Indeed Layoffs, Support for Haiti, and ALS Awareness Month

May 16, 2024


It has been a difficult week for Indeed and its workforce after the company announced it is cutting approximately 1,000 jobs around the world. Please keep reading to find out how many of those cuts are in Stamford and how those folks can get assistance from the state.

May is ALS Awareness Month, a time to support those suffering from the disease and their families. Keep scrolling to learn more about the clinic in Stamford and how to donate to find a cure.

The community is coming together this weekend to celebrate the rich culture of Haiti. Please read below to see where and when you can show off your Haitian pride with friends and loved ones.

Here are the sections of today's email:

  • ALS Awareness Month
  • Food Allergy Awareness Week
  • Indeed Layoffs in Stamford
  • Haiti Celebration in Stamford
  • AANHPI Heritage Month
 
ALS Awareness Month
May is ALS Awareness Month and the community is coming together to support those living with the disorder. All month long, folks are sharing their stories from people living with ALS, showing camaraderie with caregivers, families, and care workers, and shining a spotlight on those who dedicate their lives to finding a cure. 

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disorder in which a person’s brain loses connection with the muscles, slowly taking away their ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe.

To defeat this disease, our community must be educated about ALS, as well as the issues confronting those who are affected by it. It is only through increased advocacy that everyone, including elected officials, medical researchers, and health care professionals will give people with ALS the attention and support they need and deserve.
Click Here to Learn About the ALS Clinic in Stamford
 
Food Allergy Awareness Week
It’s Food Allergy Awareness Week, which is a time to educate people about food allergies, including how to support family, friends, and colleagues who have the disease. 
Connecticut is a leader in this field especially after passing Public Act 23-115 last year. The law requires businesses to display posters in their kitchen for staff identifying the most common allergens, the actions staff should take upon notification, ways to prevent cross contamination, and what to do should a reaction occur.
Constituents with food allergies, doctors, advocates, Rep. Robin Comey and I celebrated the passage of the law last month at the State Capitol.

If you or someone you know has a food allergy, you know how scary a reaction can be. For those not as familiar, here are the steps you should take if you find yourself in a situation where someone is having symptoms of anaphylaxis.

Immediately call 911 or your local medical emergency number.

Ask if the person is carrying an epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen, Auvi-Q, others) to treat an allergic attack.

If the person needs to use an autoinjector, ask if you should help inject the medication. This is usually done by pressing the autoinjector against the person's thigh.

Have the person lie face up and be still.

Loosen tight clothing and cover the person with a blanket. Don't give the person anything to drink.

If there's vomiting or bleeding from the mouth, turn the person to the side to prevent choking. If there are no signs of breathing, coughing or movement, begin CPR. Do uninterrupted chest presses — about 100 every minute — until paramedics arrive.

Remember - don't wait to see whether symptoms get better. Seek emergency treatment right away. In severe cases, untreated anaphylaxis can lead to death within half an hour!
 
Indeed Layoffs in Stamford

This week, we learned the unfortunate news that Indeed is laying off about 1,000 people worldwide. Upon hearing about this, I immediately contacted Indeed, spoke with senior leadership, and learned the company is possibly losing 81 jobs in Stamford.

My colleague Rep. Hubert Delany got in touch with the State Department of Labor to help connect those who are losing their jobs with their unemployment benefits. We hope Indeed will do its best to help former employees find a new job since that is the company’s trademark.
News 12 recently reported on the layoffs. You can learn more by CLICKING HERE.
 
Haiti Celebration in Stamford

Please join the Haitian Flag Day celebration on Saturday, May 18 at 10:30 A.M. for a day filled with music, dance, delicious food, and fun activities for the whole family. Show your pride at the Stamford Government Center and wear your best Haitian flag colors as we come together to honor our history and traditions.

In addition, the Puerto Vallarta restaurant will present a check to Hope for Haiti, which is an organization on a mission to improve the quality of life for the Haitian people.
 
AANHPI Heritage Month

In the month of May, we take time to reflect and celebrate the important role that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) have played in our shared history.

AANHPI communities play an essential role in writing the American story. Let’s spend this month celebrating and elevating those voices and stories.

Connecticut formed its first Black regiments following the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. These also included soldiers born in Asia and the Pacific islands, like Corporal Joseph Pierce, who grew up on a farm in Berlin, Connecticut.

Learn more about other AANHPI soldiers from Connecticut infantries here: shorturl.at/ahzKW