nothin Orange Pride Hits The Capitol | New Haven Independent

Orange Pride Hits The Capitol

This article was submitted by a counselor at LEAP who joined members of her agency in Hartford Tuesday to press legislators to restore a devastating proposed budget cut. Click here for a background news story.

It was an honor to be present at the state Capitol representing LEAP (Leadership, Education, and Athletics in Partnership) at the Education Subcommittee of the legislature’s Appropriations Committee. LEAP turned out in large numbers in our bright orange shirts in Hartford to encourage the legislature to fund LEAP since Gov. Malloy’s budget cut all state funding to the organization.

We went to be a part of making a difference in children’s lives who deserve to have it all.

As a social work graduate in May from Southern, I believe that advocating for children is not something that people should think about doing but actually should commit the act by speaking up for the children in our community.

The LEAPers in our delegation including junior counselors (high school students), senior counselors (college students), leaders in training (young teenagers), and LEAP staff did just that at the Capitol. As half of the room was filled with Orange shirts, it was also filled with sincere concern for the sake of the children that we work with on a regular basis.

We came together as a family making sure that our voices were heard. Two high school students as well as a college student gave their testimonies about how they feel about LEAP and why it was imperative that we receive the funds that we need so that LEAP can run as effectively as it needs to.

The author, left, and Janirah Scotland, right, with Rep. Porter.

Being present allowed me to see from a different side how important our job is, and how much the children in New Haven need as much support as they can get. Going to the Capitol during a heavy snowstorm proved how much the young people who serve in LEAP care for New Haven’s children. We certainly showed our Orange Pride in that room!

New Haven’s legislators were very supportive and happy to hear from us. I had the opportunity to speak with State Rep. Robyn Porter, who covers parts of New Haven and Hamden. Rep. Porter is a strong supporter of LEAP who grew up in New Haven. She stated that she knows a lot about LEAP and that it has been around for years. She mentioned it is an excellent program and remembers when her son was a part of it years ago.

Rep. Walker addresses the LEAPers.

It was also a pleasure having Rep. Toni Walker and Sen. Gary Winfield, who represent New Haven, greet us before the public hearing began. Having them come speak to us and show us their support meant a lot to the LEAPers,” as State Rep Walker called us!!

Over 1,272 children have participated in LEAP over the last 12 months, which means over 1,272 hearts were touched and young lives impacted. My experience at LEAP has allowed me to learn so much from them by learning more about their personalities and who they want to become each day. Even though it is my job to teach them and to be a role-model for them, they are actually teaching me something new each day.

One thing that was learned from the trip to the Capitol and working at LEAP for the last year and a half is to work even harder to make a difference for the children that are a part of the program, and to gain as much of the knowledge and skills that are essential to further help the children who live in our New Haven community.

Bianca Almeida is a senior at Southern Connecticut State University studying for a Bachelors in Social Work. She is a senior counselor at LEAP’s Dwight site.

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