|
UNITED WAY OF CONNECTICUT | | |
So much in the world, and in our state, is in transition with many unknowns. Each of us has a voice, and there is always something we can do, some action we can take, to carry on.
This month we meet two young dynamos: a resilient mom and a state legislator who have a lot in common. Both are passionate about equity, advocating for family economic security and relaxing with video games.
|
| |
|
We are pleased that Speaker of the House Representative Matt Ritter from Hartford supports a refundable CT Child Tax Credit.
Contact your legislators to let them know that CT residents need a Child Tax Credit NOW.
|
| | |
MELINDA LONGTIN
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Mom
Stafford Springs
| | Melinda is married and was working as an LMSW when she welcomed her baby daughter to their family. That’s when everything changed: | | |
My husband and I waited until we were sure we would be economically stable to start a family. Our plan was that my husband would work virtually while also watching the baby, while I would continue to work full time as a social worker, helping others navigate mental health crises and associated economic resource needs.
Summer arrived. Nothing went as we had planned. My husband’s employer increased his in-person expectations when I was one month away from the end of my maternity leave. Since my husband would no longer be able to watch our daughter, we had to make a new plan.
My job requires recurrent, mandated overtime and rotating shifts. I calculated childcare costs for that versus my salary and went, “Uh-oh.” I would not be able to return to work and afford care for my baby. I had no choice but to quit, meaning I would both lose my income and not qualify for government financial assistance programs. I’ve often wondered: how many moms and dads go through this with their first child?
| | |
I want to return to being a social worker. I initially became interested in social work when I was teaching theater and providing core subject tutoring (reading, math, science, social studies) at a group home for abused and neglected children. I loved helping them meet both their emotional and academic goals, as I am also a domestic violence survivor.
At the time, I was not aware of any of the helpful services, shelters, therapy, etc. that could have assisted me during that difficult time. I wrote poetry to process my trauma. When I learned later on that there were a lot of people with similar experiences, I had my poems published as a collection in Metaphoria.
It has been difficult to find jobs that pay enough, given my child care needs, but I also struggle to pay my bills now. Having a child should not destroy a family's ability to pay for basic necessities. The truth is, no amount of mutual aid groups or supplies from local nonprofits can perform the function that the Child Tax Credit can: direct cash to pay for my child’s needs.
| | Every person deserves rights to the resources that help them reach goals that give them a safe, fulfilling life. Anger about the lack of accessibility of resources and the violation of people’s rights definitely fuels my work. | | |
My daughter is 10 months old now. We also have a cat. I still love theatre and dance. I like to write poetry, bake, repurpose things others would throw out and use them for arts and crafts projects, read and play video games.
| | |
Melinda volunteers as the Education and Legislative Action Committee Co-Chair for the National Association of Social Workers' Connecticut Chapter and is the Federal Policy Lead for the Connecticut Chapter’s Social Welfare Action Alliance. Join her and get involved in our campaign to pass a refundable Child Tax Credit in Connecticut.
Your state legislators need to hear directly from parents, caregivers and anyone who believes in a brighter future for Connecticut’s children. Your voice can help make a refundable CT Child Tax Credit a reality — send your message today! It only takes two minutes: enter your info, personalize the message and hit send!
| | Culinary and Customer Service Job Training Program | | | | |
Are you or is anyone you know a budding chef between the ages of 18 to 26? Forge City Works is offering this job training program that leads to real on-the-job experience, placing people into great jobs. The first training begins TODAY at 10:00 a.m., with more trainings to follow in April.
Learn more and apply NOW at:
| | A Roadmap to Fully Funded Communities | | | | |
Connecticut’s Fiscal Controls have delivered $12.5 billion in surpluses since 2018 – but at what cost to our children and hardworking families?
Join our advocacy partner CT Voices for Children for an event series unpacking the state’s fiscal policies and exploring solutions to raise revenue for critical investments in our communities.
Mark your calendars for an event near you and register:
| | | |
CT STATE REPRESENTATTIVE ANTONIO FELIPE
130th District (Bridgeport)
| | |
Representative Antonio “Tone” Felipe is a political organizer turned politician. Campaign work and the electoral process were big parts of his upbringing. At a young age, he learned how our systems can work, but he also learned the ways that they don’t serve certain people.
Representative Felipe’s father has been a major inspiration. Like father, like son: his father also got involved publicly in his early 20s, first as a staffer for Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi and then was Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Bill Finch. Representative Felipe shares, “I got to grow up on the ground level of our political infrastructure, working my first job on a campaign team at the age of 16 and doing field work and managing my first campaign races at 18. From there I continued to engage my community, register my friends and neighbors to vote and, even though reluctant, I ran for office when I was tapped to represent the community that raised me my entire life. I know working families, people of color and women are marginalized by ‘business as usual,’ so I got into this to do it differently.”
Public service was not necessarily in the Representative’s plans. When his predecessor passed away in 2019, Felipe was among a few asked to run for office. “I don’t think that at 23 years old anyone is fully ready to run for office. I agreed to run and midway through my first term the pandemic hit. I was able to work with Representative Rosario and CT Central Kitchen to serve meals weekly to struggling community members. That opened my eyes to the good that we can do as public servants and inspired me to keep running for office.”
| | |
I am passionate about community and equity. Equal access to opportunity is important in all walks of life. Education and Housing are my top issues in that regard, but it is important to see equity in all issues that we face as a legislature. I always use the phrase “Lead how you live.” I try to be authentic and present as a regular person. I am genuinely in this to help people, not help myself at their expense.
| | |
It is this passion that spurred Representative Felipe, along with 62 other state legislators, to introduce HB 5986: An act establishing a refundable child tax credit against the personal income tax.
Although Representative Felipe doesn’t have children of his own, he is a godfather to two beautiful young girls, Mehlina and Amaya. He is also one of seven children and explains, “While we didn’t all grow up in the same home at the same time, there were always around four to five of us in the house at one time. The struggle my family faced with our multiple sports commitments, different schools, child care centers and interests meant that they spent all their time and money on us, giving us the best childhoods they possibly could. What I didn’t see was their struggle to balance the family budget, and that has only gotten harder as the years have gone on. I want families focused on supporting themselves where it matters and not having to see a $500 emergency as an insurmountable obstacle.”
| | |
A $500 emergency is crippling for families, and a permanent and refundable Child Tax Credit is one way that we can make an investment towards changing that and showing those families that we value them in our state.
| | |
Leaders like former Representative Americo Santiago, Edna Garcia, Andres Ayala, Christopher Rosario and Ezequiel Santiago have been powerful influences in Representative Felipe’s life. So, it comes as no surprise that he was voted in as Chair of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus (BPRC).
“Leading the BPRC is important to me because of the opportunity to highlight all our esteemed and successful members for the work they do for our communities. Some of the most thoughtful and dedicated leaders are members of the BPRC, and it is my pleasure to be able to organize and work with them all to make this a more welcoming and equitable state. Those closest to the problem are usually closest to the solution, and many of us come from experiences very close to these issues and want to ensure they don’t continue.”
When he is not working, Representative Felipe lives in the beautiful South End of Bridgeport, a few minutes from Seaside Park. “It’s a great place to forget about the stresses of work. When I have the time, I like to go to the park, play video games (because I am still 29) and maybe do some creative writing in various forms just to get the creativity going.” He also enjoys relaxing and spending time with his Pitbull Nena (which means ‘girl’ in Spanish) – “She keeps me busy in all her crazy and lazy glory.”
| | |
- A CT Child Tax Credit is a simple way to help parents cover the everyday costs of raising kids. A state Child Tax Credit will help families afford clothes that fit, after-school activities and other expenses not covered by other programs. A Child Tax Credit isn’t just about taxes — it’s about helping families afford the basics.
Want to learn more about how a Child Tax Credit can support Connecticut families? Visit CTUnitedway.org/advocacy to find out how you can get involved.
| -
Businesses support a CT Child Tax Credit because it boosts our economy with at least a 25% return on investment — that’s money that flows right back into local businesses. Unlike tax breaks that send money out of state, a CT Child Tax Credit keeps dollars in our communities, helping families afford child care, groceries and transportation. This strengthens our workforce and makes Connecticut a more competitive place to live and work.
| -
73% of CT voters support a CT Child Tax Credit, whether or not they have children themselves.
| | - A CT Child Tax Credit supports more than 550,000 children.
| | | | |
