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Mayor Toni N. Harp |
Toni was raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, the youngest of six children; an African-American Baptist in a primarily white, almost universally Mormon community. Both of her parents worked to support the family. Her mother was a Teamster and worked for Greyhound Bus Lines while her father worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. Toni’s tireless work ethic is a function of lessons learned from her parents. In the 1960s, Toni moved to the south side of Chicago to attend college. She earned a degree and began working for the American Society of Planning Officials. Her lifelong interest in urban planning and how cities work can be traced to that first job. From there, Toni was recruited to study at Yale’s School of Architecture where she earned a Master’s degree. One of Toni’s early lessons about the rewards of activism was the result of a social justice matter when she worked – coincidentally – for the City of New Haven. Toni helped organize AFSCME Local 3144, a management union, and she became the Human Resources Department’s first union steward. Toni’s enduring respect for working people and her tireless advocacy for issues important to all citizens has been unwavering since. Toni’s public service in elected office began, first as a member of New Haven’s Board of Aldermen, and then, for the past 20 years, as Senator for the 10th District. Throughout her distinguished tenure, Toni’s signature issues have never waivered: —Full access to affordable healthcare, regardless of ethnic, cultural, or economic differences. —A responsive and effective public safety network working hand-in-hand with an equitable criminal justice system. —Maximizing opportunity for each individual student through public education, with particular emphasis on early childhood learning and development of reading skills. —Job creation and economic development so city residents can enjoy the rewards and responsibilities of productive engagement, and so a vibrant city can provide necessary services without putting an excessive burden on taxpayers. Then-Senator Harp recently co-chaired the state’s Achievement Gap Task Force, created to address the undeniable disparity in educational access and performance, which exists along ethnic, cultural, aharp_children.jpgnd socioeconomic lines. Recommendations made by the task force helped the state live up to its Constitutional mandate to provide every student an equal educational opportunity and meet our moral obligation to prepare the next generation for responsible, productive lives. Earlier this year, Mayor Harp played a pivotal role -- as senator -- in passing Connecticut’s new law to address Gun Violence Prevention and Children’s Safety. Toni was co-chair of the Mental Health Services Working Group, making recommendations built into the new law about providing mental health first aid services and taking advantage of enhanced behavioral health screening opportunities. Toni has lived in New Haven for more than 40 years and works as the Homeless Service Director at the Cornell Scott Hill Health Center. She is the proud mother of three grown and accomplished children—Djana, Jamil, and Matthew. |
Makayla Dawkins |
Makayla Dawkins is a rising junior from James Hillhouse High School. She was the Vice President of her student council, a member of the James Hillhouse math team and has taken various college courses throughout the school year. She is also an educator for Planned Parenthood’s STARS program and firm believer in sexual education. When she isn’t reading or advocating for her peers, you can catch her at a concert or in the mall. She aspires to be a traveling journalist and New York Times best selling author. Makayla wants student government to be implemented in schools across the district and hopes for students to get the best education that they can. |
Dr. Edward Joyner |
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Darnell Goldson |
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Nico Rivera |
Edgar “Nico” Rivera is a rising junior at Metropolitan Business Academy. He was born and raised in New Haven, CT along with his three siblings and a loving grandmother. Nico has attended New Haven Public Schools for all of his educational life. He began in kindergarten at John S. Martinez Sea Sky Stem Magnet school. After graduating from Martinez School, he chose to attend Metropolitan Business Academy, where he is studying Media and Digital Arts and taking some minor law classes. He is also a proud student athlete playing baseball, track and field, and football for Wilbur Cross. |
Dr. Tamiko Jackson-McArthur |
Board Secretary |
Joseph Rodriguez |
Joe Rodriguez is currently the Deputy State Director for the Office of United States Senator Richard Blumenthal where he supervises the Senator’s state staff and oversees two offices. Previously, Joe served as the Connecticut Outreach Organizer for the Senator where he was a liaison between the Senator's constituency and his Hartford and Washington D.C. Offices. During this time he played a key role in decisions around immigration, housing, education, and issues impacting the island of Puerto Rico.
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Yesenia Rivera |
Yesenia Rivera is currently the Program Director at Edgewood PTA Child Care and is the Director of Housing Assessment and Integration at The Connection’s Supportive House for Families Program.
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Matt Wilcox |
Matt Wilcox is a graduate of programs at Asbury University, James Madison University, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Matt has spent his career in libraries and higher education. He currently serves as the director of the Edward and Barbara Netter Library at Quinnipiac University. |