Support Winter Warm-Up, Get Your Flu Shot

December 6, 2023


 
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Dear Neighbor, 

Sometimes people wonder, what do legislators do when they aren’t in session? I get it because a lot of our work is often unseen.
The last few weeks have been especially illustrative of the work we do, both in what we do out of session to prepare for the next session and the daily work of being a representative of our districts.
 
Frequently, our work is connecting our constituents to resources at the state level that may help solve a problem they are having. Often, we meet with constituents, advocates, and associations/organizations to hear the challenges they are facing and how there may be a legislative solution that could be proposed in the next session. We also take tours of businesses, associations, and other state-funded locations to better understand their needs.
 
Additionally, we participate in informational forums like the one with librarians from across the state you will see in this issue.
 
I appreciate the connection to you via this newsletter and hope to see you around the district in the near future. 

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance.
 
Have a great week,

Eleni
 
Please Support Winter Warm-Up
As I mentioned last week, I am doing a Winter Warm-Up collection for the homeless in Hartford County. Thank you to Liquid Nirvana in Avon and Blue House Bagel, Co. in Canton for joining Beanz & Co., Imagine Float, and Little Oak Café as our drop-off locations. We have just a little over one week to go on the collection. We are requesting new items that will then be distributed to Hands on Hartford and, potentially, other local organizations.

At the request of our homeless advocates, I am sponsoring a "Winter Warm-Up" drive in partnership with three local businesses. They will have drop-off boxes to collect new winter clothing and accessories through December 14th so that the providers can hand them out before the holidays.
If you prefer to donate to keep families in their homes this winter, you can give to the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness "be homeful for the holidays" campaign. For every $25 donation, the CT Realtors Foundation will donate a Paddington bear, book, or backpack to a child in a shelter. To donate, please click HERE.
 
A Legislative Listening Session With Librarians 
Yesterday, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Representative Christine Palm gathered over 75 librarians for a forum at the legislative office building to discuss book bans, the very high cost of e-books to libraries, and other challenges librarians face. More than 75 librarians joined us to discuss these critical topics.
 
Most striking was the data point that over half of the librarians said they had dealt with book challenges, also known as attempted “book bans,” in their communities. The majority of the books targeted are overwhelmingly portrayed or authored by people identifying as LGBTQ+ or BIPOC community members.

Read "CT librarians looking for lawmaker help as they face harassment tied to book bans" from today's Connecticut Post

HERE. 
Libraries also face significant financial challenges. CT ranks 46th out of 50 states in the amount of financial support we provide our libraries. That’s one of the reasons why I will be pursuing the e-book bill again this year. This bill seeks to address the exorbitant pricing and unreasonable contract terms for libraries to procure e-books. Did you know that one e-book could cost the library four to five times what a traditional paper book costs? And that the library is only able to loan it out 26 times or over two years before the book disappears from its collect? Publishers need to come to the table in good faith to negotiate since taxpayer dollars are involved. If they do not, then the state seeks to pass an appropriate remedy.
 
The next time you are at your town or school library, I hope you’ll thank the librarians for all they do to keep our libraries well-stocked safe havens for so many.
 
It's National Influenza Vaccination Week
It’s not too late to get your flu shot. Flu shots save lives! 
 
Did you know that getting the flu shot can reduce your chances of severe illness and can potentially help you prevent a cardiac incident related to the flu? Get yours today. Find a location near you to get one by clicking on the image below.  
 
First Apprenticeship Program for Home-Based Child Care Jobs
Connecticut has created its first home-based childcare apprenticeship program, which is providing a new class of expert instructors. The program will be a guide for those looking for a high-demand job in home-based child care.

The apprenticeship is designed to support everyone including aspiring caregivers and children of different cultures and who speak different languages, especially Spanish. This is vital for our diverse community. The program will also improve the quality of early care and education with coursework in child development.
Do not forget that you can earn while you learn! The workforce training program is federally backed and requires a minimum of 2,000 hours working on the job and hundreds of hours of classroom learning. Once a participant completes the program, that person receives credentials, which in turn raises wages and improves the quality of home-based care. To apply, please click HERE.
 
Beware of Phishing Scheme Targeting Job Seekers
If you’re looking for a new job, beware of scammers trying to get your personal information! The Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) says criminals are asking victims for banking, credit card, and social security information while pretending to work at the state’s job bank, CTHires.

If you are in any of the following scenarios while applying for a job, hang up immediately:
  • You’re asked to pay a fee to apply or to be considered
  • You’re asked for your social security number, bank account number, or credit card details to complete your application

You’re told to give up valuable information or you’ll lose a job opportunity

You can visit the CTDOL fraud watch page here if you think you may be a victim of this or other scams.
 
Happy Hanukkah!
To our Jewish friends celebrating the festival of lights, may the candles you light this year be a beacon of hope to you and the world at a very difficult time.
 
National Pearl Harbor Day is Thursday 
Tomorrow, December 7, is a somber day of remembrance in our country, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. If you have had the chance to visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii, you know that even to this day, oil still leaks from the USS Arizona even though the ship was sunk in 1941.

To learn more about the attack that led us into World War II as a nation or about the memorial on Oahu, click

 HERE. please visit: 
 
Sincerely,

Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative
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