As many of you know, I got my start in public office serving on the Danbury Board of Education.
While there are many issues I'm passionate about, there is none more so than education.
This past week I advocated alongside municipal and state leaders for increasing public education funding and modernizing the Education Cost Sharing formula.
ECS is stuck in 2013, our students and teachers are living in 2026.
Our public schools changed my life, and I’m staying relentless for Danbury and the rest of the state. |
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| Student Loan Reimbursement Program |
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The Connecticut Student Loan Reimbursement Program has opened a new grant round and is now accepting applications for student loan payments that were made during the 2025 calendar year.
Click to see if you’re eligible and apply at the Connecticut Office of Higher Education website at portal.ct.gov/ohe.
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| A truly inspiring morning at The Center For Empowerment And Education Hearts of Hope Breakfast. Congratulations to Dina Francisco Pereira and Rita Farhat, two amazing women who I consider friends and who embody compassion and service. Jennifer Ramey’s testimonial was powerful. The Center continues to be a vital source of hope and support in our community, and I’m grateful for its work! |
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Honored to join the Danbury NAACP, Mayor Roberto Alves, and our community at City Hall to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Black History Month with the raising of the Pan-African Flag.
Mayor Alves delivered powerful, moving remarks reflecting on how far we’ve come, yet there is much important work that still lies ahead. We were especially inspired by a student essay and the many thoughtful, uplifting words shared today.
Black history is American history, and moments like this remind us why reflection, education, and continued progress matter. |
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| You Know Lunch is Good When... |
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I’m embarrassed to say… (not embarrassed at all  ) that lunch from Lakeview Pizza was so good on National Pizza Day that I had to go back to pick up dinner for the family. Pretty sure my wife got a little jealous of how good lunch looked. That’s a sign of a great pizza! |
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| A Day at the Dorothy Day House |
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I spent time on Super Bowl Sunday at Dorothy Day Hospitality House, thanks to an invitation from my constituent and former 109th State Representative, Lynn Taborsak, who has been volunteering there since 1984, her first year in the House of Representatives.
Lynn and the volunteers provide clothing, shoes, and basic necessities but what they truly give is dignity, compassion, and human connection to people going through some of the hardest moments of their lives.
I sat with Tommy, who shared how he and his wife have been homeless since December, moving between shelters while caring for their 15-month-old baby. His wife returned from work and spoke with me as well. Watching them leave pushing that stroller at closing time was heartbreaking. I’ll be doing all I can to help them.
I spoke with Moises, who is struggling just to get into a shelter. I met Kevin, who needed a pair of boots to get through the cold. These are not statistics. These are human beings. In the richest state in the country, we can do more, and we must do more to help people get back on their feet.
If you know Lynn, you know her heart. She is relentless in her service, steady in her compassion, and our community is stronger because of her.
Donations are accepted, especially:
• Men’s and women’s clothing
• Men’s pants (all sizes, but especially 30–32)
• Shoes and winter boots
• Socks and basic essentials
If you’re able to help, please DM me or email farley.santos@cga.ct.gov.
This is about homelessness.
This is about dignity.
This is about who we choose to be as a community.
We have work to do and I’m committed to doing it. |
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A cold night warmed by good food and even better community at the Feast of the Soups at the Portuguese Cultural Center.
From delicious soups to laughter, music, and dancing, it was all about coming together to help the Center get back on its feet after the recent fire. I even lucked out and won the 50/50 raffle and was happy to donate it right back to the Center.
Huge congratulations to the organizers and thank you to every business and group that donated the tasty soups. This is what community coming together truly looks like. |
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As always, if you have any comments, questions or concerns, please reach out to my office.
Sincerely,
Farley Santos |
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