THE INNER-CITY NEWS

Volume 32. No. 1642

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

Stacey Abrams Rallies CT Democrats Ahead of Election by Jamil Ragland CTNewsJunkie

HARTFORD, CT – Connecticut Democrats sat rapt in their seats as Stacey Abrams rallied the party to prepare for an election where she said the state House, the governorship, and the future of American democracy is at stake. “This is about power, and we are going to take our power back in this country, in this election, in this moment, and it’s starting here in Connecticut,” she said to attendees of the state Democratic Party’s annual John Bailey Dinner at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford on Saturday evening. “That’s why we’re here. We are here because our power is real.” The evening featured speeches from several of the state’s leading Democrat politicians before Abrams, a celebrated leader in the national party and voting rights organizer, delivered the keynote address. Gov. Ned Lamont took aim at Washington, D.C., and President Donald Trump, characterizing his administration as being chaotic and corrupt. Lamont called out state Republicans, particularly Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-Greenwich, for refusing to break with the president for what he said are policies that end up hurting state residents. “[The Trump administration is] taking away food from kids. As [Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz] said, ‘Hell, let’s do free breakfast. Let’s give our kids the very best head start in life.’ What do you say, Ryan? No comment. No can do. He’s jacking up the price of health insurance for our families on the exchange, $800 a month. Let’s make sure they don’t have that $800 increase. What do you say, Ryan? Can we do something about that? No comment. No can do.” While opposition to Trump was a major theme of the evening, Democrats also used the occasion to honor their leaders. Retiring state Sen. Martin Looney was honored for his decades of public service by the party. Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, praised his longtime colleague for his commitment to progressive causes such as paid family medical leave and an increase in the minimum wage. “Think about things people in Connecticut count on today, things families benefit from every single day and don’t even think about,” he said. “Every one of them took years and years of Marty pushing long before they were popular because Marty is never wrong, he is just early.”

Stacey Abrams speaks to the CT Democratic Party at the annual John Bailey Dinner in Hartford on Sept. 19, 2026. Credit: Jamil Ragland / CTNewsjunkie

Looney himself used his speech to defend the idea of government being a force for good. He recalled his Irish immigrant parents joining the Democratic Party after being inspired by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1930s. “I think it’s important that all of us continue to believe that principled, effective government, which is viewed as being energized in the service of people, can make a great difference in our lives,” he said. The program also featured a tribute to former Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, who died earlier this year. Former Gov. Dan Malloy was on hand to honor his former running mate and friend. “Her ability to communicate with everyone was an unbelievable talent… And quite frankly, let me be very clear, I would not have been governor without Nancy,” Malloy said. “She was an unbelievable mother, an unbelievable partner of her husband, and an unbelievable leader in taking the eight years that we had to be governor and lieutenant governor, and do everything we could to correct some of the problems that had been built into Connecticut.” U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-CT, called the next 45 days leading to the midterm elections the state Democrats’ “yes you can” moment, channeling the iconic slogan used by President Barack Obama in his 2008

Retiring state Sen. Martin Looney speaks after being honored for his decades of service at the annual John Bailey Dinner in Hartford on Sept. 19, 2026 Credit: Jamil Ragland / CT Newsjunkie

U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-CT, calls the next 45 days “our yes-we-can moment” as she speaks at the annual John Bailey Dinner in Hartford on Sept. 19, 2026. Credit: Jamil Ragland / CTNewsjunkie

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election campaign and victory speech. She said the party has enjoyed the fruits of others’ labor for too long, and that it is time to lead the movements of today for expanded rights. “In my heart of hearts, I will always be a history teacher, and history has always taught us some valuable lessons,” she said. “It is in our darkest moments that people dig deep and go to a place that they’ve never been before, to say, what can I do in this moment? Not what can someone else do, not what can the Democratic Party do, not what can Hakeem Jeffries do, not what can my state legislator do, but what can I do in this moment? “And I’m here to tell you that no action is too small, because this is an all-hands-on-deck moment, and we need everybody.” Abrams spoke last, touting her success in activating over 800,000 new voters in her 2018 gubernatorial campaign and describing current attempts by the Trump administration as voter suppression aimed to establish authoritarianism and steal power from the people. “When that is authoritarianism’s end, then democracy is the antidote,” she said. “Democracy tells us that our job is to share that power, to leverage that power for the benefit of others, and it is always, always, always to be held accountable for what we do with that power. That’s why we have elections. That’s why we do the work we do.” Abrams drew on her time as a law student at Yale to speak positively about Connecticut and its progressive achievements. However, she also spoke directly to the ICE controversies that have erupted across the state, including the recent targeting of parents at a bus stop in Danbury. She said it is the duty of Democrats to “disrupt” in the face of such events. “That means we’ve gotta show up in Danbury even if we don’t live there, and we’ve gotta hold up our cameras and hold up our wallets and do the work of the people because if they’re coming for Danbury, they’re coming for you next,” she said. She ended on an upbeat message, telling Connecticut Democrats that they have established a blueprint the rest of the nation can follow to ensure Democratic victories across the country. “Connecticut, we are in a dark moment in this country,” she said. “There are people who do not believe that anyone sees them, that anyone believes them, that anyone will serve them. You are gathered here today, because you know what they need.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

At Book Signing, Judge Mosley Inspires With “Improbable Journey” by Lisa Reisman

The New Haven independent

To hear Judge Maurice Mosley tell it, every major city in Connecticut has a Bishop Street like the one in Waterbury. In Hartford, it’s Albany Avenue. It’s Stratford Avenue in Bridgeport. And in New Haven, it’s Dixwell Avenue. “I grew up in the back alley of Bishop Street,” the retired New Haven Superior Court judge, 80, told a spirited group of 50 crowded into and spilling out of Kaiyden’s Coffee Shop near Wooster Square Park on a recent Saturday. “And to get from that back alley to being a judge, just two words: but God.” The occasion was a book signing of Mosley’s recently released “Bishop Street to the Bench: An Improbable Journey” Midway through the event, there were no more books. All 50 were sold. That didn’t seem to faze the former basketball standout — Mosley won an athletic scholarship to South Carolina State University in 1964 — who, from time to time, leapt up to address the crowd, before inviting longtime friends to say a word. “Is this what you do at a book signing?” the father of one and grandfather of two asked at one point with an expression of mischievous delight. “Well, I’m going to do this anyway.” Mosley was improvising, the same way, as he writes, he “turned his courtroom into a classroom” as a New Haven Superior Court judge handling juvenile matters and delinquencies; the same way in 1992 he co-founded, with his brother, Waterbury’s Granville Academy, an afterschool program to give kids the raw skills they need for careers in finance, engineering,

At book signing, New Haven Superior Court judge Maurice Mosley (far right) with James Craig (far left), Kaiyden Cafe owner Chidi Onukwugha, Bronze Tees founder Willie Holmes; and community activist Byron Breeland. Credit: Lisa Reisman photo Posted inBooks

and health care, among other fields; and the same reason he decided, as he put it, “to become a bestselling author.” “This is about inspiring young people,” said the insatiable reader, as one friend attested, nodding at another well-wisher coming through the door. “I tell young folks that the system is rigged. You’ve got all sorts of obstacles. You’ve got to achieve in spite of. And if I did it, they can too.” “This is a motivational book, and it’s one our community needs, particularly our Black males,” said Larry Conaway, former principal of Riverside Education Academy and former New Haven Board

of Education member, about Mosley’s book. The book traces Mosley’s life from a young boy on Bishop Street to South Carolina State University and UConn School of Law graduate to five-term Waterbury state representative to Granville Academy founder to law partner to judge. Neil Richardson, who served as Mosley’s marshal, recounted the judge assigning a one-page report on an article or a book related to the offense; in one case, someone caught smoking marijuana was charged with writing an essay on how it negatively impacts the brain. “They would have to show it to their teacher for corrections, and that’s collaborative learning,” Rich-

Judge Mosley signing one of the 50 books sold at last Saturday’s event.

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ardson said amid the aroma of roasting coffee in the well-lit space. “Judge Mosley always read them and commended them for their hard work.” “Coming out of Waterbury, young man of color, he was understanding and empathetic of struggles, but there was tough love too,” said retired New Haven Probate Judge Clifton Graves. “They came back and said thank you for that, because it helped them turn their lives around. And that’s the biggest compliment. You ruled against me but you were always fair.” Jerry Poole who was, as Mosley put it, “born on the same block, the same back alley,” called the judge “a lifelong

friend.” It was the Granville program that fortified their bond. “We both wanted to do work to help young people and I’m so appreciative that he brought me on board,” he said. At a nearby table, James Craig, who was the judge’s investigator, was pointing out his name in the preface of Mosley’s book. “He told me, ‘when you retire, I want you to come and work with me,’” he said. “So I’ve been working for him for 14 years now as a mentor at Granville Academy, and I think we’ve been able to change some lives.” Beside Craig was Ron Benson, former president of the Firebirds Society, who challenged the hiring and promotion practices of the New Haven Fire Department in the late 1990s and early aughts. “The judge didn’t just talk about it, he did it,” he said, as Mosley discussed the “success sequence,” a three-step life formula to help young adults in America avoid poverty and enter the middle class. “We’re talking about a legend right there.” Just then, Sandra Sosnoff Baird, a family support magistrate who served with Mosley — he retired in 2021 after eight years on the bench — pushed through the door. “He’s the best,” she said. “Just kind, knowledgeable, accessible, and a friend.” Kaiyden Cafe co-owner Chidi Onukwugha, emerging from the back counter, asked to speak. “We’ve been open five years this month,” he announced to the group. “We’ve had big events like the Cherry Blossom Festival here, and this is the best day by far.” “Amen to that,” said Mosley, as legendary Wilbur Cross basketball coach Bob Saulsbury entered the cafe. “A lot of us here are from the inner city and we are achieving ‘in spite of.’ It’s up to us to show the next generation they can too.”

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

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

$25M On Tap For Union Station Renovation by Adele Haeg

The New Haven independent

Union Station is getting another $24.8 million in state funding — this time for renovations to its interior, including new retail space and restrooms, city and state officials announced on Monday. “In the interior building, it’s going to be upgrades, literally from the floor to the ceiling,” said Mayor Justin Elicker, who was joined by Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, as well as several other representatives of city and state agencies who have contributed to the Union Station overhaul, at a Monday press conference at Union Station. Investments in interior improvements are the most recent to come to the city’s main transit hub: In April, the state committed over $400 million to revamping Union Station’s tunnel and platforms, a project now in the design phase, and the New Haven Parking Authority (NHPA) also began making repairs earlier this summer to the station’s facade, which will be preserved throughout the project. Earlier this year, the state also announced more than $100 million in improvements to State Street Station and the Court Street bridge. The project announced Monday will come in two phases, said Garrett Eucalitto, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The first phase, which will start within the next two months, will include constructing new family restrooms and renovating the station’s second-floor mezzanine and fourth floor, which is currently being used as office space. The second phase, which will start over a year from now, will focus on the main lobby and new retail spaces. Eucalitto said improvements inside would include “transforming the main waiting area, and the atrium, with new seating, flooring, lighting, and other upgrades that will make the space more comfortable.” He said there would also be renovations to “all the common areas,” meaning “the security, the information, and ticketing spaces.”

Gov. Ned Lamont at Union Station Monday: "It's a hundred years old, amazing history, and architectural wonder, but it's been a hundred years, and it's time for an upgrade." Credit: Adele Haeg photos

“I mean, you name it, it is going on in our city. You can tell I’m excited about it,” Elicker said. Elicker said New Haven could become Connecticut’s most populated city within the decade. “In planning for this growth, we need strong transit hubs, we need a lot more housing, and we need amenities for that,” including more businesses. Economic Development Administrator Mike Piscitelli has been involved with planning improvements to the station for many years. He said now he is beginning to “see the projects fit together” downtown. He mentioned the new Bus Rapid Transit system that will connect to the station as another improvement coming to the neighborhood. “This project will be a renaissance and a renewal of the primacy of New Haven in terms of rail transportation,” State Sen. Martin Looney said, adding Monday’s would be “the first of many, many press conferences” about the project.

Plans for Union Station’s interior.

There will be no interruptions to train service during construction, according to Eucalitto. Eight retail spaces will be added to the station over the course of this project, according to Kathleen Krolak, a former city economic development staffer who is now NHPA’s director of real estate. Krolak announced that the Union Station Partnership — which is between the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the city — has released a Request for Interest (RFI) form for businesses interested in leasing space in the station. “We’re looking to grow the number of retail and restaurant openings,” Krolak said, adding that the NHPA and Union Station Partnership would use the RFI for “planning and information gathering.” She encouraged any interested businesses to apply. The RFI will remain open until this coming January.

Bysiewicz said the project could be “a real economic opportunity” for New Haven businesses. “It’s going to be great to have these businesses for all of the people who will be living in the 2,500 new housing units” across the street, Bysiewicz added, referring to Union Square, the Housing Authority of New Haven’s plan to build a mixed-income, mixed-use community across the street on the former Church Street South property. City planners have approved Union Square’s first phase of development and the housing authority is in the process of securing financing for the project. The state also announced in 2025 a $300 million plan to build two 16-story towers containing 470 apartments and 28,000 square feet of retail and commercial space next to Union Station. Hill Alder Carmen Rodriguez said she was “so happy also to hear that we’re going to have the opportunity to have small business owners” from the area. She said she is “looking forward to the growth, looking forward to everyone coming on and riding these rails so we can continue this city moving up.” As Krolak, Bysiewicz, and Rodriguez all suggested, city and state officials envision Union Station as the center of a new “transit-oriented” downtown, as Elicker put it. “Imagine this neighborhood, across the street, transformed into 2,500 units, the surface parking lot next door transformed into additional housing units,” said Elicker. That new neighborhood, city and state developers imagine, will be within walking distance of QuantumCT’s new laboratory and office building on Church Street, and the newly opened Trowbridge Recreational Center on Carlisle.

“There’s so much riding on this,” the state senator said.

Lamont and Hill Alder Carmen Rodriguez.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

Milford Kicks Off Its First Literary Festival By Ruby Szekeres

The New Haven independent

Behind a small podium, and beneath the bright lights of a programming room, Sharmont “Influence” Little met the crowd with a smile. To him, it was more than just an expression—it was a lesson, passed down by his father, who had learned how to smile through everything. With love and passion, sorrow and determination, he explained what it meant to smile in the form of a poem. “So a smile is sometimes all I have left,” he read. “We should all be free to smile.” Last Saturday, Milford Poet Laureate Elaine Nadal welcomed attendees to the inaugural Milford Literary Festival at the city’s public library, located at 57 New Haven Ave. in the town of Milford. This is Nadal’s last month serving as Milford Poet Laureate, but if her term is renewed, she said she might consider bringing this event back next year. From mid-morning through mid afternoon, poets and other literary folk filled the space, speaking from their wide-open hearts as they discussed poetry, practice, and the power of the pen. In a conversation that ranged from love poems to artificial intelligence, poets often spoke their minds, leaning on literary anecdotes as they talked. Guest speakers included Vernon Poet Laureate Pegi Degite Shea, Glastonbury Poet Laureate Victoria Nordland and former New Haven Poet Laureate Little,

Victoria Nordland (Glastonbury Poet Laureate), Pegi Degite Shea (Vernon Poet Laureate), Elaine Nadal (Milford Poet Laureate), and Sharmont Influence Little (former New Haven Laureate).

who held the inaugural title from 2023 to 2025. New Haven’s current poet laureate is spoken word artist and educator Yexandra “Yex” Diaz.

After short introductions, the morning started off with the poet laureates sharing their writing, from recounting their fondest childhood memories to moments filled

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with fear. “I had to bring my tears to the stage,” Little said as he talked about his practice. Little, who Kulturally LIT and the City of New Haven tapped for the position in October 2023 is an activist, nurse, poet, entrepreneur, and father. He spoke about how he brings all of those identities to every poem he writes, and to collaborations that stretch from Bridgeport-based open mic nights to work with Tia Russell Arts Center and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. When asked why he never writes poems about love, he replied that he has a whole binder full; they just aren’t ready to be read. “When people ask me why I don’t write love poems, I ask, ‘Why the hell am I not writing more hate poems?’” Other poets wound back the clock to those first magical moments with poetry and the written word. Noting how deeply “the world still needs writers,” Shea said she can still remember the first time she fell in love with poetry, when in elementary school she entered a poetry contest and won two dollars. “I thought, wow! I could do this [for a living].” Then she laughed. At 66 years old, perhaps she would tell her younger self that in fact, writing is not quite the money maker she had then thought it to be. “It’s not about the fame. It’s about writing for yourself though.” During the festival, attendees walked around the edges of the room, where tables showcased various author’s books and provided a window into Connecticut’s literary landscape. Derby resident

Laura Garrity, who runs the writer’s group The Written Word at the Milford Arts Council, said she was grateful to be there supporting the poets. Like Little, Mary Keating also read a poem about smiling, which is part of her book Recalibrating Gravity, a memoir in verse about her life as a wheelchair user who has never let her disability define her. “Break all the rules,” Keating said after reading some excerpts from her book. “Be creative. Those stories—” She nodded to Peter Friedman. Just a half hour before, he had told the audience that he was no writer and wasn’t even creative, causing raucous laughter as he recalled his time in the media business. “—We’re waiting for them,” Keating finished. Nadal had invited Friedman to the event because of his book I’ll Get The Tip: Moments Between the World’s Biggest Stars And An Unknown Ad Guy, co-written with Grant Copeland. “I just had the stories,” Friedman said. “Grant put the book together.” Poetry meant many different things to everyone. For poet Colleen Bak, who brought copies of her book Letters To A Dead Magician, it meant learning about her family, history and a touch of magic. Her husband and three kids were there by her side. This article comes from a graduate of the 2024 Cohort of the Youth Arts Journalism Initiative. Ruby Szekeres is a junior at Oak Meadow School.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

Could CT Legislators Give Residents A Break On Their Federal Income Tax? Senator Says It’s Possible by Donald Eng CTNewsJunkie

HARWINTON, CT — Can Connecticut alter its tax code to reduce residents’ federal income tax? A legislative working group is looking into that exact proposal, with a report expected by the end of the year. “I’ve been fascinated by this idea of payroll tax savings since I first heard about it in 2019; wages are reduced, but taxes are reduced by an even-greater amount, and the result is you get to keep more of your money,” Honig said. “I’ve always thought this was an idea that had enormous potential for Connecticut residents, who could save upwards of a billion dollars a year in federal income and payroll taxes.” State Sen. Paul Honig, D-Harwinton, led a roundtable discussion last week on his proposed plan. He introduced the idea during the past legislative session, and the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee raised it as Senate Bill 513. The bill had bipartisan support, passing the committee on a 40-14 vote, but did not get called to the Senate floor. Honig explained the idea using an example of a worker earning $100,000 a year and paying $5,000 in state in-

come tax. The worker takes a pay cut to $95,000, but no longer pays Connecticut state income tax on their wages. The employer pays a $5,000 payroll tax. The employee still nets $95,000 and the state still gets $5,000 in income

tax. But the employee now reports $95,000 on their federal income tax instead of $100,000. The change would result in an estimated tax savings of about $1,100, Honig estimated. The next step is to survey working

group members on solutions to issues that were raised, such as mitigating lower Social Security benefits, whether the program should be voluntary or mandatory, and whether the program applies to special classes of employers,

Honig said. The working group includes legislators and representatives from legal, financial and business-advocacy groups. Honig acknowledged the potential for legal challenges, which is why the working group includes legal experts, he said. Should the idea spread to other states, the federal government could potentially respond by raising taxes to compensate for the lost revenue, he said. But even if that happened, Connecticut residents would still pay proportionally less because residents in the nine states without a state income tax – Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming – still pay federal income tax. But their states would not be able to offer the same payroll tax adjustment that Honig is proposing Connecticut adopt. “The idea here is to try to save people money on their taxes, but in this case, it’s their federal taxes,” Honig said. “And I think in the environment we’re in, where cost of living is such a big issue for so many people, I think it’s the right thing to do to try to find ways, you know, creative ways to try to save people money.”

New Operator Skates In To Ralph Walker Rink by Dereen Shirnekhi

The New Haven independent

A new operator has taken over the Ralph Walker Ice Rink, with plans teed up not just for hockey but also for year-round programming and community skate sessions. That new operator is Elm City Sports Group LLC, a sports company founded by Elisabeth and Peter Alden. Elm City Sports Group and the Parks Department are currently awaiting approval from the Board of Alders to enter a fiveyear contract to manage the Ralph Walker Ice Rink at 1080 State St. That proposal is likely to be heard and deliberated upon in October, which is when the ice season begins. The couple received a special permit from the Commission on Parks, Programs, & Recreational Facilities back in July to begin operating sooner, to prepare to hit the ground running for programming. That special permit will expire if the contract is approved by alders. Elisabeth and Peter Alden were in attendance for the latest meeting of the parks commission at 720 Edgewood Ave. on Wednesday, as commissioners approved an updated fee schedule for the rink. While the couple live in Branford with their four kids, Elisabeth grew up in Westville, and Peter learned to skate at Ralph Walker as a kid. He went on to play hockey for Quinnipiac University. “This community needs a lot of energy

and drive for getting kids on the ice,” Peter told the Independent. “We do believe it [Ralph Walker] can be a real flagship, not just in New Haven but the state.” “We want to maximize the ice,” Elisabeth agreed. “We want people to come in and be proud.”

Parks Director Max Webster said that there had been a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process after the five-year contract with the last operator, Wonderland of Ice Associates aka Skate New Haven, expired this year. “When you looked at everything, this was the best proposal,” Webster said of Elm City Sports Group. “We want to have a really active and dynamic space yearround.” Parks commissioner Kenya Adams-Martin noted Ralph Walker’s proximity to Fair Haven and Cedar Hill. “Will those kids be included?” she asked. “There has been some low numbers, and we recognize that,” Peter said. He said the goal will be to make people feel welcomed — “ice skating isn’t the easiest” — and establish relationships with youth and community groups, while providing fun opportunities like themed nights. Ralph Walker is the home of the Albertus Magnus College men and women’s hockey teams. In addition to accommodating the teams’ practice times and games, Elm City Sports is booking open skate, hockey,

New operators Elisabeth and Peter Alden at Wednesday's parks commission meeting: "We want to maximize the ice." Credit: Dereen Shirnekhi photos

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skills nights, and ice skating sessions for the season. There will be Learn To Skate programs, including one in partnership with the New York Rangers, who will provide gear. U.S. Figure Skating Gold Medalist John Cain will teach figure skating. They’re also establishing partnerships with the Police Athletic League, Youth & Rec, Hockey Night in New Haven, Quinnipiac, UConn, Hamden Hall, girls’ hockey program the Shoreline Sharks, and others. The Aldens also intend to make use of the rink’s full commercial kitchen set-up for concessions: Local business Kay’s Kitchen is set to handle the food. Parks commissioner Mary Ann Moran also recommended reaching out to community management teams across the city and presenting to meeting attendees. “I’m sure people in other parts of the city don’t even know this is happening,” she said. The proposed contract between the city and Elm City Sports allows the city to get a cut of revenue. Fees for reserving the ice are mostly staying the same: $425 for residents and $475 for non-residents during peak hours. During public skating time, children under 5 skate free, adult residents skate for $8, adult non-residents skate for $10, and skate rentals are $7. There hadn’t previously been a defined rate for off-peak resident and non-resident usage. The commission unanimously approved a $255/hour rate for residents and $295/hour for non-residents.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

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“That Is The Power Of Sisterhood” THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

by Lisa Reisman

The New Haven independent

Somewhere in Newhallville is a nineyear-old girl who does not know the name of Harriet Tubman or Shirley Chisholm or Constance Baker Motley — women who, as Stamford Democratic State Rep. Corey P. Paris put it, “did not ask for permission to ignite the future.” “She only knows that the world keeps telling her to be small,” said Paris, who delivered a stirring keynote speech at Sunday’s Excellence Awards Brunch hosted by the New Haven chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Emceed by Reese L. McLleod, the occasion, which drew a spirited crowd of 300 to Anthony’s Ocean View on a rainy afternoon, was the 10th anniversary of the New Haven chapter of the NCBW. The 64-chapter organization is dedicated to improving the lives of Black women and girls through leadership development and the advancement of gender equity in health, education, and economic empowerment. Since its inception in September 2016, the nonprofit has awarded more than $70,000 in scholarships to upwards of 50 young people and served over 6,400 community members, providing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) mentoring for girls, financial literacy and economic empowerment for business owners and entrepreneurs, as well as heart health education for the community, among other programs. “Ten years doesn’t just happen,” said coalition member Brenda Ward following the remarks of NCBW President Virginia Harris. “Ten years means someone believed it was possible, somebody stayed when it became difficult, and somebody opened the door and held it open, so another woman could walk through. . . That is the power of sisterhood.” Paris, the keynote speaker, accepted the inaugural Carolyn D. Vermont Public Service Award, which was named for the revered advocate of civil and community rights in Bridgeport and, as chapter President Valencia Goodridge put it, “one who freely shared her vast network whenever needed.” Vermont died in February at 65. “She stood firm in what she believed,” said Paris. “She stood firm in holding the torch that had been passed to her. But she also used that torch to burn that light for someone else in her absence.” That is true leadership, according to First Vice President Lorraine Gibbons: “Not just simply holding a position, but using that position to serve, to advocate, to create opportunity, and to improve the lives of others.” Mayor Justin Elicker lauded the “powerhouse Black women leading our community,” highlighting Karen Dubois-Walton at the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Appellate Court Judge Robin Wilson, Anna Blanding at ConnCORP, as well as City Hall’s director of youth and recreation Gwen Williams; Wendella Ault-Battey, director of labor relations; and “secret weapon,” as he put it, trans-

Among the honorees at Sunday's Award Brunch: Mont'ique Pettway-Moore, first female fire captain with the Bridgeport Fire Department; CT Commissioner of Education Charlene Russell-Tucker; Higher Heights Youth Empowerment Programs executive director Chaka Felder-McEntire; Emmy-nominated news anchor Symphonie Privett Paris; Sandy Cayo, pioneering family nurse practitioner; and leading breast surgeon Camelia Lawrence. Credit: Michael Belton

State Rep. Corey Paris, D-Stamford, holding the room in thrall. Credit: Lisa Reisman photo

NCBW New Haven Chapter president Valencia M. Goodridge (left), with award winner Shanté T. Hanks, housing rights advocate; NCBW member Karen Lee; and Reese L. McLeod, second vice president, brunch chair and mistress of ceremonies,

Awarded for their excellence, leadership, and service: Adrienne Parkland, Chief Operating Officer for The WorkPlace ; Darcey Cobbs-Lomax, executive director of NewAlliance Foundation; Deborah A. Caviness, pioneering civic leader and community visionary; State Rep. Trenée McGee, D-West Haven; Shanté T. Hanks, department of housing deputy commissioner and housing right champion; president and CEO of Fairfield County Community Foundation Mendi Blue Paca; and Vincencia Adusei, president and founder of VASE Construction and real estate developer. Credit: Michael Belton photo

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portation director Haley Simpson. They are the exceptions, according to Paris, the keynote speaker. He bemoaned “the heart that gives out at 58 for a Black woman because she was the strong one for everybody, and nobody gave her permission to be sick”; the Black tax that “has Black women always having to work a little harder than her white counterpart”; and the 60 cents on the dollar Black women earn in comparison to white, non-Hispanic men. He decried the “lie” of one seat at the table. “When you believe that, you don’t reach back, you tighten your grip,” he said. “We must coalesce together, we must get behind that person like their name is on your mortgage,” he exhorted. Then came the awards presentation. “For these honorees, empowerment is not simply about occupying a seat at the table,” said Karrol-Ann Brown, the coalition’s legal advisor. “Sometimes it means building the table or opening the door. And sometimes it means ensuring that another woman has the knowledge, resources, confidence, and opportunity to walk through that door behind you.” There were the trailblazers: Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, the state commissioner of education; Chaka Felder-McEntire, whose nonprofit, Higher Heights Youth Empowerment Program, has helped more than 10,000 underrepresented students secure upwards of $800 million in scholarships and grants; and Adrienne Parkmond, an attorney who leads The Workplace, which provides a host of employment and job training services to youth and adults. There were the ground-breakers: Emmy-nominated news anchor Symphonie Privett Paris, renowned for her consequential community stories; Dr. Sandy Cayo, a nurse practitioner whose work has improved the cardiovascular outcomes of Black patients, and Dr. Camelia Lawrence, a breast surgeon, for her advanced breast cancer care and her efforts to bring to the fore the realities of breast cancer disparities. And there were the pioneers: Captain Mont’ique Pettway-Moore, the first woman promoted to the rank of fire captain in Bridgeport Fire Department’s 100-year history, and Vincencia Adusei, president and founder of VASE Construction and leading real estate developer “in an industry dominated by white men,” according to the program. “If it were not for you in this room that paved the way for me to walk into a room and submit myself, then it would not be possible for the young women coming behind me,” West Haven Democratic State Rep. Trenée McGee, 32, the youngest Black woman ever elected to the Connecticut General Assembly, told the crowd. “Understand, when you are in spaces, that you are there not only for you, but for a young woman who may never think she can get there. So get there, stay there, and be there for her.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

Ink Theory, Making History, Gets Ready To Read For A Home Crowd By Abiba Biao

Arts Council of greater New Haven

Lincey Violette, Jayden Barrett, Shawn Douglas, and Journey Rosa looked out over the crowd. Violette, Barrett, and Rosa stood with their hands behind their back. Douglas slowly raised his right arm. In a quick motion, he closed it into a fist. It was a signal: the poets launched into action. “The pen is power,” they said in unison, their words reverberating across the auditorium. They detailed the Black stereotypes, forced sterilization, and the prison industrial complex. Then they kept going. The four are members of Connecticut youth poetry slam team Ink Theory, which made statewide history this summer as slam champions at the 29th Annual Brave New Voices Festival, the largest international youth poetry festival. After a riveting send-off during the Dixwell Avenue Q-House in early July and a win later that month, the team has come home to share its victory and cement the Elm City as the cultural capital of Connecticut. The team is composed of five members: Violette, a freshman at New York University; Barrett, a recent graduate of Common Ground High School and a sophomore at Albertus Magnus College; Douglas, a sophomore at the University of Connecticut; Rosa, a junior at the Sounds School; and Lucky Francis, a 2025 graduate from Achievement First Amistad High School. This year, the event took place in San Francisco, where 14 teams from across the country competed for the coveted title of 2026 Brave New Voices (BNV) Slam Champions. The event had 2,000 attendees and featured 300 poets. During the four-day slam, participants got the chance to participate in writing workshops, attend lectures, and hear guest speakers. This year’s slam finals, which lasted for over three hours and can be viewed here, took place at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco. “What this win signifies for Connecticut is that maybe it will prompt more kids to want to participate [in poetry],” said New Haven Poet Laureate Yexandra “Yex” Diaz, in a recent phone call. “And we hope to see a larger turnout for the next qualifier [for Ink Theory].” Diaz also serves as artistic director of The Word, a literary arts program that serves high school students and above which manages the youth slam team. Since 2025, Diaz has coached Ink Theory alongside teaching artist, educator, and former artistic director of The Word Tarishi “Midnight” Shuler. The pair are also members of the state poetry slam team Verbal Slap, which recently won first place at the Chicharra Poetry Slam Festival this spring and participated in ethe Southern Fried Slam in Orlando earlier this summer. The days were long and fast-paced, with the competition running from 8 am to 8 p.m., Diaz said. She added that the hours of intellectual labor and team practice reached even farther back: members

Photos provided by Brave New Voices and festival photographers, Kalei des Scope and Gianpaolo Pabros.

of Ink Theory emerged from a qualifying slam in New Haven earlier this year. The team also lost, and then gained, new members after a few students dropped out during a busy college prep and internship season. While students had three months to produce poems, members of the team only had three weeks to practice and choreograph before BNV. Rehearsals consisted of two-hour sessions twice a week. In comparison, other teams may have had six months to a year to practice, Diaz said. Then there were challenges that arose at Brave New Voices. During prelims— that’s preliminary matches—Ink Theory competed in two bouts that only featured three teams, as opposed to the normal four. After tying with Bay-area based team BeSpoke, it looked like Ink Theory might not make it to the finals. And then, members of both teams did something that rarely happens in the world of competitive slam poetry: they talked it through and found a solution that felt more fair to everyone in the room. This year, five teams—rather than the four that slam organizers had allotted for—made it to finals. “It really was unprecedented what happened in that room, you know,” Diaz said. “To have all of the teams, even our own competitors and vote for a fifth [team] to be accommodated and then to have five accommodated, even that has

never happened.”

For Violette, who was competing in a large-scale slam for the first time, there was no word more fitting to encapsulate the event than “grateful.” She described the competition as a “giving experience.” “I feel like I am changed just from seeing other poets and their styles, and the way that they perform, and their writing is definitely going to have an impact on the way I move forward when it comes to my writing.” Violette also noted the power of hearing speakers like LA-based poet and activist aja monet, Brooklyn-based R&B singer Serpent with Feet, and Grammy-nominated poet and lead singer of Tank and The Bangas Tarriona "Tank" Ball. She described the experience as forging not just professional connections, but having a chance to absorb new writing techniques, and learning to support and be supported by her teammates. After hearing monet speak, she also learned that “there has to be action to my writing.” “As a poet, I have more of an obligation to not just write, but to then put action to my words, to go out there, and to try to make change that goes beyond just my writing,” she said in a recent phone call. She added that—while her nerves never go away—her favorite moment outside of winning was the team’s first match, during which “the energy that was, like, in that whole room was insane.”

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Despite majoring in psychology and being on the premed track, Violette added that writing will still coincide with her studies, saying that also looking at other art endeavors such as SLAM! at NYU the university’s official student led poetry slam team. Like Violette, Francis was also coming down from that competition high. “No words can really describe how I’m feeling,” Francis said, in a phone call after the group’s big win. “I’m shocked, I’m overwhelmed. We went through a lot of great challenges and tribulations to get on that final stage. In the end, us winning … it was just incredible.” While performing has its own mental hurdles, Francis said that stepping on stage together allowed the team to truly shine. Everything came to the moment and it was now or ever. “I was so scared. I was so nervous because I have anxiety when it comes to speaking in front of people, but I already knew that like we sat there and we practiced, and practiced, and practiced, and put in hard work to memorize poems,” she said, adding that when they were at the competition, the team only had one day to practice before preliminary matches occurred. In an alternative universe, Francis wouldn’t have taken up writing. As life got hectic, she took a hiatus from writing

for a period of time during school. Then she saw her former creative writing teacher Brianna Martone, and was inspired to pick up the pen. She started seriously writing at 16 years old and called Martonea big inspiration behind her writing career and foundation. “She guided me in so much ways that I wouldn’t think was possible … During school I just had a lot going on, so when I met Ms. Martone and I took her class, she gave me an outlet and a way to express myself, to be heard, to put my passion on paper.” She said that much of her writing comes from raising awareness on matters such as police brutality, sexuality, family trauma, and other topics she discovers on social media. She described her style as “grounded." When she got the call to compete on Ink Theory, she used it as a chance to challenge herself and the writers around her. From then on, every waking moment was dedicated to writing, thinking about potential topics during the little moments throughout the day. After finishing competition, Francis said that her next goal was to audition for the state team, Verbal Slap. The win was an emotional moment for all of the members. When Ink Theory made it to the finals, the team was up against four other teams: DewMore Baltimore, based in Baltimore, Maryland; Lowell High School Compass Program Poetry team, based in Lowell, Mass.; and California-based poetry teams Youth Speaks Bay Area and BeSpoke. After competing in the finals, all five members remembered holding hands, lingering in anticipation. When it became clear they had won, Rosa screamed in disbelief, while Francis, frozen in the moment, could only repeat the words “Oh my God.” She wrapped Rosa in a tight hug and the two fell to the floor still locked in a full embrace. Getting up from the floor, Francis was hyperventilating and Rosa held back tears of joy. Diaz also thanked the City of New Haven’s Department of Arts Culture and Tourism and the NewAlliance Foundation, both funders of The Word, for making the trip financially possible. Since the competition, Ink Theory hasn’t stopped working. Last month, Ink Theory took fifth place in the NorthBeast Regional Poetry Slam, performed at a Youth Invitational Poetry Slam last Wednesday at the Stetson Library as a part of the weeklong Black Wall Street activities, and was featured in statewide news. “We are extremely proud for the hard work that the students put in and it brings joy to our hearts to enjoy this moment and the fruits of their labor,” Shuler said. The next installment of Elm City Flow will be hosted on Friday, September 25th, where Verbal Slap CT Slam Team Qualifiers will take place, alongside a Homecoming performance by Ink Theory from 6 to 8 p.m. at NXTHVN.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

In The Midst Of Immigration Fight, C4D Fêtes 16 Years By Lucy Gellman

Arts Council of greater New Haven

When Selize Mendes was a kid growing up in Danbury, she watched her father, an immigrant from Ecuador, become one of her biggest and most vocal champions. After his sudden passing nine years ago, she vowed that she would fight for him, and the millions of other immigrants in his shoes. Almost a decade later, and in the eye of a political storm that has targeted immigrants at unprecedented levels, she’s continued that fight as a member of Connecticut Students for a Dream (C4D), a youth-led organizing engine that has become one of the leading champions of immigrant rights in the state since its birth in 2010. Thursday, C4D celebrated its “Sweet 16” anniversary at Anthony’s Ocean View, in a rare night of breaking bread, song, and dance that foregrounded the deep humanity at the core of immigrant justice work. Throughout the evening, speakers and attendees alike let themselves balance the bitter and the sweet of the moment, lauding the sheer amount of work that C4D has done while not mincing words about the fight ahead. The evening also became a chance to celebrate Executive Director Tabitha Sookdeo, who has worked around the clock to protect the rights of immigrants regardless of status, particularly young people, for two years. Since September 2024—Sookdeo became executive director shortly before Donald Trump won a presidential election that would return him to the White House—she has grown the organization, pivoted to rapid response, coalition building, and deportation defense. C4D now steers the Connecticut Immigrant Support Network and The American Immigrant Legal Clinic (TAILC), which have both grown out of the necessity of this social and political moment. Thursday, advocates from National Immigration Law Center President Kica Matos to Attorney General William Tong to faith leaders, educators, and members of the New Haven Immigrants Coalition all pledged their continued support. “These are some of the most powerful people that you will meet in your entire lives,” Sookdeo said, shouting out members who filled the room, many in ball gowns and flowy pastel-toned dresses. She's among those powerful people: Sookdeo recently completed a graduate degree at the Yale School of the Environment, part of a joint degree program with the Vermont Law School. She and her partner, African American Society (AAS) Founder Jameson Davis, will welcome their first child in October. When she sees the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, “it’s absolutely unacceptable,” she continued. “These are our community members [getting detained]. These are our folks … when do we say, ‘Enough is enough?’” Throughout the night, attendees let themselves feel and fête the full weight of the moment, from tables that buzzed with conversation to a dance floor that was vibrating by the end of the night. As she criss-crossed the room in a flowing, rose-colored dress and glittering eye makeup, Mendes said that she was excited to be at the gathering, as a moment to regroup and reset with her

community. Growing up in Danbury, Mendes didn’t exactly choose organizing, so much as it chose her. As a kid, she could see how hard her parents—her mom migrated from Cape Verde, and her dad from Ecuador—advocated for her and her siblings. When she was nine, the tables turned. Her father, who had been her greatest cheerleader, suffered a brain bleed. For years, he had avoided hospitals, afraid to incur medical debt. “He just left it alone,” she remembered, and passed away shortly thereafter. It left her mom alone with three kids, including a 1-year-old daughter who Mendes helped raise. It was 2017, and CT HUSKY—that’s Connecticut’s Medicaid expansion program—did not yet make provisions for immigrants regardless of documentation status. Coalitions like HUSKY 4 Immigrants, which was born in 2019, did not exist (thanks to years of advocacy, expanded coverage is now available to children, pregnant people, and those in the postpartum period). The older she got, the more aware she became of a system that shut people out of care simply because they were immigrants. “When I was a kid he fought for me, and now it’s my time to fight for him,” she said. Mendes first learned about C4D in high school, during a research project for a history class. Then last year, she spotted members at a rally outside Danbury City Hall. Joining just felt instinctively right. “Tonight, I think it’s celebrating everybody,” she said. “It’s 16 years of nonstop fighting.” It has been. Founded at a Starbucks in New Milford in 2010, C4D is the brainchild of four then-undocumented teenagers—Hafid Dumet, Lorella Praeli, and twin sisters Carolina and Camila Bortolleto— who sat down to share their experiences, and hatched a movement. It was 2010, and the DREAM Act was up for a vote in Congress, remembered Praeli, who now works as the co-president for Community Change. In Florida, a group of undocumented teens including Gaby Pacheco had organized the “Trail of Dreams,” a walk from Miami to Washington, D.C. meant to bring attention to the struggles undocumented young people faced. Praeli can still remember how amazing it felt to see it unfold. Around that coffee table, “we talked about the fear we felt, we talked about the fear our families felt,” said Camila Bortolleto as pink lighting made the ballroom glow. In Connecticut, protections for immigrants like the TRUST Act were still three years away. None of them knew it then, but a single conversation would lead to a years-long fight for access to financial aid, healthcare coverage, and legal protections for undocumented students and families. “When young people organize, we can make real change,” Bortolleto said. In just minutes, she traced the growth of the organization from a small group of galvanized, and sometimes uncertain, students to an organizing locomotive that has pushed real legislative change in the state. In 16 years, she noted, C4D has made Connecticut a safer and more welcoming place for immigrants whatever their documentation status may be. That work is far

Lorella Praeli (in the black) at a station where people could design their own jewelry, and peruse earrings and bracelets from Hamden-based artist Robert Gribbon. Gribbon donated all of the evening's proceeds to C4D.

Executive Director Tabitha Sookdeo receives recognition from State Attorney General William Tong, one of many elected officials to honor her throughout the night.

Kica Matos, who is currently president of the National Immigration Law Center, has previously praised Sookdeo as a bridge builder.

from over: it has hit one of the most challenging periods yet as ICE agents increase their activity in the state, driving many families into hiding and creating a culture of fear across the state. Last month alone, Connecticut saw a precipitous rise in activity from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, including nearly 100 arrests that terrorized children and families in Danbury and Bridgeport during the first week of the new school year. Sookdeo understands the weight and fear of that reality intimately: like many of the young members of C4D, she has a mixed-status family. In previous interviews, she’s spoken candidly about how immediately she sees her parents and siblings in the faces of the youth C4D is

fighting for. Holding back tears Thursday, as she spoke about two separate arrests at Tweed-New Haven Airport, she noted that “my dad would be one of those people detained at an airport.” She doesn’t know when he’ll be able to visit their daughter, his grandchild, for the first time after she is born. She does know, meanwhile, that that’s a reality that so many immigrants face, in Connecticut and across the country. “I don’t know the next time it will be possible for us to get together,” she said of her family later in the evening, during a rare moment of quiet. On the dance floor, teens tore it up to a remix of Marc Anthony’s “Vivir Mi Vida,” a rainbow of light bouncing off their glow-in-the-dark crowns. A person could feel the heavy exhaustion of the mo-

ment, mingling with the joy of it all. “When I’m gone [on parental leave], I ask that you make sure they’re in good hands,” she had said earlier, and the words echoed through the space. Self-described “yelder” (that’s a young elder, although at 38 she is more the former than the latter) United We Dream’s Greisa Martínez said she was thrilled to be there as “an admirer and supporter” that has been with the organization from the jump. A longtime friend of Dumet’s, she can still remember hearing about those first conversations, and rooting the group on from the sidelines as it built membership and started organizing around major policy issues. Nearly two decades later, she’s seen firsthand—and in many states across the country—how grassroots activism can move the legislative needle. So when C4D announced the gathering, it was a no-brainer for her to travel from Arizona, where her activism is currently based, to be with some of the friends she has grown up with. Even in a moment of crisis, she added, creating spaces for joy and celebration is a necessity. Thursday’s festivities didn’t negate the weight of families living in fear of, and separated by, the current administration: they gave organizers the fuel to keep fighting. “This is part of the work,” she said, referring to the gala as attendees tucked into their dinner plates, and conversation rose up against the rattle and clink of glasses and silverware. “It’s not an indulgence. It’s not an exception.” When people organize, “we can change our realities,” added Dumet. “I believe young people have a hand in shaping the debate around what is needed for them.” Dumet, like so many of the young people, “yelders,” and seasoned organizers and activists in the room, has lived that firsthand. As a young person, he migrated from Beirut to New Milford, where he was able to finish high school. By then, he had started to understand that “something was wrong” with a system that withheld rights from any group of people because of who they were. That was especially true when he, initially discouraged because of his status, applied to college a year after completing high school. When he accepted an offer from Western Connecticut State University, he was surprised, then crushed, to learn that his status meant that he would have to pay for out-of-state tuition. Dumet persevered: he enrolled as a parttime student in accounting, and finished in six years. Even before he was done, he was advocating for in-state tuition for undocumented students at state universities, a legislative change that took place for the first time in 2011, with an expansion in 2015. As it passed, he could see firsthand that sustained activism worked. Throughout the night, many in the room also urged young people to hold onto hope, even when the moment seems hopeless. Introduced by fiery organizer Melany Yunga, Attorney General William Tong, who attended as the evening’s keynote speaker, acknowledged the number of “near misses” that immigrant families endure to build their lives in the U.S. Con’t on page 13

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026 Con’t from page 12

Immigration Fight

His father, Ady Tong, was one of those stories. To a room that was quiet enough to hear a pin drop—save for waves of laughter at a joke about a pay phone or mailbox—Tong conjured the memory of his dad, a Chinese immigrant who fled the mainland for Hong Kong, and came to the U.S. on a tourist visa. In Hartford, he met Tong’s mother, Nancy, at a Chinese restaurant where he was the dishwasher. By several years later, the two had opened their own establishment on Park Street. It was hard, round-the-clock work, Tong said. In 1972, an officer from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS, which was a precursor to ICE, which was founded in 2003) showed up at the restaurant, bringing with him the threat of deportation for Tong’s father, who had overstayed his visa. Even as his parents considered self-deporting to Canada, “my dad, like many immigrants, wasn’t done fighting.” “He was like, ‘I’m not gonna go out like this,’” said Tong, who had not yet been born, but has heard the story dozens of times from his family. Scared and unsure as he was, Ady composed a letter to then-President Richard Nixon, who was not known as a particular friend to immigrants. By the time he was done writing, it was six pages. Tong has never been able to confirm all of the details, but knows from family stories that it got INS to reconsider. His parents worked toward becoming naturalized citizens, which took place five years after his birth. Tong, meanwhile, was granted the same birthright citizenship for which he is still fighting, and sued the Trump Administration over last year. “So many people share this story,” he said, denouncing the behavior of ICE agents. As a kid, he continued, he sometimes wondered what the thick, sometimes ripe and bright mess on the front of his father’s apron was at the end of the day. He now understands that “he was willing to take anything they threw at him.” “I know the fights are hard,” he continued, chronicling a series of lawsuits against the Trump Administration that he has joined and sometimes spearheaded as the state’s attorney general. “But when it’s hard, remember. You can do what the immigrants do. You can fight and never back down.” That is, of course, what members of the group have done, and are continuing to do, all over the state. In the last 16 years, organizers with C4D have helped shift statewide policy on everything from in-state tuition benefits for undocumented students to expanded protections under the TRUST Act, some as recently as last year. Under Sookdeo’s tenure—which she made clear was not changing anytime soon—the organization has both continued that advocacy and focused on the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate targeting of immigrants, often regardless of documentation status. In the past two years, C4D has rallied for immigrant neighbors, protested Avelo Airlines, and helped build out a coordinated support network. “I’m thankful every day that you have chosen us,” Bortolleto said to Sookdeo before the end of the night. It was no surprise that within seconds, the room was on its feet.

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Tensions Soar, Justice Falters THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

by Adam Wassilchalk

The Ford/Hill Project Long Wharf Theatre 515 Sherman Ave, Hamden (Sept. 19-20, 2026) 501 Crescent St, New Haven CT (Sept. 25-27, 2026) “Shakespeare would love this,” one performer notes during Long Wharf Theatre’s The Ford/Hill Project, speaking verbatim Sen. Alan Simpson’s own words from the 1991 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing wherein Anita Hill testified to workplace sexual harassment perpetrated by now-SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas. It is uncomfortable and even emotionally triggering to experience the testimonies of Hill and Dr Christine Blasey Ford, whose words are performed in parallel in this play. But Simpson’s remark illustrates one of the many painful ironies resurrected by this brilliantly evocative piece: our legislature made a dramatic spectacle out of some of the difficult experiences of these women’s lives long before Elizabeth Marvel and Lee Sunday Evans dared to stage them. The Ford/Hill Project, the first production in Long Wharf’s 62nd season, themed “The State of the Union,” is a specific kind of verbatim play in which each performer has an in-ear monitor feeding them text live, which they are then meant to immediately repeat. In this piece, the “texts” are transcripts of testimonies Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas gave during a 1991 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that preceded Thomas’ confirmation to the Supreme Court; and transcripts of testimonies of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh during the 2018 Judiciary Committee hearing that preceded Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Su-

preme Court. The mechanics of this kind of performance are no easy feat to manage, even before considering how emotionally charged and vulnerable the material itself is; high praise is in order for the entire cast of The Ford/Hill Project. Mayaa Boateng brings a grounded composure to the testimony of Hill, befitting of someone who had then built her whole career around government work and knows that environment well. By contrast, Chirstina Kirk brings a raw edginess to the testimony of Dr. Ford, determined to speak her truth about a sexual assault perpetrated by Kavanaugh, but doing so in a forum that is not entirely familiar or comfortable for her. Amara James Aja and Roderick Kirk exude self-righteous indignation as Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh respectively, as Thomas likens his hearing experience to a “lynching,” and Kavanaugh likens it to something “worse

than hell.” While each of the performers is credited in the program only as the individual listed above, each performance track is, in reality, more expansive than those credits imply. Some statements and questions from the senators and personnel facilitating the hearing are woven into the performance, too. At times, the testimonies of the core four figures are given by someone other than their primary credited performer. These judiciously crafted moments provoke surprising insights: One audience member noted that brief section where Aja and Kirk speak Hill’s and Dr. Ford’s testimonies aloud made them wonder what would happen if men were the ones to bring allegation of sexual harassment and assault before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Lee Sunday Evans’ direction of the piece, which she co-created with Elizabeth Marvel, serves to magnify and

interrogate the dynamics of identity and power that are reckoned with in The Ford/Hill Project. On the nine-chair set, reminiscent of the nine seats on the U.S. Supreme Court, Evans’ staging features a series of simple, still, and symmetric tableaux, arranged to maximize performer eye contact with the audience. The staging keeps the audience focused on the text of the testimonies themselves and the inherent power dynamics that exist between the performers giving them. The cast of four includes one Black woman, one Black man, one white woman, and one white man. Evans evokes mountains of meaning from the pairing of differently gendered and racialized bodies onstage, especially in the moments where different combinations of privilege and power deviate from the original identities of the individuals in the transcripts. Even while knowing the synopsis of the The Ford/Hill project going in, I found

the piece to be an unexpectedly intense experience. Seeing the news headlines is a wholly different experience from having the testimony shared live directly in front of you. While I knew the circumstances of the 2018 hearing with Dr. Ford pretty well, I knew far less about the 1991 hearing. I was therefore unprepared for Boateng to stand in front of me and reveal through testimony that Hill and I share a birthplace, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma. Thankfully, the audience is not left alone to tend to the bruises that The Ford/Hill Project’s emotional sucker punches may leave. A decompression space is available to audiences before, during, and after each performance. Every performance concludes with a facilitated public conversation with community partners. At my performance, the public conversation was facilitated by social workers Dr. Robert Nesbitt and Rev. Martine Gloria Bruno. Dr. Nesbitt led us in a grounding and guided breathing exercise before the conversation began. I’m glad that Long Wharf and their partners chose to create that space for the audience to process and unpack The Ford/ Hill Project together; it’s an example of the kind of community engagement and community care that reflects the company’s values as it continues to present work in its itinerant producing model. In their curtain speech, Managing Director Meredith Suttles and Creative Producer Jacob G. Padrón lauded the theater as a place to share in a collective experience that can promote dialogue with impacts far beyond any single performance. The Ford/ Hill Project easily lives up to that ideal. The Ford/Hill Project runs through Sept. 27; tickets are available here. Tickets are free for students K-12, and $15 for college students.

Could CT Legislators Give Residents A Break On Their Federal Income Tax? Senator Says It’s Possible by Donald Eng HARWINTON, CT — Can Connecticut alter its tax code to reduce residents’ federal income tax? A legislative working group is looking into that exact proposal, with a report expected by the end of the year. “I’ve been fascinated by this idea of payroll tax savings since I first heard about it in 2019; wages are reduced, but taxes are reduced by an even-greater amount, and the result is you get to keep more of your money,” Honig said. “I’ve always thought this was an idea that had enormous potential for Connecticut residents, who could save upwards of a billion dollars a year in federal income and payroll taxes.” State Sen. Paul Honig, D-Harwinton, led a roundtable discussion last week on his proposed plan. He introduced the idea during the past legislative session, and the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee raised it as Senate Bill 513. The bill

had bipartisan support, passing the committee on a 40-14 vote, but did not get called to the Senate floor. Honig explained the idea using an example of a worker earning $100,000 a year and paying $5,000 in state income tax. The worker takes a pay cut to $95,000, but no longer pays Connecticut state income tax on their wages. The employer pays a $5,000 payroll tax. The employee still nets $95,000 and the state still gets $5,000 in income tax. But the employee now reports $95,000 on their federal income tax instead of $100,000. The change would result in an estimated tax savings of about $1,100, Honig estimated. The next step is to survey working group members on solutions to issues that were raised, such as mitigating lower Social Security benefits, whether the program should be voluntary or mandatory, and whether the program applies to special classes of employers, Honig said. The working group includes legislators

and representatives from legal, financial and business-advocacy groups.

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Honig acknowledged the potential for legal challenges, which is why the work-

ing group includes legal experts, he said. Should the idea spread to other states, the federal government could potentially respond by raising taxes to compensate for the lost revenue, he said. But even if that happened, Connecticut residents would still pay proportionally less because residents in the nine states without a state income tax – Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming – still pay federal income tax. But their states would not be able to offer the same payroll tax adjustment that Honig is proposing Connecticut adopt. “The idea here is to try to save people money on their taxes, but in this case, it’s their federal taxes,” Honig said. “And I think in the environment we’re in, where cost of living is such a big issue for so many people, I think it’s the right thing to do to try to find ways, you know, creative ways to try to save people money.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

NHPS Eyes Free Swim Lessons For Third Graders

CONSTRUCTION JOB FAIR Whalley Avenue Redevelopment HIRING ALL TRADES! • CONCRETE • MASONRY • CARPENTRY • INSULATION • ROOFING • SIDING • • PAINTING • PLUMBING • ELECTRICAL • SOLAR • FLOORING • FENCING • PAVING • • LANDSCAPING • GENERAL LABOR • HVAC • DRYWALL • FIRE SUPPRESSION • • SITEWORK • DEMO • CLEANING •

Erik Patchkofsky (center): "What we will be doing is offering all third-grade families an opportunity to have their students have free basic swim lessons." Credit: Dereen Shirnekhi File Photo

by Maya McFadden Starting as soon as Oct. 6, New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) plans to offer free swim lessons for third graders thanks to a grant recently secured by the district’s athletics director, Erik Patchkofsky. Patchkofsky presented that plan and an associated no-cost agreement to the Board of Education’s Finance & Operations Committee (F&O) on Monday during the committee’s latest Zoom meeting. The proposed agreement is with Asphalt Green, which will provide a $250,595 grant to NHPS to build out this new swimming program in collaboration with the city’s Youth and Recreation Department and the local nonprofit Leadership, Education, and Athletics in Partnership (LEAP). The new program will offer afterschool swim lessons for students without prior swimming instruction, Patchofsky told the committee. Asphalt Green is a New York nonprofit that operates a “Wave Makers” initiative that provides free swimming lessons to second graders across New York City. The Asphalt Green grant to NHPS will be for the 2026–27 school year. Patchofsky also told the committee that this past spring, the district’s superintendent tasked him with implementing a program to teach NHPS students to swim. He said his team decided third graders would be best to start with. When an initial funding source for the program fell through, Patchofsky and city Youth & Rec Deputy Director of Operations & Recreation Felicia Shashinka connected with Asphalt Green to secure new money. “What we will be doing is offering all

third-grade families an opportunity to have their students have free basic swim lessons,” Patchkofsky said. If they want to continue after this year’s lessons, those students would be encouraged to continue building up their swim skills through more advanced lessons with LEAP. The $250,595 grant will be used to pay for lifeguards, a transportation coordinator, and transportation to get third graders to the district’s pools. The program will provide 12 one-hour group swimming lessons to third-grade students from the districts elementary/middle schools with a focus on water safety and basic swimming skills. Board of Education member Andrea Downer spoke up in support of the initiative and praised the thoughtfulness of the endeavor. She said it will meet a real need for New Haveners. “Bringing forth a program like this directly supports our student’s safety, equity and opportunity,” she said. Patchkofsky said that the goal is for the program to make use of four of the school district’s five pools. Currently, only three NHPS pools — at James Hillhouse High School, Hill Regional Career High School, and John Martinez Sea & Sky STEM — are operational. The school district is still working on getting the pool at Conte West Hills Magnet School back online. “We are working on contingency plans to either shorten the amount of lessons or extend them to later into the year or whatever we need to do to get as many kids lessons as possible,” Patchkofsky said. Patchkofsky’s team plans to make modifications to the schedule that has been provided to Board of Education members as needed once families sign up.

CONTRACTORS AVAILABLE FOR ON-THE-SPOT INTERVIEWS!

September 24, 2026 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM St. Luke's Episcopal Church Hall 111 Whalley Ave, New Haven, CT 06511 Parking available behind Church, access via Sperry St. For more information, please contact Jennifer Severs PH: 203-888-8118 EMAIL: jsevers@haynesct.com

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

Henry O. Flipper: A Trailblazer at West Point and Beyond

OAKLAND POST — Flipper’s promising military career ended abruptly in 1881 when he was accused of embezzling commissary funds. A court-martial acquitted him of embezzlement, but convicted him of conduct unbecoming of an officer. The Army dismissed him in 1882. The circumstances surrounding his punishment would later be widely regarded as unjust and influenced by the racial discrimination of the period. By Tamara Shiloh Henry Ossian Flipper’s life is a remarkable story of insistence, achievement, injustice, and ultimately vindication. Born enslaved on March 21, 1856, in Thomasville, Georgia, Flipper rose from the restrictions of slavery to become the first African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. His accomplishments extended far beyond military service; he later became a respected engineer, surveyor, author, translator, and government official. After the Civil War, Flipper’s family settled in Atlanta, where education became central to his future. He attended schools established for African American children by the American Missionary Association and later studied at Atlanta University. In 1873, Congressman James C. Freeman of Georgia nominated Flipper for admission to West Point. He entered the academy that July. Flipper’s four years at West Point were extremely difficult. Because of racism, he experienced harassment and almost complete social isolation from many of his fellow cadets. Nevertheless, he succeeded academically and graduated on June 14, 1877, ranking 50th in a class of 76. His graduation represented a historic breakthrough for African Americans in the United States military. Commissioned as a second lieutenant,

Henry Ossian Flipper. Public Domain.

Flipper was assigned to the 10th U.S. Cavalry, one of the famed African American regiments known as the Buffalo Soldiers. At Fort Sill in Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, Flipper served as an engineer, surveyor, construction supervisor, quartermaster, and commissary officer. One of his most lasting engineering accomplishments was a drainage system that eliminated pools of stagnant water around the fort and helped reduce mosquito-breeding areas. The system became known as “Flipper’s Ditch,” and portions of it remain associated with Fort Sill today.

Converse apologizes after backlash over sneaker ad deemed racist

Flipper’s promising military career ended abruptly in 1881 when he was accused of embezzling commissary funds. A court-martial acquitted him of embezzlement, but convicted him of conduct unbecoming of an officer. The Army dismissed him in 1882. The circumstances surrounding his punishment would later be widely regarded as unjust and influenced by the racial discrimination of the period. Rather than allowing his dismissal to define his life, Flipper built an extraordinary civilian career. He became a civil and mining engineer and surveyor, working extensively throughout the American Southwest and Mexico. He established an engineering office in Nogales, Arizona, became knowledgeable about Spanish and Mexican land law, and later worked for the federal government, including service connected with the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior. Flipper died in Atlanta in 1940, but efforts to restore his reputation continued for decades. In 1976, the Army changed his dismissal to an honorable discharge. Then, on February 19, 1999, President Bill Clinton granted Flipper a posthumous presidential pardon. Today, Henry Ossian Flipper is remembered because his life helped open doors for generations of African American military officers, engineers, and public servants who followed him.

Dr. Glenda Glover On The Fight For Equitable HBCU Funding By Courtesy of HBCUNEWS.com

For former Tennessee State University President Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, the fight over equitable funding for HBCUs is far from over. During the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference, Glover discussed the decades of underfunding faced by Tennessee State University and other historically Black land-grant institutions across the country. The CPA and attorney, who led TSU from 2013 to 2024, details that fight in her new book, How Dare You: An HBCU President’s Fight for Half a Billion Dollars Owed—and the State’s Actions to Avoid Payment. At the center of the dispute is $544.3 million that a Tennessee legislative analysis found TSU had been underfunded between 1957 and 2021. A separate federal analysis released in 2023 estimated that TSU would have received nearly $2.15 billion more between 1987 and 2020 if its state funding per student had been equal to Tennessee’s predominantly white landgrant institution. Glover said the disparity deprived TSU of resources that could have supported its students, faculty, facilities and research for decades. And Tennessee isn’t alone. A federal

by Francis Akhalbey, Face2FaceAfrica.com

Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover

analysis of the nation’s 18 historically Black land-grant universities found funding disparities in 16 states, totaling nearly $13 billion between 1987 and 2020. Glover also called for greater investment in HBCU research programs. Howard University is currently the only HBCU classified as Research 1 under the Carnegie Classification system, which requires institutions to meet thresholds for both research spending and doctoral degree production.

Despite the funding challenges, Glover said HBCUs have continued finding ways to support students and improve retention and graduation, pointing to changes TSU made during her tenure, including expanded advising and mentorship. For Glover, leading an HBCU requires both preparation and a willingness to advocate for the institution. And when it comes to TSU, she maintains that the documented history of underfunding should remain part of the public conversation.

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Converse has issued an apology after it received backlash over a sneaker ad that critics deemed to have racist elements. Per CBS News, the sneaker company took down the ad in the wake of the backlash. The ad, posted on Instagram, showed K-pop singer Karina wearing a white skirt and holding a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers. But critics said the lighting on Karina’s skirt, which was triangular, looked like a Ku Klux Klan hood. Critics additionally said that the way the singer was holding the pair of sneakers depicted an image of someone who had been lynched. “We’re sorry,” Converse said in a statement to the news outlet. “We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong. We removed it from our channels and are working to remove it everywhere it appeared. This should not have happened, and we will do better.” Despite the apology, marketing experts and social justice advocates described the ad as culturally insensitive. Some critics also suggested that the ad could have been deliberately rolled out to gather attention by provoking backlash. “It’s a strategy in an attention economy. We have the sense that these images move so many different gateways before they get in front of the public, so it’s hard to imagine nobody flagged what feels so abundantly apparent,” Nadine Smith, CEO of the racial justice organization, Color of Change, told CBS News.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

NAACP CEO rips Protect College Sports Act in ESPN appearance: ‘Greed by the conferences’ By Ira Gorawara

NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson sharply criticized the Protect College Sports Act during an appearance on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” on Tuesday evening, rejecting the premise that college sports needs congressional intervention and accusing conferences of seeking greater control over athletes at a time players are gaining more financial power. “There’s no instability in the game,” Johnson said. “It’s just greed by the conferences.” Johnson’s appearance came three days after Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a co-author of the PCSA, received nearly 10 minutes on ESPN’s “College GameDay” ahead of Ohio State-Texas in Austin to advocate for the legislation. Cruz appeared alone with host Rece Davis, without an opponent of the legislation participating in the discussion. The NAACP subsequently posted on X asking ESPN to bring Johnson onto this week’s “College GameDay” in Oxford, Miss., to present its opposition. ESPN instead booked him for Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET edition of “SportsCenter.” Minutes after Johnson’s appearance, the bill cleared its first major hurdle on the Senate floor. Senators voted 74-24 to invoke cloture and begin consideration of the legislation, a significant step toward a final Senate vote, which could come next week if the process continues to advance. Johnson focused much of his interview on what he sees as missing from that federal framework: a direct voice for athletes and a right to collectively bargain. “What’s really at stake here is students’ ability to collectively bargain,” Johnson said. “If this was student centered, students and players should have been at the table, and they were not at the table.” Asked about state laws that restrict collective bargaining by college athletes, Johnson said Congress itself could estab-

Derrick Johnson criticized the Protect College Sports Act during an appearance on "SportsCenter" on Tuesday. “There’s no instability in the game. It’s just greed by the conferences,” he said. Ayrton Breckenridge / USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

lish such a right nationally. “Students should be able to collectively bargain as a federal right,” he said. “If you’re going to have federal legislation to govern college sports, then the federal law would preside. So this is not about state law.” The bipartisan PCSA, sponsored by Cruz and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), would establish national rules governing athlete compensation, transfers, eligibility and recruiting while granting the NCAA and conferences limited antitrust protection to enforce certain rules. As noted, it does not establish collective bargaining rights. Also, unlike some previous congressional proposals, it does not declare college athletes to be nonemployees. Advertisement The legislation has the support of the

NCAA and all four power conferences, among numerous other college sports organizations. It advanced from the Senate Commerce Committee by a 19-9 bipartisan vote in June. After further negotiations produced changes that won the backing of the Big Ten and SEC, revised bill text was released Aug. 4. Supporters of the legislation have repeatedly argued that years of litigation, unrestricted player movement and an evolving compensation system have created instability that now demands federal involvement. Cruz has described the current system as “chaos,” while Cantwell has argued the legislation is needed to protect scholarships, healthcare and women’s and Olympic sports. Johnson challenged that characterization directly.

“Who says there’s instability?” Johnson said. “You have coaches that have been doing this for decades now, and unfortunately, the players did not have the same rights. Now that players have rights, they’re saying it’s unstable. “I watched college football this weekend. Every stand of every game I watched was full. People were excited. The game is as rich as it has ever been. TV revenue is up.” Johnson also criticized provisions designed to benefit Historically Black Colleges and Universities, dismissing the HBCU components as a “head fake” and arguing that longstanding federal underfunding of historically Black institutions should be addressed independently of the PCSA. “It is an authorization, but not an appro-

priation,” Johnson said. “That’s two different things.” He added: “We should not be tokenizing our Historically Black Colleges and Universities, in order for the major college universities to generate $14 billion in revenue annually.” Johnson said any federal legislation should also guarantee athletes a role in decision-making, longer-term medical support and protection of their educational opportunities after injuries. The PCSA already contains scholarship and post-eligibility healthcare protections, though Johnson argued athletes should receive broader safeguards and bargaining power. The bill’s sponsors say it would codify name, image and likeness rights, scholarship protections and healthcare requirements in federal law. The NAACP formally opposed the bill last month, arguing that Congress should not give colleges and conferences new antitrust protections, federal preemption and other legal benefits. Other opponents include Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and labor groups, which have raised concerns about athlete rights and the authority the legislation would give college sports governing bodies. Johnson’s “SportsCenter” appearance gave the NAACP its first comparable ESPN platform since Cruz’s “College GameDay” segment, though not on the show the organization had requested. ESPN offered Johnson the airtime Tuesday because the Senate could act on the legislation before Saturday. “There’s nothing unstable with students not being exploited on the field,” Johnson said. “There’s nothing unstable with there being true opportunities for families to benefit from the skill that their children are displaying on the basketball court or the football field.”

Trump made multiple false and misleading claims in front of the UN General Assembly

President Donald Trump made myriad false and misleading claims during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, many of which he has repeated frequently throughout his second term in the White House. They covered topics such as U.S. munitions supply, drug seizures, oil and the economy. CLAIM: “We have more munitions than we could ever possibly even think of using, and we’re building them at levels that we have never done before.” THE FACTS: Published reports and experts contradict this claim. Weapons stockpiles are diminishing, according to officials from the U.S. military, NATO and the Middle East, and it will take years for U.S. military contractors to replenish Tomahawk cruise missiles as well as Patriot and THAAD missile interceptors, according to defense experts. In August, officials told The Associated Press that the U.S. military is experiencing a “beyond critical” shortage of advanced missile interceptors in Eu-

rope largely driven by President Donald Trump’s war with Iran, raising concerns about vulnerabilities in NATO countries to a potential Russian attack. One U.S. defense official said the most concerning shortfall involves Patriot missile interceptors, which can shoot down Russia’s high-speed ballistic missiles. A NATO official confirmed low inventories of Patriot missiles among American and NATO forces in Europe. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters. “The United States has enough munitions for any plausible scenario in the Iran war, but the depleted inventories have created a window of vulnerability for a potential Western Pacific conflict,” the Center for Strategic and International Studies said in a May report. “The time needed to rebuild those inventories has thus become a major concern.” CLAIM: “When you add the United States and Venezuela together, we have more than 60% of the oil in the world.” THE FACTS: Trump’s numbers don’t add

United States President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026.

up. In a deal announced at the end of August, the U.S. entered into a joint venture that gives it 100-year rights to 17 oil fields in Venezuela with proven reserves of 65 billion barrels of oil. It is estimated the

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country has reserves totaling more than 303 billion barrels of crude oil. The deal vastly expanded the U.S. proven oil reserves by 46 billion barrels. But because Venezuela’s energy infrastructure has been severely degraded, it will take years before new investments will lead to significantly higher oil production, experts say. But even if that were not an issue and the largest numbers were used, the combined resources would only account for about 22% of the world’s nearly 1.6 trillion barrels of oil reserves. CLAIM: “The United States has carried out dozens of strikes on cartel drug boats, destroying 97% of the drugs coming into the ocean and sea.” THE FACTS: Trump has made similar claims in recent months, with varying percentages. But experts say the real number can’t be known because it is impossible to determine how many drugs are not intercepted. Asked in April for the source of Trump’s statistics after he said in a Truth Social

post that 98.2% of drugs smuggled in via such routes had been stopped, the White House directed The Associated Press to Customs and Border Protection data on drug seizures. The data showed that drug seizures made in the coastal/interior region, which includes open and coastal waters, were 98.2% lower in November 2025 than they were in July 2025. But this is not a measure of all trafficked drugs and it is only a snapshot of two specific months, not an overall trend. “Drug seizure data measure interdiction activity, not actual trafficking volume,” Dessa Bergen-Cico, a professor of public health at Syracuse University who studies drug trafficking, told the AP at the time. “As drug policy researchers have noted, no one knows how much goes uncaught, and changes in seizure data are insufficient to make definitive claims about policy outcomes.” Interdiction activity refers to the prevention of illicit drugs from reaching their destination.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

REQUEST FOR BIDS

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

Request for Qualifications

Dog Park at Crown Street Parking Garage New Haven Parking Authority New Haven, Connecticut NHPA Project #20-057

Architectural Engineering Services for West Rock Community Center Redevelopment

Bids due October 21, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT

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

Bid Documents, including Special Notice to Bidders for Community Subcontracting Opportunities, Project Manual, Drawings, and Bid Forms, will be available beginning Thursday, September 24, 2026 at no cost to you by downloading from the BuildingConnected FTP system website. Please contact Maryann Bigda of Turner Construction Company, which is the New Haven Parking Authority’s professional construction program manager, at (203) 712-6070 for BuildingConnected FTP system access information.

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

Listing: Technician Pre-Apprentice Immediate opening for a full-time Technician Pre-Apprentice. Candidate must possess a valid driver’s license and have knowledge of computers and power tools. HVAC/supply knowledge is preferred. 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 email HRDept@eastriverenergy.com **An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled and Veterans**

MECHANIC III

The Town of Wallingford is accepting applications for Mechanic III. Wages: $36.31 to $44.08 hourly. For additional information and to apply online by the October 5, 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

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for multiple Agency Labor Relations Specialist Trainee (Leadership Associate (Confidential) positions in the Office of Labor Relations. Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/ sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 260831&R2=5989VR&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.

THEINNERCITYNEWS.COM

The work for this project includes, but is not limited to: protection of existing features to remain; location of underground utilities; soil erosion and sediment control; contaminated soil excavation, transportation, and disposal; site preparation; placement and compaction of backfill; aggregate surfacing; bituminous concrete sidewalks;. chain link fence and gates; and miscellaneous coordination; together with all incidental work thereto and in accordance with the Bid Documents.

Bidders must submit with their Bid on forms provided a list of their Intended Subcontractors including:

installation salesperson for the residential marketplace who is energetic and self-motivated. Salary, commission, 401K match, health, dental, vision & life insurance, paid time off and vehicle allowances for qualified personnel. Previous home improvement design/sales preferred. AA/EOE Employer. Please send resume to mpicard@atlasoutdoor.com

tor 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.

At this Zoom bid opening, all bids will be publicly opened and the name of the Bidder and its total Bid Price will be read aloud. Bids received after the time set for the opening will be rejected.

Bidders will be responsible for the requirements of ALL documents made available and will not be relieved of responsibilities for requirements indicated in any bid documents not downloaded or viewed.

Help Wanted: Atlas Outdoor is looking for an estimator/design and

Shop Welder/Fabricator: Large CT Fence & Guardrail Contrac-

The New Haven Parking Authority will receive sealed bids for Dog Park at Crown Street Parking Garage, NHPA Project #20-057, until 3:00 PM EDT on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. All Bids shall be submitted through the BuildingConnected FTP system. Bids may be submitted at any time leading up to the specified due date and time and will remain sealed within the BuildingConnected FTP system until the specified due date and time. The New Haven Parking Authority will be conducting a virtual public bid opening using the Zoom Link included in the Bid Documents.

a. the utilization of DAS-certified Small Business Enterprises (“SBE”) for a requirement of at least 30% of the Bidder’s entire contract value;

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

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b. the utilization of DAS-certified Minority owned Business Enterprises (“MBE”), Women owned Business Enterprises (“WBE”) and/or Disabled owned Business Enterprises (“DisBE”) for a requirement of at least 25% of the Bidder’s entire contract value. Please note that the MBE, WBE, and/or DisBE are part of the SBE; and c. Independent of the SBE/MBE/WBE/DisBE requirements herein, a minimum of 10% of the Bidder’s entire contract value must include businesses having a place of business within the City of New Haven limits. A satisfactory bid bond executed by the bidder and acceptable surety in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid shall be submitted with each bid. The New Haven Parking Authority is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Minority/Women/Disabled Business Enterprises are encouraged to apply.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

360 Management

The Town of East Haven

is currently accepting applications to participate in the examination for the position of Secretary II, Grade Level 10-$25.40/hour, 37.5 hours per week, 12-month position. Qualified candidates must possess a High School Diploma or equivalent with a business course background and a minimum of 3 years secretarial experience. Prior experience in a school system or related work with children preferred. The application is available online at https://www.easthaven-ct.gov/jobs.aspx or from the Civil Service Office, 250 Main Street, East Haven and must be returned by August 17, 2026. The Town of East Haven is committed to building a workforce of diverse individuals. Minorities, Females, Handicapped and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Invitation for Bids

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

August 31, 2026, at 3:00PM.

Elm City Communities

Members of the public are invited to

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Invitation for Bids Trash Collection Services

VIRTUAL PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING State Project No. 0171-0522 Crosswalk Upgrades in Central Connecticut (Bristol, Cheshire, Ellington, Enfield, Hartford, Meriden, Middletown, New Britian, Newington, South Windsor, Tolland, Wethersfield, and Windsor)

Elm City Communities is currently seeking bids from qualified contractors to perform Trash Col-lection services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Ven-dor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems. com/gateway be-ginning on

Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

August 10, 2026, at 3:00PM.

Attend & Learn More: portal.ct.gov/DOTCentralCT0171-0522 The purpose of this meeting is to provide the community with an opportunity to learn about the proposed project and allow an open discussion of any views and comments concerning the proposed improvements. A Q&A session will immediately follow the presentation.

Exp. Welder call Jill 860-274-9668

The project involves installing and upgrading RRFB assemblies, sidewalk landing areas, ramps, and signage, enhancing safety at several pedestrian crossings across central Connecticut. Right-of-way impacts should be limited; however, construction and/or permanent easements may be needed for RRFB appurtenances and/or sidewalk ramps.

LEGAL NOTICE

Construction is expected to start spring 2028, depending on funding, right-of-way acquisition, and permits. The estimated cost is $2 million, with 90% federal funds and 10% state funds. The public can submit comments and questions during two-week public comment period following meeting. Direct comments and questions by Thursday, October 15, 2026, to Balazs Szoke at DOTProject0171-0522@ct.gov or 860-594-2020. Please reference Project No. 0171-0522 in the email or voicemail.

The South Central Regional Council of Governments is accepting qualifications for:

ACCESSIBILITY The recording will also be posted following the meeting in CTDOT’s public meeting playlist at portal.ct.gov/ctdotVPIMarchive. Non-English language closed captioning will be available on YouTube.

RFQ #027-04: SCRCOG Forward – An Organizational Strategic Plan (2027-2032)

For audio only, call 877-853-5257 with Meeting ID 864 5872 6669. Project information can be mailed within one week by contacting Balazs Szoke at DOTProject0171-0522@ct.gov or 860-594-2020.

The South Central Regional Council of Governments (“SCRCOG”) is soliciting qualifications from reputable consulting firms to create SCRCOG Forward – An Organizational Strategic Plan (2027-2032) for the regional agency that includes fifteen member municipalities in South Central Connecticut. The selected firm will lead a comprehensive organizational strategic planning process to assess SCRCOG’s current role, programs and services, governance, organizational capacity, and establish a clear strategic direction for the organization over the next five years. Responding firms should have experience with strategic planning, organizational planning, and other related planning efforts.

Individuals with hearing/speech disabilities can dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). Request language assistance from CTDOT’s Language Assistance at 860-594-2109 at least five business days before meeting.

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

The complete request for proposals (“RFQ”) document can be obtained on the SCRCOG website, www.scrcog.org/ RFQs shall be submitted in the manner specified to Laura Francis, Executive Director, 127 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor West, North Haven, CT 06473, until 12:00 P.M. eastern standard time on Tuesday, October 6th, 2026. For questions concerning this RFQ, send questions to scrcog@scrcog.org. SCRCOG is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

360 Management Invitation for Bids

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

August 10, 2026, at 3:00PM.

Exp. Welder call Jill 860-274-9668 Attendant I 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

Listing: Full-Time Class A Driver

Opening for a Class A Full-Time driver for petroleum/asphalt/like products deliveries for nights and weekends. Previous experience required. Send re-sume to: HR Manager, P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437 or email: SIZE 3.5 by hrdept@eastriverenergy.com 4.0

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DRAFT ANNUAL INTENDED USE PLAN FOR STATE FISCAL YEAR 2027 The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is holding a remote Public Hearing via Microsoft Teams video conferencing on August 18, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., to receive testimony from the public on the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Draft Annual Intended Use Plan (IUP), which includes the draft Project Priority Lists (PPLs), for State Fiscal Year 2027. This draft IUP includes the fifth year of additional funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The hearing will be held in conformance with the provisions of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 (Public Law 104‐182), and pursuant to Sections 22a‐478(h) and 22a‐482 of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 22a‐482‐1(c) (4) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. Copies of the Draft Annual IUP, which includes the draft PPLs, may be obtained online at the DPH’s webpage at www.ct.gov/ dwsrf. To listen to or participate virtually in the Public Hearing please visit DPH’s webpage at www.ct.gov/dwsrf. The access information for the hearing will be posted in the near future. Please continue to visit our webpage for information regarding the DWSRF Program. Upon request, a physical location and electronic equipment necessary to attend the meeting will be provided to anyone submitting such request in writing at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Persons wishing to provide comments to the DWSRF section on the Draft Annual IUP are invited to do so in writing no later than 4:30 p.m. on August 10, 2026 to DPH.CTDWSRF@ct.gov. Please note in the Subject line “DWSRF Public Hearing”. DPH is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

***An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Disabled & Veter-ans*** FOR OUTREACH EVENT

SMALL CONTRACTORS WANTED LaRosa Building Group is hosting an outreach event for small contractors interested in working on the Adams Street Phase II construction project. Waterbury M/W/SBEs are encouraged to attend. Tuesday, October 6, from 3:30-5:30 PM: Silas Bronson Library 267 Grand St, Waterbury, CT 06702 Email: outreach@larosabg.com

An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

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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 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 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 - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

America’s Reading Crisis Demands More Than Concern. It Demands Action JACKSON ADVOCATE — A national literacy crisis is emerging as reading achievement continues to decline across the United States. Nearly 40% of fourth graders read below the basic level, and roughly one-third of eighth graders are below basic, marking the highest share ever recorded.

By BlackPressUSA Newswire Marc H. Morial National Urban League President & CEO New York City’s troubling decline in reading scores, despite one of the most ambitious literacy reform efforts in the nation, is a wakeup call for the entire nation. Across the country, reading achievement continues to decline. Nearly 40 percent of fourth graders read below the basic level and roughly a third of eighth graders are reading below basic, the highest share ever recorded. Taken together, these numbers reveal a national literacy crisis that threatens economic opportunity, educational equity, and our nation’s future competitiveness. Reading is not merely another subject in school. Reading is the foundation upon which all learning rests. A child who struggles to read struggles to learn history, science, mathematics, and civics. A young person who cannot effectively read and analyze complex information faces barriers to college completion, workforce success, and informed participation in our democracy. That is why the growing literacy crisis is fundamentally an opportunity crisis. Behind every percentage point is a child whose future opportunities hang in the balance. Persistent achievement gaps mean that Black and Latino students continue to bear a disproportionate share of the consequences when reading instruction falls short. If we are serious about economic mobility and educational justice, literacy must be at the center of the conversation. For more than two decades, many

Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA. schools embraced Balanced Literacy approaches that sought to cultivate a love of reading by putting books in students’ hands and encouraging independent reading. The approach was well-intentioned, but too often foundational skills instruction, particularly phonics and decoding, suffered. The evidence is increasingly clear that explicit, systematic instruction helps more children become successful readers. States and school districts that are embracing these principles deserve credit for moving in the right direction. But millions of students are already in middle school, high school, and even college struggling to read complicated texts, analyze difficult arguments, and complete entire books. What is our plan for them?

Too many students arrive in high school lacking the reading stamina necessary to engage deeply with literature, history, or complex informational texts. College professors increasingly describe students who struggle with lengthy assignments that previous generations navigated more comfortably. To be clear, Balanced Literacy alone cannot explain these trends. Increased screen time, constant digital distractions, shortened attention spans, and the dominance of algorithm-driven content all influence students’ reading habits and learning experiences. Yet recognizing these factors cannot become an excuse for inaction. Instead, it should compel us to think more broadly about literacy.

The challenge before us is not simply helping children sound out words. It is helping them develop the capacity to wrestle with complex ideas, sustain attention, evaluate evidence, and build knowledge through reading. It is helping them become informed citizens and lifelong learners. And that requires a comprehensive, systemic strategy. We need high-quality literacy instruction beginning in early childhood settings and extending throughout elementary school. We need to strengthen early intervention so that struggling readers receive support before learning gaps become entrenched. We must carefully examine the quality and effectiveness of programs

serving our youngest learners, including Head Start and other early childhood initiatives. At the same time, we need a national commitment to literacy recovery for older students. Districts and states should be developing evidence-based strategies that help adolescents strengthen comprehension, vocabulary, knowledge-building, and engagement with complex texts. Students who fell behind during the pandemic and those who continue to struggle deserve intensive support, not lowered expectations. We should also have serious conversations about the role of technology in children’s lives. Restricting unnecessary screen exposure, particularly in the early grades, should be part of a broader effort to rebuild reading habits and attention spans that support learning. More concerning than the decline in reading scores is the absence of a clear, large-scale strategy to address the growing crisis. Every year that a struggling reader falls further behind increases the likelihood that they will face lifelong educational and economic disadvantages. The recent reading results from New York City are a warning. The national NAEP results are an even louder one. Together, they tell us that incremental change is not enough. We know more about how children learn to read than ever before. We know that literacy is the gateway to opportunity. What remains to be seen is whether we have the collective will to act with the urgency this moment demands. Our children cannot afford for us to wait. Based on reporting by Jackson Advocate.

Now is the time to be honest about Black mental health by Christian Greer Ph.D.

There is no better time than now, during National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, to have an honest conversation about the unique challenges people of color, and Black people in particular, face when dealing with the micro and macro issues of the world. For far too long, mental health was something not discussed or adequately processed, so many members of communities of color suffered in silence. Whether it was issues pertaining to depression or bipolar disorder, self-medicating, or selfharm, I am so glad more and more brave people are coming out of the shadows to share their stories and help others learn and/or feel less alone. My dear friend and colleague, Dr. Michael Lindsey, is the dean of NYU’s Silver School of Social Work. His research specializes in child and adolescent mental health services; adolescent depression; adolescent suicide; school mental health; adolescent risk behaviors; and Black

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mental health. He is a leader in the search for knowledge and solutions to generational poverty and inequality. In some of our conversations, he said Black boys are demonstrating suicidal ideations before they are even out of elementary school. So many individuals, families, and communities have been affected by the carceral state, inadequate schools and services, and housing conditions, all of which can exacerbate feelings of isolation and depression. We can no longer dismiss subtle cries for help. After COVID subsided, so many people were left with feelings of loss and despair, even as we were expected to continue on with our lives … as though a global pandemic did not occur. Some people lost their jobs and sense of self-worth and stability while others lost loved ones, and many lost both. Many are not only dealing with mental struggles, but others in their family and community are as well. It is important for us to keep our eyes open and really see our neighbors and loved ones. If you live in New York City, you can

call or text 988 and be connected to a free, confidential crisis for counseling, mental health, and substance misuse support, information, and referral. You can reach the toll-free help line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by phone, text, and online chat (988lifeline.org/chat). If you do not live in NYC, you can call Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service. It is imperative that we take care of ourselves …and one another. If you need assistance, know there are people and organizations here to help. Christina Greer, Ph.D., is a professor at Fordham University; author of the books “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

Peter Magubane: a Camera Against Apartheid THE POSITIVE COMMUNITY — Peter Magubane, a pioneering South African photographer, dedicated his life to documenting the realities of apartheid. Born in 1932, Magubane began his career at Drum magazine in 1954, initially as a driver before becoming a photographer. By BlackPressUSA Newswire Peter Magubane was more than a photographer. He was a witness, storyteller, historian and courageous chronicler of one of the most turbulent periods in South African history. Born on January 18, 1932, in Vrededorp, Johannesburg, and raised in Sophiatown, Magubane discovered photography as a young boy after receiving a Kodak Brownie camera. That simple camera would eventually become his instrument for documenting the lives, struggles and determination of Black South Africans. He died on January 1, 2024, at the age of 91, leaving behind one of the most important photographic archives of South Africa’s apartheid era. Magubane’s professional journey began at Drum magazine in 1954. He initially worked as a driver and messenger, but his ambition was to become a photographer. Under the mentorship of Drum’s legendary chief photographer Jürgen Schadeberg, Magubane developed his skills and began photographing major political and social events. His first significant assignment involved covering the 1955 African National Congress convention. From that point forward, photography became his way of documenting a country undergoing enormous change. The South Africa that Magubane photographed was governed by apartheid, a system that legally enforced racial segregation and discrimination. For Black South Africans, everyday life was shaped by restrictions on where they could live, work and travel. Magubane did not limit himself to photographing politicians or famous leaders. He photographed ordinary people—children, workers, families and

communities—giving the outside world a visual record of what apartheid meant in everyday life. One of the defining moments of Magubane’s career came in 1960, when he photographed the aftermath of the Sharpeville Massacre. His photographs helped bring international attention to the violence surrounding resistance to apartheid. He also photographed the 1956 women’s anti-pass march, the Rivonia Trial involving Nelson Mandela and other activists, and numerous other events that became part of South Africa’s historical record. Magubane paid an enormous personal price for his work. In 1969, he was arrested while photographing protesters outside Pretoria Central Prison. He was subsequently held

in solitary confinement for 586 days. After his release, the apartheid government placed him under a banning order that severely restricted his ability to work and move freely. Yet the restrictions did not convince him to abandon photography. Instead, they demonstrated just how powerful the authorities believed his photographs could be. In 1976, Magubane documented the Soweto Uprising, when thousands of Black students protested against the apartheid government’s education policies. His photographs captured young people confronting police violence and became some of the most internationally recognized images of the uprising. Despite the danger, Magubane continued photographing what was hap-

pening around him. His work transformed individual moments of protest into permanent historical evidence that could not easily be erased. His creativity was matched by his determination to get the picture. Because authorities restricted photographers and attempted to prevent journalists from documenting certain events, Magubane sometimes concealed his camera in unusual places, including a hollowed-out Bible, bread and other objects. These methods allowed him to continue working when openly carrying a camera could attract police attention. His photographs demonstrated that documentary photography sometimes requires not only technical ability but extraordinary courage and resourcefulness.

After Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990, Magubane entered another important chapter of his career. He became Mandela’s official photographer and documented the transition toward democracy, including significant moments surrounding South Africa’s first democratic election and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The photographer who had spent decades documenting resistance now had the opportunity to photograph a country moving toward a new political era. Magubane’s legacy extends far beyond the individual photographs he made. He published numerous books, exhibited internationally and received major honors, including an honorary Doctor of Literature from the University of Cape Town in 2010. His photographs remain part of the historical record because they show not only the brutality of apartheid but also the humanity, resilience and determination of the people who lived through it. Peter Magubane ultimately demonstrated the extraordinary power of photography. He understood that a photograph can preserve a moment long after the people who witnessed it are gone. His camera recorded injustice, resistance, suffering, courage and eventually freedom. For photographers today, his life offers an enduring lesson: photography is not simply about making beautiful pictures—it can also be about seeing clearly, standing close to history and making sure that important stories are never forgotten. Magubane’s photographs gave South Africa a visual memory, and his life’s work reminds every photographer that sometimes the most important picture is the one that history needs someone brave enough to make.

HBCU Leaders, Corporate Partners Convene in D.C. to Strengthen Support for Black Colleges’ Athletic Programs By BlackPressUSA Newswire Commissioners from HBCU athletic conferences joined university presidents and corporate leaders in Washington on Tuesday, Sept. 15, for the Salute to HBCU Sports Leadership Reception — an invitation-only gathering aimed at deepening investment in historically Black colleges and universities. Hosted at Gensler’s K Street office, the evening brought together conference commissioners, campus presidents, and executives from sports, media and design organizations under the theme “Building Partnerships. Celebrating Excellence. Advancing HBCUs.” Gensler highlighted its partnership with Paxton Baker on the event in a post on Instagram, showcasing the room full of HBCU presidents and conference leaders. Five Conferences, One Room Commissioners from four NCAA conferences and one NAIA conference were on hand, representing institutions that compete across Division I, Division II and the NAIA: Anthony Holloman — Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Charles Mc-

Clelland — Southwestern Athletic Conference Jacqie McWilliams Parker — Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Sonja Stills — Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Kiki Baker Barnes — HBCU Athletic Conference Their presence linked leadership from across the HBCU athletics landscape with campus administrators and organizations working in event management, design and media. Presidents and Black Press Leadership in the Room Among the university presidents in attendance were Prairie View A&M’s Tomikia P. LeGrande and Bowie State’s Aminta H. Breaux. LeGrande’s appearance came just days after the Thurgood Marshall College Fund named her the recipient of its Educational Leadership Award, as announced by Prairie View A&M. She was honored at TMCF’s 39th Anniversary Gala on Sept. 12 in Washington. LeGrande has served as Prairie View A&M’s ninth president since June 2023. Breaux, who has led Bowie State since July 2017, previously chaired the CIAA’s board of directors, according to her univer-

sity biography. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, also attended — fitting, given the NNPA’s role as one of the reception’s presenting partners. Chavis and HBCU GO’s Lawrencia Moten conducted two 30-minute interview sessions with the conference commissioners, covering topics ranging from the NIL era to confer-

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ence growth and the experience of leading HBCU athletics, according to HBCU GO President Curtis Symonds, who spoke with HBCU Legends about the sessions. Corporate and Institutional Partners Five organizations presented the reception together: Gensler — the architecture and design firm that hosted the event Events DC — the District’s convention and sports authority

USA Track & Field — the sport’s national governing body National Newspaper Publishers Association — representing Black newspaper publishers HBCU GO — the network dedicated to HBCU sports and culture That mix of partners pointed to a range of possible collaborations ahead, from athletic facilities and event operations to sports programming and media coverage. Building Beyond the Scoreboard What stood out most was the mix of people in the room — conference commissioners setting strategy for their leagues, university presidents shaping institutional priorities, and corporate partners bringing resources and expertise from multiple industries. With college athletics undergoing rapid change, particularly for HBCUs navigating the NIL era and shifting conference dynamics, the reception offered a venue for candid conversation and relationship-building. Its underlying purpose went beyond athletics: using sports as an entry point to broader opportunities in education, workforce development and economic growth for HBCUs. Based on reporting by Columbus Times.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 23, 2026 - September 29, 2026

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