Dominique Johnson

Happy Friday! I hope you had a good week and are looking forward to the weekend.

As you may have heard, UConn legend and WNBA superstar Diana Taurasi announced her retirement on Tuesday. Her resume speaks for itself - she won three national championships during her time at UConn, three championships with the Phoenix Mercury, 6 gold medals, and a WNBA MVP in 2009. She also has the most points in WNBA history. Enjoy retirement DT - you will be missed. 

On Monday, I was proud to vote for a bill allocating $40 million in funding to special education, giving immediate support to more than 140 school districts in our state and helping to provide the highest quality education for our students.

These critical resources will help ensure students receive the specialized support they need to thrive.

Since then, the governor has expressed concerns regarding this budget allocation and has suggested the possibility of a line-item veto. However, I remain optimistic that a workable agreement can be reached as we address this critical issue.

My colleagues and I have heard from cities and towns across Connecticut that special education costs are squeezing local budgets. Students and families are dealing with the repercussions of a broken system, and while the legislature considers long-term solutions, we recognized our school districts needed immediate relief.

Our ultimate goal is to achieve systemic reform to ensure sustainable funding in this arena.

Special education remains a legislative priority for House Democrats this session, and moving forward, we will continue looking for solutions to lower costs, strengthen services, and provide more financial support for our education system to make sure every child has access to the education they deserve.

We plan to address a variety of issues, including:

• Expanding access to care
• Protecting reproductive health access,
• Ensuring sustainable reproductive healthcare funding and strengthening support for providers and patients

Click here to read more. 

Click here or check out the graphic below for more information.

You can use the IRS Direct File Tool, which is a new option for anyone who lived and earned all their income in Connecticut last year.

Click here for more information on IRS Direct File Tool.

The federal government is also offering the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which offers free tax preparation services to eligible taxpayers. Here is some of the eligibility date for VITA:

• Household income less than $68,000
• If self-employed, business expenses should be less than $35,000
• No income from a rental property

The annual Teen Diversity Contest is now accepting entries. The contest is open each year to students attending public or private high school (Grades 9-12) in Westport. Those who live in Westport and attend public or private high schools elsewhere are also eligible to participate.

This year's prompt is as follows:

In our community, each person's unique identity – shaped by their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other aspects of who they are – contributes to the character of Westport. In 1,000 words or less, we invite you to reflect on how your own identity shapes your perspective and the experiences you have in Westport. Please address the following considerations in your response:

• Which aspects of your identity feel most central to how you wish to be understood and accepted?

• How do aspects of your identity shape your daily school and community experiences, including both challenges and opportunities in expressing these parts of yourself?

• What specific changes could our community make to decrease identity-based bias, bullying and hate?

The entry deadline is 11:59 pm ET, Monday, March 10. Winners will be notified the week of April 11. Click here to learn more. 

The 29th recipient the Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship, awarded to the most outstanding senior in the Norwalk High School class of 2025, will be announced at the Fund's annual Scholarship Presentation and Benefit Dinner Dance on April the 5th at The Waters Edge in Darien.

The $130,000 scholarship will be awarded to the most outstanding senior the Norwalk High School class of 2025 for demonstrated involvements and accomplishments across the spectrum of academics, athletics, arts, and community and religious service.

The Norwalk High School scholarship is one of 17 scholarship supported by the Fund in 2025. Since the Fund’s inception, almost $3.1 million gifts of education have been awarded to 252 recipients demonstrating achievements in the areas in which Kevin participated and excelled.

Information regarding event tickets, event sponsorship, or silent auction donations can be obtained by contacting the Fund at KevinsFund@aol.com or 203-846-9718. Additional information regarding Kevin and the scholarship fund can be found on the fund's website www.kevinsfund.org.

Pathways to Stem Careers in Manufacturing

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is holding a free event for those interested in a career in manufacturing. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with employers, network with experts, and more!

Please see the flyer below for more information.

Click here to learn more. 

Join the City’s Transportation, Mobility, and Parking Team, along with the Western Connecticut Council of Governments, and FHI Studios (now IMEG), for a public information meeting on Monday, March 24th, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Jefferson Elementary School, located at 75 Van Buren Avenue, as part of the Route 1 Corridor Master Plan Study.

During the public meeting, the community will have the opportunity to participate in a break-out session to view proposed conceptual plans at key locations along the Route 1 Corridor, provide valuable feedback, and engage directly with the project team in a collaborative, 1-on-1 setting. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make your voice heard and help shape the future of Route 1.

Click here to learn more.