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Next Thursday, June 19 is Juneteenth. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in our country. For many years, this important holiday was primarily celebrated in the South, but was unknown to others from the rest of the country. However, thanks to great advocacy work, it is now rightfully observed throughout the country, including Connecticut. In 2022, the Connecticut General Assembly voted to make Juneteenth a state holiday.
Contrary to popular belief, the Emancipation Proclamation did not end the practice of slavery in America. It also did not end at the conclusion of the Civil War. On June 19, 1865, 2 months after the Civil War ended, a group of Union soldiers traveled to Galveston, Texas and announced that all enslaved people were now free. They were among the last group of Americans to be notified of their freedom.
Although Juneteenth celebrates a momentous event in our history, we must also take time to reflect on the horrors of slavery and its lingering effects on our society. As your state representative, I will continue to push for legislation that will make Connecticut a better state for all. If you have any questions about Juneteenth, its history, and how it has been celebrated around the country, please check out this page from the National Museum of African American History and Culture. |
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There will be several Juneteenth celebrations around the state, including in our district.
The Sixth Annual Milford Juneteenth Celebration will be held tomorrow, June 14 on the Milford Town Green. Click here to learn more.
The following is a list of some of the other communities or organizations that have upcoming Juneteenth celebrations:
Stamford (June 14)
Celebrate Juneteenth at Mill River Park with a day filled with music, food, and community. The festivities kick off with a flag raising ceremony at the Government Center at 1 p.m. A parade is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. followed by a Freedom Day Celebration from 3 to 7 p.m. More information here.
New London (June 14)
Juneteenth flag-raising ceremonies and the Hempsted Houses Juneteenth Festival celebrate the African American history of the area, on June 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information here.
Hartford (June 14 and June 19)
The Hartford African American Parade & Juneteenth Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Keney Park, 337 Vine St.
The True Juneteenth Celebration: The Essence of Black Excellence is at the Artists Collective, 1200 Albany Ave., on Thursday, June 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Manchester (June 18 and 20)
The Spruce Street Farmers Market on June 18 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. is hosting Black-owned food & artisanal vendors. Enjoy a live performance by Mixed Company -All attendees will receive a free Pan-African flag.
Celebrate Juneteenth Freedom Day on Friday, June 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. by hearing from a roundtable of local community leaders & trailblazers about Manchester’s equity work.
Middletown (June 19)
The third annual Juneteenth Parade & Liberation Day Festival is scheduled for Thursday, June 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Harbor Park, 80 Harbor Drive.
New Britain (June 19)
The city of New Britain will host the fourth annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival on June 19 at Central Park, 230 Main St., from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The event will kick off with the raising of the Juneteenth Flag at 5 p.m. Following the flag raising, the community is invited to gather for live music by Profile Band and complimentary hot dogs and hamburgers. Local organizations will be present, offering opportunities for individuals to engage with and support their community. Informative displays highlighting facts about Juneteenth will be placed throughout the park.
Waterbury (June 19)
Join the community for Juneteenth 2025 in Waterbury on Thursday, June 19, starting at 11 a.m. at City Hall, 235 Grand St. There will be a flag raising, vendors, live entertainment, food and more.
More information here.
New Haven (June 20 and 21)
The city is hosting a huge celebration on Saturday, June 21, from noon to 6 p.m. at Dixwell "Q" House, 197 Dixwell Ave. There will be a health and wellness clinic, vendors, education support, history and culture exhibits, arts and crafts, a basketball tournament and more. Visit here for more information.
The International Festival of the Arts is also hosting a Juneteenth Jamboree on Friday, June 20. Visit here for more information.
Enfield (June 21)
The Juneteenth Outdoor Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 21, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Town Green (rain date Sunday, June 22). Experience live music, spoken word, dance, and storytelling from diverse performers, alongside delicious food from Black-owned and local vendors. Enjoy hands-on art, youth activities, history exhibits, and opportunities to connect, learn, and grow together. The free event is open to all.
Greenwich (June 21)
The Greenwich Historical Society, 47 Strickland Road, will host the 2nd annual Juneteenth Celebration Festival on Saturday, June 21, from noon to 3 p.m.
Back by demand, Soul Tasty from Stamford, will bring soul food, including fried chicken, mac and cheese, or red velvet cake. Live music will be played by the band Suburban Chaos.
The event will include Juneteenth-inspired educational crafts, a scavenger hunt and fun lawn games by the heirloom garden.
Half-hour tours of Bush-Holley House will run at noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Tours will begin at the kitchen entrance of the Bush-Holley House. |
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Impact of Connecticut’s Opioid Services Division
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Connecticut’s Opioid Services Division was established in 2018 in response to the growing overdose crisis and to expand statewide access to the prevention of opioid use disorder, opioid treatment, recovery support, harm reduction, outreach, engagement, and overdose prevention coverage with a focus on overdose deaths. This marks the third consecutive year of decreases of statewide overdose deaths.
The division manages projects and initiatives that resulted from infusion of State Opioid Response grant funding as well as those approved by the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. Some of 2024’s improvements include:
💠 Expanded innovative services in the state, adding three and continuing to support original Harm Reduction Centers in municipalities with highest morbidity rates: Hartford, Waterbury, New Haven, and New London
💠 Added outreach services via Peer Navigator Programs in two areas of the state;
Distributed close to 60,000 naloxone kits (naloxone is a lifesaving, overdose reversal medication), exceeding the state saturation goal for the year.
💠 Hosted a successful and informative Harm Reduction Conference. The conference included four expert speakers from around the country, as well as two panel discussions, focused on addressing equity, and stigma, 390 individuals attended the conference: 263 in person and 127 virtually.
While we are heartened to see data going in the right direction, we know there is much more work to do to fight this public health crisis. Our hearts are heavy for the 990 individuals who lost their lives to overdose in 2024 and their loved ones whose lives have been forever altered. We remain steadfast in our mission to expand access and availability of life-saving medication, public education, harm reduction, treatment and recovery supports until no lives are lost to drug overdose.
Additional information is available on the DMHAS Opioid Services Division website at portal.ct.gov/dmhas/programs-and-services/opioid-treatment/opioid-services.
Anyone seeking services regarding opioid use disorder in Connecticut should visit www.liveloud.org or call 1-800-563-4086 any time, day or night. |
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Attention dog owners - you have until the end of the month to renew or register your furry friend's dog license.
All dog licenses must be renewed for 2025, and any new dogs over six months of age or currently unlicensed must also register at this time.
No license may be issued unless a valid rabies certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian and including the date of the vaccination and duration of immunity, is presented to the town clerk.
Click here to learn about the registration process in West Haven.
Click here to learn about the registration process in Milford.
Click here to learn about the registration process in Orange.
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Our libraries have a lot of books, and through resource sharing, we have access to even more books! For the first time, the CT State Library is offering a Suggested Summer Reading List for all grade levels.
The Suggested Summer Reading list has been compiled around this year's theme, Level up at Your Library, an all ages summer reading program. The suggested list is just that, suggested! The list has been created with accessibility in mind and it's a guidance that matches the age breakdowns and number of titles as the Department of Education reading challenge lists.
Click here to access the list. |
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Sincerely,
MJ Shannon
State Representative |
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