Food and Resource Drive for Jamacia

November 7, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

I hope you are having a great week. Please read below for updates in our community!

The Jamaican American Connection, a New Haven County based nonprofit, is holding a food and resource drive for victims of Hurricane Melissa.

They are looking for the following:

Non-perishable food
Cleaning supplies
Candles & matches
Flashlights & batteries
Medical & first aid supplies
Hygiene & personal care items
Manual can openers
Water purifying tablets
Small tools (hammers, nails, tape, etc)
Power banks for charging cell phones and small electronics
Baby items (diapers, wipes, & more)
Barrels & packing supplies

Click here for more information.

Last month, I attended two press conferences to celebrate funding for Hamden.

Several Hamden officials gathered at Denicola Park to celebrate the CIF board's decision to award Eli's Garden of Healing a $250,000 planning grant. While we wait for the Bond Commission to take the final action, we took a moment to reflect on Elijah's life and commend Elijah's family for their work in turning a former firing range into a healing garden for all of Hamden. What a joy to be in community with this amazing team.

And last week, we celebrated $8 million from CIF for the Hamden Newhall Foundations Repair Fund.

Great news! Hamden was recently named a Gold certified municipality by Sustainable CT.

Click here to read Hamden's certification report.

Do you know what bottles are eligible for redemption? Please check out the graphic below for a refresher. Knowing the rules will make the process more efficient for all involved.

Last Monday marked National Civics Day, a time to recognize the importance of civics education and commemorate the anniversary of the first release of the Federalist Papers in 1787.

Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas just launched the new “Power of Civics” online learning course, an initiative designed to help residents learn more about government and civic engagement.

The course is designed to help residents better understand how government works, how laws are made, and how individuals can participate effectively in democracy. It includes interactive lessons, videos, and quizzes covering topics like voting, the Constitution, and the role of local and state government.

Click here to access the new "Power of Civics" platform.

The Generation Power CT Energy Assistance program is now open for eligible Connecticut households.

Applications are open through Monday, November 10th. Click here to learn more and apply,.

The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity (CWCSEO) is hosting a special virtual listening session for those who identify as GEN Z - high schoolers, college students, young adults on November 16 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Please come ready to share about issues impacting you and your community. The information you share will be used to inform policymakers and CWCSEO's work and ensure that the voice of Connecticut residents is the commission's central focus and priority.

Click here to register.

November is newly proclaimed Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in Connecticut.

Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects about 90,000 Connecticut residents, and for every person living with the disease, there are countless family members, friends, and care partners who are providing ongoing support.

During the 2025 session, we passed legislation to ensure insurance coverage of biomarker testing starting next year and established Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia Task Force to examine needs and review available services and also develop a State Alzheimer’s Plan.