Testimonial Archives
City Council Meeting 03/18/2024
Devan Williams
New London High School, 11th grade Student
Hello,
My name is Devan Williams and I am a student from New London High School. I am currently in 11th grade. I am here to talk about how the city council can help maintain these positions that are necessary for our school by prioritizing education in the city budget. Our school is at risk of losing some important positions like wellness interventionists that benefit students and teachers. To be honest this isn’t really directly relevant to me because I haven’t had an experience where I’ve had to talk to them but I know and have heard a lot of times that the wellness interventionists have helped someone in many different situations and have seen they are people you could always go to. I feel as though school without them would be way less controlled and there would be way more fights. This is because instead of people taking out their anger and fighting there are people that you could talk to release your anger and issues too and without that i don’t think school would be the same. I feel that it impacts my learning in a good way because teachers and students can be more focused in class instead of fights and altercations which will help all of us be better students. This is why I am here to talk about why the city council should help maintain these positions by prioritizing education in the city budget because it will help keep jobs for our wellness interventionists which help school be an all around better and safer place to be at. Thank you for your time
Amaya
New London High School, 11th grade Student
Hello, my name is Amaya. I am a Junior at New London High School, which I have attended since my freshman year. As a passionate advocate for education reform and student well-being, I am advocating for more funding for the schools. Providing more funding for the schools will help keep jobs like the wellness interventionists. These professionals play a pivotal role in fostering a positive and supportive environment for students. Having experienced the support of individuals like Ms. Charity, a wellness interventionist at our school, I can attest to the transformative impact they have on resolving conflicts and promoting emotional well-being. Ms. Charity has been a guiding light for me during challenging times, providing a safe space to confide in and offering thoughtful resolutions to conflicts with fellow students. Her approach goes beyond mere mediation; she empowers students to develop essential conflict resolution skills, fostering a culture of empathy and understanding. Through her guidance, I've learned the importance of effective communication and empathy in resolving conflicts, skills that are invaluable both inside and outside the classroom. I urge the city council to increasingly prioritize funding for education in the city budget to make it possible to permanently implement wellness interventionists in schools, as their impact is undeniable and invaluable. Thank you.
Appropriations Committee Hearing 03/15/2024
Destiny Underwood
New London High School, 11th grade Student
Hello everyone, my name is Destiny Underwood and I am a junior attending New london high school. Last time I touched base on how without funding me and my peers wouldn't be where we are today. I would also like to bring to your attention how it would also affect middle school. I know that if I had the ability to turn to somebody when I was mentally stuck, the majority of my high school problems would've been eliminated. If I had the right guidance and mental support in middle school that the middle schoolers need now, I know that it would make a better outcome because, along with them, we are the future. Why not try and eliminate problems before they turn into a bigger issue? Having family that goes to Benie Dover, I feel as though I am obligated to speak on their behalf and be one of the voices that speak up so they can be the most successful and have the RIGHT knowledge and mental strategies that they can use when they get to high school.
Natalie Kemp
New London High School, Student
Hello. My name is Natalie and I’m a student athlete at New London High School. I am in support of SB50 because we need money to get the supplies to make the school better for, not only students, but teachers, wellness interventionists and other positions that are being held at the school. We need anything we can to make the school better. For example, it has been brought to my attention that Covid relief funds are expiring at the end of this year which is putting some positions in jeopardy such as the wellness interventionist. One of the main reasons we need wellness interventionists is conflict. SB50 can save and support the kids in the district in many ways. Mr.Keith has helped me in many ways, he has helped me with mental support and with grades. He lifted me at my lowest moments and this is one of the reasons why we should pass the SB50 bill. It can help tremendously.
Kymiyah Willis
New London High School, 9th grade Student
Hello, my name is Kymiyah and I’m a 9th grade student athlete at New London high school. I’m here to testify and support the passage of SB50 because our school district is running out of covid relief funds which is putting our school at risk of losing some important positions that support both students and teachers. Without them I feel as though I would struggle more with school by having grades drop and not being able to be consistent in school. They, the interventionists, are people I could talk to in the building and feel comfortable talking about my bad days with. They support me and are a big help for me and my school community. In conclusion, I strongly advocate and testify for the support of SB50, thank you for your time and consideration.
SaVahn Warren
New London High School, Student Athlete
My name is SaVahn Warren. I am a 17-year-old student athlete from New London, I’m here today to testify in support of SB50. Throughout my experience as a student at New London high school, a wonderful school and community that is rough around the edges, I perceived the many different students with many different characters and perspectives but foremost most of the same problems. As a community we are not all perfect but trying to improve so we can reach our potential. Therefore we all don’t come from a perfect place, we can only work together to change that and make New London's future better as a community. In New London there are many kids who suffer disadvantages in and outside of school and need a positive way to express themselves correctly. But as young students it can be hard to receive the correct guidance that we need. With the benefit of having the wellness suite, it can actually grant us many advantages that may not exist at home such as: comfort and guidance. The suite has also helped me get advice for college, recover failing grades, receive counseling and moral support, also, it is the reason that I was able to understand and pass math last semester. SB50 would cause a great improvement to my school and impact students including myself to be better in the future.
Da’Shain Phillips
New London High School, Student Athlete
My name is Da’Shaun Phillips and I am a student-athlete at New London High School. I am here in support of SB50. SB50 is a bill that would really help my School because it would give funding to keep very important positions such as our Wellness Interventionists. I believe that the Wellness Interventionist job at my school is very important and has a big impact. My reasoning on why I think this job is so important and impactful is because, during my time in New London High School, I have seen the great things Wellness Interventionists have done in my school. For example, keeping some of the kids that wouldn’t be in school, do good in class, stay focused and stay on top of their grades and work in school. Also, the Wellness Interventionist job has helped me in the past, like my freshman year, when the Wellness Interventionist was a great help in my life, helping me to feel comfortable talking to someone – someone I could just let all my emotions out to. There were certain days that year that if we didn’t have the Wellness Interventionist job there to help me, I don’t think I would have made it through those days with a clear head space. That’s just my story, but I know that this bill would be a big help in keeping the Wellness Interventionist Job at my school. Wellness Interventionists in the school play a big role in most of the kids' lives… Just because Arpa grants are expiring doesn’t mean that the need for the resources provided by these grants have expired as well, which is why SB50 is so important for me and my community. Thank you for your time!
Rhianna Pierre
New London High School, Student
Hello my name is Rhianna Pierre, I attend New London High, and I will be talking in support of the SB50 bill. The wellness department gives us a feeling of safety and being understood. I’ve seen, personally, how much of a change the wellness department has given my school in the three years I’ve been there. Everything from: de-escalating situations, making people feel like they have someone to talk to, and especially a feeling of not being judged. My personal experience happened my sophomore year when I was just dealing with insecurities, feeling like I had no one to talk to, and I just felt like my high school experience wasn’t a good one. Around that time is when I met Ms.Charity, one of the staff in the wellness department who just gave me reassurance and just made me feel like I had someone to talk to because I just kept everything to myself. It also gave me encouragement with school because during that time my mental health was taking a toll on me. What I am trying to get at is how important the wellness department is and how much of an impact it has in our school. It’s not like it’s not being put to use. People in that department give so many people so much encouragement and hope and we need that in our school every day, without it I don’t think our school would be able to function. This is why the SB50 has so much meaning to me. Thank you.
Jadelise Garrett
New London High School, 11th grade Student
Hello, my name is Jadelise. I am a Junior in high school, and I have attended New London High School since my freshman year starting in 2021. I am in support of more funding for New London Public School to maintain the positions of the wellness interventionists. My experience with the Wellness Interventionists have been nothing but helpful to me and my mindset while going into school. My freshman year there would be fights all the time mostly between the same people because they would receive suspensions and it would just continue when everyone returned. The wellness interventionists influence students with a more leveled way to avoid or deal with altercations; Restorative circles are commonly used to dispute issues between two parties allowing both sides to feel heard and have an opportunity for an agreement to be made with good terms or no contact, allowing students to go back to class in a better head space, ready to succeed. If you look at the data from 22-23 compared to 23-24. The suspension rate and the number of referrals have gone down and attendance has improved. The Wellness Interventionists have come to make a better school climate for students and staff. Having them allows students to have a safe space and somewhere for them to go, reset, and in some cases remind them of their end goals so they can go back into class and be able to function better with their teachers, peers and within themselves. Personally, the advice given to me by Mr.Richardson, Mr. Parker and Ms. Charity has had a positive impact on the mindset I have while in school, helping me excel socially and academically. Wellness interventionists are a good example of how funding can help maintain positive development regarding the students of this district. Thank you for listening.
Serenity Lancaster
New London High School, Student
Good evening, my name is Serenity Lancaster. I am a 16 year old student athlete at New London High School. I’m here today to advocate for getting more funding to education in order to keep people, such as the wellness interventionists in our school. Our district needs more money in order to save some key people in New London public schools because they seem to be the only people that can help us in situations that we struggle to get out of. There are multiple incidents in our school as in fights and arguments that sometimes quickly escalate and some teachers don’t have control over students whatsoever. With our wellness interventionists there is a lot of respect that occurs between the two. Students have so much more respect for the interventionist than the teachers, also the students have a lot more trust. It takes these individuals a lot of time to try to at least let the kids trust them so it could be easier to explain or express things to them their way. If the wellness interventionists were not there when we needed them, so many things might have gone wrong at so many points, and students could be suspended, expelled, or even worse. They have done so much for the New London public school system. Personally, I can’t imagine high school without these caring individuals. I have had them since highschool started for me. They give me and other students a healthier learning environment and better ways to handle things in school and in life out of school.
Even though our schools are losing the Covid-relief money, the need for the supports created with this money still exists. The wellness interventionists are just one key example. Thank you
City Council Budget Proposal Meeting 04/17/2024
Zariyah
New London High School Student
Good afternoon, my name is Zariyah. I'm a 17 year old student attending New london High school. I'm here to talk about investing in our youth and how it will save money in the future. We are asking for a 1.5million dollar increase to the estimated 47 million dollar budget from city council to help fund the wellness interventionist positions. We've talked to the board of education multiple times and spoke at the State Capitol to advocate for more funding for our schools. Keeping the wellness interventionists would prevent multiple outcomes of bad behavior that causes "troubled kids". Norwich City Council just approved 1 million dollars to their schools. Why can't we? The wellness interventionist has a huge impact in kids futures and saving them from the wrong path. As I've said before, being a new student it was hard to keep up with grades, new classes, new teachers etc… They (wellness interventionist) really helped me out! I feel like getting rid of them is throwing out our futures. I know the city council doesn't directly decide how the board of ed spends the money they receive, but you have the power and the voices to provide funding which is important to keep our schools safe. I'm using my voice to speak up for the people that can't.
Thank you for your time. I appreciate everyone for listening and I hope everyone can see how important this is for me, our peers, and our community. Thank you again.
Jeremiah Ikpasa
New London High School Student, 10th Grade
Good evening my name is Jeremiah Ikpasa and I'm a student at New London High School I am 16 years old. I'm in 10th grade and I am here speaking before you to ask you if you could please approve an additional $1.5 million for the school budget in order to keep the wellness Interventionist positions in New London Public Schools. I understand that the City Council does not specifically decide on how the Board of Education spends their funding, but you have the power to allocate funding which is the sufficient to keep our school safe and I don't agree with y'all funding 900,00 dollars of a nearly $5 million dollar request from the schools because it's going to hurt the school and kids and the wellness interventionist. I Just want you guys to prioritize our education in the budget.
Thank you.
Jeremy
New London High School Student
Hello, my name is Jeremy. I'm a 14 year old New London High School student and I am here to testify for an additional 1.5 million dollar increase to the education budget which would maintain the wellness interventionist positions. The reason I want to testify is because I think that we need these positions for the students who need help or someone to listen or support them. For example: every day one of these interventionists comes and checks on me to make sure I'm doing okay and that I'm doing well in my classes. They make sure I don't have any problems, they really watch out for me and I really appreciate them. I honestly think if we didn't have them it would be really problematic for students since, instead of talking about the problem to someone, the problem will get bigger among students which would lead to more fights in school – some kids can even lose their motivation to work.
This is why this subject is important to me. Thank you for your time.
Naheem Smith White
New London High School Student
My name is Naheem Smith-White, I am 16 years old, and I go to New London High School. I am speaking before you today to ask that you approve an additional $1.5 million for the school's budget in order to keep the wellness interventionist positions in the New London Public Schools. The kids of our schools are in need of a place they can go to, and wellness interventionists to talk to. I ask for a place where kids could go to get help and ensure they have accessible resources that will provide a mentally safer, more comfortable environment for students. I understand that the city council does not specifically decide how the Board of Education spends their funding, but you have the power to allocate funding which is sufficient to keep our schools safe. Thank you for your time.
Destiny Underwood
New London High School Student
Hello my name is Destiny, I’m a junior attending New London High School. Today, I am here to ask for a $1.5 million increase to the estimated $47 million from the City Council. I understand the City Council does not decide how the Board of Ed spends their funding, but with your funding we will continue to have sufficient ways to decrease crime rates in our town and decrease chronic issues in our school. Without the wellness unit, I feel like the school’s progress and students and their behavior would only decrease. Removing one of the tools that made our school a safer learning environment would be very detrimental in my eyes. Not everybody has an outlet at home that they can vent to and I have seen how the wellness interventionists have been there for my peers that don’t have that. I can only imagine how the interventionists being taken away from them would affect them. I just want our peers to have the necessities that they need to be able to get through high school. Again, our school has made tremendous progress with the wellness suite being there. I say we should fix the problem before this turns into something that we cannot control anymore. Thank you.
Jazzy Brown
New London High School Student
Hello, my name is Caitlin Brown, I’m a New London High School student. I am speaking before you today to ask that you approve an additional $1.5 million for the school budget in order to keep the wellness interventionist positions in New London Public Schools. These positions are crucial to New London Public Schools. We need money for the students in our schools because without wellness interventionists positions, there are higher violence rates, lower attendance rates, and we ask that you prioritize education in the city budget, especially to maintain the mental health of students and prevent bad things from happening. I understand the City Council does not decide how the Board of Education spends their funds, but you have the power to allocate which is sufficient to keeping our school safe. Thank you for your time.
Rhianna Pierre
New London High School Student
Good evening, my name is Rhianna Pierre. I attend New London High School and I am here to speak before you to ask that you approve an additional $1.5 million for the school budget in order to keep the wellness interventionist positions in New London Public Schools. Their work directly impacts the physical, emotional, and mental health of students and teachers, contributing to a happier and healthier school community overall. Through their interventions, they empower individuals to make positive lifestyle changes and cultivate resilience. Cutting their positions just to save money is not beneficial, so I will continue to also advocate to the Board of Education for the positions because they are a safe place for students and taking that away would impede on the progress we have made as a community. More funding for schools not only makes the school safer, but also New London as a whole. Thank you.
Kymiyah Willis
New London High School Student, 9th Grade
Good afternoon, my name is Kymiyah. I am a resident of New London. I am also a 9th grade student at New London High School. I am speaking before you to ask that you approve an additional $1.5 million for the school budget in order to keep the wellness interventionist positions in our school. This is important because the wellness interventionists create a sense of belonging which leads to increased trust and respect between members of the school community. Also, the wellness interventionists create an environment where students feel safe, heard, understood, and supported which can positively affect students’ learning. I know that you all as the City Council don’t decide how Board of Ed spends their money, but I do know you have the power to give them enough funding to keep the progress we have made in our school the past few years. I have already testified at the Board of Ed and will continue to work with them to make sure that they prioritize these positions in their budget. This is why I think it’s important to provide more money to the education budget because this could help these positions at these schools. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Amir Thomas
New London Middle School Student
Hello, my name is Amir from New London. I am a 14 year old with a cause. I go to school on the New London High School campus in the middle school wing. I am talking to you today to ask that you approve an additional $1.5 million for the school budget in order to keep the wellness interventionist positions in New London Public Schools. This cause is not just for me, but for all the New London students. Wellness interventionists are needed in the school system. You may not know what someone could be going through and when they need someone confidential to talk to which is when these positions become beneficial. Less fights are occurring within the middle school. These positions in our school make it a safer environment for students and staff and make it a more motivational place for students to attend. Thank you.
Mckaylie Francis
New London High School Student, 10th Grade
Hello, my name is Mckaylie and I am a 10th grade student at New London High School. I am here to advocate for the approval of an additional $1.5 million for the school budget in order to keep the wellness interventionist positions within the New London district. When thinking of the importance of this position, I think of the difference between my school experience and my sister’s school experience, a 2019 graduate of the same school. I have witnessed the effect these wellness interventionists have had on the school. Before the school incorporated these positions, student mental health was not prioritized and altercations were considered an everyday thing. Now, we are finally being prioritized and the amount of altercations within the school is reducing. I’m aware that the City Council is unable to specifically decide how the Board of Ed chooses to use their funding, but you have the power to distribute funding to sufficiently keep our school safe. These wellness interventionists are very important to me. I couldn’t even imagine going the next two years of high school without them in our building supporting kids in times when they need it. Thank you.
Ceasefire Resolution Statement 05/06/2024
From HYV, WRITTEN BY CJ Parker
Good evening,
My name is CJ Parker and I am the Education Justice Youth Organizer at Hearing Youth Voices. I am writing on behalf of our organization as a whole. More than a month ago, myself and some of our youth leaders advocated for you all to incorporate a discussion on a ceasefire resolution between Israel and Palestine onto a City Council agenda. With Israel’s planned invasion of the city of Rafah, this matter becomes increasingly urgent. Each evacuation order administered by Israel has been followed by unimaginable violence inflicted on Palestinian civilians and destruction of their infrastructure.
Today marks the 213th day of the Israeli offensive in Gaza. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7th. An additional 10,000 people are missing and presumed trapped under rubble. More than half of those killed by Israeli forces have been women and children. Months ago this Israeli military campaign was already deadlier for children than all military conflicts across the globe in the past five years combined. Months ago this was already the deadliest conflict for journalists since such data began being tracked in the early 1990s. More than 60% of housing in Gaza has been obliterated. A ceasefire to save innocent lives and preserve infrastructure to keep Gaza inhabitable is long overdue.
Today, Hamas accepted an Egyptian-Qatari ceasefire proposal. Israel has not yet decided on the proposal and it seems unlikely they will also accept it as prime minister Netanyahu claims it doesn’t meet essential demands for Israel. In the past, international pressure in the form of diplomatic measures, or boycotts, divestment and sanctions, has resulted in the prevention of further loss of life and diminished discrimination in other conflicts. We have seen it work in the Jim Crow south as well as the South African apartheid. A ceasefire in Palestine is the first step in addressing what human rights organizations claim to be apartheid under Israeli law. As disease, famine, and continued bombing continue to cause indescribable harm to Palestinians, it is imperative we as a community join the more than 100 localities across the country who have already passed a ceasefire resolution. Such momentum can be instrumental in creating much needed change. Richmond, California passed a resolution on October 25th and such resolutions have reached most regions of the United States. In the northeast for example, Providence, Rhode Island, Bridgeport, Connecticut, Albany and Newburgh, New York, as well as Medford, Somerville, and Cambridge, Massachusetts have joined the call for a ceasefire. These cities all recognize “an injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere.”
What is preventing us from being the next city to pass a ceasefire resolution?
Thank you,
Hearing Youth Voices