In the News!!!

Here is me in the Norwalk Hour!


Status of Women panel hears complaints



Natalie Samuels works about 80 hours a week, and she also takes college classes. With two young sons, she scrapes by on roughly $45,000 per year, which is too much to qualify her for government aid.
"Basically, all I'm looking for here is some assistance," she told a panel of city and state lawmakers during a public hearing organized by the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. The commission, formed in 1973 by state legislature, tackles issues of sex discrimination, and the hearing was held at Norwalk Community College.

For almost two hours, women from the area detailed their personal lives to the panel, asking for policy changes that would make it easier to survive in Fairfield County.

State Reps. Toni Boucher, R-143, and Christopher Perone, D-137, state Sen. Bob Duff, D-25, majority whip, and six Norwalk Common councilmen joined members of the commission on the panel.

It was one of three public hearings the commission plans to transcribe and send to state policymakers. A previous hearing was held in Enfield, and another one is scheduled at the University of Connecticut in February.





"We're responsible for being a liaison between community and government," said Teresa Younger, executive director of the commission, "and we wanted to gather their stories so we can communicate effectively with the government."
Marie Wendorff, who lives in Wilton, described her escape from an abusive relationship. She had to walk away from a career during the ordeal, and has since moved her three children to a one-bedroom apartment.

"So I was one of the haves with the white house and the picket fence, and I have become a have-not," Wendorff said. It took her a year and a half to get help from the government, and she told the panel the process should be easier.

"There are, no question, some heavy bureaucratic steps that really hamper a critical situation," Boucher said.

After two abusive marriages, Nadira Pankey found it more practical to leave her job and focus on a college education. She's a straight-A student at Norwalk Community College, and she supports her two children with food stamps and welfare checks.

"The only way I was able to survive, and the only way I'm sitting before you now, and why I'm able to give my kids food to eat, is because I quit my job and got on welfare," Pankey told the panel.

Two recent studies of income paint a bleak picture for women on the state and county level. One by the Fairfield County Community Foundation's Fund for Women and Girls found that for each dollar men earned, women earned 70 cents.

Regardless of whether they have children, a woman's income is twice as likely not to be as sufficient as a man's income, according to a study by the commission from last year. The study uses different standards for poverty than the federal government, and is more flexible than a flat salary line.

Even one of the commission's own subcommittee members, Kristen Pavlik, admitted she struggled to earn a living wage. She works full time at the Domestic Violence Crisis Center in Norwalk, part time at the Stamford Shelter for the Homeless and does some freelance clerical work. She loves her job, but it barely supports her.

"The negotiation between doing something I love and being financially secure is a difficult one," Pavlik said.

After the hearing, Perone said it's important to increase awareness of services that nonprofit organizations offer.

"I got the feeling in that room tonight that as successful as Connecticut has been in offering services, the message isn't getting out in a big way, so that's an important part of this," Perone said.


Staff writer Jared Newman may be reached at (203) 354-1045 or jnewman@thehour. com.

Tesitfy!!

Oh my goodness, the coolest thing happened tonight I testified at a public hearing regarding economic security and women. I was so nervous I thought for sure that the microphone was going to pick up the thumping of my heart. Here is what I said:

Good Evening—
Tonight we are here to open a discussion about getting to a better tomorrow. I come to you as a young single professional working hard to make a better tomorrow everyday. I am a member of the Young Women’s Leadership Program and as a Prevention Educator for the Domestic Violence Crisis Center located here in Norwalk as well as in Stamford. I along with a dedicated group of educators we work everyday to redefine societal beliefs and attitudes regarding domestic violence. With the YWLP I work to help facilitate programs and legislation to encourage young women to empower themselves.

Professionally all the aspects of my work fulfill me because I am told daily how my work impacts the communities I work with. However, an issue that I challenges me on a monthly basis, like most of my collogues in the social service and non profit sector is how to maintain my independent financially stability now while building for a future for tomorrow. The negation between doing something I love and being able to be financially secure is a difficult one. Almost all the women of varying ages and martial status that I work with work their full time job and at least one part time job. I myself work 35 hours at DVCC as a prevention educator, 16 hours monthly at the Stamford shelter at DVCC, and I have another part time job doing sporadic clerical work. I have an undergraduate and a Master’s degree. There is a severe disconnect between how hard I work and the reality of my finances. I live in a one bedroom apartment in Norwalk, and I meet all of my regular bills such as groceries, electricity, and car payments. There is very little disposable income left. I realize that it is a choice to work in the non profit field, however, when a single woman with no children needs to work almost three jobs to support herself there is a larger issue.

I believe in systems changes, I believe in working with government to make systems more effective for everyone. I work everyday for social and systems changes. I challenge everyone here to examine what professions our society intrinsically value, ideologically and financially. Take a close look at those of us who are on the front lines working for a better tomorrow. How can we make housing costs more affordable for everyone? How can we take the burden of thousands of dollars in college loans for young professionals just starting off manageable while maintaining a their life and being able to look towards the future? I challenge everyone here to look at these questions and work for a new solution.

I got complemented by a senator on the work that I do. How awesome is that?? He also asked if I ever testified about these subjects before. I replied no and inside my head I was going "Holy crap a senator just complimented my public speaking." I also had a handful of other social service and non profit workers come up to me and thank me for being so eloquent on their behalf. It was crazy! I also had a councilperson from Norwalk hug me and say the work that I do is very very important. I am also going to be in the Norwalk paper tomorrow!!!

Gearing Up for Tonight

Thanks Hendog

35th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

I know it has been forever since my last post, but I am "blogging for choice" and letting everyone know how important it is to remember today as the 35th anniversary of the decision of Roe v Wade. The right to choose is a right that should never be taken for granted.

Tomorrow I am testifying at a public hearing in Norwalk about economic security. I will post my testimony and comments about the hearing tomorrow evening.