HARTFORD, Conn. — State officials, lawmakers and community leaders from across Connecticut gathered at the state Capitol Tuesday, for the 10th annual Latino Legislative Summit.
“Our community is getting better and better,” said state Rep. Minnie Gonzalez, president of the Puerto Rican and Latino Caucus. “Our people are becoming more successful, and we are helping to improve the quality of life of our people, in our community.”
Legislative leaders from both the Black and Puerto Rican and the Puerto Rican and Latino Caucuses celebrated the 10th anniversary of this summit, saying it’s an important event meant to empower the state’s Latino community.
“I love the fact that Connecticut is one of the most diverse, welcoming states in the country,” Gov. Ned Lamont said. “I love the fact that each and every one of you feel at home here. I love the fact that we are one of the most diverse administrations in the history of this state.”
Attendees discussed issues impacting the hundreds of thousands of Latino residents across Connecticut, with a focus on financial equity, home ownership and voter rights.
“We all experience the same issues,” added chair of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, state Sen. Patricia Billie Miller. “There's a lack of affordable housing, there's a lack of health care, there's a lack of quality childhood education.”
The event began with a presentation on the status of Latinos in the state.
“In the case of Puerto Ricans and Hispanics, they have the lowest wage salary incomes in the state historically,” Charles Venator Santiago, associate professor at UConn, explained.
There were also panel discussions on advancing financial stability, pathways to social equity for first-time home buyers, and protecting and expanding voting rights.
“I work very hard to make sure that in our administration, in your schools at the university, each and every one of you, and your kids can look and say, ‘Hey, there's somebody that looks like me, I feel welcome here. I know that I belong here,’” said Lamont.
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Lawmakers say the summit is also a chance to highlight the contributions, and build greater awareness, of the state’s growing Latino community.
“We're here to make sure that the policies that we put forth, here at the General Assembly, that we make sure that there's social equity, and we make sure that it does not negatively impact our communities,” Miller continued.
“This is our building,” said Gonzalez. “This building belongs to all of us.”
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Emma Wulfhorst is a political reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at ewulfhorst@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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