TAKE ACTION
Stamford Public Schools – City Budget Hearing
Fully fund Stamford Public Schools! The Stamford Board of Education is asking the Board of Finance and the Board of Representatives to approve at 5.92% or ~$19M increase to the operating budget. The budget includes no-cost school meals for all students, health insurance premiums for staff, DOMUS family advocates program and critical staff positions.
Sign up to testify for the virtual City Budget Public Hearing April 8th at 7 pm. Email bdreps@stamfordct.gov and tdonoghue@stamfordct.gov. If you can’t attend, email your support to bor_allreps@stamfordct.gov and Board of Finance members. See sample testimony HERE!
Head Start - Tell your Federal legislators to reopen ACF offices and reinstate staff immediately!
On Tuesday morning, the Trump Administration closed at least five of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) offices, including the Boston office which serves programs for Head Start/Early Head Start in Connecticut. There are no regional staff to review pending grant proposals or support Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Thousands of Connecticut families could be impacted by these closures. We're asking you to contact your Congressional leaders NOW and demand that they reinstate staff and reopen these offices immediately. You can do so quickly and easily by completing this form.
UPCOMING EVENTS
CT Early Childhood Alliance Advocacy Day
Wednesday, April 9th
- 8:30 - 10:00 am Legislative Breakfast (LOB Dining Room)
- 10:00 am Press Conference (LOB Rm. 1B)
- 10:30 am – 5 pm Meet with Legislators
Register today! *Monday, April 7th 7-8 pm Pre-Advocacy Day Virtual Rally
CT Child Tax Credit Lobbying Days
April 8 - 10th
No experience is needed! You'll receive guidance from coalition members and will be connected with legislators in the building through handwritten notes or in-person meetings.
🗓️ Tuesday, April 8: 9:30–11:00 am and 2:00–3:30 pm
🗓️ Wednesday, April 9: 9:30–11:00 am and 2:00–3:30 pm
🗓️ Thursday, April 10: 9:30–11:00 am and 2:00–3:30 pm
CT Mirror’s “In the Room” with Representative Jim Himes
Thursday, April 17 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Ferguson Library, 1 Public Library Plaza, Stamford, CT 06901
Congressman Jim Himes to discuss state priorities, national security, foreign policy in the Trump era, and more! Free to attend, registration required. Event will be live-streamed as well. Check-in and light refreshments at 5:30 pm
UPDATES FROM HARTFORD
All hearings can be viewed on CT-N or each Committee’s YouTube channel. Full CT CGA calendar is available online here.
Monday, April 7th
- Health Equity Week 2025 Press Conference, 11:00 am, LOB Rm. 1C
Tuesday, April 8th
- Early Childhood Roundtable with Governor Lamont and Buffet Early Childhood Institute, 11 am, LOB Rm. 2E (CT-N recording TBD)
- Governor’s Council on Women and Girls, 3 pm, LOB Rm. 1E
Wednesday, April 9th
- CT Early Childhood Alliance Legislative Breakfast 8:30 – 10:00 am, LOB Private Dining Room: RSVP Here!
- Early Childhood Caucus and Early Childhood Alliance Press Conference, LOB Rm. 1B
- House and Senate Session 11:00 am – 5:00 pm, CT State Capitol Building chambers
Thursday, April 10th
- Appropriations Committee Public Hearing RE: Deficiency Bill, 10:00 am, LOB Rm. 2E: Agenda (HB 6863) | YouTube | Submit Written Testimony | Register to Testify by 3:00 pm Wednesday
RESOURCES
Child Tax Credit
Read “The case for the child tax credit” Op Ed written by first-year Democratic state legislators.
Early Childhood Education
Read CT Mirror’s “Will Lamont’s universal pre-K plan prevail?” to dig deeper into the Governor’s universal pre-K proposal and other early childhood education bills under consideration.
Read “Head Start is turning 60. The federal child care program may not make it to 61” to learn more about how federal cuts could impact local childcare.
Housing and Homelessness
Homelessness is increasing, but shelter space is decreasing. This year, Fairfield County saw a 29% increase in homelessness and a 10% cut in beds. Now, providers want CT to set aside $5 million annually for cold weather beds. Alpha says the funding would help, and they also need bigger space. The Housing Collective collaborated with the organization to share their story in the Connecticut Post.
Have questions? Visit www.unitedwaycwc.org/advocate or contact Tida Infahsaeng at tida.infahsaeng@unitedwaycwc.org.