Eleni Kavros DeGraw

Dear Neighbor,

As we get closer to the 9/11 anniversary, I’m always struck by how, in most years, the weather seems to mirror the weather on September 11, 2001. Memory can be so visceral, including sight and smell, and in this case, even the sense of the environment around us. Avon will host its annual remembrance this Thursday, and all are welcome. Details below. 

This morning, Senator Honig and I joined Governor Lamont and the clients, staff, friends, and family of FAVARH to celebrate their recent bonding of $2.5M for their new workforce development center. It’s wonderful to be able to share good news and for the clients of FAVARH to know this money is on its way.  I’ve included my remarks from this morning below. 

We will be taking a short break from our lengthier newsletters for the next two weeks, but rest assured, if you need anything, you can always email me at Eleni.KavrosDeGraw@cga.ct.gov.
 
Have a good week,

Eleni

Senator Honig and I joined Governor Lamont this morning at FAVARH to celebrate their recent award of $2.5 million toward their new Workforce Development and Training Center. 

We were lucky to have on hand a beautiful crowd of family, clients, and their job coaches and caregivers to celebrate with us. 

This project represents a big step forward for the 300+ clients who work at local businesses. FAVARH consistently helps create opportunities for more employers to see the incredible value people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) bring to their businesses. 

We took a tour of their current training center and commercial kitchen, where Avon’s own Rocio Olivares of Avon Prime Meats was overseeing some of their catering in FAVARH’s commercial kitchen. Clients at FAVARH now work at Avon Prime Meats.

We also joined the Governor at Beanz & Co. Caf so that he could see firsthand how IDD employment can benefit a business. Co-owner Kim Morrison shared that she recently and suddenly lost her dishwasher, and when she reached out to FAVARH, they were able to provide three new employees by the next business day, each taking a four-hour shift at a time as needed. These young people come to work happy to be there and are performing the hardest and most critical job in the café! 

Special shout-out to Steve Morris, who is the visionary Executive Director of FAVARH, and his entire team for always finding new ways to raise the bar of expectations for our friends and neighbors in the IDD community.

We are so lucky to have you in Canton!

Please click on the image below to hear my comments from today's press conference.