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N. GROSVENORDALE — Aug. 28 TEEG hosted a regional roundtable discussion on rural poverty and jobs featuring US Senator Christopher Murphy (CT-D). The senator came to hear from regional agencies, business leaders and nonprofit groups to hear the challenges facing northeastern CT residents. With a wide variety of participants from around the area, housing and access to transportation became a significant focus of the conversation.
“Northeast Connecticut has all of the same social concerns and challenges as our urban counterparts in Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport with very few of the resources to alleviate them. As a region, we rely on community partnerships and creative thinking to solve many of the social problems facing the Quiet Corner. TEEG was delighted for the opportunity to convene many of our HealthQuest partners and professional colleagues to talk about our corner of Connecticut; the collaborative spirit that exists here and needs that together, we are working to meet.” - Donna Grant, Executive Director, TEEG.
With Day Kimball Hospital as one of the largest employers in the area, another important topic of discussion was the need for our federal legislators to see our local hospital as a vital resource providing more than healthcare, but an access point to a variety of social services.
“As we discuss how to bring people in Connecticut out of poverty, too often those in rural communities are overlooked. Poverty is something that affects people in all areas of our state, and each community deserves proper attention and assistance. I had a great discussion with TEEG and others this week about how to help the poor in northeastern Connecticut and what their unique needs are. I’ll bring this valuable conversation back to Washington, where I’ll work to raise awareness about this critical issue.” said Sen. Chris Murphy
Attendees of the discussion were - State Senator Don Williams; Donna Grant, Executive Director of TEEG; Shawn Johnston and Kathi Peterson of Interfaith Ministries of Putnam; Roberta Dwyer of the Northeast CT Economic Alliance, Allan Walker, First Selectman Town of Woodstock; Larry Groh, First Selectman Town of Thompson; Ken Beausoleil, Selectman Town of Thompson; John Rauh of Cableworks in Putnam; Betty Kuszaj of the Northeast CT Chamber of Commerce; Virginia SanPietro of the Eastern Workforce Investment Board; Bob Smanik, President and CEO of Day Kimball Hospital; Don St. Onge, Vice President Day Kimball Hospital; John O’Keefe Vice President of Patient Services Day Kimball Hospital; Judie Blackmore Director Day Kimball Hospital Homecare; Rebecca Powell, RN Day Kimball Hospital; Sue Starkey of the Northeast District Department of Health; Erica Kesselman, MD TEEG Board of Directors and Christopher Burke, Esq. TEEG Board of Directors.