Celebrating Black History Month, Coffee Hour Event Feb. 10 At SONO Branch Library In Norwalk

February 2, 2024


 
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Dear Neighbor,

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.
There’s no other way I’d rather kick off Black History Month than honoring a friend and colleague we lost far too soon. Q was the first-ever Black person to be elected to represent the 100th House district in the Connecticut General Assembly. He was a trailblazer in so many ways and a fierce advocate for education.  Join me this #BlackHistoryMonth in honoring and celebrating his life. Here are some of the incredible accomplishments he achieved during his short time with us:
  •  A Middletown Public Schools grad
  • Earned a Bachelor's in Business Administration from Bryant University
  •  Earned a Master’s of Public Administration from Villanova University Villanova University
  • Earned an Inclusion and Diversity Certificate from Cornell University
  • The first Black person to be elected to represent the 100th house district in the State of Connecticut General Assembly
  •  House Chair of the Labor Committee
  • Co-founder of the educational nonprofit Equity CT
  • An adjunct professor at the University of Hartford
  • A proud member of the CT Black and Puerto Rican Caucus
  • A proud member of Beta Sigma Lambda, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Beta Sigma Lambda Chapter, Hartford, CT

Please join me in keeping Q’s philanthropic spirit alive. The Q Fund will support the charitable causes and nonprofit missions he cared about. ️RememberingQ.com
Transit Equity Day is observed annually on February 4 to commemorate the life and legacy of Rosa Parks on her birthday.

I hope you can join me for a Coffee Hour at the SONO Branch Library on Saturday, February 10th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.! I look forward to seeing you.

As always, feel free to call me at 1-800-842-8267 or email me at Travis.Simms@cga.ct.gov if you have any questions or concerns. Also, please like my official Facebook Page for regular updates.

Sincerely,

Travis Simms
State Representative
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