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Arts Anti-Racism Pledge

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Join Us and Take the Pledge:

In order to become more anti-racist, (Your Organization Name Here) pledges to make these changes:

CULTURE
To change our internal culture to one that actively amplifies BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) voices, encourages open and productive discourse on race and racism, and is aware of and addresses racism when it happens.

POLICY & PRACTICE
To review our policies to identify and dismantle any unjust policies and practices that create barriers for BIPOC; this involves recruiting, promoting, and empowering BIPOC for leadership roles in the body responsible for organizational oversight (i.e. board of directors), and committing to a JEDI statement (Justice, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) around which to build policy and programming.

ART
To acknowledge the barriers that have led to BIPOC artists being vastly underrepresented in the arts; and to actively counter this by employing and presenting work(s) by more BIPOC artists.

SOCIAL JUSTICE: To acknowledge that there are diverse communities which have been untapped by our organization; and to actively counter this by seeking out and providing a space for art focused on cultural pride, racial justice, civil rights, and other issues which are important and relevant to BIPOC communities.

ACCESSIBILITY
To offer programming that is more accessible to BIPOC, which may include adjusting ticket and/or admission price, format, schedule, and/or venue, in addition to content.

PARTICIPATE
To change our mentality from doing for the community to partnering with the community; this involves offering more “participatory” programming that directly involves diverse community members and allows them an interactive role in artistic and cultural activities.

HISTORY
To research and be aware of the historical and social context of the programming and the impact it may have on BIPOC communities; and to let this research and awareness inform programmatic decision-making.

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Note: Each point of the pledge has its own accompanying list of resources and tools to guide you through the process of becoming an anti-racist organization. 

TAKE THE PLEDGE

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Amidst a global health and economic crisis, attention to racial inequity and injustice, and growing divisions in a pivotal election year, CAW seeks to explore issues of our time and of our city and region through our fall exhibition program.

Even as our own building is closed, our most public stage — our street-to-roof curtain wall — looking into our two-floor gallery space is wide open. We are excited at the opportunity to invite proposals for work by New Haven and CT-based artists to exhibit at CAW.

Proposals are now being accepted for site-specific window installations at 80 Audubon Street that explore issues that our community is grappling with. Proposed artworks or installations can be 2D or 3D, but must be designed to be viewed streetside through the windows of the CAW gallery. A reopening plan for CAW is still in formation; however, it is anticipated that no gallery visitors will be entering the building and gallery space to see work during the fall. Applications and concept ideas must take this into account.

Proposals may be submitted by individual artists or collaborative artist groups or teams. CAW’s intention is to better use its gallery and window space, particularly in this triple crisis we are experiencing as a community and nation. We hope to see proposals that advance the most creative use of the space and opportunity within the context presented. We strongly encourage applications from artists of diverse backgrounds, experience, and training. Preference will be given to artists whose work affirms the importance of black and brown lives, lived experiences, influence, and culture in our community and nation.

Successful proposals will both explain the concept for the installation, and give consideration to the technical elements of the installation, including being mindful of social distancing requirements during installation and de-installation. Ladders are available at CAW, but no scissor-lifts.

Proposals should include an idea for an accompanying online program to complement the installation. This part of the proposal can be modest in scale and scope, but seen as a way of engaging with the community. For some it may look like an ‘on air’ demonstration, artist studio visit, or visit to the windows to give a tour of the work, for others it may be a proposed 1:1 conversation with another artist, a CAW board member, teacher, staffer, and for others, it might include community organizing. Ideas need not be limited to this list.

Stipend: Each selected artist or artist team will receive a $750 stipend to cover materials, creation of the work, and facilitation of an online program.

In addition to the stipend, CAW staff will assist artists with the marketing, installation, and development and execution of relevant online programming.

Exhibition Dates: Up to three (3) proposals will be selected. Each window installation will be installed for up to four (4) weeks, slated as follows:

Window Exhibition 1: September 28 – October 25
Window Exhibition 2: November 2 – November 29
Window Exhibition 3: December 7 -December 20

Submission Deadline: Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at 5 pm

Artist Notification: Monday, August 31, 2020

To Apply: Interested artists should submit their proposal along with 3 samples of work and contact information to gallery@creativeartsworkshop.org. Please use “2020 Window Installation” in your subject line.

Window Dimensions: There are five identical window bays, each with three vertically-stacked panes. Each bay is 82” wide and just over 19½’ tall. For dimensions of the panes, see our online specs.

This exhibition program is made possible with the generous support of the Neighborhood Cultural Vitality grant program of the City of New Haven.

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Link to Application: New%20Haven%20Health%20Leaders%20Application%202020.pdf

I hope this message finds you well. The Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE) is now accepting applications for its 2020-2021 New Haven Health Leaders Program. Please see the link to the application above. I am happy to provide paper copies of the application upon request. We are very excited to embark upon our second year!

 

In this 9 month program, New Haven Health Leaders will receive training about health disparities and solutions to create health equity at the neighborhood level. We will co-learn from each other about New Haven’s neighborhoods, community engagement, and leadership development – with a focus on improving health in New Haven.

 

Participants will receive a stipend of $300 per month which equals out to a total of $2,700! Please encourage anyone who displays a genuine interest to apply. If you have any questions do not hesitate to email me at avshalomsmd1@southernct.edu or call (203) 392-6902.

 

Best regards,

 

Devin

Community Engagement Coordinator, CARE

College of Health and Human Services

Southern CT State University
Phone: (203) 392-6906

https://carenhv.org

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When Kilynn Johnson walks out the door of the house her parents bought in 1972, where she grew up and lives to this day, she steps into the warm embrace of a community where neighbors feel more like kin. Her home sits across the street from Stinger Square Park, where Johnson passed long days of her childhood playing alongside her siblings and cousins and friends. But by age 8, diagnosed with asthma, she spent more time sitting on the sidelines, watching the other children tumble on playground equipment or rip and run through the park. Once in a while a neighbor, Ms. Sylvia or any number of Black mother figures whom Johnson and everyone knew never to call by just their first names, might come by and check on her. “You doing all right, Kilynn?” they would ask the quiet little girl...

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How You Can Invest in Racial Justice

TERESA CHAHINE 

JULY 01, 2020

A history of discrimination and inequality has led to dramatic gaps in wealth, investment, and income between white communities and minority communities. Yale SOM’s Teresa Chahine and a panel of experts discussed how businesses, financial firms, and regular investors can make choices that empower local businesses and increase opportunity...

https://insights-som-yale-edu.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/insights.som.yale.edu/insights/how-you-can-invest-in-racial-justice?amp

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With the launch of the Ives Squared innovation space in June 2018, the New Haven Free Public Library introduced the Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) and Creative-In-Residence (CIR) appointments.  The role of the EIR and CIR is to help to connect New Haven residents with the people, tools, and resources to develop and advance their ideas -- and to provide a gateway to other organizations and partners in the innovation ecosystem of the city.   

We are seeking your assistance in generating awareness and interest in the October 2020 - June 2021 residencies – the application is available at http://nhfpl.org/ives-squared-cir-eir/ and each of the in-residence appointments is briefly summarized below:  

 

The Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EIR) embodies the spirit of innovation and the transfer of practical information. The EIR shares their skills by initiating workshops and classes (drawing upon their personal knowledge or their professional network); conducting one-on-one sessions to guide emerging entrepreneurs in the development/launch of concepts; and creating an active community of inquisitive professionals to help foster the development of non-profit, for-profit and social enterprises.  
 

The Creative-In-Residence (CIR) helps connect library users to local creatives, artists, and makers with the New Haven community. The CIR will bring the Ives Squared Tinker Lab makerspace to life -- sharing their skills and knowledge by initiating workshops and classes (drawing upon their personal knowledge or their professional network); exploring ideas in a public context; and creating a collective project.  

 

Both appointments are flexible to accommodate virtual programming as needed in response to the ongoing development of the COVID-19 situation. 

Interested individuals should review the guidelines and send a completed application form (available at http://nhfpl.org/ives-squared-cir-eir/).  Applications must be returned by e-mail by August 2, 2020. 

 
Questions can be directed to Gina Bingham, Manager of Ives Squared, at gbingham@nhfpl.org. 

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Prioritizing your mental health is more important than ever.

Inside Our Newsletter

  • Discover great resources during the times of COVID and beyond (pg 3)
  • Ease re-entry anxiety (and boost immunity) with essential oils (pg 12)
  • Read about creative ways Continuum has been coping (pg 8)
  • Nominate a Hero working with COVID patients to win Free Landscaping (pg 4)
  • Get advice from an operator of our Safe Harbor Warm Line which provides a listening ear to 5,000 callers each month (pg 6)

 

*There's lot's more inside*

Click here for a downloadable newsletter with clickable links

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COVID-19 in Connecticut: Data Analysis

In response to requests from local partners, DataHaven developed a report (see below) with our original analyses and visualizations of public data related to the coronavirus pandemic. These are updated as new data are posted. We have also created many other charts and datasets available on request...

https://www.ctdatahaven.org/reports/covid-19-connecticut-data-analysis

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On Wednesday, July 29 (9 am - noon), Continuum Recovery Services will be hosting a FREE Virtual Training on Emergency Response to a Mental Health Crisis ...needed now more than ever.

Earn 3 CEUs, and learn the steps for best outcomes during a mental health crisis from the perspective of police, mobile crisis and emergency room providers.

Register here by July 24: http://www.continuumct.org/emergency-response

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Opinion: New Haven Register

Opinion: Structural racism in New Haven illuminated by COVID-19

Published 12:00 am EDT, Thursday, July 9, 2020

Data from New Haven suggests that communities of color are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. In a city where 33 percent are Black/African American, 30 percent are Hispanic/Latinx, and 31 percent of people are white, cases of COVID-19 are disproportionately higher among people of color: 29 percent are Black/African American, 30 percent Hispanic/Latinx, and 14 percent white. Notably, we don’t have a full picture of these disparities, because data from COVID-19 testing sites do not accurately account for race and ethnicity. One-quarter of the reported data are missing these identifiers. We implore the state of Connecticut and local testing sites to ensure accurate data collection. We must have complete data about the disparities affecting our communities.

This data isn’t surprising. It illuminates deep-seated health disparities seen for decades in New Haven and other U.S. communities. According to the DataHaven 2018 Community Wellbeing Survey Report, 17 percent of residents in New Haven neighborhoods that are predominantly Black and Latinx have diabetes, compared to 10 percent of residents in New Haven overall. Disparities by race also occur in asthma prevalence, with 15 percent of white, 22 percent Black, and 30 percent Latinx residents in New Haven reporting asthma. A new DataHaven report on health equity in Connecticut documents stark differences in access to economic opportunities, food, affordable housing, health care, and more, disproportionately impacting low-income individuals and people of color, particularly Black and Latinx residents.

These gaps in health are part of complex issues ingrained in our society. Health is affected by elements related to one’s community, race, environment, and social and economic status. The Black and brown communities that are most at-risk for chronic diseases (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, hypertension) and COVID-19, experience greater barriers within their environments that prevent people from engaging in healthy behaviors. These barriers can be lack of access to affordable healthy foods, streets unsafe for walking and biking, limited recreational resources, among others. These elements are part of the structural racism that has profound impacts on access to health care and opportunities to live a healthy life. We see this play out dramatically with COVID-19.

The New Haven REACH Coalition is a new approach to local solutions. Made up of several New Haven residents and community partners, the REACH Coalition began with federal funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health, or REACH, aims to address systemic barriers that create health disparities in chronic diseases. To address these barriers, REACH brings together members of the community to plan and carry out strategies to address health equity. The pandemic has made the work of REACH more pressing — as chronic diseases are underlying conditions that put people at risk for COVID-19, especially people of color.

Through the specific activities of the REACH strategies put forth by the CDC, we are tackling systems that perpetuate inequities through:

Prioritizing equity in the food assistance system by promoting and coordinating access to healthy foods in food pantries.

Supporting breastfeeding among Black moms by hiring a Black peer counselor, improving community spaces for breastfeeding, and advocating for policy changes.

Creating connections among health centers and community supports through Community Health Workers to help people access resources.

Centering historically segregated communities of color in planning processes for safer and equitable “active” transportation (biking, walking, taking the bus).

The REACH Coalition has also spent its first year focused on the formative work of our member organizations’ and individuals’ roles in upholding components of racist infrastructure that still exists today, resulting in inequities. We are examining systematic ways in which we can address racism by creating racial equity goals and values, and encouraging self-reflection with anti-racism education. The work is difficult and incremental. It is work we must all do.

As the REACH Coalition & Steering Committee, we suggest the following actionable steps for all partners in New Haven and across the state:

1. Foster decision-making that centers the voices of communities by including residents in decision-making roles. Staff, boards, and committees of organizations should reflect the local community.

2. Prioritize health-promoting assets during and after COVID-19, such as increasing access to healthy, affordable foods; ensuring safe, healthy housing; and creating safe neighborhoods.

3. Examine your roles in systems and organizations and identify specific tactics that contribute to undoing racism, such as anti-racist trainings and policy development.

This pandemic has clearly shown the devastating impact of systemic racism. We must work toward ending health disparities and not simply return to “normal” — so that we can all live our healthiest lives.

The REACH Steering Committee is comprised of New Haven residents, local organizations, community partners and existing coalitions, including the Healthier Greater New Haven Partnership and the New Haven Food Policy Council and their respective working groups.

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Call for Artists - Black Lives Matter

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The City of New Haven Department of Arts Culture and Town Green Special Services District are seeking a New Haven- based Artist (s) to design temporary 2-dimensional artwork for display on windows of City Hall next to the Amistad Memorial at 165 Church Street (see website). Artwork should reflect the importance of black and brown lives, influences and culture on our New Haven communities.
 
Budget: $2500 for artist(s) and supplies
 
Deadlines
Work Sample Submission Deadline: July 7, 2020
Artist Selection Announcement: July 14, 2020
Artwork Production Deadline: August 4, 2020 
 
Interested artists should submit 3 samples of artwork, contact information, and a brief description of the artwork they propose for transforming the windows around the memorial to kfutrell@newhavenct.gov by Friday, July 7, 2020.
 
Final Artwork Display Specifications
The windows are located on the ground level of City Hall and border the Amistad Memorial (see photo). Final artwork dimensions should be compatible with window measurements.:
 
(3) 66"w x 71"h
(1) 54"w x 82"h
(3) 54"w x 70"h
 
Questions should be directed to Kim Futrell, kfutrell@newhavenct.gov or 203-946-7172.
 

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Connecticut Humanities will be re-granting a total of $470,000 in CARES Act funding. Grant awards will range from $2,500 to $15,000 and no match is required (maximum amount of funding that can be requested is based upon an organization’s budget size). Grants may be used for general operating expenses only (such as salaries, rent, utilities, supplies, and equipment).

·         Deadlines: Applications will be accepted starting Friday, May 15, 2020, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all program funds have been spent. At least three application reviews will be conducted for all applications received by 11:59 pm on June 1, June 15, and July 1, 2020, respectively. Award notifications are made approximately two weeks following a deadline. 

·         Eligibility: Includes being a Connecticut-based federally recognized tribe or being incorporated in the state of Connecticut for at least one year as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors (that meets regularly) and provides significant programs and/or services to the public on a regular basis, including open hours and special events; or functions as a professional service organization that supports humanities program providers. 

·         Other Requirements: As required by federal guidelines, a DUNS number is needed to receive funds. Apply for it early, as it can take two days to receive it. While not required to initially apply, funds cannot be dispersed without it. 

·         How to Apply: Applications must be submitted using Connecticut Humanities’ online grant portal. If you do not already have an account with our grants system, you will need to create one in order to be able to apply. The application should take approximately 30-60 minutes to complete.

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Summer Meals for Children

Summer Meals Public School Sites in New Haven. If anyone is aware of a similar list for other towns please post so we can circulate it. No children need be going hungry.


These sites are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Barnard School - 170 Derby Avenue
Beecher School - 100 Jewell Street
Benjamin Jepson - 15 Lexington Avenue
Betsy Ross - 150 Kimberly Avenue
Bishop Woods - 1481 Quinnipiac Avenue
Katherine Brennan - 200 Wilmont Road
Clinton School - 293 Clinton Avenue
Columbus School - 255 Blatchley Street
Fair Haven School - 164 Grand Avenue
Hooker Middle School - 691 Whitney Avenue
High School in the Community - 175 Water Street
James Hillhouse High School - 480 Sherman Parkway
John Daniels School - 569 Congress Avenue
John Martinez School - 100 James Street
King Robinson School - 150 Fournier Street
Lincoln Bassett School - 130 Bassett Street
Mauro Sheridan School - 191 Fountain Street
Nathan Hale School - 480 Townsend Avenue
Roberto Clemente School - 360 Columbus Avenue
Sound School - 60 South Water Street
Strong School - 130 Orchard Street
Troup School - 259 Edgewood Avenue
Truman - 114 Truman Street
West Rock Academy - 311 Valley Street
Wexler Grant - 55 Foote Street
Wilbur Cross - 181 Mitchell Drive

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The country is on fire—right now—yet again. It is on fire with a righteous rage that has come from living under the constant threat of Black death, under the constant fear of state-sanctioned racial violence at the hands of law enforcement and vigilantes. But we as a country have been here before many times. About five years ago, social justice foundations and progressive donors proudly proclaimed that Black lives mattered and that they would put significant resources behind building the capacity of Black-led and Black-centered organizing happening in communities across the country...

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/dear-philanthropy-these-are-the-fires-of-anti-black-racism/

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Thursday afternoon found me kneeling in front of my 2-year-old’s bedroom door, crying. She was on the other side, also crying. Nap was not happening…again.

And not only was I failing abysmally to convince an eminently unreasonable child to nap, I was missing a work call (actually for this article)...

https://hechingerreport.org/teachers-wisdom-on-how-to-stay-sane-dealing-with-your-kids-crazy-behavior/

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Job Opportunity - Staff Attorney

Open Communities Alliance (OCA) is a Connecticut-based civil rights non-profit working to confront the state’s deep levels of residential segregation, which deprive low income families of color of access to opportunity and deepen the sharp income and race divisions in our society. Open Communities Alliance seeks to expand its enforcement staff and activities to combat exclusionary zoning and ensure housing choice for all families in Connecticut.

 

Position Overview

OCA seeks an individual deeply committed to social justice capable of working as part of a team to apply the principles of the Fair Housing Act to zoning and discrimination in Connecticut. The Staff Attorney will be responsible for monitoring affordable and multifamily housing zoning proposals across the state, including attending hearings, analyzing fair housing implications of denials, engaging in advocacy to relevant officials, and, where appropriate, pursuing enforcement activities including filing administrative complaints and/or developing and initiating litigation. The Staff Attorney will also conduct research and advocacy on the fair housing implications of municipal zoning regulations in regard to multi-family and affordable housing development, assist with the development of OCA’s new fair housing testing program, and participate in fair housing trainings as part of OCA’s outreach efforts. This is a full-time permanent position that includes a competitive benefits package.  Salary, title, and responsibilities commensurate with experience.  Salary range starts at $76,000.  

 

Responsibilities

The Staff Attorney will be responsible for:

  • Solidifying relationships with project partners.
  • Researching, monitoring and addressing potentially exclusionary zoning policies statewide.
  • Investigating potential fair housing civil rights violations.
  • Conducting outreach and education on fair housing and exclusionary zoning issues.
  • When necessary, contributing to the litigation of exclusionary zoning cases and potentially other fair housing cases, typically with pro bono counsel.

 

Who we are looking for:

  • Required experience: Five years of litigation experience, including experience litigating in federal court.
  • The candidate must be licensed to practice law in Connecticut and admitted to the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut or willing to apply.
  • Preferred experience: 5+ years of litigation experience in the housing, land use or civil rights fields and experience negotiating complex or challenging disputes in litigation or pre-litigation settings.
  • Competencies & attributes – Strategic thinker and creative problem solver; self-aware and curious; committed to diversity, equity and inclusion; ambitious and collaborative work ethic; detail oriented; ability to communicate with and build relationships across differences easily.
  • Excited about and committed to Open Communities’ mission and social change more generally.
  • The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated ability to work with experts, and/or experience with analyzing and deploying data in discrimination cases.
  • Excellent legal research, writing, and oral argument skills.
  • Command of Westlaw and Microsoft Office, specifically Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

Position to begin ideally in July 2020. Small moving stipend available for moves from out of state. Please submit a resume and cover letter to info@ctoca.org and include “OCA Staff Attorney” in the subject line. Position is open until filled, with the goal of completing the hiring process by the end of July.

Please visit our website for the most up-to-date information on this position: https://www.ctoca.org/employment_opportunities

 

Open Communities Alliance does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or any other basis protected from discrimination under applicable law.  Open Communities Alliance is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action.

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Governor's Masthead

Governor Lamont Announces Distribution of Infrared Thermometers to Eligible Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Places of Worship

Posted on May 15, 2020

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut will be distributing 50,000 infrared thermometers it has secured for small businesses, nonprofits, and places of worship to support safe reopening activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Small businesses, nonprofits, and places of worship that would like to request equipment from the state’s supply of infrared thermometers should fill out a form online to indicate their request. The state has partnered with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and its affiliate CONNSTEP to distribute the thermometers. They will be delivered to the municipalities in which the organizations are located, and then the municipalities will contact the recipient entities to inform them of a time and location they can pick up their requested equipment.

“We’ve secured these infrared thermometers for our businesses, nonprofits, and places of worship because having adequate screening measures is an important step in keeping people safe,” Governor Lamont said.

Entities that would like to request a thermometer can fill out the forms located at ct.gov/coronavirus in the “Access to Personal Protective Equipment” section, or through the links provided below:

  • Small businesses: Any small business in the state that has between 2 and 100 employees are eligible to receive one thermometer per physical address. Eligible businesses seeking to request thermometers should click here.
  • Nonprofits: Nonprofits located within Connecticut are eligible to receive one thermometer per physical address. To request thermometers for nonprofits, click here. Social services and direct care nonprofits may request a thermometer through the process outlined in this memo.
  • Places of worship: Places of worship are eligible to receive one thermometer per physical address. To request thermometers for places of worship, click here.

This distribution will continue while supplies last.

 


Read on CT.gov
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