Celebrating FIRST Haven

I'm thrilled to be a part of the agenda that's referred to as "the ConnCAT family." This is a really special day to be here.

I'm Karen DuBois-Walton, President and CEO of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, but more than that, I'm a friend and a supporter of all things Erik [Clemons]; all things ConnCAT and ConnCORP; all things Carlton [Highsmith].

On behalf of The Community Foundation, it is an honor to stand with you today as we celebrate this exciting new chapter for ConnCAT, and this exciting new chapter for New Haven.

Ribbon cuttings are certainly about buildings, but it's about more than that: it's about the people. It is about the thousands of individuals whose lives have been and will be transformed through opportunity, education, mentorship and the belief that their potential is limitless.

For The Foundation, this moment is especially meaningful because ConnCAT's story and our story have been closely connected from the very beginning.

You already heard that more than two decades ago, Foundation leaders, led by my friend Will Ginsberg, and community partners were inspired by the work of Bill Strickland and the Manchester Bidwell model in Pittsburgh, a model grounded in a simple but powerful vision that all people should have abundant opportunities to discover their potential and have a fair chance to succeed. That idea resonated deeply then and it continues to guide us.

This moment, for me, is also deeply personal. As the CEO of The Foundation, I'm proud of our partnership and investment in ConnCAT, but as a longtime friend and partner to Erik and so many members of the team, I'm especially moved to see this vision come to life in such a powerful way. Many of you know I previously served as President of Elm City Communities, and during my time at ECC, I had the privilege of serving on the ConnCORP board. That experience reinforced something important for both of our organizations, because we believed at our core that deep and sustained investment in formerly redlined communities, communities that are predominantly Black and Latine, are essential to building a more just and prosperous future.

We also shared a fundamental belief in what those investments should look like; that the spaces in our communities must be of the highest quality. They must be filled with light, with art, with joy, and be reflective of the inherent worth and dignity of every single person who walks through the door. When you walk through the door, that is what you will feel, because this building embodies that belief. It builds on a legacy of work that many of us have been involved in with years, and for Erik and the team, the board, and all our friends of ConnCAT, and our friends of what will come here at First Haven, I say, congratulations.

The Foundation was proud to put the first million dollar investment that helped bring ConnCAT to life, and over time has invested more than $5 million has been committed, and we've had the privilege of witnessing ConnCAT grow into one of the most impactful institutions in our region. Congratulations to Erik, to Carlton, to the ConnCAT team, to the board, and to everyone who has made this day possible.