Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG's Posts

President Biden at a Campaign Event | Raleigh, NC

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on June 28, 2024 at 20:10 in NEWS

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, North Carolina! And I’ll get in trouble with my mom looking down in Heaven if I don’t say please excuse my back, I apologize. (Applause.) (Inaudible.)

It’s good knowing you — it’s good knowing you have my back. (Applause.)

Eric, thank you for that introduction. We had a wonderful time spending time with your sons, Christian and Carter. They’re going to grow up to be incredible young men. You would have been really impressed the way they talked about their dad, how informed they were about what was going on. I was truly impressed. And I ate two hamburgers. (Laughter and applause.)

And a special thanks to Roy and Kristin Cooper. Roy, you’ve been a great governor — (applause) — which makes it all the more important that North Carolina elect a great governor to replace you, Josh Stein. (Applause.)

And when I’m reelected again with your help, I want you to know that I’m not promising not to take Roy away from North Carolina. (Applause.) Whether he’ll come or not, I don’t know. (Applause.)

And thanks to all the state and local leaders here today, and the great musicians and entertainers who performed earlier.

Folks, let me tell you why I’m here in North Carolina. I’m here for one —

AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: That’s okay.

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: That’s okay.

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: I’m here in North Carolina for one reason: Because I intend to win this state in November — (applause) — and we’re going to see that ha- — I think we are.

And Roy is right. We win here, we win the election. (Applause.)

And here’s how we’re going to do it. We’re going to stand up for the women of America. (Applause.) We’re going to restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land. (Applause.) We’re going to stand up for the right to vote. (Applause.) And we’re going to stand up for Medicare and Social Security. (Applause.) And we’re going to fight for childcare, paid leave, and eldercare. (Applause.)

And we’re going to keep lowering the cost of prescription drugs, not just for seniors but for every single American. (Applause.) We’re going to keep protecting the Affordable Care Act — (applause) — which is why more than 40 million Americans have health insurance today that didn’t before. (Applause)

We’re going to protect our children and get the weapons of war off our streets. (Applause.) We’re going to provide clean drinking water, affordable high-speed Internet, quality education for every child in America. (Applause.)

We’re going to secure our border and protect legal immigration. (Applause.)

And unlike the other guy, we’re going to stand up to dictators like Putin, because — (applause) — America bows to no one — no one — no one ever. (Applause.)

Folks — and we’re going to keep dealing with the climate crisis.

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: Look, and more than — and more than anything, we’re going to preserve, protect, and defend our democracy. (Applause.) Because more than anything else, that is what is at stake in America this election — (applause) — your freedom, your democracy. America itself is at stake. (Applause.)

Now, folks, I don’t know what you did last night, but I spent 90 stages — 90 minutes on the stage debating the guy who has the morals of an alley cat. (Laughter and applause.)

Did you see Trump last night? My guess he set — and I mean this sincerely — a new record for the most lies told in a single debate. (Applause.)

He lied about the great economy he created. He lied about the pandemic he botched, killing millions of people. (Applause.) He closed businesses. He closed schools. Losing their homes — people all over this country.

America was flat on its back. So, I told Trump that he was just one of two presidents in American history who left office with fewer jobs than he started. Herbert Hoover was the other one. (Laughter.) That’s why I call him Donald “Herbert Hoover” Trump. (Applause.)

And then he lied about how great he was for veterans.

AUDIENCE: Booo —

THE PRESIDENT: But then I told him how he had called a veteran who had given their lives in the country in World War I — he refused to go to the gravesites — he called them “suckers” and “losers.”

AUDIENCE: Booo —

THE PRESIDENT: He tried to deny it. But let me ask you, are you going to believe a four-star Marine general, his own former chief of staff, John Kelly, who said he said that or the disgraced, defeated, and lying Donald Trump? (Applause.)

My son was one of those people — not in World War I but in the v- —

Folks, look, how about the fact that 44 —

AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more year! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: How about the fact —

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: That’s okay.

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: How about the fact that 40 out of his 44 top advisors, including the vice president, aren’t supporting him this time around? The people who know him best — 40 of them said, “I will not support the man I worked for this time around.” It tells you a lot about — the person who knows him.

Look, he lied about how great he was on crime. I had to remind him that he oversaw a record increase of murder rates in 2020. And on my watch, violent crime has hit a 50-year low. There’s more to do, but 50-year low. (Applause.)

And then, I pointed out that the only convicted criminal on the stage last night was Donald Trump. (Applause.)

When I’ve thought about his 34 felony convictions, his sexual assault on a woman in a public place, his being fined $400 million for business fraud, I thought to myself, “Donald Trump isn’t just a convicted felon. Donald Trump is a one-man crime wave.” (Applause.) And he’s got more trials — he’s got more trials coming up.

AUDIENCE: Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!

THE PRESIDENT: Well, the time for that — (laughs).

AUDIENCE: Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!

THE PRESIDENT: Look, the thing that bothers me maybe most about him: He has no respect for women or the law. He doesn’t.

And then, his biggest lie. He lied about how he had nothing to do with the insurrection on January the 6th.

AUDIENCE: Booo —

THE PRESIDENT: We all saw with our own eyes. We watched it on television. We saw thousands of insurrection attack the Capitol. We saw police being attacked, the Capitol being ransacked, the mob hunting for Speaker Pelosi, gallows literally set up for Mike Pence. And then, he told them as he sat in the dining room — the one di- — one — the private dining one door off my Oval Office. He sat there for three hours watching the TV. He did not a single thing to stop it — nothing, nothing at all.

And now —

AUDIENCE: Booo —

THE PRESIDENT: And now, he wants to pardon all those convicted criminals.

AUDIENCE: Booo —

THE PRESIDENT: But, folks, for all his lies, we did learn some- — we learned some important truths about Donald Trump last night. We learned he’s still proud of being the person who killed Roe v. Wade.

We learned —

AUDIENCE: Booo —

THE PRESIDENT: No. We learned he’s still proud about the pain and cruelty he’s inflicted on America’s women.

AUDIENCE: Booo —

THE PRESIDENT: We learned he still believes that politicians, not doctors and women, should make decisions about a woman’s health.

AUDIENCE: Booo —

THE PRESIDENT: We learned that if he’s elected again and the MAGA Republicans pass a national ban on abortion, he will sign it.

AUDIENCE: Booo —

THE PRESIDENT: Donald Trump says he thinks Roe v. Wo- — Roe — overturning Roe v. Wade was a beautiful thing.

AUDIENCE: Booo —

THE PRESIDENT: I think it was a nightmare. (Applause.) No, I really mean it. A nightmare.

And I made it clear again last night: If you elect me and Kamala and you give us a Democratic Congress, we will make Roe v. Wade the law of the land again. (Applause.)

He continued to lie. He said I quadrupled taxes — where the hell has he been? — (laughter) — which is a simple lie. I didn’t raise the tax on anyone in America that made less than $400,000 a year, and I won’t in my second term either.

We learned that Trump — (applause) — who had the largest deficit of any president in four years because of the $2 trillion tax cut to the super wealthy — we learned that Trump wants to give another giant tax cut for the very wealthy and the biggest corporations. This time, $5 trillion — not a joke — $5 trillion. To pay for it, he’s going to cut Medicare and Social Security. He’ll cut health care. They’ll do it all, with millions of working middle-class Americans all paying for another tax cut for the very wealthy.

Then, to add insult to injury, he wants to raise taxes on the average family $2,500 a year. What amounts to a new 10 percent sales tax on all products imported in America — that’s his new plan — for food, coffee, candy bars, and so much more. It’s going to raise the tax on the average family $2,500 a year.

And most dangerously, though, we learned that Donald Trump will not respect this year’s election outcome. He’s still not — he rejected the last time out.

AUDIENCE: Booo —

THE PRESIDENT: No, think about it. Every court in the ~~nand~~ [land] ruled that it was a fair election. He’s still denying it, still telling lies.

Three times, Trump was asked last night by the moderators: Would he respect the election results if he lost this time? Three times, he refused to answer. Three times.

Folks, Donald Trump refused to accept the results in 2020, and we all saw what happened on January the 6th. It’s a direct consequence of that. It was an international embarrassment.

By the way, as I go these international meetings — I know every major world leader — I literally — because I’ve been around, as you might have noticed. (Laughter.) But they ask, “Does he really mean this?” “Is that — was this real?” It caused a constitutional crisis and international embarrassment.

Now, Trump is making it clear that if he doesn’t win this time, there will be, in his words, bloodshed — blood-
—

AUDIENCE: Booo —

THE PRESIDENT: No president has ever said anything like that. No president. His words, not mine.

Are we going to let Donald Trump attack our democracy again?

AUDIENCE: No!

THE PRESIDENT: I don’t think so.

Folks —

AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: Folks, we’ve come a long way. We’ve come a long way from the mess that Donald Trump left us. We came out of the pandemic. We’re a long way from where — Donald Trump telling us to inject bleach in our skin, that COVID is not that dangerous.

Today, we have the strongest economy in the world without exception — (applause) — 15 million new jobs; 800,000 manufacturing jobs; unemployment under 4 percent for a record two years in a row — (applause) — historic Black and Hispanic unemployment down; historic creation of small businesses — Black and all communities across the nation, particularly in rural areas; historic economic growth; inflation has dropped from 9 percent to 3, and it’s still going down. (Applause.)

I know we have more to do to get prices down. We have to take on corporate greed. They’re making twice the profit they were before the pandemic.

We got to make housing more affordable — (applause); provide childcare — (applause); make the tax code fair — (applause).

Sixteen Nobel winners of the economic mo- — Nobel Prize have looked at my economy — economic plan. This week, they’ve i- — issued a report. And on Trump’s plan.

Here’s what they concluded. They said that my plan would continue to grow the economy and bring down inflation. (Applause.) Sixteen Nobel laureates. And that Trump’s plan would send the nation into recession and inflation soaring through the roof.

AUDIENCE: Boo —

THE PRESIDENT: Don’t take my word for it.

Folks, let me close with this. I know I’m not a young man — (laughter) — to state the obvious.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I know. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Joe! Joe! Joe!

THE PRESIDENT: Well — I don’t —

AUDIENCE: Joe! Joe! Joe!

THE PRESIDENT: Folks, I don’t walk as easy as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t deba- — debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth. (Applause.)

I know — I know — I know right from wrong. (Applause.) And I know how to do this job. (Applause.) I know how to get things done. (Applause.) And I know like millions of Americans know: When you get knocked down, you get back up. (Applause.)

I know what it took to take our economy from the depths of pandemic to where it is today: the strongest economy in the world. I know what it’ll take to bring this economy to everybody. I know what it’ll take to rally the world to stand up against Putin and defend freedom, not yield to him. (Applause.) And I know what it’ll take to keep the world safe and free for the years ahead.

Folks, I give you my word as a Biden. I would not be running again if I didn’t believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job. (Applause.) Because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high.

AUDIENCE: Yes, you can! Yes, you can! Yes, you can!

THE PRESIDENT: The stakes are too high.

AUDIENCE: Yes, you can! Yes, you can! Yes, you can!

THE PRESIDENT: Donald Trump — Donald Trump is a genuine threat to this nation.

AUDIENCE: Yes!

THE PRESIDENT: He is a threat to our freedom.

AUDIENCE: Yes!

THE PRESIDENT: He is a threat to our democracy.

AUDIENCE: Yes!

THE PRESIDENT: He’s literally a threat for everything America stands for.

AUDIENCE: Yes!

THE PRESIDENT: Look, he doesn’t understand what I think all of you do. America is the finest, the most unique nation in the world. (Applause.)

We’re the only nation in the world — and I mean this sincerely. It’s a fact statement, not a hyper- — hyperbolic statement. It’s fact. We’re the only nation in the world built on an idea. All other nations are built on ethnicity, geography, and other — religion. But we’re built on an idea that we’re all created equal — (applause) — and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. (Applause.)

We’ve never fully lived up, but I’ll be damned in the year 2024, just two years — just two years before the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence that I’ll let Donald Trump walk away from it. (Applause.)

I give you my word — I give you my word as a Biden. We’re still a nation — I believe our civilization believes in honesty, in decency, and treating people with respect. I still believe we’re a nation that gives everyone a fair shot and leaves nobody behind. (Applause.)

We are still a nation that gives hate no safe harbor. (Applause.) And we’re still the beacon to the world. We can never give up what makes America America. (Applause.)

Donald Trump is motivated by revenge and retribution. But revenge and retribution never built a damn thing. (Applause.)

You and I, we Americans are a nation of hope, optimism, and possibilities. (Applause.) That’s what always built America, and that’s going to continue to build America today. (Applause.)

The choice in this election is simple. Donald Trump will restore our democracy; I will defend it. (Applause.)

Well, folks, are you with me? (Applause.)

Donald Trump is the first president I’ve heard of that stood up there and running for president having been one — one term, saying, “America is a failing nation.” Where the hell does he think he is?

AUDIENCE: Boo —

THE PRESIDENT: No, I’m serious. A failing — I don’t know a president who wouldn’t trade places with America in a heartbeat. He’s dead wrong. America is not a losing nation. America is winning. (Applause.)

As I stand here today, I can honestly say I’ve never been more optimistic about America’s future in my whole career. We just have to remember who we are. We are the United States of America. (Applause.) And there is — there is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity — nothing — when we act together.

AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!

THE PRESIDENT: You’ve got it.

AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!

THE PRESIDENT: So, may God bless you all. And may God protect our troops. Let’s go get them, North Carolina. (Applause.)

(Referring to the First Lady.) She finally did marry me. (Applause.)

1:37 P.M. EDT

Vice President Kamala Harris on the Supreme Court Ruling in Loper Bright

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on June 28, 2024 at 19:55 in NEWS

People throughout our Nation should be able to count on their government to ensure that our air and water are clean, health care is accessible and affordable, financial markets are sound, products are safe, and workers are not exploited on the job. Courts have long deferred to federal experts to make these ideals a reality.

Unfortunately, today’s Supreme Court decision sides with powerful special interests who want to roll back commonsense rules that protect Americans. President Biden and I will continue to do everything in our power to protect the American people and ensure that every person in our country can thrive.

# # #

Governor Lamont and Lt. Governor Bysiewicz Statements on the Death of Connecticut Department of Transportation Employee Andrew DiDomenico

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on June 28, 2024 at 19:47 in NEWS

Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz released the following statements regarding the death of Connecticut Department of Transportation employee Andrew DiDomenico, 26, who was killed today while working on the Wharton Brook Connector in Wallingford:

Governor Lamont said, “This is a heartbreaking tragedy and one that never should have happened. Andrew was with several of his colleagues in a work zone doing routine road maintenance when he was struck and killed by a driver. I am both outraged and saddened. I implore everyone getting behind the wheel to be fully alert and pay attention to what is happening on the road around them at all times. Show some respect for the workers on our interstates and roadways by following the speed limit and reducing your speed whenever you’re near work zones. My prayers are with Andrew’s family, friends, and his fellow state employees at the Connecticut Department of Transportation during this devastating time.”

Lt. Governor Bysiewicz said, “Our State Police and DOT workers are putting their lives on the line every day to ensure our roadways are safe, efficient, and clean. This is a terrible and senseless tragedy. Especially as we head into the weekend and July 4^th celebrations, please drive safely – use caution when approaching road work or stopped law enforcement, never drink and drive, and observe the speed limit. My heart breaks for the family of Andrew DiDomenico, and I’m keeping them in my thoughts and prayers. This is a young life taken far too soon because of someone else’s carelessness. We can all do more to make certain that each and every one of us is safer on our roadways.”

Governor Lamont will order flags to be lowered statewide on the date of Andrew DiDomenico’s funeral, which has not yet been determined. The Office of the Governor will send out a notification when flags should be lowered.

NBA DRAFT 2024 ROUND 1

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on June 27, 2024 at 1:17 in SPORTS

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Protect and Preserve Our Nation’s African American History Ahead of Juneteenth National Independence Day

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on June 10, 2024 at 13:17 in BLACK NEWSENTERTAINMENT

Since day one, President Biden and Vice President Harris have advanced racial justice and asserted that Black history is American history. We build a better future — together as a Nation — not by trying to erase America’s past, but by knowing our full history as a country. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to recognizing the full arc of our Nation’s history, including African American history, to help us understand how the past connects us to the present and shapes our shared future.

The Biden-Harris Administration is proud of its record of recognition of the history and contributions of Black people to our country. The President was proud to sign into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, the first new Federal holiday since the creation of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday 41 years ago in 1983, designate the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, and posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Medgar Evers. Despite growing forces that are attacking racial progress and attempting to rewrite history, the President and Vice President are committed to remind us that our country is only strengthened by the breadth, complexity, and significance of the Nation’s African American history.

Today, the White House Domestic Policy Council is convening Administration officials, award-winning artists, civil rights leaders, and nationally-renowned scholars for a live-streamed event on honoring and protecting the country’s African American history. This event will demonstrate actions the Federal Government is taking to protect and preserve African American history; and supports ways the public can commemorate Juneteenth, as well as uplift the experiences, histories, and impacts of Black Americans.

Later today, the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH), in partnership with the White House, is producing the second annual celebration of Juneteenth National Independence Day — the official end of chattel slavery in the United States. This large-scale concert on the White House South Lawn will also celebrate Black Music Month and feature African American musical legends to honor and contextualize American history through this important Federal holiday. This event spotlights the richness of the arts and humanities to demonstrate African American history as an indelible part our shared National story.

Vice President Harris has declared Juneteenth— June 19, 2024 — as one of three National Days of Action on Voting. With a focus on voter engagement, these National Days of Action on Voting aim to ensure all Americans have the information they need to vote, promote voter participation for students, protect election workers, and fight voter suppression laws. Other National Days of Action on Voting are the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 2024 and National Voter Registration Day on September 17, 2024.

Protecting National Truths and Public Access to African American History and Culture

Aligned with President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting the Arts, the Humanities, and Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in coordination with national and local philanthropic and civil society organizations, are committed to protecting and preserving African American history and culture.

To commemorate Juneteenth, the National Archives Museum announced it will display the original Emancipation Proclamation and General Order No. 3 from June 18 – June 20, 2024.
The National Park Service (NPS) announced Free Entrance Days in the National Parks, where all visitor entrance fees will be waived at Park Service sites for Juneteenth on June 19, 2024.
The National Endowment for the Humanities published a digital repository of resources that commemorate Juneteenth by deepening public understanding of African American history from the Reconstruction Era to the present.
NEH will establish a nationwide program focused on celebrating Juneteenth and promoting African American history and culture in the leadup to the 160th Anniversary of Juneteenth in 2025. These new actions will include: new funding opportunities in all 50 states and Territories to support reading and discussion programs, traveling museum exhibits, and interactive workshops about the legacy of slavery and Emancipation, as well as the origins and significance of Juneteenth; lectures on pivotal moments in African American history and culture; film and documentaries on the ongoing struggle for freedom; new free and classroom-ready educational Juneteenth content for K-12 educators; and other efforts to preserve African American history and culture at the community and state level. These programs will culminate in a grand celebration of Juneteenth in 2025, bringing together local communities across the nation to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States and reflect on the progress and challenges faced by African Americans throughout history.
In response to the troubling spike in book bans that threaten Americans’ rights, the U.S. Department of Education named a coordinator for responding to book bans in order to support the public and school communities in understanding the civil rights impact that book restrictions can have, and the circumstances under which such restrictions can violate federal civil rights laws. The focus of many of the current bans occurring across America disproportionately strip books about the experiences of historically marginalized groups of people, including, books about African American history. By conducting trainings throughout the country, the book ban coordinator is working to ensure that parents, students, teachers, school administrators, authors, and elected officials know and understand that where book bans target specific communities, they may violate students’ civil rights. Book banning erodes our democracy, removes vital resources for student learning, and can contribute to the bias, isolation, and social invisibility that Black, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities face.
On June 12, 2024 the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans will host Power Up – Chicago, convening experts to discuss the critical role of well-rounded education in empowering Black students and supporting academic excellence. Experts will explore the impact of a holistic approach to education, including the importance of cultural relevance and learning opportunities that include honest African American history and access to diverse literature. In January 2024, the White House Initiative hosted Power Up – South Carolina that featured the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and a community training on how book bans may violate Federal civil rights laws and the process to resolve potential violations.
In July, the National Endowment for the Arts will announce new recipients of the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, the Nation’s highest honor in jazz. From its origins in the Black American experience to what is now a global treasure, jazz is a uniquely American art form and source of inspiration and creativity. This cohort of rare fellowships include an award of $25,000; and the honorees will be celebrated at a public concert where NEA commits to centering and uplifting the African American roots of jazz during the program.
As part of the IMLS 250: All Stories. All People. All Places initiative, the Institute of Museum and Library Services will be highlighting a variety of funded projects focused on preserving and protecting African American history from museums, libraries, and archives across the country. For example, the award-winning Visions of America series highlights lesser-known moments in our country’s history and culture, such as African American culture in Kansas City at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum.

Investing in Local Institutions to Preserve African American History and Culture

The Biden-Harris Administration is also announcing efforts to strengthen America’s vibrant tapestry of community-based organizations, library systems, museums and cultural institutions, as well as building capacity across the local arts and humanities workforces that care for our Nation’s treasures.

Established 21 years ago in 2003, the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC), administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), is one of the longest-standing Federal programs in support of preserving and protecting African American history and culture. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, AAHC is funding awards to 31 organizations for projects to begin July 1, 2024— including a continuing partnership with the Association of African American Museums to build the capacity for this national network of institutions. AAHC grant program applications for FY 2025 will open in mid-August 2024 with an expected funding level of $6 million, a historic high for the program and represent an increase of over $4 million compared to funding levels over the last five fiscal years.
In Spring 2024, the NEA— in partnership with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the U.S. Department of Education, Library of Congress, NEH and IMLS— began a new mixed-methods research study to map the arts and cultural assets of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), analyzing regional arts and culture workforce needs, and detailing how HBCUs are partnering with local, state and regional arts organizations to preserve the heritage of these institutions.
The National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with a consortium of U.S. Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs), will announce a cohort of nearly one hundred ArtsHERE grantees in September 2024. Launched in November 2023 by NEA in response to the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government priorities on advancing racial equity, ArtsHERE is a new $10 million pilot program that awards $65,000 to $130,000 grants to support local projects by organizations demonstrating a commitment to reducing barriers and driving equitable participation in the arts for underserved communities that historically lack access.
Since January 2021, NEH has invested more than $50 million in humanities projects that promote African American history and culture, support HBCUs, and counter hate-motivated violence. In furtherance of its Equity Action Plan, NEH has launched three new offices to deepen its engagement with HBCUs, African American communities, and other underserved institutions and communities, including its inaugural Office of Outreach.

Safeguarding Sites and Preserving Communities that Hold America’s Treasured Histories

The Biden-Harris Administration is ensuring that new and ongoing Federal investments help protect the unique local traditions, sacred stories, and generational legacies that breathe life and pride into America’s cities and towns, historic districts and Freedmen’s settlements, landmarks, monuments, and National parks.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the Department of Interior (DOI) through NPS, has invested $190 million in infrastructure and preservation projects for sites that relate to the African American experience across the nation. Additionally, through the Historic Preservation Fund, DOI has invested over $140 million in grants that support the preservation of African American history since 2021.
NPS announced the availability of new $1.25 million in Underrepresented Communities grants by the Historic Preservation Fund to diversify the nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. Applications for this grant cycle are due on August 29, 2024. In recent years, the Park Service has worked to increase the number of African American Heritage Sites and National Register designations— such as the Black Wall Street Greenwood Business District, the site of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. African American-historic sites make up less than 3% of overall sites in the National Register.
In February 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOT) launched the “Past, Present, and Future of Reconnecting Communities” storymap to document communities, including historic Black neighborhoods and business districts that were razed or displaced as a result of decades of documented racial discrimination in Federal transportation policy. As part of DOT’s ongoing equity efforts, the agency will announce new infrastructure grants and roll out new digital resources to uplift the stories of local communities, including many Black communities, who are benefiting from the billions of dollars in nationwide projects made possible under President Biden’s landmark Investing in America agenda.
The National Endowment for the Humanities will create a special encouragement in its grant programs for projects that preserve and promote access to historical collections documenting the history of slavery and its legacies, amplify African American voices in the stewardship of history and culture, and safeguard African American cultural resources from the threat of loss, such as during public health crises and the negative effects of climate change.
Throughout the summer and fall of 2024, the President’s Committee on Arts and the Humanities will partner with nonprofit organizations and Federal art and humanities agencies to launch programs and initiatives that address sustainability and capacity challenges of historically underserved creative and cultural communities— including local institutions, such as African American-owned theaters—who are at high-risk of generational loss, displacement, erasure, and climate-related natural disaster. Additional programs will facilitate cross-sector dialogue on the development of culturally sensitive artificial intelligence, explore improved community arts integration in Black communities who have been historically disrupted by infrastructure projects, and promote coordinated policy on ethical returns of African and African American cultural heritage in the museum sector. Alongside federal partners, PCAH will also pilot locally-driven placemaking projects with libraries located in historically Black cities and Territories.
The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation announced a new Request for Proposals (RFP) and new round of funding in support of Inclusive Storytelling that focuses on amplifying, documenting, and sharing lesser-known stories of America throughout the park system. The RFP and grant application for this round of funding closes on June 12, 2024. Last year, the program awarded more than $4 million in grants to support 57 projects nationwide.

Advancing Racial Equity and Making History Through the Biden-Harris Administration

The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to further advancing racial justice so that the promise of America is real for every American, including Black Americans.

Signed two Executive Orders directing the Federal Government to advance an ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda to redress systemic barriers, including increasing access to Federal contracting dollars, capital, and lending programs for small disadvantaged businesses; advancing civil rights and environmental justice; closing health disparities; building economic prosperity in rural communities; and combating urban community disinvestment and housing discrimination.
Signed an Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting to leverage the resources of the Federal Government to provide nonpartisan information about the election process and increase access to voter registration. Agencies across the Federal Government are taking action to respond to the President’s call for an all-of-government effort to enhance the ability of all eligible Americans to participate in our democracy.
Announced new actions to protect the sacred right to vote, including increased funding for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, which has more than doubled the number of voting rights enforcement staff. The Justice Department also created the Election Threats Task Force to address violence against election workers and ensure that all election workers are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation.

The Biden-Harris Administration is delivering history-making results, including for Black Americans:

Under President Biden, the Black unemployment rate and gap between Black and white unemployment hit record lows.
Black wealth is up 60% relative to pre-pandemic levels.
Black-owned businesses are being created at the fastest rate in 30 years.
Selected the first Black person and first woman to serve as Vice President of the United States.
Nominated the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court and more Black women to federal circuit courts than every President combined.
Appointed the most diverse Presidential administration in American history.

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Juneteenth Coalition of Greater New Haven Ct

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 26, 2024 at 21:07 in NEWS

Governor Lamont Champions Connecticut Oysters: Unveils Statewide Trail and New Documentary, Urges Restaurants To Buy Local

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 16, 2024 at 3:24 in NEWS

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced the launch of Connecticut’s first-ever oyster trail, accompanied by the premiere of the new short-form documentary, Rising Tide to Table, which celebrates the state’s thriving oyster industry, from farm to fork.

The Connecticut Oyster Trail meticulously maps out the diverse array of oyster farms and culinary destinations statewide, encourages residents and visitors alike to savor the local flavor of Connecticut's acclaimed oysters.

Click here to download the map

“Connecticut is the Napa Valley of oysters,” Governor Lamont said. “Once hailed as the ‘Oyster Capital of the World,’ we are reclaiming our place at the forefront of this maritime and culinary tradition. Today, we honor the tireless dedication of our aquaculture farmers, whose passion and perseverance are instrumental in inspiring a new generation of chefs to think about this fruit of the sea as king of the kitchen.”

With breathtaking visuals and poignant narratives, the documentary chronicles the journey of Stonington Farms Shellfish, a resilient family united by adversity, whose commitment to excellence echoes through every succulent oyster they cultivate. From the pristine taste to the deep cup and unparalleled quality, each oyster tells a story of craftsmanship and dedication.

Click here to watch the documentary

“It comes as no surprise that our aquaculture farmers are working closely with our best chefs to ensure the world knows that Connecticut has some of the nation’s best oysters,” Anthony Anthony, Connecticut’s chief marketing officer, said. “Rising Tide to Table tells the story of a small handful of our state’s best makers and entrepreneurs. We invite viewers to see their passion and creativity put into the farming and culinary craft, while experiencing the beauty of Connecticut’s coast in this vibrant short film.”

The newly minted Connecticut Oyster Trail charts a course through over a dozen oyster farms and more than 20 restaurants and stores, offering enthusiasts a firsthand glimpse into the thriving oyster culture that defines our state.

“From the ground to the Sound, Connecticut agriculture offers a diverse array of farm fresh products,” Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt said. “Among them are Connecticut oysters, which have a unique flavor profile due to the waters in which they are cultivated, and an industry committed to protecting and restoring native shellfish habitats to guide their growth. The Connecticut Oyster Trail honors the rich traditions by connecting harvesters with consumers seeking dock sales to shuck at home or a night out at a dining venue featuring Connecticut oysters.”

“As we celebrate the launch of Connecticut’s first-ever oyster trail, I urge our state’s restaurants to embrace our local bounty and feature Connecticut oysters on their menus,” Governor Lamont said. “Supporting our local oyster farmers not only strengthens our economy but also allows diners to experience the exceptional quality and freshness of our coastal treasures right here in our own backyard.”

“The Connecticut Restaurant Association echoes Governor Lamont’s sentiment and encourages restaurants statewide to embrace our local flavors by serving Connecticut oysters,” Scott Dolch, president of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, said. “While many of our restaurants already feature Connecticut oysters on their menus, we extend a friendly call to those who have yet to join the fold. By supporting our local producers, restaurants not only enrich our culinary landscape, but also provides diners with an authentic taste of our coastal delicacies. It’s a win-win that fosters a culture of local pride and celebrates the unique flavors of our region.”

Anyone interested in viewing the map of the Connecticut Oyster Trail and watching the documentary can find both on the Connecticut Office of Tourism’s website at www.CTvisit.com.

These two projects were created in partnership between the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.

Juneteenth Coalition of Greater New Haven flag raising June 3rd 1:00 p.m. New Haven green

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 6, 2024 at 16:48 in BLACK NEWSENTERTAINMENT

Governor Lamont Provides Update on Repair Efforts to Interstate 95 in Norwalk

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 3, 2024 at 17:49 in NEWS

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto today provided an update regarding the ongoing demolition of the Fairfield Avenue Bridge over Interstate 95 in Norwalk, which is necessary due to the major motor vehicle collision that occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 2.

Work to remove the damaged structure began at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 3, and crews will continue working on this around the clock through the weekend. Once the bridge is removed, sections of I-95 will be milled and paved in both directions in the area.

All lanes of I-95 northbound and southbound in Norwalk will remain closed until further notice. I-95 northbound is closed to all traffic at exit 14 and I-95 southbound is closed to all traffic at exit 15. Travelers are urged to avoid the area and use public transportation services. Commercial vehicles should use I-84 as an alternate route through Connecticut.

The goal is to have the highway reopened by the morning rush hour commute on Monday, May 6.

“I am strongly urging all drivers – whether you’re in a passenger vehicle or a commercial vehicle – to completely avoid I-95 this weekend,” Governor Lamont said. “Additional traffic is only going to make things harder for everyone. Please use public transportation if you need to move through the area. Heroic local and state first responders got the crash cleared and the fire under control yesterday, and now the amazing team with the Connecticut Department of Transportation, as well as our contractor teams, are going to be working all weekend under immense pressure to get the highway reopened. I appreciate their hard work and dedication to the people of Connecticut.”

“We are going to be working 24/7 throughout the weekend,” Commissioner Eucalitto said. “Thank you to the Connecticut Department of Transportation and contractor staff who are going to be working around the clock to get I-95 reopened by Monday morning. We appreciate the partnership with state and local police who are helping direct traffic and keep motorists safe. Special thanks to Federal Highway Administration and FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt for the continuous support.”

At the request of Governor Lamont and Commissioner Eucalitto, Metro-North Railroad has agreed to provide additional weekend service and increased capacity on trains along the New Haven Line. Full schedules and details can be found at new.mta.info. (To read the press release from Metro-North, click here.)

Following the emergency declaration signed by Governor Lamont on Thursday, May 2, the State of Connecticut today submitted a letter of intent to the Federal Highway Administration to pursue emergency relief funds. As part of the request, the Connecticut Department of Transportation is requesting an expedited release of $3 million to assist with the initial response.

Drivers are asked to remain patient and follow all posted signage. The public can visit CTroads.org for the latest update through the weekend and view the live traffic cameras in the area.

The following photographs were taken on the afternoon of Friday, May 3. They are courtesy of the Connecticut Department of Transportation:

[Download image in high quality]

Governor Lamont Announces Live Video Feed of Bridge Demolition on I-95 in Norwalk

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Department of Transportation has installed a webcam providing the public with a real-time, live video feed of the ongoing demolition of the Fairfield Avenue Bridge on I-95 in Norwalk.

The webcam can be accessed online, 24/7 at: https://share.earthcam.net/CTDOTNorwalkbridge

“There is significant interest in this ongoing emergency project, and this live video feed will help in our mission of keeping the public informed of the latest conditions on the highway,” Governor Lamont said. “We encourage everyone to view the video feed safely from home and do not attempt to travel to Norwalk to visit the scene up close. Let the crews do their jobs so the highway can get reopened as quickly as possible.”

Motorists are strongly urged to avoid driving on I-95 in the Norwalk region throughout the weekend. The public can visit CTroads.org for the latest updates on roadway conditions and traffic alerts throughout Connecticut.

Twitter: @GovNedLamont

Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont

Twitter: @GovNedLamont

Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont

Governor Lamont Applauds Final Legislative Approval of State Employee Wage Reopener Agreement

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on April 24, 2024 at 4:27 in NEWS

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont is applauding both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly for voting today in favor of approving an agreement reached between his administration and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) on the wage reopener for 2024-2025, as required under the current operating contract.

The Senate approved it by a vote of 24 to 12 (Senate Resolution 12) and the House of Representatives approved it by a vote of 106 to 44 (House Resolution 15). These votes are the final steps necessary as required by state law for the agreement to take effect.

“State employees deliver many vital services to the residents of Connecticut, such as educating our children, protecting our families, ensuring the roads on which we drive are safe, and taking care of our most vulnerable residents,” Governor Lamont said. “This wage increase helps ensure that we have a top-quality state workforce that can fill these important roles. I thank the General Assembly and everyone involved in negotiating this reasonable wage adjustment that balances the needs of our state workers and taxpayers.”

The agreement takes effect on July 1, 2024, and continues the current pattern of 2.5% general wage increases and step increases for an additional year. Funding for the agreement is included in the fiscal year 2025 budget that was approved by the legislature and signed into law by the governor last year.

Twitter: @GovNedLamont

Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont

City of New Haven May 1st agenda board of alders

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on April 24, 2024 at 4:17 in NEWS

CES MMA presents a world championship doubleheader on Friday, May 3rd

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on April 18, 2024 at 4:10 in SPORTS

CES MMA presents a world championship doubleheader on Friday, May 3rd with "CES MMA 77," featuring 13-time UFC veteran Charles "Boston Strong" Rosa against Josh "Hook On" Harvey for the vacant CES MMA Lightweight Championship and Yorgan DeCastro clashing with Kevin "King Kevi" Sears for the vacant CES MMA Heavyweight title. The card will be held at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT

Governor Lamont Announces Victory Parade and Rally Honoring UConn Men's Basketball Scheduled for This Saturday in Hartford

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on April 9, 2024 at 15:12 in NEWS and BASKETBALL

Governor Lamont Announces Victory Parade and Rally Honoring UConn Men's Basketball Scheduled for This Saturday in Hartford

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut, the City of Hartford, and the Hartford Business Improvement District will host a victory parade and rally in downtown Hartford on Saturday, April 13, 2024, to congratulate the UConn men’s basketball team for winning the 2024 NCAA National Championship.

UConn won its sixth men’s basketball national title last night after a 75-60 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The parade will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will step off at the State Capitol building at the intersection of Trinity Street and Elm Street. From there, it will proceed north on Trinity Street, go through the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, turn right (east) onto Jewell Street, turn left (north) onto Trumbull Street, and end at the intersection of Asylum Street and Trumbull Street.

The rally will begin at approximately 11:30 a.m. and will be held outside of the main entrance of the XL Center on Trumbull Street, where the players, coaches, and other guests will be invited to give speeches.

“For the second year in a row, the UConn men’s basketball team wowed the nation by dominating the NCAA tournament, and now it’s time for Connecticut to give them the victory celebration they deserve,” Governor Lamont said. “I urge basketball fans from all over Connecticut to come to Hartford on Saturday morning and show the Huskies how much this team means to our state and how proud we are of their accomplishments.”

Sponsorship opportunities

Parade and rally organizers are relying on private donations and business sponsorships to finance the event. No state or city funding is used.

As in previous years, this 2024 event is produced by the Hartford Business Improvement District in collaboration with the State of Connecticut and City of Hartford, as well as a number of civic and business organizations.

To sponsor the event, businesses may choose from several sponsorship levels ranging from $10,000 to $2,500 or less. Those interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Chip McCabe at the Hartford Business Improvement District as soon as possible at 860-770-0788 or cmccabe@hartfordbid.com.

Twitter: @GovNedLamont

Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont

Governor Lamont Reminds Connecticut Residents: Low-To-Moderate Income Individuals and Families Are Eligible for Significant Boost in Income Tax Credits This Year

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on April 3, 2024 at 22:04 in NEWS

Governor Lamont Reminds Connecticut Residents: Low-To-Moderate Income Individuals and Families Are Eligible for Significant Boost in Income Tax Credits This Year

Newly Enacted Rate Change in the Earned Income Tax Credit Comes in Addition to the Recent Cut in Income Tax Rates for Middle-Income Workers

Governor Ned Lamont today is reminding Connecticut residents that thousands of low-to-moderate income individuals and families in the state are eligible to receive a significant boost in tax credits when they file their personal income tax returns this year due to a newly enacted rate change in the Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which has increased from the most recent rate of 30.5% for the 2022 income year to the new rate of 40% for the 2023 income year.

The rate change – which was enacted as a result of the state budget bill that the legislature approved and Governor Lamont signed into law last year and which also includes several other significant tax relief measures – means that lower-income filers will receive several hundred dollars in additional tax credits this year above what they received the prior year, depending on their income and number of dependents. Typically, more than 95% of filers who receive this credit have families with children.

“Increasing the rate of the Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the most impactful provisions in the recently enacted state budget because it will provide direct relief to low-to-moderate income workers who are providing for their families,” Governor Lamont said. “Numerous studies have shown that this tax credit is one of the best anti-poverty tools we can use because it encourages work, boosts economic stability, and uplifts generations to come. Ultimately, these tax credits improve entire communities because these dollars are being invested right back into our local economy through groceries, transportation, clothing, rent, utilities, and other necessary expenses. I want to make sure Connecticut’s working families know about this tax credit and claim it.”

“The Department of Revenue Services is proud to administer the Earned Income Tax Credit, as it provides direct relief to working families across Connecticut,” Connecticut Department of Revenue Services Commissioner Mark Boughton said. “Our dedicated DRS staff are happy to help all taxpayers who qualify for this credit to claim it on their tax returns. Additionally, individuals who qualify may utilize assistance from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.”

The Connecticut EITC is based on the amount of the federal EITC. It is available to those earning less than:

$56,838 ($63,698 married filing jointly) with 3 or more qualifying children
$52,918 ($59,478 married filing jointly) with 2 qualifying children
$46,560 ($53,120 married filing jointly) with 1 qualifying child
$17,640 ($24,210 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children

It is estimated that approximately 211,000 households in Connecticut are eligible.

The Connecticut EITC was created in 2011 and has had varying rates over the last decade, including 30% in 2012, 25% in 2013, 27.5% from 2014 to 2016, 23% from 2017 to 2020, and 30.5% in 2021 and 2022.

This new 40% rate makes Connecticut among the top five states in the nation with the largest EITC rates.

EITC rate increase comes in addition to the income tax cut for middle-income households that took effect January 1, 2024

In addition to the rate change in the Connecticut EITC, the state budget bill that Governor Lamont signed last year includes cuts to the state’s income tax rates that are targeted toward providing relief to middle-income households earning less than $150,000 for single filers and $300,000 for joint filers. Those cuts, which went into effect on January 1, 2024, reduced the two lowest rates of the state’s progressive tax structure by:

Decreasing the rate on the first $10,000 earned by single filers and the first $20,000 by joint filers from 3% to 2%; and
Decreasing the rate on the next $40,000 earned by single filers and the next $80,000 by joint filers from 5% to 4.5%.

This is the first time that income tax rates have been cut in Connecticut since the mid-1990s. It is also the single largest income tax cut enacted in state history.

The income tax cut is estimated to benefit more than one million tax filers.

Twitter: @GovNedLamont

Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont

Jimmy Burchfield Sr to unveil Boston's newest Sports Team on April 4th

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on April 3, 2024 at 0:39 in SPORTS

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Meet Boston's newest sports franchise, the Boston Butchers, on Thursday, April 4 at Peter Welch's Gym in South Boston. The event begins at 1pm and is open to the public.

SOUTH BOSTON, MA – CES Boxing CEO Jimmy Burchfield Sr. will be hosting a press conference at Peter Welch's Gym in South Boston on Thursday at 1pm to announce the city's newest sports team, The Boston Butchers. The event is open to the public.

The Boston Butchers is the newest city to join Team Combat League (TCL), an innovative team boxing concept where teams compete against one another in a season schedule and the winners face off in the playoffs to decide a Champion.

"I'm very excited to present The Boston Butchers to the city of Boston," said Burchfield, who serves as the team's General Manager. "We've put together a tremendous team featuring fighters from all over Massachusetts and New England. The level of talent involved is unbelievable and we plan on adding to the championship glory that other Boston teams like the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox have brought to this great city."

Each TCL match features 24 bouts across boxing's 8 original weight classes. What's unique is that each bout is scheduled for one 3-minute round and is scored by a panel of 3 judges. A round is scored 10-9 for the winner. If a knockdown occurs, the scoring is 10-8. In the case of 2 knockdowns or a stoppage, the round is scored 10-7. After 24 rounds, all the individual round scores are added up and the team with the highest total score is announced as the winner.

Members of the press, boxing fans, and the local community are invited to join us at Peter Welch's Gym to meet the fighters, the team's head coach Marc Gargaro, and General Manager Jimmy Burchfield Sr.

Details for the press conference are as follows:

Date: Thursday, April 4th
Time: 1pm EST
Location: Peter Welch's Gym, 371 Dorchester Ave, South Boston, MA 02127
*Open to the Public

For more information, follow the Boston Butchers at Team Combat League and CES Boxing at CES Fights or on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast. Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Chad Dawson and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as "The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.", "Mayweather vs. Gotti III" and "The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton".

–CES–

Winchester Green Breaks Ground in Newhallville

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 22, 2024 at 18:28 in NEWS

Image courtesy City of New Haven

Winchester Green Breaks Ground in Newhallville

This week, Winchester Partners broke ground on Winchester Green, a mixed-income, mixed-use development located on the site of the former Winchester Repeating Arms factory in Science Park. Winchester Green is the latest phase of a larger plan that will transform a formerly underutilized parking lot into a five-story building with 283 mixed-income apartments and 12,800 square feet of retail space, along with a new public plaza and the restoration of two historic streets that will reconnect the site to the surrounding Dixwell and Newhallville neighborhoods. Opening is planned for 2026.

Newhallville community meeting Thursday March 21st

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 19, 2024 at 13:34 in NEWS

T-shirts coming soon

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 18, 2024 at 18:50 in BLACK NEWSENTERTAINMENT

Governor Lamont Announces $400,000 in State Grants To Support Financial Wellness and Empowerment Programs

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 18, 2024 at 17:00 in NEWS

Governor Ned Lamont, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, and Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez today announced the release of three state grants totaling more than $400,000 that will be used to support programs focused on improving the financial wellness of Connecticut residents with a priority focus on women and girls. The grants are being awarded through a competitive RFP process issued by the Connecticut Department of Banking that solicited proposals centered on the grant’s objectives.

“These grants will be used to support programs that empower people to improve their own financial stability through education and training, with a particular focus on our underserved populations, including women and girls,” Governor Lamont said. “I appreciate the partnership of the organizations that are working in our shared goal of helping people get on the road to financial independence and wellness.”

“Empowering women towards financial wellness benefits all of us,” Lt. Governor Bysiewicz, who serves as chairperson of the Governor’s Council on Women and Girls, said. “Decades of research have shown that the benefits of women’s full participation in economies are enormous. By uplifting women and girls, we can increase financial stability in their households, as well as their local communities and broader societies. Through these partnerships, we are increasing the opportunity and accessibility – especially for women and girls – of these essential programs that will help propel them, and their communities, to a better financial future.”

“The recipients have demonstrated that they can effect real change with the money allocated from this grant,” Commissioner Perez said. “I would like to thank all the committee members who thoroughly reviewed each proposal. It was a difficult decision, as all the proposals had merit. While we could not fund all applicants, it is encouraging to see the various organizations working and making a difference each day in people’s lives.”

The Connecticut Department of Banking sourced the grants from settlement funds with various companies. As per those arrangements, a portion of the monies are set aside for financial wellness and investor education. A committee, composed of department staff, representatives of other state agencies, and industry professionals, reviewed 15 responses to the department’s RFP. Consideration was given to organizations, entities, coalitions, and collaborations able to reach and assist underserved communities, with a priority on women and girls, to improve their financial wellness and empowerment.

Each application required a detailed description that included:

the program’s method of delivery of financial education;
the targeted demographic of the program;
information regarding the nature and structure of the program including the programs goals for participants;
how the proposed program would go beyond what is available and to what extent would the program serve as an innovative and scalable model; and
how success of the program would be measured and, if available, information pertaining to the success of past programs.

The committee considered the following factors and gave preference to proposals that:

empower individuals with financial capabilities that help prepare them to meet their future financial goals;
describe the benefits of saving and checking accounts;
teach the importance of establishing good credit as a foundation for future financial success;
encourage individuals to think long-term by teaching investing principles;
deliver information regarding consumer protection including high-cost loans, frauds/scams, cybersecurity, and identity theft;
apply knowledge to practical skills and real-life experiences;
inspire participants to set personal and financial goals and demonstrates how those goals can be achieved
provide participants with the ability to seek follow-up services; and
build upon current programs in a manner that is innovative, measurable and scalable.

The following organizations have been selected to receive the grants:

Local Initiatives Support Corporation

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) will receive a $250,000 state grant to expand seven of its Financial Opportunity Centers, which are located throughout Connecticut. These serve as career and financial coaching service centers that provide three core services to individuals with low-to-moderate incomes: one-on-one employment coaching, one-on-one financial coaching, and access to benefits that help build credit, savings, and assets. The centers also have the opportunity to transition into Bridges to Career Opportunity Centers. These funds will be used to enhance one-on-one financial coaching, and access to benefits that help build credit, savings, and assets.

“LISC Connecticut is excited to receive this support from the Connecticut Department of Banking, which will strengthen our network of seven Financial Opportunity Centers across the state,” Jim Horan, senior executive director of LISC Connecticut, said. “With this award, our clients will receive budget coaching to save $500 over the course of a year, which will be matched two-to-one with Department of Banking funds and support from Liberty Bank. At the end of the year, clients will have $1,500 and improve their credit score.”

The Village for Families and Children

The Village for Families and Children will receive a $103,911 state grant for its Boosting Financial Wellness for Greater Hartford Families project, which will support connection between its Financial Opportunity Center and its family-centered programs based at the Spring Street site in Hartford. The Village’s Financial Opportunity Center helps low and moderate-income adults living in the Hartford area to effectively manage their finances and achieve financial goals. The Village served more than 690 families at the Spring Street site in the most recent program year. Many of these were single-parent, female-led households.

“At The Village, we know that there is a direct relationship between financial health and overall well-being,” Tammy Freeberg, vice president of strategy and planning for The Village for Families and Children, said. “This grant will increase capacity and resources for our Financial Opportunity Center, helping us to empower more families in Greater Hartford with education, coaching, and tools to achieve financial wellness and gain stability in many aspects of their lives.”

United Way of Southeastern Connecticut

The United Way of Southeastern Connecticut will receive a $50,000 state grant for its Path to Financial Wellness program. The mission of this program is to provide an opportunity for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and female-led households to engage in financial literacy education on their own time and at their own page, and to provide an opportunity for those individuals to make empowered financial decisions. The program will utilize self-directed e-learning and professional financial coaching to guide participants in gaining financial stability through self-assessment, goal setting, and practical application of financial literacy skills. The grant funding will allow them to provide their program to the Greater New London area.

“United Way of Southeastern Connecticut is excited to bring our Path to Financial Wellness program to New London County,” Dina Sears-Graves, president and CEO of the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, said. “We are excited to partner with local nonprofits and Chelsea Groton Bank to provide members of our community an opportunity to make empowered financial decisions. This program aims to increase financial stability, focusing on communities that are disproportionately affected by financial hardship including female single-headed households, Black, Indigenous and people of color.”

TREASURER ERICK RUSSELL ANNOUNCES 2023 CHET DREAM BIG! COMPETITION WINNERS

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 18, 2024 at 16:56 in NEWS

Three Prize-Winning Students Awarded $20,000; 24 Students Awarded $6,000; Ten Connecticut Schools Also Announced as Recipients of Technology Prizes

State Treasurer Erick Russell, Trustee of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), today announced the winners of the 2023 CHET Dream Big! Competition.

Three students were awarded $20,000 prizes and 24 students were awarded $6,000 prizes. An additional 336 students will be awarded $500 prizes this month.

Treasurer Russell also announced ten schools that will receive a $7,500 technology prize to help provide new items like tablets, smartboards, and small electronics for classrooms. Each school in Connecticut represented by at least one entry in the Dream Big! Competition was eligible for a random drawing for these prizes.

Since 2013, the Dream Big! Competition has awarded over $4.5 million dollars to Connecticut students to help pay for future education expenses. The 2023 competition began on August 1, 2023, and ended on November 6, 2023, and was open to all Connecticut residents in grades K-12.

To enter, students were asked to submit a drawing, short essay or video answering a question focusing on their dreams for the future – dependent on their grade level group, as defined in the competition Official Rules.

From bettering neighborhoods with free sports equipment, improving the environment, helping people with addiction, and working in a soup kitchen to sheltering the homeless, being kind, and collecting donations, winning entries showcased imaginative and innovative dreams for themselves and their communities through essays, drawings, and videos.

“I was so impressed with the nearly 3,000 entries we received from students from across the state for the Dream Big! Competition,” said Treasurer Russell. “These students’ entries were so creative and show that they are truly committed to their goals and their communities. I congratulate all our winners and look forward to seeing all they do in the future.

“I also want to congratulate the ten schools that won technology prizes,” he continued. “We are grateful for your encouragement of students to Dream Big.”

First-prize winner in the kindergarten through fourth grade group, Flynn J. of Watertown, wants to organize a community garden at his school to benefit people in need. “Each week, a different grade would be responsible for caring for the garden. After each grade has improved the garden, we could harvest the vegetables and divide them into groups to sell 50% and donate 50%,” he wrote.

Grand-prize winner in the fifth through eighth grade group, Zia V. of Manchester, created a detailed and colorful collage showing different ways someone could improve the lives of others. Examples include helping the less fortunate, being an active listener, becoming a teacher, supporting people with mental health needs, and protecting the Earth.

First-prize winner in the ninth through twelfth grade group, Layan J. of Farmington, wrote about a nonprofit organization she created to benefit people in Yemen, her mother’s home country. “After receiving a tremendous amount of support from the public, (my organization’s) outreach increased dramatically, ultimately allowing me to acquire a greater sense of purpose,” she wrote. “As I transition into the next chapter of my education, I plan to pursue political science in order to expand my ability in solving international issues.”

For more information about the CHET Dream Big! Competition and the winners’ vision, go to www.chetdreambig.com.

*** END ***