Dear Friends,

Summer has arrived in Southwest Connecticut! This June we celebrated Pride Month, Juneteenth, and more. Here are some of my favorite moments from the past month:

Celebrating love

Our towns came out in spades to celebrate Pride Month this year, from Greenwich to Darien to Norwalk. It was great to see local organizations unite to celebrate all forms of love and reaffirm that Connecticut is a place where everyone gets to be who they are, free from fear and hate. Love is love.

Celebrating Pride in the Park with local organizations and leaders.

Photo credit: Connecticut State Rep. Lucy Dathan.

Commemorating true freedom

Juneteenth is the newest federal holiday—passed by Congress with my support and signed into law by President Biden just two years ago. This day commemorates the true end of slavery in Galveston, Texas, on June 18th, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Black communities across the country have been celebrating Juneteenth for decades, and I was grateful to join in the festivities this month.
 
Local organizations, talented artists, and community members came out to partake in the African American Parade and Harambe Festival in Bridgeport. In Stamford, I was honored to say a few words about the importance of recognizing this historic day and celebrating Black culture and heritage.

Commemorating Juneteenth with local activists, Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons, and Connecticut State Representative Hubert Delaney. Photo credit: State Rep. Delaney.

Prioritizing primary care

I visited the Norwalk Community Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that provides a range of health care services primarily to Medicaid and Medicare populations. The Health Center offers care for behavioral health, pediatrics, OBGYN, and dental care, plus it has an on-site pharmacy.

I am honored to have received this year’s Distinguished Community Health Center Advocate Award from CEO Ken Waller. Thanks to Ken and the standout team at the Norwalk Community Health Center for all your good work.

Checking out Norwalk Community Health Center with CEO Ken Waller.

Saving the Sound

The Long Island Sound is one of the most beloved features of Southwest Connecticut. That’s why I worked to secure $475,000 to remove Strong Pond Dam and monitor the marine ecosystem’s health and resilience through the Save the Sound initiative.

Once the long-planned work is finished, the Norwalk River will flow unimpeded from the Long Island Sound to the old industrial dam in Redding. A free-flowing Norwalk River will stay colder through the summer. Fish will once again be able to swim upriver and an integral part of the Long Island Sound’s ecosystem will be restored.

Tracking the progress of the Save the Sound project.

Sending off students

As the school year drew to a close, we took some time to celebrate graduating seniors who will be attending our nation’s service academies this fall. I’m proud to have nominated 26 future leaders to attend elite institutions.

Congratulations to our students and future servicemembers—you make our community proud.

Toasting our future servicemembers.

Visiting local businesses

I checked out organizations in Greenwich that received Community Development Grants for capital improvements. These community hubs provide invaluable services to some of our most vulnerable, and it was enlightening to get a behind-the-scenes look at the work they do.

My first destination was Pathways, a private non-profit agency that provides services for adults who suffer from severe and prolonged mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. Pathways serves as a community haven for affordable housing, case management, and rehabilitation services.

I also visited the River House Adult Day Center, which provides services to individuals challenged by dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, diabetes, or other age-related ailments. River House Adult Day Center is the only accredited medical model adult day center in Greenwich, serving over 120 members and 200 caregivers each year from neighborhoods in Southwest Connecticut. River House has been taking care of community members for over 42 years. Thank you for all that you do!
 

Visiting the River House Adult Day Center with Executive Director Donna Spellman, MS and Greenwich Community Development/Grants Administrator Tyler Fairbairn.

As always, I’m here to serve you. If you’re having trouble with a federal agency, please do not hesitate to call my office at (203) 333-6600.  

Sincerely,

Jim