Stay Connected This Session, Black History Month, and more

January 29, 2024


 
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Dear Neighbor,
Happy Friday! In this week's eblast, you can read about resources for the upcoming session, Black History Month, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
 
Stay Connected This Legislative Session!
With the legislative session just around the corner on Wednesday, February 7th, I am committed to keeping you informed and engaged in the democratic process. 

The resources below will help you stay updated on crucial developments, events, proposed policies, and key discussions as they happen in Hartford. I urge you to please follow along and get involved.

Here's how you can stay connected and actively participate:  

  • The non-partisan Office of Legislative Research (OLR) recently released the 2024 Major Issues Report. This comprehensive document highlights and summarizes key issues the legislature could take up during the upcoming session. 
  • You can view the Connecticut General Assembly's upcoming events by checking out its schedule on the CGA official website. 
  • Follow CT-N for live coverage of committee meetings, as well as House and Senate floor debates. 
  • You can register to monitor any bill's journey as it goes through the legislative process. By signing up, you can enter the bill number and receive real-time updates. Stay informed with email notifications whenever there's a change in the bill's progress. 
  • Visit this website for information on how to testify on a bill at a public hearing.

Together, we can make a positive impact and ensure that our community's needs are represented. 

 
February is Black History Month
February is Black History Month, a time when we celebrate the many achievements and contributions of individuals from the Black diaspora, as well as reckon with the systemic racism from our past that is still prevalent today. The theme for this year's month-long celebration is “African Americans and the Arts,” which spotlights Black Americans who excelled in various fields of creative expression, and the influence they have on our country's culture.

Connecticut was home to several notable moments in Black history. The Canterbury Female Boarding School, the first boarding school for young Black girls in the country, was in Canterbury. Abolitionist John Brown was born in Torrington. The 29th Colored Regiment, an all-Black regiment based out of Fair Haven during the Civil War, were one of the first units to enter Richmond, Virginia after it was abandoned by the Confederate Army. Click here to read more about Black history in our state.

Thanks to the tireless work of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus and other colleagues in the General Assembly in 2019, Connecticut became the first state to require public schools to include Black and Latino history in their curriculums. Black history is American history, and this law ensures that the stories and triumphs of Black Americans will be taught throughout the school year. 

I encourage you to take some time to celebrate and learn more about Black history, locally and throughout America. Connecticut is home to several organizations that honor and celebrate the Black experience, such as the Amistad Center for Art & Culture in Hartford, and the Ruby and Calvin Fletcher African American Museum in Stratford.
 
Click here to find more places that honor and support Black history and culture in our state.

 
Thank You for Attending the Town Hall!
Thank you to everyone who came out to the Groton and New London delegation's pre-session town hall. Speaking directly with my constituents is one of the most rewarding and insightful parts of this job, and I will take your feedback and priorities with me when our session begins next week.
 
Teen Thrive Hub 2024
There's a great new service now available in the Greater New London area.

The Shiloh Development Center has launched their Teen Thrive Hub - a dedicated space for teens and their families to build a foundation for health and harmony. Services cater to those in grades 6-8 and their caregivers.

The Teen Thrive Hub will host two monthly sessions on tops including teen and caregivers communication, social media and technology, and mental wellness.

This is a great new program, and I hope you'll consider attending! Registration can be found here.
 
If you have any additional questions, comments, or concerns, I can be reached by phone at 1-800-842-8267 or by email at Christine.Conley@cga.ct.gov. For legislative updates, please like my Official Facebook Page.

Sincerely,

Christine Conley
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