Congressman Chris Murphy strikes up a conversation with the fifth grade class of Stadley Rough school during today's press conference.
Stadley Rough Elementary School. 03.27.09
It seems like the dream of a literacy center in Danbury took a major step towards becoming reality today.
This morning Congressman Chris Murphy paid to visit to the Stadley Rough School to inform school officials (and a fifth grade class) that he secured over 260,000 dollars to be used towards the creation of the Family Literacy and Resource Center.
Via Congressman Murphy's press release:
"Learning to read unlocks so much for our kids, stimulating their imaginations and opening doors to knowledge. The Family Literacy Center will provide the tools Danbury needs to ensure that their kids are ready to learn and parents can keep them on the path to success," said Murphy.
The Center will provide support and resources to families in Danbury to foster child and family education success. This funding provides the seed money to establish the Center and purchase materials and services, and will position the Danbury Public Schools to seek additional grants to sustain the Center.
[...]
"The Danbury Board of Education has placed a major emphasis on parent involvement, and with this grant we will be able to support parents and students in ways our regular budget could not afford to," said Dr. Pascarella.
In recent weeks, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 1105, the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill, sending it out of Congress and to President Obama's desk for his signature. This legislation, which includes the $262,000 for Danbury's Family Literacy Center proj ect, wraps up work on the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations bills, and works in tandem with the economic recovery package, making investments that address the country's immediate needs while investing in our long-term economic strength.
With Danbury and the state facing a budget crisis, there is no question that this money is well received by local officials.
From today, here's video footage of Congressman Murphy's presser.
AS A BONUS, after the presser, I had a chance to talk to the congressman and get his thoughts regarding the whole AIG fiasco. Here's what he had to say...
04.25.22 (RADIO): WSHU Latino group call on Connecticut lawmakers to open a Danbury charter school
06.03.22 (OP-ED): KUSHNER: "Career Academy ‘a great deal for Danbury"
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.
Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.
Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.
"Learning to read unlocks so much for our kids, stimulating their imaginations and opening doors to knowledge. The Family Literacy Center will provide the tools Danbury needs to ensure that their kids are ready to learn and parents can keep them on the path to success," said Murphy.
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
