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The Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition (BCAC) which is under the RYASAP umbrella, released its 35th annual State of the Child in Bridgeport report this month, presenting a comprehensive report on the well-being of children and families in Bridgeport across a number of focus areas, including poverty, economic insecurity, civic engagement, early childhood development, education, health, juvenile justice, and safety. Click here to read the report now.
This year, the State of the Child 2020 report lives wholly online as a growing document uplifting findings, stories, and visualized data across several key indicators. To begin, the report focuses on Civic Engagement and the November 2020 Presidential Election and ends with a number of actions, including voting registration and bills to take action on.
In Bridgeport, the report finds that voters were particularly engaged in the 2020 Presidential election, likely due to the increased use of absentee voting and a sharper focus on civic engagement in the news. This engagement translated to impressive turnouts, including:
- 72% of eligible voters in Bridgeport cast their votes in the 2020 Presidential election - the highest turnout for Bridgeport in a decade
- Bridgeport had a 27% percent increase in voting in 2020 compared to the previous 2016 president election, the highest increase in the state of Connecticut
- 35% of votes in the 2020 Presidential election came via absentee ballot
“When Bridgeport votes, we actively flex our power as daring and concerned citizens. To be a city where protecting and promoting diversity and equity is actualized takes power through policy change. Voting is one greatly impactful way to achieve this, especially at a local level. When citizens turnout and vote their values on issues such as re-appropriating city funds directed at curbing violence to restorative community solutions and resources that treat cause and effect, we reshape our city holistically with integrity,” says Ashley Blanchard, Director of Research and Evaluation.
"With the extraordinary events and challenges of the past 15 months and longer, we felt it was important to have the State of the Child evolve to reflect current events and data. We are excited for this version to be more interactive and responsive to real time situations that impact our children and families in Bridgeport," says Marc Donald, Executive Director of RYASAP.
The 2020 State of the Child in Bridgeport report is available online at bit.ly/SOTC-2020-Report.
ABOUT BCAC & RYASAP
The Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition (BCAC) is committed to improving the well-being of Bridgeport’s children and families through research, education, advocacy, and mobilization. BCAC and RYASAP forged a partnership in which BCAC is now working under the RYASAP (Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership) umbrella.
RYASAP works to ensure the safe and healthy development of youth and young adults by actively engaging organizations, public officials, and community leaders around issues that matter most to the community.
ryasap.org/bridgeport-child-advocacy-coalition
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