The Black and Puerto Rican Caucus Announces Public Forum and Scholarship

February 4, 2019

The Black and Puerto Rican Caucus invites the public, advocates, and lawmakers to initiate a dialogue on the pressing policy issues concerning the Black and Latinos communities. The forum is on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at Room 2C of the Legislative Office Building from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Here is what interested participants must know before testifying:

1. Sign-up sheets will be available in the Legislative Office Building Lobby from noon until 2:00 pm
2. Written testimony may be submitted in advance to Georgette.Cicero@cga.ct.gov
3. Speakers will be allowed to speak for a max of 3 minutes in order to allow everyone in attendance to speak

For additional information please contact Georgette Cicero at (860) 240-8323 or email Georgette.Cicero@cga.ct.gov

In addition, applications are now being accepted for the Representative Wilfred X. “Spike” Johnson Scholarship Fund till March 18, 2019. For more information, click on the attached document. 

The Scholarship Fund is named after Wilfred X. "Spike" Johnson who was the first African American elected to Connecticut’s State House of Representatives. Rep. Johnson was elected to represent the Capitol City of Hartford in 1958 and served for four terms. Mr. Johnson was also the first to hold several positions in his career in Hartford breaking through barriers that paved the way for generations of African Americans who followed in his footsteps. He was also the first African-American to preside over the Connecticut House of Representatives as well as the first African American to be a bank teller in Connecticut.

In recognition of his contributions to the State of Connecticut, the legislature’s Black and Puerto Rican Caucus began a scholarship program to assist college students of color with the purchase of textbooks. The Spring Fling, an annual event hosted by the Caucus, raises funds to help support the scholarship program.

The Spring Fling is on Thursday, May 9, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. at the Red Rock Tavern which is on 369 Capitol Ave.

For additional information and to purchase/send an ad, please email the Caucus at ctbprc@gmail.com.  Kindly make checks payable to the Spanish American Merchants Association (SAMA) and forward to CT BPRC c/o Representative Brandon McGee – 43 Warren Street – Hartford, CT 06120