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.
I want to highlight a constituent and dear friend, Marcella Monk Flake. Marcella has nearly 40 years of teaching experience, with most of her career dedicated to students in New Haven’s Talented and Gifted Program. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Monk Youth Jazz, which provides instruction in a wide variety of subjects, including hip hop dance, music, ballet, pre-engineering, architecture and design, financial literacy, and human anatomy. Congratulations Marcella! Thank you for your positive impact on our community. |