Dear John,

Welcome to your Weekly Wrap, a recap of the week in Congress and highlights of my work. 

Last week, I joined representatives from the City of Waterbury and Waterbury Bridge to Success to announce the Waterbury Public Schools will receive $2.265 million in Community Project Funding to support the purchase of student chromebooks. Waterbury Bridge to Success will receive a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support their Boost! Community Schools Project.

Additionally, I joined Wreaths Across America and the Waterbury Veterans Memorial Council for a wreath-laying ceremony at Old Burying Grounds in Watertown. I am also including an update on the next Casework on Your Corner.

For the full recap, please read below. 

Wins for Waterbury

On Friday, I joined Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr, Superintendent of Waterbury Public Schools Dr. Verna D. Ruffin, Waterbury Board of Education President Juanita Hernandez, and Althea Brooks, Executive Director of Waterbury Bridge to Success for an exciting announcement.

Waterbury Public Schools will receive $2.265 million to support the purchase of 5,000  Chromebooks for students. The new technology will allow the district to maintain a learning environment for students that includes access to essential school network and internet-based educational curriculum and resource materials and will foster accelerated learning, engage students, and help to prepare students with the 21st Century skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

This investment in Waterbury is made possible through the Community Project Funding I secured in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget.

Equally as exciting, Waterbury Bridge to Success will receive a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Allocated over five years, the funds will support the Boost! Community Schools Project. Boost! is a community school model approach to building partnerships between schools and community resources. The objective is to integrate a focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community engagement to improve student learning and build stronger families and healthier communities.

My office was integral to securing this funding, providing a letter of support for the project earlier this year. I have long advocated for robust investments in our children and their futures. I am happy to continue delivering for the people of the Fifth District of Connecticut.

To learn more about Community Project Funding, please click here.

Wreaths Across America

With the mission to remember, honor, and teach, Wreaths Across America is an American nonprofit organization that supports veterans and their families year-round. Each December, the organization coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies to honor the brave men and women of our military who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  

On Saturday, I joined representatives from Wreaths Across America and the Waterbury Veterans Memorial Council for a wreath-laying ceremony to honor 82 veterans buried at Old Burying Grounds in Watertown. These veterans have served in the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. 

I was honored to participate in the ceremony and provide remarks to the families, friends, and community members. 

Casework on Your Corner

Do you need assistance navigating a federal agency? My casework team is available to assist. The next Casework on Your Corner will be held on Tuesday, January 2, 2023, at Meriden City Hall from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. As always, please continue to share your thoughts and priorities with me. 

And that’s a wrap! 

Jahana Hayes

Member of Congress