BCAC’s 25th Anniversary Annual Breakfast

Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, New Jersey

             In front of a crowd of nearly 400 people, Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, New Jersey, electrified the audience with his words during the 25th Anniversary Annual Breakfast for the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition.  CT Post and The Bridgeport News featured articles about the Breakfast.

            His speech, “Change the City with Your Bare Hands,” was a call to action for residents in the area to commit themselves to the mission of BCAC. “If we as a people are willing to come together, join our spirits, we will be able to do things that others could not do,” Booker said.

            The mission of BCAC is clear: to research, education, and then mobilize on behalf of children to make significant reforms to education, healthcare, and economic empowerment. With the help from member organizations of this coalition, BCAC has been able to make great strides in the community.

As Booker stated in his impassioned speech, “[It is] not declaration of independence, but declaration of inter-dependence.” Like Mayor Booker preaches, BCAC’s work is a way for individuals and organizations to work interdependently towards a greater good—the welfare of children and families.

            Booker praised the success that BCAC has already accomplished in its 25 years of service. “Children who don’t have advocates like BCAC, are falling behind by leaps and bounds,” he said to show the guests at the events that their work with BCAC has serious implications.

            To represent this success that BCAC has had in the past 25 years, the former board chairs of the organization were also recognized during the event to thank them for their achievements and continued support of BCAC.