access the link.  The League of Women Voters of Westport will hold their annual pre-session panel, Pie & Politics, on January 26 at Pizza Lyfe. I will be joined by State Senator Ceci Maher and State Representative Jonathan Steinberg. Free pizza will be provided. The event will begin at 7 PM. Hope to see you there!  Scam Alert for Norwalk Residents The Norwalk Police Department has been informed that residents are receiving scam emails impersonating City departments.  A sample of one of these emails is pictured below. Residents should be aware that the phone number and email address listed on the invoice do not correspond with any official contact information for the City of Norwalk. Additionally, the bank information provided in the message lists a financial institution located in Kansas City, Missouri, which is not associated with the City of Norwalk. Please do not to send money or provide personal or financial information in response to unsolicited emails. If you receive a suspicious message or have questions regarding the legitimacy of an invoice, please reach out to the Norwalk Police Department at 203-854-3000.  Thursday Free Afterschool Meal Program  The Norwalk Arts Space will begin providing a complimentary student meal, prepared by the renowned team at the Art Space Cafe, every Thursday during the spring semester.  Students are encouraged to stay and use the cafe space until 5 PM for homework, studying, or finishing up an art project. The program will run every Thursday from January 29 - April 16 from 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM. Registration is required. Click here to learn more. All of the art classes for the winter semester are fully booked, but there are some openings for Tuesday music classes. Click here to learn more.  AARP Community Challenge Grant Program AARP CT is inviting eligible local nonprofit organizations and government entities to apply for the 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant program. This initiative funds quick-action projects that make communities more livable by enhancing public spaces, transportation, housing, digital connectivity, and more.  This year, AARP will award over $8 million in grants as part of its nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods, and rural areas to become great places to live, especially for residents age 50 and older. All project application must be consistent with AARP's mission to serve the needs of people 50 and over and meet other eligibility criteria. The Community Challenge is open to eligible 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations and government entities. Other types of organizations are considered on a case-by-case basis. This application cycle, AARP has three different grant opportunities: Flagship grants support projects that improve public places; transportation; housing; digital connections; and disaster resilience. Awards range from a few hundred dollars to $15,000. Capacity-building microgrants are paired with expert support, webinars, and cohort learning for projects to improve walkability and bikeability; implement safe, accessible home modifications; and disaster preparedness training. Awards are $2,500. Demonstration grants fund projects that encourage replication of exemplary local efforts. This year’s focus is on improving pedestrian safety, with funding support from Toyota Motor North America; expanding high-speed internet access and adoption, with funding support from Microsoft; and housing choice design competitions. Awards typically range from $10,000-$20,000, not to exceed $25,000.   Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on March 4.  For more information, please click here. January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month Human Trafficking is a crime that thrives in the shadows. This month, we shine a light and step into action to prevent human trafficking in Connecticut. During the 2025 session, we passed bipartisan legislation prohibiting various forms of discrimination by employers and owners of prospective rental units based on someone’s status as a sexual assault or human trafficking victim. I will continue to be a strong advocate for survivors in our work at the Capitol into the future. Upcoming Library Events The Norwalk Public Library will hold several events over the next few weeks. If you want more information, click on the corresponding flyer or visit the Norwalk Public Library website.  Westport Public Library also has a robust lineup of programming. Please visit their website to learn more.  ICYMI Access Health CT (AHCT), Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace, has announced that the final deadline to enroll in a health or dental plan for 2026 has been extended to Saturday, January 31. Customers who enroll now will have coverage starting February 1. Customers can also renew their coverage. Visit Access Health CT's website for more information.  Norwalk Recreation & Parks are looking for camp counselors for this summer. If you have a lot of energy and enjoy working with kids, this position is for you. Click here to apply for a position.  Please don't hesitate to reach out to me with any questions and concerns you may have - I can be reached at Dominique.Johnson@cga.ct.gov, or through my office phone - 860-240-8585. Sincerely, Dominique Johnson State Representative Website Email Facebook Forward to a friend | Unsubscribe from this list | Update subscription preferences