Testimony of Glenn A. Cassis Executive Director African-American Affairs Commission submitted to Appropriations Committee

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A first class education for all students in Connecticut remains high on the Commission’s list of priorities. It lingers as a struggle for civil rights. The achievement gap continues to keep Connecticut from attaining the quality of life it should have for all. The AAAC continues to work with educators and parents to help improve student achievement. Legislatively we have asked the legislature to look at implementing a program where cultural competency is taught to teachers as part of their professional development. Having this imbedded in teacher training programs for new teachers entering the field is another strategy we support. We continue to support Minority Teacher Recruitment (MRT) and work closely with the state’s Regional Educational Service Centers (RESC) to bring more people of color into the teaching profession. We are looking at addressing chronic absenteeism with developing a rapid response effort once a student is in jeopardy of being categorized chronically absent. At the request of the State Department of Education, the AAAC continues to serve on important K-12 curriculum advisory groups. The Commission served on SDE’s Social Studies Framework Advisory Group and is currently serving on the Computer Science Advisory Group.
Since 2008 the AAAC has coordinated and directed College Goal Sunday – CT (CGS-CT) this state’s national program that enables first generation and underserved high school students to complete their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), the gatekeeper for college financial aid. A total of 6,647 students and families from 14 communities have benefited from this program including 940 this year. As a component of CGS the AAAC publishes the only statewide scholarship guide that is available on line - http://aaac.cga.ct.gov/aaac/content-files/File/2014-2015%20Scholarship%20Book.pdf from the AAAC website. Student loan debt has led the AAAC to propose legislation to help protect students from predatory loans making Connecticut the only state to consider this type of legislation. The Commission has been instrumental in establishing a coalition of labor unions, CBO’s and other groups known as the Connecticut Higher Ed Not Debt Coalition. Student loan debt is not only one of the biggest financial crisis facing college graduates but it is also recognized contributor to America’s and Connecticut’s extremely slow recovery from the recession of 2008.
The Commission has been very concerned with the developmental educational needs of graduating high school students, entering freshman and non-traditional returning adult college students. We have worked with educators and legislators to implement educational programs that better prepare students for successful employment and/or post-secondary studies.
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The AAAC has been a voice at the table to address the many health disparities in the African-American community. The Commission has been actively involved with the Commission on Health Equity (CHE). I have represented the AAAC as a commissioner, Vice Chair and now Chair of the CHE. As you are probably aware the CHE was dissolved in the Governor’s budget. I and other concerned individuals have submitted testimony to you to have CHE sustained in this biennial budget. The AAAC partners with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to create a community profile in order to understand what the needs are for breast cancer patients in the state. The AAAC works closely with the American Red Cross Blood Donor services, the City of Hartford Cancer Task Force, DPH, the Connecticut Health Foundation, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America - Southern Connecticut, Inc. and DHMAS (Healing Through Diversity & Dialogue Consortium – Community Dialogue mental health, race and healing) and several local grass roots organizations that deal with obesity and mental health. Whether bringing attention to the need to increase blood donors in the African-American community, urging black men to attend health fairs at hospitals or coordinating public voice forums around the state to get feedback on health disparities, the AAAC has been out front.
For the past four and a half years the Commission has opened doors to African nations. Although in 2009 Connecticut signed into law Special Act No. 09-14 – An Act Concerning Trade with Africa, the state has done very little to increase business and trade opportunities with Connecticut businesses and Africa. Despite no state funding the AAAC has helped the United States And Africa Development Organization (USAADO) get off the ground and form a non-profit corporation. The AAAC helped coordinate USAADO’s first trade conference in November 2014 held at Yale. Plans are underway to host a larger conference on international trade in September 2015. The Commission will continue to host representatives from nations in Africa as they visit the state for business, governmental and educational services.
The AAAC is an active member of the Connecticut Racial Profiling Prohibition Project (CTRP3). The Commission continues to serve on the Public Awareness, Data and Training Working Groups. More importantly the Commission has helped insure transparency by inviting community groups to participate in public forums, view the proceedings on CTN and provide opportunities for input from the public. In preparation for the release of the next report from the Project, the AAAC is working with South Windsor, Hartford and New Haven to plan community forums on racial profiling and fair and impartial policing in communities. The Commission is proposing legislation that would make a person
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able to check off that they were not convicted on applications for employment if it has been more than five years since their last offense and they have not had any other convictions. This would only apply to misdemeanors. We are in support of the Governor’s Second Chance bill and view it as way to have former inmates become productive, self-sustaining and income generating citizens of Connecticut.
The Commission continues to recognize the achievements of African-Americans and the contributions we continue to make locally and nationally. For fifteen years the Commission has celebrated the achievements of African-Americans in business, government, lifetime achievements and college bound students. The AAAC has raised more than $38,000 in scholarships to deserving students through the Classic Awards. The Commission also publishes the most comprehensive college scholarship booklet in the state which has given students a source for finding scholarships and financial aid. The AAAC recognizes the significance of Connecticut African-American history and has helped hundreds of residents understand the importance of the history making events like the Black Panther Party in Connecticut, Veterans of Color: African-American veteran from World War II to the War in Viet Nam and the contribution made by Ebenezer Bassett the first Black US Ambassador and graduate of CCSU. Nationally the AAAC is taking a leadership role with the National Coalition of State African American Commissions. We have shared legislative agendas and discussed joining national efforts.
Although the Governors recommended budget supports the Commission’s proposed budget, we have been instructed to accept a $293,752 or 33% reduction from the proposed budget. This brings the AAAC to below level funding as compared to FY 2014 & 2015. We will have a difficult challenge to achieve more with fewer resources and staff support. The void presents our biggest challenge. Understanding the gravity of the budget crisis, the AAAC would have to continue to absorb the absence of a position. The African-American Affairs Commission urges the Appropriations Committee to weigh the value that the Commission brings to Connecticut. The Commission wants to continue to serve the residents of Connecticut to the best of its ability.
Thank you for accepting my testimony.
Glenn A. Cassis
Executive Director