Last Saturday was a busy and rewarding day connecting with our community, both at the Capitol and in West Hartford.
The Connecticut Education Association (CEA) hosted a legislative breakfast where we had thoughtful discussions about strengthening privacy protections for teachers, providing stipends for student teachers, and ensuring robust education funding.
The League of Women Voters also hosted a legislative breakfast, where we had a thoughtful conversation about our priorities and the challenges we are navigating this session.
Later, I attended the 2026 West Hartford Black Business Expo, a powerful celebration of economic empowerment, innovation, excellence, and creativity. It was inspiring to see Black business owners showcasing their legacy, vision, and resilience while building connections and expanding opportunities.
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As a member of the Transportation Committee, I was grateful to take part in a public hearing and informational hearing with the Connecticut Public Transit Council and the Connecticut Department of Transportation this week where residents had the opportunity to share their concerns, experiences, and ideas about transportation in our community.
Hearing directly from you is essential. Whether it’s traffic safety, road conditions, public transit access, or infrastructure improvements, your feedback helps guide the decisions we make and the policies we pursue. These conversations ensure that the voices of our community are heard and that the challenges people face every day are brought to the table. These were some of the bills we heard testimony about:
SB 9: An Act Supporting Commuters and Microtransit Services
SB 237: (RAISED) An Act Concerning Public Transportation
HB 5236: (RAISED) An Act Concerning Workplace Health, Safety and Violence Prevention for Public Transit Workers
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On Tuesday, I joined representatives from the YWCA Hartford Region after testifying in support of HB 5387: An Act Concerning Disclosure of Wage Ranges and Benefits on Public and Internal Job Advertisements. This legislation would require all job postings to include salary ranges, a common-sense step toward greater transparency and closing the gender wage gap.
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In Connecticut, women earn just 83 cents for every dollar earned by men. The gap is even wider for Black women and Latinas, and our state currently ranks 22nd in the nation for pay equity. We can, and must, do better to ensure that women across our state are paid fairly and are able to financially support themselves and their families. Watch my full testimony below.
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This week we are celebrating Read Across America Week, a nationwide initiative that highlights the importance and joy of reading. Schools across the country take part in this week-long celebration by encouraging students to explore new books, discover favorite authors, and develop a lifelong love of reading. Through themed activities, classroom events, and shared reading experiences, the week serves as a reminder that reading opens the door to imagination, learning, and new perspectives.
I was especially excited to visit and read with students at two schools in my district this week, Anna Reynolds Elementary School (Newington) and Webster Hill Elementary School (West Hartford).
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Anna Reynolds Elementary School
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Webster Hill Elementary School
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Next week, I'll be joining the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity and Reproductive Equity Now to discuss access to reproductive healthcare for students. All are welcome to join to learn more and I hope you'll especially share this with college students in your life.
Click here to register for the virtual webinar.
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| STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES |
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On Saturday, March 7 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Noah Webster Library Community Room, explore Indigenous Resilience.
"Ancestral Echoes: Epigenetics, Indigenous Resilience, and Environmental Justice" will examine how chronic social stressors are passed down through generations, shifting the narrative away from individual blame and toward systemic responsibility and community-centered healing.
By grounding rigorous science in the realities of Native American history and environmental justice, the expert panel will highlight a path forward rooted in policy and compassion, demonstrating how intergenerational cycles can be disrupted and a future of collective well-being can be built.
The program is free and open to everyone.
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There will be two opportunities to participate in the Breaking Bias & Creating Community conversation:
- Monday, March 9
- Thursday, March 12
Both sessions will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at West Hartford Town Hall. Click here to RSVP.
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On Thursday, March 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Wesleyan University in Middletown, discover the power and potential of composting at the 2026 CT Compost Conference.
Dedicated to compost, soil health, and climate resilience, this dynamic event brings together composters, farmers, educators, municipal leaders, policymakers, and sustainability advocates from across the region. Speakers from Connecticut and around the country will share innovative ideas and practical strategies for advancing composting, strengthening soil health, and building resilient systems.
Be part of the conversation, and the solution.
Click here for more information and to register for this free event.
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On Sunday, May 17 at 9:00 a.m., you are invited to take part in the Newington Library 5K Challenge Road Race, a popular community-wide event that offers a fun-filled morning of exercise, friendly competition, and local spirit.
Walkers are welcome, and strollers are allowed on the course.
Click here for more information about the race and to register.
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