Update - February 2

February 2, 2024
We have just a few more days before the session starts. Things will move fast, and I'll make sure to keep you updated on what's happening here in Hartford. You'll also see me out and about in the 65th District, and please feel free to reach out to my office if I can be of help to you. You can call 860-240-8585 or email michelle.cook@cga.ct.gov.
This e-newsletter includes:
  • A tour of the progress at the new TMS & THS
  • A "Thank You" from Friendly Hands Food Bank
  • Resources to help you keep up-to-date during the 2024 session
  • Legislative Process 101
  • Food system capacity building grant application open now
  • February is Black History Month
  • Take Your Child to the Torrington Library tomorrow (and all this month)
  • Torrington Winter Festival is February 3
New Torrington Middle & High School Progress Tour
This week, I had the chance to tour the new TMS/THS school and see the progress that has been made so far. The completion of this phase of the project is expected in January 2025.  
A "Thank You" Gathering with Friendly Hands
A "thank you" gathering took place recently for Friendly Hands staff and volunteers. Jason Jakubowski, President and CEO of CT Foodshare joined the festivities. 
Resources to Keep You Connected During the 2024 Legislative Session
With the legislative session just around the corner, 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. 
Legislative Process 101
Not familiar with state politics? Don’t be intimidated - let’s break down the process in just 6 steps.
Food System Capacity Building Grant Application Process Open
The CT Department of Agriculture has announced a new grant around food systems.  Eligible applicants include local food policy councils and/or food working groups, agricultural producers, food pantries, and farmers’ markets.

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture will be hosting a Food System Capacity Building Grant Webinar on February 8, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Applications are due by March 6.
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, was 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.
Take Your Child to the Library Day
is Saturday!
Take Your Child to the Library Day is tomorrow! Libraries across Connecticut celebrate this day by offering free and fun activities for families. Your local library is an ideal place for children to play, discover, make friends, and have fun. Take Your Child to the Library Day is the perfect time to discover some library magic. From magicians to craft programs, and ice cream socials to story times, each library offers something unique and delightful. 

To learn more about Take Your Child to the Library Day and to see what area libraries are doing to celebrate, click HERE. 

Here's what Torrington Library is doing on February 3 and the events the library has planned for the month of February.
Torrington Winter Festival