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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - Octber 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026 PENFIELD COMMUNITIONS INC

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Elena’s Light Makes A Home on Orange Street By Abiba Biao

The New Haven independent

Fereshteh Ganjavi beamed as she approached the podium, greeting a crowd of over 30 people. In one hand was her phone, ready with a speech she’d prepared beforehand. After a moment of deliberation, she closed out the prewritten remarks, and decided to speak from the heart instead. It was fitting for the occasion, itself defined by a sense of emotion that prepared remarks would never be able to encapsulate. Last Saturday, refugee activists, supporters, and volunteers celebrated the opening of Elena’s Light’s new community center located on 436 Orange St. The location grows the organization’s mission of working with refugee families, and especially women and children, to provide support and education as they adjust to life in a new and often very different home. Fifty people ultimately gathered for the intimate celebration. The building contains three levels, and includes a lower level with a kitchen and bathroom, a main level where the grand opening was held, and a loft at the top level, which will be reconfigured into an office space. Named in honor of Ganjavi’s first daughter, Elena’s Light is a nonprofit serving refugee and immigrant women and children. The organization provides services such as English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, health education, drivers license training, and advocacy efforts, among other programs. Speakers also included U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, New Haven Economic Development Administrator Michael Piscitelli, attorney Ben Haldeman, who works with refugees directly at the New Haven Legal Assistance Association, and other volunteers and supporters of Elena’s Light. The space, while not filled with anything yet, is a blank canvas that teems with possibilities. In a text message Tuesday night, Ganjavi detailed the ways team members plan to bring each room to life,

Abiba Biao Photos.

including having classrooms for ESL, health education, and driving permit lessons; a youth and children learning area equipped with a computer lab, a reading nook, and makerspace for sewing and other arts projects. There is also a multipurpose conference room for community gatherings. The design effort has been overseen by Celia Toche, architect and founder of the architecture firm TOCHE & Associates and an instructor at the Yale School of Architecture. Toche has been assisting Elena’s Light with site searching and property development for over three years. Ganjavi also credited Carol Horsford, founder of the Farnam Realty Group, and Carlos Eyzaguirre, deputy director in the New Haven Economic Development Administration, for their assistance locating the space. Ganjavi, who came to the U.S. as an Afghan refugee in 2011, founded Elena’s

Light in 2017. Since then, the organization has continued to have an impact, elevating refugee voices as it expands its work as an educational incubator. In 2025, 72 people enrolled in ESL classes, tutored by 66 volunteers who delivered 7,000 hours of one-on-one instruction, according to the organization’s 2025 annual report.. That programming also extends to advocacy. In response to the 2021 humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan after the capital Kabul was overtaken by the Taliban, Elena’s Light strengthened legal advocacy efforts and programing for refugee assistance, partnering with organizations such as We Are All America to push for refugee protection acts in Congress. “Thousands of Afghan girls are not going to school in Afghanistan. And we are here, we have a chance,” Ganjavi said, highlighting the importance of making education accessible. “Our

community here has a strong foundation to make it better for them.” Throughout her years of work, Ganjavi has seen many personal breakthroughs with clients she serves. She described seeing women succeed in job hunting or obtaining their license to drive as “one of the greatest things that I love.” The space not only allows for more programming, but also opens up funding opportunities, said Leslie Koons, board chair of Elena’s Light, There are funders who host specific opportunities for non-profits with physical spaces. “Our theme this year has been ‘Together we build belonging,’ and now we have a place to do exactly that,” Koons said to the crowd. “ A place where a mom practicing her English can sip a cup of tea alongside a new friend that she’s met, who also understands her journey, while her children play together nearby. And that longing is more than just a good feeling.”

Bonnie Leon was one of the first people that signed up for ESL tutoring in 2019 before in-person classes shifted online due to COVID. Despite the transition, and fracturing her leg, Leon was committed to the cause. She cited the program’s emphasis on cross-cultural exchange as part of what keeps her coming back. “People always say that when you volunteer, that you get more out of it than what you do. That is unbelievably true,” she said. She recounted her experience tutoring, astonished by the hospitality and generosity of refugee families who were still economically stretched and finding their way in a new world. “I can’t tell you; it was the most beautiful experience I’ve had and I’m almost 83 years old. That’s saying a lot.” Koons also stressed the importance of multiculturalism, and encouraged refugees and immigrants to bring their perspectives to the table as often as possible. As she spoke, she leaned on the familiar maxim that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. “I'm an American, and I have to say, we need you desperately. We need you. We need you. Your point of view and the way you love. This is a very welcoming community. The culture you come from is very warm and it’s beautiful … I wish I could speak Dari, Farsi. I barely speak good English!” Chuckles emerged from the audience. Another volunteer who spoke was Rana Hussaini, now a sophomore at the University of New Haven, Hussaini grew up in Kabul, and came to the U.S. several years ago. She is now on the pre-med track and hopes to be a dentist. Because she is from Afghanistan, Hussaini also felt a personal calling to volunteer for the organization. She noted how Elena’s Light provides a third space to refugee women by giving them resources to reach personal milestones, like driving, a task that seems simple at first, but something that people take for granted. “We’re serving our community because we understand them,” she said.

Philadelphia: Meet the 26-year-old running against her former boss to become one of the youngest mayors by Dollita Okine, Face2FaceAfrica.com At just 26 years old, Shania Bennett is making a name for herself as one of the youngest mayoral candidates in Philadelphia’s history, and she is the first to declare her intention to challenge her former boss, incumbent Mayor Cherelle Parker, in the Democratic primary. “They say I’m too young, because they can’t say I’m not capable,” Bennett said during a kickoff event for her campaign for mayor of Philadelphia, WHYY reported. “Every time someone tells me I am too young, I will remind them that leadership is not measured by how many birthdays you had,” she added. “Every time some-

one tells me that I’m too young, I’ll ask them, am I too young to care? Am I too young to understand?” “Yes, I’m significantly younger than our current leadership, but the potholes are old, and the excuses are even older,” she continued. At the age of 18, Bennett made history as one of the youngest committee members in South Philadelphia’s 48th Ward and was elected as the ward treasurer. She held the position of Parker’s director of youth engagement until her resignation in May. Bennett has not yet shared a specific policy plan. She revealed that her campaign has been asked about her identity as a Democrat, with some wanting her to clarify if she identifies as a Socialist or

Progressive. “I want to be very clear. I will be whatever works for Philadelphia,” she remarked. “Because I do not think it’s progressive or socialist for Philadelphians to have a government [that] prioritizes them.”

Shania Bennett

As the election approaches, she expressed her desire for her campaign to encourage voters who have often been overlooked or disengaged from civic activities. In addition to engaging young voters, she seeks to reach out to low-income communities. Bennett describes poverty as “a form of voter suppression,” highlighting that individuals who work night shifts or during polling hours may find

it difficult to vote in person unless they choose mail-in ballots. “There are little things like that where I care about how they engage in the [democratic] process and about making it as accessible as possible,” she told WHYY News. She also plans to organize as many free events as possible to ensure there are no financial barriers. “If you have nothing to give [financially], support from where you can. That’s how I look to engage, not by making it intimidating for people,” she said. However, WHYY pointed out that Bennett’s campaign faces difficulties, as no sitting mayor in Philadelphia has lost reelection under the Home Rule Charter since 1951.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - Octber 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

ACCESS HEALTH CT PRESENTS ANNUAL COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD TO HEALTH EQUITY CHAMPION HARTFORD, Conn. (Oct. 13, 2026) — Access Health CT (AHCT), Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace, recognized Tiffany Donelson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Health Foundation, with its Community Impact Award. The award was presented at AHCT’s annual Community Conference held Oct. 7 at the Sheraton Hartford Hotel in Windsor Locks. The conference is held each year to prepare community leaders and partners, Certified Brokers, Certified Application Counselors and AHCT staff members for the upcoming Open Enrollment Period. This year’s theme was “Pivoting with Power.” The 2027 Open Enrollment Period runs from Oct. 23, 2026 through Jan. 15, 2027. AHCT’s mission is to reduce the uninsured rate and reduce health disparities. Community partners play an important role in fulfilling that mission. Each year,

AHCT recognizes a community leader who shares its commitment to expanding healthcare access in communities that face barriers to care. “Tiffany is an advocate in every sense of the word,” said Access Health CT Chief Executive Officer James Michel. “Her work with the Connecticut Health Foundation and beyond has made such a lasting impact on our state. We are proud to recognize her dedication and passion with this year’s Community Impact Award.” As President and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation, Donelson oversees the organization's work in grantmaking, policy advancement, strategic communications and leadership development. Her advocacy also includes service on Connecticut’s Healthcare Benchmark Initiative steering committee, the Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health

Tiffany Donelson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Health Foundation

and the Health Care Cabinet. Under Donelson’s leadership, the Connecticut Health Foundation is a proud sponsor of Access Health CT’s Broker Academy Program, which provides opportunities for people who live and work in underserved communities to gain the skills they need to help their neighbors enroll in health and dental insurance. “It was a tremendous honor to receive the Access Health CT Community Impact Award,” Donelson said. “As grateful as I am for this award, I am even more appreciative of all those who are working hard to keep Connecticut residents insured. This is a challenging time, and many of our neighbors are facing new barriers to staying covered and getting the care they need. Working together, we can help minimize the harm to our communities and build the groundwork toward a better future.”

Window shopping for 2027 health insurance plans is available from Oct. 16 through Oct. 22 before the Open Enrollment Period officially begins

ACCESS HEALTH CT ANNOUNCES CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS CAN START EXPLORING THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS FOR 2027

HARTFORD, Conn. (Oct. 15, 2026) –Access Health CT (AHCT), Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace, just announced Connecticut residents can begin previewing the health and dental insurance options that will become available during the 2027 Open Enrollment Period. This preview period is also known as the “window shopping” period. The window shopping period allows customers to get estimates for financial help and compare costs before Open Enrollment starts. Customers can also:

• Review and compare health insurance plans • Understand premiums, deductibles, provider networks, prescription coverage and out-of-pocket costs • Check whether their preferred providers are in a plan’s network • Make a more informed decision and avoid last-minute confusion when open enrollment begins and more This period runs from Oct. 16 through Oct. 22, one week before Open Enrollment starts. Open Enrollment is when Connecticut residents can shop, compare and enroll or renew their health or dental insurance plans. AHCT’s 2027 Open Enrollment Period will run from Oct. 23, 2026 through Jan. 15, 2027.

that Open Enrollment would run from Oct. 23 through Dec. 23. This was in response to a federal change which shortened the annual Open Enrollment Period. That change is now subject to a court order. Because of this, the 2027 Open Enrollment Period will now run from Oct. 23, 2026 through Jan. 15, 2027. Important enrollment dates to remember: • Customers who enroll between Oct. 23, 2026 and Dec. 15, 2026, will have insurance starting Jan. 1, 2027. • Customers who enroll between Dec. 16, 2026 and Jan. 15, 2027, will have insurance starting Feb. 1, 2027.

AHCT remains the only place eligible customers can get financial help to lower their health insurance costs. Depending on their eligibility, customers may also qualify for: • The state Temporary Premium Assistance, which can help offset some or all of the expired federal enhanced subsidies • The Covered CT Program, which provides no-cost insurance for eligible residents

• A new state subsidy for early childhood educators in Connecticut. “We’re happy we can give our customers even more time to explore their health and dental insurance options this year,” said Access Health CT Chief Executive Officer James Michel. “We hope this window shopping period helps them better understand their options and feel confident in their enrollment decisions.” Earlier this summer, AHCT announced

Free help is always available. Customers can visit AccessHealthCT. com and click the “Get Help” button on the homepage to find the option that works best for them – schedule an appointment, find a nearby Navigator site or connect with a Certified Broker in their area. AHCT also has a Mobile Enrollment Team that offers one-on-one sessions with trained professionals who can an-

swer questions and assist residents with in-person enrollment. That help is available in English and Spanish. To get help over the phone, customers can call 1-855-805-4325, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Help is available in over 100 languages. The call center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Nov. 27, 2026, 8:00 a.m. to noon Dec. 24, 2026 and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Dec. 31, 2026. Customers who are deaf or hard of hearing may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator. The call center will be closed Nov. 26, 2026, Dec. 25, 2026 and Jan. 1, 2027 in observance of the federal holidays. For free help online, customers can visit AccessHealthCT.com. They can also chat live with a customer service representative by clicking the “Live Chat” icon on the website. Live chat is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Media Contact: Kathleen Tallarita, Kathleen.tallarita@ ct.gov, 860-757-5339

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 23, 2019 - January 29, 2019

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

ACCESS HEALTH CT PRESENTS ANNUAL COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD TO HEALTH EQUITY CHAMPION

HARTFORD, Conn. (Oct. 13, 2026) — Access Health CT (AHCT), Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace, recognized Tiffany Donelson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Health Foundation, with its Community Impact Award. The award was presented at AHCT’s annual Community Conference held Oct. 7 at the Sheraton Hartford Hotel in Windsor Locks. The conference is held each year to prepare community leaders and partners, Certified Brokers, Certified Application Counselors and AHCT staff members for the upcoming Open Enrollment Period. This year’s theme was “Pivoting with Power.” The 2027 Open Enrollment Period runs from Oct. 23, 2026 through Jan. 15, 2027. AHCT’s mission is to reduce the uninsured rate and reduce health disparities. Community partners play an important

Tiffany Donelson

role in fulfilling that mission. Each year, AHCT recognizes a community leader

who shares its commitment to expanding healthcare access in communities that face barriers to care. “Tiffany is an advocate in every sense of the word,” said Access Health CT Chief Executive Officer James Michel. “Her work with the Connecticut Health Foundation and beyond has made such a lasting impact on our state. We are proud to recognize her dedication and passion with this year’s Community Impact Award.” As President and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation, Donelson oversees the organization's work in grantmaking, policy advancement, strategic communications and leadership development. Her advocacy also includes service on Connecticut’s Healthcare Benchmark Initiative steering committee, the Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health

CT Awards $6.2M In Grants To 29 School Districts For Student Engagement by Staff Report HARTFORD, CT — The Connecticut State Department of Education is awarding approximately $6.2 million in state grants to 29 school districts through the Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (LEAP), continuing Connecticut’s investment in a research-based approach to approving student attendance and engagement. The grants are supported through a dedicated $7 million state budget line-item. Of that amount, approximately $6.2 million is being awarded directly to school districts, with the remaining funds supporting statewide LEAP infrastructure, including home visitor training, program implementation, and data collection. Since the program’s establishment in 2021, chronic absenteeism has declined for four consecutive years, from 23.7%

in 2021-22 to 16.4% in 2025-26, meaning nearly 35,000 more students are attending school regularly compared with 2021-22, state officials said. “We launched LEAP because we knew we needed to find new ways to reconnect students and families with their schools, and the results show that this approach is working,” Gov. Ned Lamont said. “That is why we are making LEAP a sustained state investment and expanding it to more districts. Getting students into classrooms and keeping them engaged is fundamental to their success, and this investment will help more schools build the relationships with families that make a real difference.” Connecticut launched LEAP in 2021 using federal COVID-19 relief funding after chronic absenteeism rose sharply during the pandemic and many students became disconnected from their schools.The state looked to research on how best to

FILE PHOTO — Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker speaks about the state’s Blue Ribbon School program in West Hartford on June 9, 2026. Credit: Ronni Newtown / We-Ha.com

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strengthen relationships between families and schools, resulting in a structured home visiting program with human connection at its center, officials said. LEAP initially served 15 school districts, later expanded to 25, and with this latest round of grants will reach 29 districts across Connecticut. Through LEAP, trained school staff and community partners connect directly with students and families, build relationships, identify barriers contributing to absences, and connect families with resources and supports that can help students attend school consistently. Since LEAP launched, home visitors have conducted approximately 88,000 home visits and reached approximately 53,000 students. Independent research has also demonstrated positive outcomes associated with LEAP. An evaluation conducted through the Center for Connecticut Education Research Collaboration found that attendance improved by over 10 percentage points after a LEAP visit. LEAP’s benefits also extended beyond attendance. Students who received a LEAP visit experienced a five-percentage-point decline in the number of disciplinary incidents. “Students attending school consistently are engaged in their learning, more connected to their peers and school community, and better positioned for academic success,” Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker said. “At the heart of LEAP is human connection. Our home visitors, educators, district leaders, and community partners are building relationships one student and one family at a time, helping us understand and address the barriers that can keep students from school.” Developed in partnership with the nationally recognized nonprofit Attendance Works, LEAP is supported by CSDE partners EdAdvance and the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC), which coordinate with new and continuing districts to provide data tools, home visitor training, and technical assistance to support effective implementation of the evidence-based model.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - Octber 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

During Banned Books Week, librarians weigh threat of ‘soft censorship’ by Lucy Gellman

The New Haven independent

Children’s librarian Sarah Quigley still remembers when the call came in earlier this year, midway through a mid-morning storytime packed with young children. She had just finished Tasha Spillett’s “Raven’s Ribbons,” a book about a young Indigenous boy who wants to wear a ribbon skirt, and turns to his grandmother for guidance. At the end of the book, Spillett writes about two-spirit people, who have an expansive gender identity that exists outside of a binary. Then a person from the neighborhood, who had heard about it via text from someone attending the story time, called the library. They were angry, and said the book pushed harmful gender ideology. On a round rug patterned with the ABCs in the library’s brightly lit children’s section, Quigley had moved from the book to a sing-along, unaware of the controversy. Quigley, who is a children’s librarian at the Mitchell Branch of the New Haven Free Public Library, is one of an increasing number of people who work at Connecticut libraries who report noticing examples of “soft censorship,” a term that refers to books that are not formally banned or challenged, but have received complaints or informal challenges from patrons, parents, and “pressure” from special interest groups. As the American Library Association (ALA) observes its 44th annual Banned Books Week, many library staffers are thinking through how to respond to this new chapter of censorship, from open discussions with concerned parents to small, meaningful interventions like bookmarks that let a patron know that if they remove a book with the intention of restricting access to fellow readers, librarians will replace it. Launched by the ALA in 1982, Banned

Branch Manager Marian Huggins, left, and Children's Librarian Sarah Quigley pose for a portrait at the Mitchell Branch of the New Haven Free Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. The library recieved complaints after Quigley read Raven's Ribbons by Tasha Spillett during a storytime this summer. Credit: Sarah Gordon / CT Mirror

Books Week is a celebration of banned and challenged literature that also seeks to bring attention to censorship in libraries and school districts across the country. A formal book challenge means that an individual or group of people have filled out paperwork asking that a book be relocated or removed. Last year, the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom recorded challenges to a total of 4,235 unique titles, from Patricia McCormick’s “Sold,” which addresses child sex trafficking, to Malinda Lo’s “Last Night At The Telegraph Club,” which takes place in a lesbian bar in California’s Bay Area during 1950s era McCarthyism. According to the ALA, over 90 percent of those challenges came from “pressure groups” like Moms for Liberty, and elected officials on the municipal, state and federal level. Of those, Connecticut saw challenges to seven unique titles, including Maia Kobabe’s “Gender Queer,” Peter Brown’s “Fred Gets Dressed,” Edwidge Danticat’s “Mama’s Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation,” Loren Grush’s “The Six: The Untold Story of America’s First Women Astronauts,” Yaakov Katz’s “While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East,” Lucy Knisley’s “Apple Crush,” and Syed Masood’s “More Than Just a Pretty Face.” “These book challenges are happening in every corner of Connecticut, and what I’m most concerned about is the quiet censorship that doesn’t make it into the news,” said Sam Lee, co-chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee at the Connecticut Library Association (CLA), stressing how hard it is to track challenges in public schools that do not have a designated library and media specialist on staff.

New Tax Credit Available For Small Businesses Offering Health Insurance by Donald Eng CTNewsJunkie

Connecticut small businesses can now access a state tax credit to help offer health insurance to their employees through a law passed earlier this year, Gov. Ned Lamont said Tuesday. Eligible businesses, which include those with 50 or fewer employees, can receive a tax credit of up to $1,000 per employee per year when they offer an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) through Access Health CT, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, using the BusinessPlus platform. The credit is available for the first two consecutive years an employer offers an ICHRA. “Through this tax credit, we can encourage more small businesses to offer health coverage to their employees, keeping more people in Connecticut insured while also offsetting their premiums,” Lamont said. “This approach enables workers to choose the plan that best fits their needs, lower their costs, and create more predictability

for small businesses. Creating this initiative is another way that we are working to move Connecticut forward on health care affordability in a way that is realistic, responsible, and focused on the everyday experiences of individuals and families who are trying to get coverage and stay covered.” State Sen. Jeff Gordon, R-Woodstock, who is a physician, noted that state ratepayers were facing double-digit increases this year. He said any help for addressing rate hikes was welcome. He also touted the Connecticut Association of Health Plans as a potential source of healthcare savings. “We must continue to work on health insurance affordability issues, and the commonsense Association Health Plans — which have had significant bipartisan support — would be a great place to start,” he said. Access Health CT CEO James Michel said the marketplace’s mission was to reduce the uninsured rate in Connecticut, “which also means increasing access to health insurance and financial help.”

FILE — Access Health CT CEO James Michel speaks about heath care coverage in CT while Gov. Ned Lamont looks on at the State Capitol in Hartford on Jan. 7, 2026. Credit: Karla Ciaglo / CTNewsJunkie

An ICHRA is an allowance-based health benefit that gives employers a flexible and cost-effective way to contribute toward their employees’ health insurance.

How it works: • Employers set a monthly contribution

amount per employee. • Eligible employees can then use those funds toward an individual health insurance plan available through Access Health CT. Revenue Services Commissioner Mark Boughton said he was proud of the state’s

partnership with Access Health CT. “Our collaboration with Access Health CT reflects a shared commitment to working together, leveraging our collective expertise and resources and finding solutions to achieve the best possible results for the people we serve,” he said. Access Health CT is the only place business owners can access the tax credit. The form for small businesses to apply for the ICHRA tax credit can be found on the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services website in the Pass-Through Entity Tax Forms section. Employers wishing to learn more about the tax credit should visit AccessHealthCT. com/BusinessPlus. They can also call Access Health CT’s Business Plus office at 1-860-241-8445 for assistance. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator. Customers can search the Certified Broker directory on AccessHealthCT.com to find one in their area.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - Octber 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

Alders Demand School Building Repairs, Transparency By Laura Glesby

The New Haven independent

Establish new mold and temperature standards for all New Haven Public School buildings. Create a public dashboard of the status of all school maintenance complaints. Assemble a fundraising plan to finance the needed repairs. The Board of Alders Education Committee published a letter on Friday afternoon with those demands and others — urging the Board of Education to undertake 16 “high-priority” actions to improve school facilities within the next 30 to 60 days. The letter marked the second time in six weeks that the aldermanic committee has sent out a press release on a Friday afternoon, raising the alarm about school conditions and calling on the school board to act with greater urgency and transparency. Friday’s letter is signed by Committee Chair and Beaver Hills Alder Gary Hogan, Vice Chair and Fair Haven Alder Frank Redente, Jr., Fair Haven Alder Sarah Miller, Downtown/East Rock Alder Christine Kim, Downtown/Yale Alder Elias Theodore, and Fair Haven Heights Alder Mildred Melendez. In the letter, the alders called on the Board of Education to address ongoing concerns related to pest infestations, bathroom conditions, and non-operational doors and windows. They called on school leaders to monitor indoor air quality and distribute air purifiers to school buildings as necessary. They also requested a systemic overhaul of how the district manages facilities concerns. In addition to the public dashboard

Ed Committee Chair Gary Hogan: "We called it out. We see the problem. Now, how do we fix it? What’s our solution-based strategy now?" Credit: Laura Glesby photo

and the fundraising plan, alders called on the Board of Education to outline a hierarchy of responsibility for facilities concerns and to set standard time periods for written responses and fixes to facilities concerns. They asked for “a restorative process for acknowledging the ongoing harm that school communities experience and develop protocols to repair and re-

build trust.” They also weighed in on an ongoing dispute between the New Haven Federation of Teachers (NHFT) and the school district regarding the union’s vice president. This year, school administrators are requiring NHFT Vice President Jenny Graves to work as a teacher on a fulltime basis, rather than releasing her from

teaching duties as they had in previous years; NHFT has argued that this move was retaliatory to the union. In their letter, the Education Committee alders sided with the teachers union, calling on the Board of Education to “return New Haven Federation of Teachers Vice President to full release and restore the Federation’s capacity to support facilities

problem-solving.” The Education Committee previously released a letter on Aug. 28, days before the start of school, calling on the city to closely inspect all school buildings. Since that first letter, alders held an Education Committee hearing on facilities in late September, drawing hours of public testimony about dilapidated and sometimes hazardous school building conditions from students, teachers, parents and advocates. In their latest letter, the alders cited that hearing as a source of concern. “District leadership brought no concrete plan of action,” the letter states. “In the absence of a specific plan and in an effort to repair ongoing harm, we respectfully request that you undertake the following high-priority action steps” within either 30 or 60 days, it continues, enumerating 16 different demands. Hogan, the committee chair, explained in a phone interview that the 30- to 60day timeline is not a final deadline, and that alders don’t expect all of the actions to be completed within two months. The goal of the letter, Hogan said, is to outline a structure for the school district to address school facilities concerns with urgency and transparency. “We’re trying to create strategies so we can all move together collectively,” he said. “The idea is, can you think about these responses and can you give us something to work on?” “We called it out. We see the problem. Now, Con’t from page 08

Housing Affordability Weighs On Young Connecticut Voters

For young voters in Connecticut, housing affordability has emerged as a major concern ahead of the November gubernatorial election. Janiya Mercado, 18, a retail employee from Bridgeport, said her family pays about $1,400 in rent. Her grandmother owns the property, but Mercado said rising tax costs have contributed to higher expenses and a financial burden on her family.

from her parents’ house in Derby to save money for life after college. “My biggest concern right now is not being able to save up and afford to move out after graduation,” Jerome said.

Jahaira Pacheco, 24, a Gateway Community College student from West Haven, said her family is currently experiencing cost pressures. Her parents saved for about 15 years before purchasing their home in 2024.

“My mom works at two hospitals, but since the mortgage is going up for my grandma, the rent is also going up a little bit, but she tries to bring it down as much as she can,” Mercado said. Mercado is among the two-thirds of young voters who will be prioritizing housing concerns this election, according to a recent poll conducted by Sacred Heart University, WFSB and CT Insider. The August poll found that 67.3% of voters ages 18 to 34 ranked housing costs as one of their top issues. The poll also found that 71.8% of voters of all ages said their household housing costs increased during the past year. For young voters, the issue is about more than the cost of rent. Many are con-

Pacheco said their property taxes increased after the house was revalued following renovations and a new school in town. “Near my house, an elementary school opened up, and that’s when the taxes rose a lot, of roughly about $1,000 more than what we usually paid,” Pacheco said. Pacheco said rising costs make homeownership seem less achievable for her in the future. cerned about whether they can save money, move out after college or eventually purchase a home.

trouble affording housing right now,” Kerwnny Jerome, a Southern Connecticut State University student, said.

“I noticed that my generation has had

18-year-old Jerome currently commutes

“There’s going to be a time where it’s not going to be affordable anymore for a person in the middle class to be able to cover all that,” Pacheco said. “The salaries are not going to be enough if

the prices keep going up.”

Jonathan Wharton, a professor of political science and urban affairs at Southern Connecticut State University, said Connecticut’s gubernatorial candidates have different approaches when it comes to tackling affordable housing. Gov. Ned Lamont and Republican challenger Ryan Fazio presented their proposals at the 2026 Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Gubernatorial Forum, which Wharton attended on Tuesday, Oct. 6. “Fazio was a little more specific about his proposals in terms of property taxes and cost of living, whereas Lamont was speaking more in terms of transit-oriented development and building new housing near train stations, and how you want to see more of that, especially in the cities,” Wharton said. Both candidates list housing costs as a policy priority on their campaign websites. In addition to transit-oriented development, Lamont lists supporting workforce and middle-income housing, revitalizing downtowns and underused properties, and working with communities to meet housing needs responsibly as

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - Octber 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

Hamden Dances Into Inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration By Samir Iydroose

The New Haven independent

Salsera Alisa Bowens-Mercado beckoned to attendees who had filled Thornton Wilder Hall, many still seated at folding tables covered in alternating green, red, and yellow cellophane. On cue, they rose from their cleared blue plastic plates, once filled with empanadas and beans, to the makeshift dance floor. Bowens-Mercado smiled. “Let’s go dance,” she said. And with just three words, attendees had their marching orders. Tango, bachata, cumbia, salsa, and merengue filled the Hamden Public Library last Thursday night, as the town of Hamden kicked off its inaugural celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The event, hosted in conjunction with the Hamden High School (HHS) Spanish Club, featured dance lessons from Bowens-Mercado, founder of the New Haven based dance–studio Alisa’s House of Salsa, catered food from Mexican, Puerto Rican and and Colombian restaurants, face painting, and musical performances from HHS students. The performance lineup consisted of seven songs, some bilingual and some monolingual, and one short speech de-

Battle (in yellow), Bivens (in a dress on the right), and the Youth Service Ambassadors.

livered in Spanish. Organizers included Hamden Director of Cultural Affairs and Human Services Karen Bivens and HHS Spanish teacher Joanne Maldonado. Maldonado is also the faculty advisor for the school’s Spanish Club. The celebration has been in the works for the past three months, Biven said. She added that it was important to her to involve “community partners” in the event,

including the high school students from many different backgrounds who call the town home. “Hamden is very diverse,” Bivens said, noting that the town has held celebrations for Kwanzaa, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) month, and Three Kings Day. “I want people to be able to see themselves represented

here.” Food came from the Puerto-Rican restaurant Grab & Go Empanadas, Dixwell Avenue’s beloved Mazorca Mexican Cuisine, and Delicias El Paisa, a Colombian restaurant also on Dixwell Avenue. Bivens said this selection was meant to represent Hispanic culture as it is “not just one big culture, but many,” and give

“exposure” to local businesses. The decision to host a community salsa class during the celebration felt natural, highlighting the connective power of music. Bowens-Mercado, who hails from Bethany and teaches in New Haven’s Westville neighborhood, felt like the perfect fit. As a teching artist who is often in school settings, she brought both her educational hat and her dancing shoes. As the night went on, members of the Hamden Youth Service Ambassadors stood at the ready, helping set-up and serve food.The initiative focuses on skills such as financial literacy and work readiness, according to the Town of Hamden’s website. Seven of about 15 total ambassadors were in attendance at the event, according to Lamond Battle, youth services coordinator He said that the goal of the program is to “explore possible careers and develop skills while being employed,” and described it as a “work-and-learn-style program.” He added that the ambassadors’ involvement in this event provided an opportunity to talk about food service. “We helped them get basic skills about hygiene and cleanliness down,” Battle said. “Not to reach over food, and not to talk over food, and other stuff to have less germs.” Bowens-Mercado described attendees

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

Etienne Charles & Creole Soul Move Milford School Building Repairs Con’t from page 08

how do we fix it?” he added. “What’s our solution-based strategy now?”

By Shaunda Holloway

The New Haven independent

Etienne Charles entered the stage wearing a plaid jacket with notes of hot pink, green, blue, and gray. Already, he was rocking a pair of bright pink boots, his face rimmed in lime green glow-in-the-dark-glasses. Even before he began to play, he radiated a well-earned confidence, more warmth than swagger. The clothes, maybe, were just for the night. But what would last forever was how the crowd felt under the sonic, mesmerizing influence of his trumpet and the musical sway of his bandmates, who together comprise Creole Soul. That sound blessed Milford last Saturday, as the Milford Arts Council (the MAC) unveiled its inaugural Jazz’n Downtown festival, a series of free jazz concerts and one culminating, ticketed event happening across downtown Milford over several mellifluous hours. From the town’s Lisman Landing Marina to the patios at Parson’s Plaza and the Stonebridge Restaurant, concert goers experienced some of the best in contemporary jazz music for free. A total of 13 acts performed in various locations throughout the town. “I was like, ‘You know what? I think downtown is ready for something different,’” said MAC Executive Director Paige Miglio, crediting Stephanie Sands as the event’s primary organizer and musical curator, on a recent episode of WNHH Community Radio’s “Arts Respond.” “Milford has so many community events and free festivals … and I’m like, ‘I want to take arts and culture from our little tiny venue, and put it front and center, in the midst of the busiest merchant and restaurant district of downtown.’ Really, soaking up the natural beauty that we all take for granted, and exposing it to the world. And what better way to do that than through live music? The genre of jazz is just really really appropriate.” The journey to Jazz’n Downtown began several years ago, when Sands—yes, mother to the prodigiously talented musicians Ryan and Christian Sands—told Miglio that she had always wanted to open a jazz club named Penny’s. Miglio, who has worked to weave community partnerships into the MAC’s programming, suggested she use the organization’s stage to produce a jazz series. The idea grew from there. For four seasons now, “we’ve been running with this,” Miglio said. Around 2022, she started dreaming about a jazz festival in the center of downtown. Sands helped it take flight. Throughout the day, performers showcased the sheer breadth of jazz that exists in and across the state, from early-career drummer Anton Kot, already a musical whiz, to recent Ellington Medal awardee Jeff Fuller, to musicians Tina Fabrique and Wycliffe Gordon, who ended the day with a shimmering tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Charles, who closed out the night at Stonebridge Restaurant, sealed the deal for many of the festival's listeners. Part of that, of course, is the musicians he plays with. In addition to Charles, who plays trumpet, cajon and vocals, the band featured Antonio Vergara on alto sax, Axel Tosca on piano, Alex Wintz on guitar, Rus-

Etienne Charles, fully himself and fully magical. Keyvan Behpour (Kvon) Photo.

sell Hall on bass and Brian Richburg on drums. The opening number “Green Chimneys,” a tribute to late jazz legend Thelonious Monk, began with Charles testing his horn, breathing life into a series of sharp notes. As he played, his fingers rose and fell, in a combination of soul. It was a mathematics and memory that felt light and bird-like, and at the same time imbued with deep feeling. Neither the horn nor Charles needed to be warmed up, it seemed; it was the audience that had to prepare itself for an unpredictable and magical evening. On the keys, Cuban-born Tosca evoked a groove that Monk himself would have been proud of. Were we in Milford or New Orleans? All that was missing were intertwined green and purple beads and beignets. The congas, meanwhile, framed Charles, and nearby, bass thumped. Hall drew on a sublime hip-hop inflection, taking the melody into another realm on the bass. Hailing from Jamaica, he played as if he had been in the night clubs of yesteryear, at the pique of the burgeoning jazz movement. In each complex thump and thrum was a unique style, through which Hall somehow fused past and present. While Vergara appeared to be the youngest of the group, he proved himself an old soul, wails rising from his saxophone that were as seasoned as the instrument’s oxidized brass appearance. As the night went on, feet a-tapping in the audience, Vergara added plenty of flavor to the mix. It is one thing to hear a professional trumpeter perform, but Saturday at Stonebridge,

the nuances of movement and facial expressions invited the audience into the soul of an artist. Picture Charles’ horn blaring, the band emerging as the sound simmered. Imagine a grimace that was not about disappointment, but a groove so deep it could not be denied. Watch, in your mind’s eye, as the instruments surrounded him, and the sound boiled over past the brim. It was a gift to the ears and souls of listeners. Bop-bop-booms punctuated heavily and cymbals clanged a misty clang through the crowd. On the drums, Richburg made sure that each stroke of each drum claimed its place in time and memory, that the auditory and visual senses were equally engaged. Seven songs spread across Milford evening sky. Had a new neighbor decided to lease a home near Stonebridge, the decision to buy would be a solid yes. A total of seven songs would have converted anyone to move to Milford—to, in Miglio’s words, “just get there”—and perhaps volunteer to wait tables at Stonebridge, if it meant getting closer to this sound. Covering Aldwyn Roberts’ Calypso tune “Love In The Cemetery," Charles crooned of romantic evening, during which the singer is invited by a ghost to stay a while in the space. As he reached the hook, Charles invited attendees to sing along. Run! he sang succinctly, coaching the audience, and it became a call and response. Run! Around the chorus, Charles was the ultimate storyteller. His Trinidadian roots and ear for storytelling set him apart as a stellar musician and orator. There was, throughout the set, also a deep and affecting respect for many cultures.

Expanding on the work of Charles’ album “Gulluh Roots,” Hall grounded the track with a methodical plucking as Charles gusted with confidence. There was sheet music on the stage, but no one was looking at it. Was it even necessary? Each note, though studied, seemed to come from deep within. At one point, it became clear that this—an intergenerational sound, and the learning that accompanied it— was the point of the festival, or at least part of the point. A toddler stood before Charles transfixed, taking in all of his lime green bespectacled genius. No smile. No words. Then, a movement. First a leg. Then a rock in unison with the night’s tempo. It all came together as a cosmic blend. Was it Alex Wintz’s silky guitar riffs? Was the Charles enchanting tapping of the cajon? No. It was all of it, all at once Stonebridge restaurant was full of jazz enthusiasts. They dined on good food but were hungry for all that Charles and Creole Soul were offering musically. “Milford, CT How are you feeling tonight?” Charles had offered at the beginning of his set. Under the warm night sky and roof of Stonebridge restaurant, he had the answer. Everyone was full, from their bellies to their souls. It was the full serving of the MAC. 0For more about the MAC's inaugural Jazz'n Downtown Festival, check out a special episode of "Arts Respond" with MAC Executive Director Paige Miglio and Marketing & Communications Specialist Raheem Nelson below.

Asked whether the Board of Alders has a role in passing legislation to accomplish some of the goals outlined in the letter, Hogan responded that that question is actively “under discussion.” He said that the Education Committee is currently researching the legal basis and environmental groundwork for the body to regulate conditions in all city buildings, including school buildings — for example, a possible maximum interior temperature. “I don’t see that happening in 2026, but I definitely see us taking some angles in 2027,” Hogan said. In response to the letter’s publication on Friday afternoon, Superintendent Madeline Negrón wrote in a statement, “We all agree that New Haven’s students and staff deserve school facilities that fully support the work of teaching and learning.” “Those who attended the Alders Education Committee’s September 29 workshop or who view the posted video,” she wrote, “will understand that we have reported extensively about the challenges we face with our school facilities and about the steps we are taking to establish in-house expertise to help frame our plan to address them. We also reported that we require substantial operating and capital resources to ensure the proper maintenance and repairs of these facilities.” Negrón promised to “review the Education Committee’s new recommendations thoroughly and consult with the Board of Education about the best course of action,” adding, “We must all accept our collective responsibility to address the result of decades of underfunding of our school facilities.” Meanwhile, city spokesperson Lenny Speiller re-issued a previous statement from Mayor Justin Elicker on school facilities. “There is widespread agreement that our students and educators should have safe, healthy, high-quality school buildings and classroom environments that support teaching and learning and help our school communities thrive,” the mayor wrote. “There is also widespread agreement that our schools have been underfunded for decades and that underinvestment has created real challenges in New Haven Public Schools’ ability to maintain our aging school facilities and it’s resulted in unacceptable conditions in many of our schools.” “While our school buildings are regularly inspected to ensure they meet code-required life-safety requirements, that’s a minimum standard — and that’s not what we want to provide our students and teachers,” wrote Elicker. Elicker described a need for more staffing and resources to adequately address the volume of maintenance concerns. While he cited improvements to the Wilbur Cross High School Athletic Complex and the Floyd Little Athletic Complex at Hillhouse High School, he wrote, “there is a lot more work to do and it’s going to require all of us working together to make that happen.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - Octber 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

Unions To Yale: “We’ll Turn This Campus Upside Down” by Laura Glesby

The New Haven independent

Local 35 President Bob Proto looked out at a sea of people who cook, clean, research, schedule, and teach at Yale University — a crowd that filled the entirety of Beinecke Plaza on Wednesday evening. He asked a rhetorical question to university leaders: “Is this what you want this campus to look like?” At a protest that drew over 1,500 Yale union members and allies, Proto and other labor leaders alluded again and again to the possibility that workers in every corner of the university could go on strike. “We’ve had labor peace for a long time,” Proto said. Yale unions last went on strike in 2003. If negotiations don’t go well, promised Proto, “We’ll turn this campus upside down.” The activists made clear that if one of the three UNITE HERE unions at Yale goes on strike, the other two will join in solidarity. “We are getting ready for whatever happens in any of these contracts,” said Local 33 President Adam Waters. “This is our Yale today, because our work makes Yale work,” declared Local 34 Chief Steward Barbara Vereen. The protest unfolded on Wednesday as the current five-year contracts covering Local 34 (Yale’s clerical and technical workers) and Local 35 (Yale’s maintenance and service workers) near their expiration date. Both unions’ contracts are slated to end on Jan. 17, 2027, and negotiations for new contracts have been ongoing for over a year. Protesters also called for the university to negotiate a contract with postdocs, who overwhelmingly voted to unionize in May and who are now represented alongside graduate students by Local 33. And they called on Yale to raise wages for undergraduate student jobs. The protesters first gathered on College Street between Chapel and Elm, marching outside Yale’s Old Campus. “What do we want? A contract! When do we want it? Now!” they chanted. “If we don’t get it, shut it down!” The crowd eventually marched up College Street, through the Schwarzman Center building, and into Beinecke Plaza. At Beinecke Plaza, the union organizers had set up a stage, technicolor lights, and a DJ. Union members and leaders spoke above a banner that directly addressed Yale President Maurie McInnis with the plea, “Maurie: Don’t give up on labor peace!” In between speakers, the rally morphed

Over 1,500 people filled Beinecke Plaza in support of Yale unions' contract negotiations. Credit: Laura Glesby Photo Posted inLabor

Yale Custodial Team Leader Victoria Martin has lived through three Yale strikes.

into a massive dance party. The union members called for higher wages. They called for protections against job displacement from artificial intelligence. And they called out the university for entering active settlement talks with the Trump administration. Senior Administrative Assistant Carolyn Kryptopolus told the crowd, “Many people in my department have left and have not been replaced.” Meanwhile, she said, “Management was telling me to do things with AI

A host of politicians including Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, a number of incumbent and incoming state representatives, Mayor Justin Elicker, and a slew of alders joined the protest, starting on College Street.

that we used to do with three people. And let me tell you a secret… Clarity [Yale’s proprietary AI software] failed at completing these tasks repeatedly.” Artificial intelligence “doesn’t know our people, because it’s not a person,” said Kryptopolus. “Instead of adding capacity,” she argued, “it’s leaving us short-staffed with more work to do.” A Yale spokesperson wrote in a statement that, “Because AI is transforming many parts of the professional workforce and jobs nationwide, we

have observed a strong interest in hands-on workshops and other training opportunities. AI training is not required across Yale units.” The spokesperson wrote, “The contributions of Yale’s staff are essential to the university’s mission, and AI is intended to support their expertise, judgment, and service to the community, not replace them.” A common thread among the rally’s speakers was the escalating cost of living in the United States. As of 2026, hourly minimum wages

for Local 34 members range from $22.58 to $35.64, and hourly wages for Local 35 members range from $26.67 to $49.77 (excluding new hires). “As a single mother I live paycheck to paycheck,” said dining hall worker Ta’Kerra Williams. “I am constantly faced with the difficult decision of prioritizing which bills are most urgent and need to be paid first. Rent, gas, food, and childcare are all significant expenses.” Sixteen-year-old Brian Faulks spoke about his mom, a custodian at the Peabody Museum who wants to secure more regular hours. “Some weeks they keep her late,” he said, “and I watch her come home exhausted, checking the bills and wondering if we’re going to make it to the next paycheck, trying to make money stretch.” “That makes me mad,” said Faulks, “because she’s out there breaking her body every single day so we can have a roof and food and the people who benefit from her work don’t even give her enough to live on without stress. It makes me mad that I have to look at the strongest person I know look defeated over a light bill.” Among the crowd of attendees was West River resident Lena Cummings, who has worked in food service at Yale for 29 years. Cummings echoed that “the cost of living keeps rising.” “You keep spending money on all this, buying all these properties,” Cummings said about Yale. She argued that instead of expanding its footprint — and, in many cases, reducing the amount of taxable property in New Haven — Yale should prioritize budgeting for higher wages. Priscilla Stancil has worked in Yale dining halls for 24 years. “I feed the kids,” said Stancil. “I’m gonna be 61 in a couple months,” she said. Her job entails standing all day; at the protest, her legs were tired. “I don’t want to work ‘til I’m 70,” said Stancil. Custodial Team Leader Victoria Martin said she has worked at Yale for “30 years — three strikes.” “To see them try to take back what we fought for…” Martin said. “They have a billion dollars,” she said — specifically, a $2.09 billion operating budget and more than $44 billion in endowment funds — “and they’re trying to hit the little people.” After sunset, before the protesters dispersed, they erupted out into one more chant: “We’ll be back… We’ll be back!”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - Octber 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

Community Baby Shower Slated For Saturday by Laura Glesby

itate towards being able to do the things that they were scared of,” said Frasier. The environment, she said, “gives them the courage to ask the questions, gives them the courage to know that they have rights and how much their rights matter over their body, over their choices, over their future baby’s choices.” Pregnancy and parenthood are tender experiences, said Knox. “Not a lot of people know how to handle people during that vulnerable season. And in this space, people come there, and they learn,” she said.

The New Haven independent

A group of local doulas wants to invite you to your baby shower. Whether or not you’ve had a shower before. Whether or not you could afford one. Whether you’re expecting a new baby or already raising one post-partum. Whether you have a strong support system or you feel like you’re on your own. The baby shower will take place this upcoming Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Dixwell Q House. You can come anytime from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There, you’ll find a party: a DJ, a dance floor, catered food, a big wicker chair for cute photos. You’ll also find free diapers, on-site lactation support and prenatal massages, a community clothing swap, and a whole array of other healthcare, financial and parenting resources — open to anyone who wants or needs that help. If this year’s fifth annual New Haven Community Baby Shower is anything like the previous four iterations, you’ll find a community of other new and expecting families. In past years, some attendees came with their families, wearing baby shower sashes, according to co-organizer Shannon Knox; some said they wouldn’t have been able to afford a shower of their own. “We have a lot of parents that come straight from the hospital” — including plenty of new dads — looking to stock up on supplies for their newborn, said co-organizer Shamica Frasier. Some people come even though they aren’t parents — they’re just curious, or have questions about other health stages like menopause, or simply want to show support. They’re welcome, too. The organizers — Shamica Frasier, Jessica Mullins, Lucinda Canty, Shannon Knox, and Brittany Needham — are all

“They see firsthand how we tend to pregnant people, to expecting families. And I really appreciate that about the space,” said Knox. “It brings that culture out and reminds people: Take care of the pregnant people around you.”

Three of the organizing doulas: Jessica Mullins, Shamica Frasier, and Shannon Knox. Credit: Laura Glesby Photo Posted inHealth

doulas who have dedicated their lives to supporting people through pregnancy and birth. They are also all Black mothers who know what it’s like to seek out maternal healthcare in a country where Black women are nearly twice as likely as white women to die from pregnancy, in a state in which babies born to Black mothers are four times more likely to die as infants. The community baby shower, said Mullings, models an alternative to a “white-picket-fence approach to healthcare needs.” Supports that are not always institutionalized as essential maternal health resources, such as lactation consultants and doulas, are accessible on the

spot. Financial and material support is included alongside medical infrastructure, and attendees don’t need to prove that they are eligible to receive free supplies or clothes. The shower will feature many Black healthcare providers, who are profoundly underrepresented in many maternal health fields. For the organizers, the work is personal. “I was one who needed resources,” said Fraiser, who was a teenager when she had her first baby, a new single mom in need of housing. “I needed the free move. I needed the diapers. I needed the stamps. I needed support.” She remembered feeling guilt while asking for help, wondering if she needed the resources as much

as someone else. Mullins recalled “that stigma of walking into a statewide or citywide office and you see people and they’re filling out papers and it’s very sterile.” Of course, plenty of new and expecting parents receive support that doesn’t come with the same stigma: advice, hand-medowns, and gifts from family and friends with resources to spare. The Community Baby Shower is a means of replicating that spirit of community support in a way that is accessible to everyone. It’s also a celebration of the act of asking for help and receiving it as a parent. At the baby shower, “People really grav-

The Baby Shower will feature a range of other maternal healthcare providers and advocates; an array of support enrolling in benefits, peer support, and case management; and a variety of early childhood and education resources. Vendors are slated to include Golden Radiance Village, Lucinda’s House, Mom & Me lactation coaching, Fair Haven Community Health Care, Enrich Health, Chi Chapter Inc., All of Us Research Program, the Before and After Baby Lab, EmpowerEdD Health and Education Collective, CT Paid Leave, HUSKY, transitional housing from the Connection, United Way Parent Ambassadors, Nurturing Families, massages by Holistic Remedies LLC, Head Start early childhood education, Read to Grow literacy support, the Sankofa Learning Center, Sparkler, the New Haven Police Activities League, photography by RME Media, and music by DJ R-nice.

Social Worker, Realtor Runs For Edgewood Alder by Laura Glesby

Every Monday at 4 p.m., Jennifer Tillman bears witness to the city’s hunger. For the last decade, she’s worked to help ease the pangs of poverty as a volunteer at Varick Church’s weekly food pantry, where as many as 40 people line up for a hot meal and a bag of groceries. She hopes to bring her passion for connecting people to the resources they need to the Board of Alders. Tillman is running in a special election to represent Edgewood’s Ward 24 on the Board of Alders, seeking to fill a seat recently vacated by Evette Hamilton. Voters in the ward will be able to choose between her, Randall Furlow, and Lindsey Tengatenga (a.k.a. Lindsey Eichler) in an election taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 10. All three are Democrats. Tillman, a lifelong New Havener, has lived in the Edgewood neighborhood for 23

years. She described herself during an interview on Monday as a steward of an “informal block watch” on her stretch of Maple Street, someone who keeps neighbors informed about package thefts and snow removal protocols. Over time, she’s witnessed the neighborhood evolve. On Whalley Avenue, “We lost a bank. We lost the pharmacy,” she said. She said she wants to see more community staples returning and thriving in Ward 24. Her top priorities for the alder role center around constituent services: advocating for more lighting in the neighborhood and more infrastructure to slow down speeding cars. “Some people feel overlooked when their sidewalks aren’t done,” she said. In general, she wants to be an alder who devotes energy to connecting her neighbors to a host of different resources — “letting people know what services are available,” from energy bill assistance to housing needs. She also envisions organizing

Jennifer Tillman, outside Varick Church: "I will be listening, responsive." Credit: Laura Glesby Photo

community clean-ups and strengthening a neighborhood culture of civic engagement. As a realtor, an experienced social worker, and a regular church volunteer, Tillman has spent much of her life helping others navigate complex systems to access support. Tillman currently works as a realtor with Diamond Realty Partners, a role in which she said she often works with first-time homebuyers. She offers free classes on navigating the home-buying process and often connects clients to applicable homeownership-support programs. She also worked for the state of Connecticut for three decades as a psychiatric social worker, working one-on-one with people in severe mental health crisis. She said she cherishes the success stories that she hears from former clients who have since found housing — “just getting people housed is major,” she said. Drawing from her social work experience, Tillman said she would approach the alder

role with a focus on hearing out her constituents. She pledged to “listen to people when they’re sharing their gripes… I will be listening, responsive.” And as an active volunteer at Varick, she volunteers weekly to keep the food pantry in operation. She lets clients into the historic Dixwell Avenue church, a few at a time, to select the produce, pantry, and hot meal items of their choosing. She also helps with the church’s bookbag and clothing drives. She is a missionary, she said, who always asks for permission before praying for others going through a hard time. “You never inflict your values on people without their consent,” she said. “The universal law is love.” “I am not a pop-up person,” said Tillman. Regardless of whether she wins the alder election, she said, she plans to remain involved and connected to the ward. “My heart is really in this. My compassion. My transparency. My faith.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

Heating Help Announced As Prices Rise, Election Nears by Thomas Breen

The New Haven independent

Gov. Ned Lamont announced on Tuesday that the state plans to kick in an extra $12.7 million on top of roughly $90 million from the feds to help low-income Connecticut residents fill up their heating oil tanks this winter. Do state lawmakers expect to ask the governor to allocate millions of dollars more on this front, given that home heating oil prices have increased by 80 percent since last year? “Yes,” State Appropriations Committee Co-Chair and Sprague State Sen. Cathy Osten replied. But, first, “we have to have the facts” before asking for an exact dollar amount above what’s now been proposed. That more-aid-but-is-it-enough question was at the center of a Tuesday afternoon press conference held in a fourthfloor office at the Community Action Agency of New Haven’s headquarters at 419 Whalley Ave. Gov. Ned Lamont convened the presser to announce that he has asked state legislative leaders to pull $12.7 million from Connecticut’s Federal Cuts Response Fund to supplement federal aid for home heating oil assistance this winter. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro also announced at Tuesday’s presser that the federal Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has newly released $75.3 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to Connecticut. That federal LIHEAP aid will likely increase to at least $94 million — the same amount that Connecticut received for this program last year — when the U.S. Senate settles on a final dollar number later this year. Speakers at Tuesday’s presser said that the $12 million in state funding that Lamont has newly proposed will be spent only after Connecticut goes through the entirety of its $90 million-plus federal allocation for this program. Providing low-income Connecticut residents with home heating assistance is “one of the most critical services our agencies provide,” Community Action Agency of New Haven President and CEO Amos Smith said. “The cost of keeping a home warm is becoming increasingly unaffordable” for low-income state residents, he continued, with the average price of home heating oil going up from around $3.25 per gallon in August 2025 to around $5.88 per gallon now. “It’s going to be harder for people to stretch that dollar,” DeLauro said. “This is how people stay warm,” state Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Andrea Barton-Reeves added about the importance the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which is funded through LIHEAP and which begins providing state-funded fuel deliveries in November. Barton-Reeves said that 94,291 Connecticut households are eligible to benefit from LIHEAP aid. DeLauro said that LIHEAP provides an average home-heat-

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, with WSHU's Ebong Udoma: "Let's put home heating oil on the ballot this November." Credit: Thomas Breen photos Posted inState

ing-oil benefit worth between $355 and $705, allowing eligible applicants to fill their heating oil tanks during the winter. During the question-and-answer portion of Tuesday’s presser, CT Mirror’s Mark Pazniokas, WSHU’s Ebong Udoma, and WTNH’s Mike Cerulli pressed the elected officials on how this combination of federal and state aid will stack up against the actual rising costs of home heating oil, especially given that those costs have shot up by around 80 percent. “We watch the spending [and] enrollment [in this program] every week,” Barton-Reeves said. If and when the state runs through this $90 million-plus in federal aid and $12 million in state aid, then the state’s executive and legislative branches will work together to figure out how much more to allocate towards home heating aid. “We’re really dealing with very unpredictable circumstances,” she continued, especially with the Trump administration’s ongoing war in Iran — and the resulting inflationary impact on energy prices.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, with Gov. Ned Lamont: “We need to work together at a time that we are at the whims of a vindictive [federal] government.”

“The governor will no doubt be asked to provide additional funding” on this front, Blumenthal said. Tuesday’s press conference took place roughly two months after Lamont, Barton-Reeves, and a host of other state and local leaders gathered at this same Whalley building to announce a multi-million-dollar state boost for Connecticut residents kicked off of food stamps be-

State Sen Cathy Osten (right), with State Sen. Matt Lesser: “Let’s keep our oil here. Let’s heat our own people.”

cause of new federal work requirements. It also comes as the state is bracing for what Lamont described on Tuesday as an estimated $1 billion impact by new Medicaid work requirements and a resulting loss of health insurance coverage for low-income Connecticut residents. Which in turn led elected official after elected official at Tuesday’s presser — all Democrats — to urge voters to help Democrats regain control of Congress after November’s midterm elections. “Let’s put home heating oil on the ballot this November,” Blumenthal said, framing the assistance as a “moral obligation” that Democrats will stay united behind. “Everybody needs to show up to the polls,” said New Haven State Rep. and Appropriations Committee Co-Chair Toni Walker. “Hopefully, Washington is going to come back to the right place” after this year’s elections. “I hate playing defense,” added Lamont, about the state always having to respond to funding cuts and erratic policy directions from the Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress. Having DeLauro back as the chair of the Appropriations Committee, he said, should go a long way towards ensuring that low-income Connecticut residents get the aid they need. Meanwhile, in a Tuesday afternoon campaign press release sent out in advance of Lamont’s presser, Greenwich State Sen. and Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Fazio threw doubt on whether or not the state will actually follow through on spending allocated home-heating aid. “The real question is whether working families will actually see a dime,” Fazio is quoted as saying in that press release. “In 2023, Connecticut allocated $30 million in state heating assistance, and his administration failed to distribute. Why should families believe this time will be any different?” Asked by Cerulli on Tuesday about this statement, Lamont replied that this is the first time a Republican has criticized a Democrat for not spending enough government funds. That said, Lamont continued, roughly a third of Connecticut residents heat their homes with heating oil. Given the 80 percent increase in prices, he urged eligible residents to apply now so that they can fill up their tanks soon with the help of this federal-and-state assistance. He also noted that the state’s Federal Cuts Response Fund, which started out with $500 million, now has around $250 million left. He said he should have a better sense in the coming months as to just how big of a gap the state will need to fill because of coming Medicaid-eligibility-related cuts. “I cannot make up all of the Trump cuts,” he said. Thus the importance of Democrats taking back the majority in Congress and DeLauro regaining the gavel of Appropriations, which should both increase and make more predictable the amount of financial assistance Connecticut receives from Washington.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - Octber 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

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Meet NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins, who just became the first Black woman to lead a crew to orbit by Dollita Okine, Face2FaceAfrica.com

Jessica Watkins continues to break barriers in space exploration after adding a second mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission. Watkins, a geologist who worked with NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity a decade ago, has made her second trip to the space station after a long stay in 2022. The mission launched on October 1, 2026, at 11:10 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral, Florida. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the Dragon spacecraft with Watkins, Luke Delaney from NASA, Joshua Kutryk from the Canadian Space Agency, and Sergey Teteryatnikov from Roscosmos. SpaceX launched commander Watkins and her crew for NASA after a threeweek delay to fix their Dragon capsule’s

leaking fuel system. The astronauts arrived at the ISS seven hours and 55 minutes later, making it the fastest trip by a U.S. spacecraft. They will replace the SpaceX Crew-12 team, which was scheduled to return Wednesday, October 7.

“Thanks for an amazing ride,” Watkins radioed after liftoff. This was SpaceX’s 13th crew launch for NASA, excluding the 2020 test flight. The Crew-13 patch honors Apollo 13, a U.S. lunar spacecraft that suffered a severe malfunction on its journey to the moon and safely returned to Earth on April 17, 1970. Watkins and her crew arrived at the launch pad in black Teslas with “Lucky 13” plates and brought a small crocheted golden dragon named Lucky, wearing a four-leaf clover.

“We are so excited to be here. This is truly a special place,” Watkins said on the NASA livestream. “It’s amazing and kind of ironic to think that it’s such a short trip to get here because the journey to get here has been long.” Watkins and her team will perform science experiments and do maintenance on the station, as stated by NASA. This trip makes Watkins the first Black woman to lead a crew to orbit. She also made history in 2022 as the first Black woman to participate in an extended mission to the ISS and join its crew.

astronaut Jessica Watkins

“We figured it wouldn’t hurt to bring a little of our own luck just in case, but clearly we don’t need it,” Watkins said from orbit, noting they were “four of the luckiest humans on or off planet Earth”.

“Crew-13 is another demonstration of America’s unmatched capability in human spaceflight and the strength of our commercial partnerships,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a release. “Jessica, Luke, Joshua, and Sergey will carry forward important work aboard the International Space Station while helping us build the experience and capabilities needed for ambitious missions to the Moon and beyond.” Watkins became a NASA astronaut in 2017 after earning her doctorate in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and starting her career as an intern at NASA. Her groundbreaking journey began in 2022 when she flew on the SpaceX Dragon with fellow astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Robert Hines, and Samantha Cristoforetti, completing a 15-hour mission to the ISS.

Navi Pillay, former ICC judge wins 2026 Nobel Peace Prize by Prosper Kuzo, Face2FaceAfrica.com

Former ICC judge Navi Pillay, who oversaw a UN report that decided that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, has been crowned the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday “for her efforts to promote peace and international law”. The committee stated in its citation that this year’s Nobel Peace Prize highlighted the importance of maintaining an organised international order. “The system of international law is under tremendous pressure, and its institutions are under attack,” it said. “We see a shift towards power politics at the expense of legal frameworks and global respect for law and justice. Whenever might overtakes right, it undermines stability, trust and peaceful co-existence.” 85-year-old Pillar was born in Durban, in South Africa’s Natal province, in a ⁠family of Indian Tamil origin and has been a judge on multiple international courts, including the International Criminal Court and the International Criminal

Tribunal for Rwanda. Also, she was chair of the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory that concluded last year that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. However, Israel played down the arguments of the report, labeling it “scandalous”. Another crucial bit of Navi Pillay’s career saw her serve as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. In 1967, Pillay became the first woman to establish a law practice in Natal and the first nonwhite woman to serve on South Africa’s High Court. Pillay held state and national leaders accountable, brought hope to victims of violence and conflict, and demonstrated a strong moral compass throughout her career, the committee said. “A common thread runs from her early work defending Nelson Mandela and others who stood up against apartheid to her service as a judge in some of the key international court cases of our time,” the committee said in its citation. The International Criminal Court (ICC), based in The Hague, has been the target of an escalating campaign by U.S. President Donald Trump, who last month urged

countries to withdraw from the court. Washington has already imposed targeted sanctions on several ICC prosecutors and judges and, according to sources, is considering broader sanctions in retaliation for the court’s actions against Israeli leaders. The committee was not directly criticizing Trump by awarding Pillay the prize, said Haakon Gjerloew, acting director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo. “I think it’s generally rather a promotion of an international legal world order. Of course, he might react to someone who has been part of the ICC, but it’s not a direct attack on Trump,” Gjerloew said. The peace prize was the fifth Nobel award announced that week, following the prizes for literature, chemistry, physics and medicine. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado won the peace prize in 2025. This award reportedly worth 12 million Swedish kronor (about $1.2 million), is scheduled to be presented in Oslo on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, who established the awards in his 1895 will.

Former ICC judge Navi Pillay Photo Credit: WIKI

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - Octber 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

Chief Examiner: The Town of East Haven is currently seek-

The Housing Authority City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities

ing qualified applicants to participate in the Civil Service Examination for the position of Chief Examiner. This position, under the general direction of the Civil Service Commission, administers the Town's Civil Service examinations and oversees all aspects of the competitive hiring process for the town. Coordinates recruitment, application review, examination administration, eligibility lists, certification of candidates, Commission support, records management, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and Town policies. Graduation from high school or equivalent required. Associate's degree preferred. Five (5) years of progressively responsible administrative experience, preferably in Human Resources, Civil Service, municipal government, or a closely related field; or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Salary range 33,546.16 - $38,836.20, 19.5 hours per week. This job is not eligible for medical benefits or pension. Applications to participate in the examination are available online at https:// www.easthaven-ct.gov/jobs.aspx or the Civil Service Office, 250 Main Street, East Haven CT and must be returned by October 23, 2026. The Town of East Haven is committed to building a workforce of diverse individuals. Minorities, Females, Handicapped and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Request for Qualifications

Architectural Engineering Services for West Rock Community Center Redevelopment The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities acting through its instrumentality, The Glendower Group, Inc. Is soliciting request for qualifications (“RFQ”) for a selection of a qualified and experienced A & E Firm for the redevelopment of the West Rock Community Center Located at 295 Wilmot Road. For the detailed RFQ- please register with New Haven Housing Authority Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Thursday, September 16, 2026, at 3:00PM.

Listing: Night Dispatcher This is a full-time dispatching position for nights (which includes on call and weekend coverage). At least one year of dispatching experience is required. We are looking for someone who is detail-oriented and is comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Wage Range $25.00 - $36.00/hr. Benefits include Competitive Hourly Wage, Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans, Vacation & Sick Time, Paid Holidays, Retirement Plan 401(k), Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance Options. Send resume to: HR Manager, P.O. Box 388, Guilford, CT. 06437. Email: HRDEPT@ eastriverenergy.com *An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disabled and Veterans*

The Housing Authority of the City of Bristol Request for Proposals (RFP) Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Services

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Fiscal/Administrative Supervisor in the Office of Administration. Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/ sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1=26100 6&R2=0083AR&R3=001 The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

360 Management Group Invitation for Bids Pest Extermination Services 360 Management Group is currently seeking bids from qualified contractors to perform Pest Extermination Services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Thursday, October 5, 2026, at 3:00PM.

The Housing Authority City of Bristol (BHA) is seeking proposals for HVAC services from qualified contractors for work at multiple locations throughout the Agency.

360 Management Group

A copy of the RFP documents can be obtained at www.bristolhousing.org or by contacting Luis Velazquez, Director of Capital Fund at 860-585-2028 or lvelazquez@bristolhousing.org beginning October 14, 2026. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on October 21, 2026, at 10:00 AM starting at 164 Jerome Avenue, Bristol, CT.

Invitation for Bids Legal Services

All proposals should be clearly marked “RFP #26-199 – HVAC Contractor Services” and submitted to Mitzy Rowe, CEO, Housing Authority City of Bristol, 164 Jerome Ave., Bristol, CT 06010. Proposals are due no later than 2:00 PM on November 5, 2026, at the office of BHA in a sealed envelope with one (1) original and one (1) copy, each clearly identified.

360 Management Group is currently seeking bids from qualified contractors to perform Legal Services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

The Housing Authority of the City of Bristol is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. SBE, MBE, W/DBE, and Section 3 businesses are encouraged to respond.

Shop Welder/Fabricator: Large CT Fence & Guard-

rail Contractor is looking for shop welder/fabricators. Individual will be required to weld, cut and fabricate steel and aluminum products. Must be able to read basic drawings and fill out daily reports. All necessary equipment provided. Required to pass a physical and drug test. A valid CT driver's license, OSHA 10 card and DOT Medical Card also required. Medical, holiday, vacation & other benefits included. Starting pay based on experience level. We are an AA/EOE company. Send resumes/inquiries to: pboucher@atlasoutdoor.com.

Thursday, October 5, 2026, at 3:00PM.

POLICE OFFICER ENTRY LEVEL City of Bristol $78,813/yr. Required testing, general info, and apply online: www.bristolct.gov DEADLINE: 12-07-25 EOE

LaRosa Building Group LLC General Contractor has immediate opens for the following positions:

• Construction Project Manager • Construction Superintendent • Assistant Project Manager/Project Engineer Please apply on Indeed, LAROSABG.COM or email resumes to SEDMONDS@GOLAROSA.COM

“LaRosa Building Group is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer who values diversity and encourages all qualified applicants to apply.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - Octber 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

RFP –Pest Control

360 Management

NBHA has determined that it will control pests using integrated pest management consistent with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’sGuidance on Integrated Pest Management (IPM). See Exhibit 2 for the Guidance. The Guidance identifies ten elements of an effective IPM program.

Invitation for Bids

SCOPE OF WORK

Snow Removal Services 360M 360 Management is currently seeking bids from qualified contractors for Snow Removal Services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

NBHA seeks a Contractor who will provide pest control services as described in Exhibit 3 for each of the ten elements except where contractor specifically identifies situations where it must follow alternative guidelines. Contractor must provide services in a manner that demonstrates sensitivity to the fact thatNBHA properties are primarily residential in nature and puts the needs of the residents and staff as the foremost priority

August 31, 2026, at 3:00PM.

RFP –Waste management

Scope of Services:

LEGAL NOTICE

The Contractor shall be required to collect, transport and dispose of all Acceptable Solid Waste from every housing development/property currently managed by the Housing Authority of New Britain (See Appendix “B”) which has been placed in acceptable containers. The material shall be transported to the Bristol Waste to Energy Facility. The Contractor will be responsible for disposal costs. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing and assuming all costs for labor, equipment, materials and all else whatsoever required to deliver such service.

Request for Proposals (RFP) for Services The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management, is seeking proposals to provide certain services related to a DOC & DESPP Staffing Study. The intent of the request is to identify individuals or firms with the necessary expertise to provide administration of the DOC & DESPP Staffing Study within a stated timeframe.

Listing: HVAC Apprentice Level 1

The RFP is available online at: https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/ CTSource/BidBoard and https://portal.ct.gov/OPM/Root/RFP/ Request-For-Proposals or from André Simons, Office of Policy and Management, Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division, 450 Capitol Ave., MS#52CJP, Hartford, Connecticut 06106-1379. E-mail: Andre.Simons@ct.gov. Telephone (860) 418-6287. Deadline for response submission is 5:00 P.M., October 27, 2026.

Opening for a full time HVAC Apprentice Level 1. Candidate must possess a technical school certificate in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, oil, propane and natural gas. Must be detail oriented and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Send resume to: HR Manager, P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437 or emailHRDept@eastriverenergy.com

Metering Supervisor

**An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled and Veterans**

The Housing Authority of the city of Norwalk is requesting proposals from qualified firms for LEGAL SERVICES-CORPORATE GOVERNANCE. To obtain a complete copy of the Request for Proposal documents, contact Guillermo Bendana, Procurement Specialist at gbenda@norwalkha.org. Proposals are due at 2:00 PM, EST. on 11/02/2026. Norwalk Housing Authority is an equal opportunity employer. Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director.

The Town of Wallingford is accepting applications for Metering Supervisor. Wages: $118,083.00 to $147,603.00 annually. For additional information and to apply online by the October 8, 2026 closing date, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

System Operator/Dispatcher

The Housing Authority of the city of Norwalk is requesting proposals from qualified firms for LEGAL SERVICES-LANDLORD/TENANT & HUD/ STATE REGULATIONS. To obtain a complete copy of the Request for Proposal documents, contact Guillermo Bendana, Procurement Specialist at gbenda@norwalkha.org. Proposals are due at 2:00 PM, EST. on 11/02/2026. Norwalk Housing Authority is an equal opportunity employer. Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director.

The Town of Wallingford is accepting applications for System Operator/Dispatcher. Wages: $45.58 to $53.32 hourly. For additional information and to apply online by the October 26, 2026 closing date, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE Galasso Materials LLC, a quarry and paving contractor, has positions open for the upcoming construction season. We are seeking candidates for a variety of positions, including: Scalehouse Dispatcher/ Equipment Operators and Laborers. NO PHONE CALLS. Please mail resume and cover letter to “Hiring Manager”, Galasso Materials LLC, PO Box 1776, East Granby CT 06026. Galasso Materials is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race,

Exp. Welder call Jill 860-274-9668 19

color, religion, sex, orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

NOW ACCEPTING PRE-APPLICATIONS FOR JUDD HOMESTEAD AT RUSSO ESTATES Affordable Rental Housing –ONE, TWO AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS, located at 980 High Street, Fairfield CT

LaRosa Building Group LLC

PreliminaryApplications will be accepted beginning on 09/28/2026 AND ENDS with a postmark date of 10/26/2026. Pre-Applications received after the end date as postmarked will be automatically rejected. Pre-Applications are to be mailed only to Owner’s offices located at 15 Pine Tree Lane, Fairfield, CT 06825.

Please apply on Indeed, LAROSABG.COM or email resumes to SEDMONDS@GOLAROSA.COM

Owner: Judd Russo Limited Partnership Applicants will need to meet the income requirements based on family size for 80% of Area Median Income, or less. Preliminary Applications will be received by mail only during the period noted above and placement on the wait list will be made through the random selection method, once the period has ended. The maximum number of pre-applications to be placed on the wait list is one hundred twenty-five (125). Pre-Applications will not be accepted by handdelivery, facsimile, email or any other electronic transmission. Four Person family – 30% AMI Max limit $42,180 2 Bedroom 30% unit monthly rent - $609* Four Person family – 50% AMI Max limit $70,300 2 Bedroom 50% unit monthly rent - $1063*

General Contractor has immediate opens for the following positions: • • •

Construction Project Manager Construction Superintendent Assistant Project Manager/Project Engineer

“LaRosa Building Group is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer who values diversity and encourages all qualified applicants to apply.”

The Guilford Housing Authority

is currently accepting applications for single-person and two-person households for apartment waitlists at Sachem Hollow, Guilford Court and Boston Terrace in Guilford, CT. Applicants must be age 62 and over or on 100% social security or federal disability and minimum 18 years of age. Applications may be obtained by calling 203-453-6262 Option 4 or emailing Waitlist@GuilfordHA.org. Applications will be accepted from 9/28/26 until 11/6/26 at 4 pm. Credit, police, landlord checks are procured by the Authority. Smoking is prohibited in units. Equal Opportunity Housing.

COLLECTIONS MAINTAINER 1 (TRAINEE)

Four Person family – 60% AMI Max limit $84,360 2 Bedroom 50% unit monthly rent - $1323* Four Person family – 80% AMI Max limit $112,480 2 Bedroom 50% unit monthly rent - $1561* *subject to change

Pre-Applications will be provided to any & all interested persons. Individuals or families may pick up a hard copy of the pre-application at the Owner’s offices located at 15 Pine Tree Lane, Fairfield, CT or online at https://www.fairfieldhc.org/ You may request a pre- application be mailed to you by contacting us at 203-366-6578. For Additional Information Contact Carol Martin or Carol Antrum: Phone: (203)366-6578 TRS/TDD: (800) 842-9710

The Town of Wallingford is accepting applications for Collections Maintainer I (Trainee). Wages: $27.85 to $30.59 hourly. For additional information and to apply online by October 9, 2026 closing date please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

UNION CONTRACTOR SEEKS: Construction Equipment Mechanic (preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment) We offer factory training on equipment we operate. Job is in Bloomfield, CT. Contact: Tom Dunay Phone: 860-243-2300 Ext. 122 Email: tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com

Attendant I

Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators (must have current licensing and a clean driving record; be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY) Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860-243-2300 Ext. 133 Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com

The Town of Wallingford is accepting applications for Attendant I. Wages: $29.93 to $34.66 hourly. For additional information and to apply online by the September 11, 2026 closing date, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

Exp. Welder call Jill 860-274-9668

Tractor Trailer Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction Equipment (must have a class A CDL license with Tank Endorsement and a clean driving record; be capable of operating heavy equipment and willing to travel throughout the Northeast and NY) Contact: Brian McKee Phone: 860-558-6189 Email: bmckee@garrityasphalt.com

• We offer Excellent hourly rates and benefits. • Women and Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply. • Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - Octber 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

HBCU Television Show Reboot Clinched Top Spot on Netflix By courtesy of HBCUNEWS.com

There are no spoilers in this article. A Different World was a popular, incredibly successful sitcom that aired on NBC between 1987 and 1993. Hillman College, the fictitious HBCU in the show, welcomed a new class of first-year students this fall. Fans of the original Cosby Showspinoff, as well as a new generation of viewers, are responding favorably to the reboot. For several days after its release, it claimed the most-watched spot on Netflix. The series provides an important window into campus life at HBCUs. Like other shows with Black producers, writers, directors and actors, this one confirms that there is a big appetite for Black culture on Netflix and other streaming platforms. Social media buzz has also been inspiring. The announcement of the genius selection of a contemporary cultural icon to perform the theme song bolstered enthusiasm ahead of the Netflix release— as expected, Brandy delivers a savory vocal that matches the show’s cultural integrity. The reboot does not pick up where its originator left off more than three decades ago. Like actual HBCUs, Hillman has evolved. The Netflix version exposes other dimensions of students’ experiences and institutional realities. Viewers ought not expect these 10 episodes to be the same as the 144 that aired across six seasons on NBC. The format and approach are very different. This may disappoint some watchers. It shouldn’t. I advise openness and appreciation for what the show captures about teaching, learning and relationships on today’s HBCU cam-

puses. Seven years ago, I wrote an Inside Higher Ed article about the 2018 Beyoncé Coachella performances that were subsequently released on Netflix. I mentioned A Different World therein and noted that the Beyoncé Netflix special also “showcases many distinctive cultural assets of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including their marching bands and Greek-letter organizations.” Also, I insisted in another IHE article published earlier this year that Bad Bunny’s 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance was a brilliant “culture capture” of Puerto Rico. Similarly, the Netflix version of A Different World is an important culture capture

of a contemporary HBCU, not one from the late ’80s and early ’90s. This makes it harmonious with, not merely a replica of, its old self. A few cast members from the original show have recurring roles in the Netflix series. Several others make cameo appearances. They are all grownup now. Most long-ago fans are likely to find satisfying this casting crossover and updates on those characters’ lives, careers and marriages. Seeing those actors, who are now around my age, was delightfully nostalgic. HBCUs should leverage the popularity of this Netflix series. The original show inspired many young Black Americans to choose colleges like Hillman—I was

one of them. A Different Worldmade me excited about attending an HBCU. Back then, Hillman seemed so fun, vibrant and culturally affirming. Aspects of this are maintained in the updated version, but comparatively, today’s Hillman feels less joyous. It made me laugh a lot less. The fun and funny features of HBCU culture are not as pronounced. Hopefully they will be in future seasons. But HBCUs do not have to wait. They can amplify the beautiful moments in Hillman students’ interactions with peers, employees and alumni; the wonderful ways that faculty members demonstrate care inside and outside of classrooms; and the cultural relevance of the fictitious

college’s curriculum. Many prospective Black collegians want this. Such experiences are available at real-life HBCUs. The show provides footage that HBCU recruiters and admissions officers can use as examples of what it could be like to be a student on their respective campuses. We need additional seasons of A Different World and more shows like it. They can get young Black people and others excited about HBCUs, which could lead to quantifiable spikes in applications and student enrollments. In my work with film and television companies here in Hollywood, Black creators and employees tell me that they too often encounter resistance to shows with strong Black themes and predominantly Black casts. “This is too narrow” is one problematic explanation that executives and other decision-makers offer. “There won’t be a large enough audience for a show like this” is another. Both the original and modernized versions of A Different World dispel such presumptions. Several other Black-focused shows, series and movies on Netflix and elsewhere have done so, too. This series once again confirms the purchasing and ratings power of Black Americans: We can take shows to No. 1 and catapult cinematic excellence to massive cultural significance. A Different World is a classic cultural treasure. While the Netflix version takes a different approach to showcasing the culture of HBCUs, it preserves one financially profitable implication for Hollywood and every place else where TV is made: Black stories matter, Black culture matters and there are audiences that will stream and purchase culturally relevant content.

Missy Elliott is bringing four HBCU bands together for a Virginia battle of the bands

By courtesy of HBCUNEWS.com

next generation to dream even bigger.”

The Virginia legend will host the Oct. 18 showcase at Norfolk State University as part of a week celebrating music, culture and innovation. Missy Elliott has been part of many a HBCU band‘s fifth quarter routine. Now the Virginia legend is coming back home and giving back with a showcase highlighting four of the best HBCU bands in the region. Elliott will present the HBCU Band Battle on October 18 at Norfolk State University, featuring Norfolk State University’s “Spartan Legion” Marching Band, Virginia State University’s “Trojan Explosion” Marching Band, Elizabeth City State University’s “Sound of Class” Marching Band and Hampton University’s “Marching Force” Marching Band. In a recent Sports Illustrated poll, Norfolk State held the top spot for HBCU Band of the Year for Division I schools, while Virginia State held the top spot for Division II schools. According to the Virginia native, who became the first female rapper ever to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of

The battle of the bands is part of multiple events honoring Elliott. In 2022, then-Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin established Missy Elliott Day in the state to honor Elliott’s cultural achievements in music and entertainment. Since then, Portsmouth, Virginia, has named a street in her honor: Missy Elliott Boulevard. The rapper donated $50,000 to the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority in 2023 to prevent numerous families from being evicted. In 2024, she donated $60,000 in gift cards and toys to local families in need. Additionally, the week of the HBCU Band Battle will feature the Missy Elliott Innovation Summit, an educational program for college students and high school seniors exploring the “intersection of technology, music, education, entrepreneurship, and the future of creativity.” Per a press release, the summit will provide an opportunity for the next generation of scholars to engage with ideas and opportunities found at the midpoint of culture, innovation and education.

Fame, celebrating the bands that were the soundtrack to many a football game, pep rally, and cultural event in her home state was of great importance.

“Virginia will always be home, so bringing something like this back means a lot to me,” Elliott said in a statement.

“HBCU bands have always brought so much energy, creativity, and culture to music. I want this to be a celebration of them and something that inspires the

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

More Than a Pink Ribbon: What Breast Cancer Awareness Month Really Means for Black Women by T'Keyah Bazin, BlackHealthMatters.com

once you’re back home. Building an open, ongoing relationship with your healthcare team can help you feel more confident as you move throughout your cancer and treatment journey. Don’t hesitate to ask your provider to explain unfamiliar medical terms, review your test results, or clarify how they arrived at a treatment recommendation. If something isn’t clear the first time, it’s okay to ask for another explanation. Many people also find it helpful to bring a trusted family member or friend to appointments, take notes during visits, or ask for printed copies of pathology reports and biomarker test results to review later. Understanding your diagnosis means making sure you have the information you need to participate in decisions about your care. Remember that your care team is there to support you. Honest conversations about your goals, concerns, side effects, and priorities can help ensure your treatment plan reflects not only the biology of your cancer but also what matters most to you.

Every October, pink ribbons appear on storefronts, sports uniforms, social media feeds, and community events across the country. The message surrounding breast cancer awareness is clear and easily identifiable and familiar. Awareness has undoubtedly saved lives. It has encouraged women to schedule mammograms, learn the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and support loved ones facing a diagnosis. For many Black women, awareness is only the beginning. Despite decades of awareness campaigns, Black women continue to face higher breast cancer mortality rates than White women, are more likely to be diagnosed at younger ages, and are more likely to experience barriers that delay diagnosis and treatment. These disparities remind us that awareness alone is not enough. Awareness must lead to action. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, that action can begin with understanding your diagnosis, asking informed questions, and working with your healthcare team to explore the options that may be available to you. Awareness Looks Different for Every Woman Breast cancer is not a single disease, and every woman’s experience is unique. For someone who has never been diagnosed, Breast Cancer Awareness Month may be a reminder to stay current on recommended screenings and pay attention to changes in their body. For someone living with advanced breast cancer, awareness takes on a different

meaning. It may involve learning more about their cancer subtype, understanding biomarker testing, discussing treatment options, or finding support from others who share similar experiences. No matter where you are on your journey, information can be a powerful tool. Know Your Type, Know Your Options One of the biggest advances in breast cancer care has been the move toward more personalized treatment. Healthcare providers now understand that breast cancer behaves differently from one person to another. That’s why your care team may perform tests to determine characteristics of your tumor, including whether it is hormone receptor (HR)-positive or HER2-negative. For some women with advanced breast cancer, biomarker testing may also identi-

fy a PIK3CA mutation. These results help your healthcare team better understand your cancer and can inform conversations about treatment options that are tailored to your individual diagnosis. Learning your cancer subtype doesn’t mean you need to memorize medical terminology. It simply means having the information needed to participate in decisions about your care. Getting Real Answers Starts With Honest Conversations Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis often means absorbing a great deal of information in a short amount of time. It’s normal to leave an appointment feeling like you didn’t fully understand everything you heard or to think of new questions

Representation Matters Beyond Awareness Breast Cancer Awareness Month also offers an opportunity to think about how future treatments are developed. Clinical trials play an essential role in evaluating potential new therapies, yet Black women have historically been underrepresented in many breast cancer studies despite experiencing significant disparities in outcomes. When research reflects the diversity of the communities affected by breast cancer, it strengthens the evidence that guides future care. Participating in a clinical trial is a personal decision. Every study has specific eligibility requirements, and participation is always voluntary. For some women, dis-

cussing clinical trials with their healthcare team may be an important part of exploring available treatment options. Moving Beyond the Pink Ribbon Pink ribbons have helped bring breast cancer into the national conversation. Today, we have an opportunity to build on that awareness by focusing on education, equity, and empowerment. Understanding your breast cancer subtype, learning about biomarker testing, and asking informed questions can help you become an active partner in your care. Awareness is powerful, but knowledge helps turn awareness into action. Know Your Type. Know Your Options. Talk to Your Doctor About Clinical Trials. If you have been diagnosed with HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, talk with your healthcare team about biomarker testing, treatment options, and whether a clinical trial may be appropriate for you. Learn what questions to bring to your next appointment in Lilly’s clinical trial guide. HR-Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer Supported by Lilly References: • American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures for African American/Black People • NIH National Cancer Institute. Breast Cancer Treatment • NIH National Cancer Institute. Biomarker Testing for Cancer Treatment • American Cancer Society. Biomarker and Tumor Marker Tests • National Cancer Institute. Cancer Clinical Trial Information for Patients and Caregivers • CDC. Breast Cancer Awareness

The award-winning author’s latest novel follows two motherless Black women whose lifelong friendship is shaped by community

Tayari Jones’ Kin wins 2026 Kirkus Prize for fiction, earns $50,000 by Peter Kerich courtesy of thegriot.com

Author and Emory University professor Tayari Jones has won the 2026 Kirkus Prize for Fiction for her novel Kin, earning a $50,000 cash award. The winners were announced Oct. 7 at a ceremony in New York City, with the prize recognizing outstanding books across fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. Set in rural Louisiana and Atlanta during the mid-20th century, Kin follows Annie and Niecy, two motherless friends whose bond is tested by time, distance and changing class circumstances. As reported by Emory University, the Kirkus Prize jury praised the novel for its portrayal of the Black South, highlighting Jones’ exploration of the women’s diverging lives and the social injustices surrounding them. Speaking at the awards ceremony,

Jones reflected on how her own family history shaped the novel. She said she came to understand that writing the book meant exploring her mother and her mother’s generation to better understand herself. According to Associated Press, Jones also credited her mother and aunt with sharing experiences and stories that eventually found their way into the book. Kin is Jones’ fifth novel and a New York Times bestseller. It was also the first Oprah’s Book Club selection of 2026 and appeared on The New York Times’ list of the best books of the year so far. Jones is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of English and Creative Writing at Emory University. Her previous novel, An American Marriage, won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2018 and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Fiction. Her other books include Leaving At-

Bestselling writer and professor, Tayari Jones is the author of 'KIN.' (Photo by Julie Yarborough)

lanta, The Untelling and Silver Sparrow. In 2026, Jones was also named to TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential People and elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Kirkus Prize also recognized two other writers. In the nonfiction category, Pamela Colloff won for “Catch the Devil: A True Story of Murder”, “Deception”, and “Injustice on the Gulf Coast”. Under young readers’ literature, Elizabeth Acevedo won for Anger Is Only a Shadow. Each winner receives $50,000 and a trophy. Established in 2014 by Kirkus Reviews, the awards recognize books that receive starred reviews during the eligibility period. Jones’ achievement places a story rooted in Black women’s lives, family histories and the legacy of the Jim Crow South at the center of a major literary award.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - Octber 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026

The LaCroix Music Series

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - October 14, 2026 - October 20, 2026