Our August Newsletter

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August news & updates

August 2nd, 2023

CEO Corner

Jennifer D. Barahona, LCSW

It is hard to believe that a new school year is only a few weeks away. The backbone team agrees this has been one of the busiest summers in memory! In July, I had the privilege of attending an executive education course, Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management, at the Harvard Business School. It was an incredible week, learning with and from 150 other global nonprofit leaders. There was much talk about systems change work, and I was proud to share the incredible work happening throughout our wonderful community. Speaking of, if you haven’t had a chance to see the terrific I Love Norwalk video, please check it out. It features our two ex-officio board members, Mayor Rilling & Dr. Estrella, and one of our fantastic early childhood community advocates, Eve St. Surin.

Last week the backbone team held a retreat that included planning for the coming year and how we can continue progressing toward our collective strategic plan. We spent some time thinking about what additional capacity we need to move work forward and are pleased to share this posted position for a new Director of Initiatives. While there is no replacement for our dear Denique, this role will fill many of the responsibilities previously under her. Please share with anyone you believe might be a good fit for this vital role. And a huge shout-out to the entire backbone team, especially Jesse & MJ, who have filled in gaps since Denique’s departure in May.

I hope you can all have fun in the sun over the next few weeks. We look forward to seeing you in September at our next convening!

NORWALK ACTS UPDATES

We enthusiastically kickstart our search for a candidate to become our new Director of Initiatives. Discover more about this exciting opportunity below, and please share it with your networks!

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News You Can Use

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH

POLICY AND ADVOCACY

What happens at the end of a legislative session? Curious to know what bills were passed? Did you know that the Office of Legislative Research publishes a summary of bills passed into law each year? You can find it here. In addition to funding in the budget for things like Baby Bonds, quicker phase-in of the ECS grant, & CT Early Readers Program, there were numerous bills passed into law, including:

A requirement to add a half-credit of personal financial management and literacy to high school graduation requirements beginning with the graduating class of 2027
Requirement for Medicaid (Husky) to reimburse for suicide risk assessments and other mental health evaluations and services conducted at school-based health centers and public schools
Raising the minimum age to be eligible to marry to age 18

Thank you to our legislators for continuing to advocate for the needs of children and youth in Norwalk!

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The Community Engagement team experienced a productive and gratifying July, marked by a series of engaging activities.

The team gathered for a delightful summer celebration at Shady Beach to foster connection and camaraderie. Then, the Community Advocates and backbone team enjoyed a splendid time at the Youth Business Initiative's Annual Basketball Tournament and Community Day. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to YBI for graciously hosting this event, which brought us together for a meaningful experience.

Continuing the momentum, The Teen Night Out Initiative orchestrated its inaugural Summer Field Day & Cook Out at Cranbury Park on a Friday evening. This initiative is dedicated to providing free, healthy, and socially enriching activities for our youth. The event featured a range of exciting activities, including a relay race, delectable food and ice cream trucks, and the highlight of the day—a thrilling and spirited water fight. The event drew 56 enthusiastic students from Norwalk, and we are immensely grateful to all the partners, chaperones, and Norwalk youth who actively participated in the planning and attended this event.

The CE Team at Shady Beach

Community Advocates at the YBI Basketball Tournament!

Teen Night Out at Cranbury Park!

In a joint effort to build and sustain a comprehensive early childhood system that benefits all children and families in Connecticut, we are working with the CT Early Childhood Funder Collaborative (CT ECFC) to collect valuable insights from families about their needs and experiences with early care and education.

We will conduct in-person or Zoom interviews to learn more about the pre-kindergarten experiences of Norwalk children and their families. Families with children between birth and five years old in Norwalk are invited to participate in these interviews. Participation is voluntary and will not affect existing relationships with early childhood organizations. As a token of appreciation, families participating in the interviews or focus groups will receive a gift card worth $10.

If your family is interested in participating or for more information, please contact Norwalk ACTS Early Childhood Community Advocate Jennifer Murray-Mayhew at 203-807-4070 or [email protected].

Save the date! The next event is Friday, 8/25, at 7 PM for mini-golf and tacos!

WHERE TO FIND US IN AUGUST!

EARLY CHILDHOOD

On July 18th, we partnered with Family & Children's Agency MOMS and PAT programs, City of Norwalk Early Childhood, and NPS Early Childhood to host our monthly Family Resource Meet Up at Fodor Farm. It was a blast!

Calling all parents of children 0-5! Do you know that SPARKLER is a FREE mobile app for Connecticut families, helping parents support children’s development from birth through 5?

COLLEGE AND WORKFORCE READINESS

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