FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2007                

Contact:
Catherine Onyemelukwe
Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition
203-549-0075, extension 14



Bridgeport, CT 11/30/07 -- Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition held its annual Children’s Issues Forum at Mt. Aery Baptist Church yesterday evening. Over 100 people came to hear the members of Bridgeport’s state legislative delegation declare their support for critical issues affecting Bridgeport’s children. Each positive response by the delegate was awarded an “Oscar” figure of a child.

By the end of the evening, each delegate had nine “Oscar” kids arrayed on the table in front of him.

Five of the eight Bridgeport state legislators were present. Four Representatives: Andres Ayala, Chris Caruso, Charles Clemons, and Jack Hennessy, and one Senator, Edwin Gomes, came to the Forum.

Rev. Dr. Anthony Bennett, member of the board of the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition, hosted the event at his church. Jack Hickey-Williams, also a board member as well as co-chair of the BCAC Public Policy Task Force, was the event chair.

Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition’s three priority issues for this year’s legislative session and for the forum are after-school programming, education, and health care. Speakers for the key issues included a senior from Bassick High School and a student from the After-School Program at McGivney Community Center.

Manuel Vargas, 11 years old and a student at the McGivney Community Center After-School program, said, “Last year I didn’t attend the program and I was failing math. My teacher would tell me to get help. When I came to McGivney, I was taught how to organize my work. And with tutoring help my grades got better. I am now a very good student.”  Manuel concluded, “I think it would be nice for all kids to attend after school programs.”

Karen McIntosh, Executive Director of the McGivney Community Center, then asked the legislators if they will support increased state funding for after-school programs.

Hernan Illingworth, District PAC President and BCAC Education Task Force Co-Chair, pointed out to the legislators and the audience that, “The education budget shortfalls continue. As grateful as we are for the $10 million state budget increase last year, it still fell short of the Board of Ed’s request for $17 million to keep things going as they are. And the Board of Ed still had to make cuts this school year.”

He then asked legislators, “Will you support increasing state education funding to Bridgeport's unfunded schools by much more than the 4% increase now in the budget for next year?”  A positive response from each member of the delegation was rewarded by an “Oscar” child.

Zoraida Reyes, Bridgeport business owner and member of the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition board, told the audience that she would really like to provide health insurance for her employees. But, she said, “If I give my employees health insurance, there will be no money for other costs of running the business, and I would have to close, throwing everyone out of work.”

Marta Calderon, Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition Public Policy Task Force Co-Chair, invited members of the audience, “Please raise your hand if you or someone in your family or a friend does not have health care insurance.” Hands went up from at least 40% of the audience. She questioned the legislators about their support for universal health coverage. All indicated that they will support this important initiative.  

The legislators spoke favorably about working together over the past year and pledged to continue their joint efforts for the issues raised by the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition.  

The Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition is a coalition of 80 organizations, parents, and other concerned individuals committed to improving the well-being of Bridgeport’s children through research, advocacy, community education, and mobilization.