With Absolute Admiration of @senatorduff - @CWPFairfield Can Be What We Are Because of Who We Are Together (@LEAPToLead

Sometimes I like to think that Senator Bob Duff's advocacy for the Connecticut Writing Project at Fairfield University is something I initiated. Ah, but it most definitely is something that arrived to Connecticut long before I came in 2011. In fact, I alluded to his support in an April Op-Ed piece published by the CT Mirror: Governor, Let's Invest In, Not Harm, an Education Project That Works. I quoted Senator Duff's thoughts on CWP-Fairfield from 2005 when he wrote, the program  “works not only for closing the large and unacceptable gap between urban/minority students and those who come from more affluent circumstances; it also supports our teachers and improves writing across all school districts.”

Yesterday, Senator Duff returned to Fairfield University to once again meet with teachers attending the summer invitational (yes, during their "summer vacation") and to listen to their thoughts about literacy instruction in Connecticut. He also welcomed young journalists from our Stop The Presses! lab and other leaders from the University. 

This year, too, I was able to highlight with him CWP-Fairfield's work with LEAP and a partnership with Lauren Callahan's vision for innovative, out-of-the-box programing to bring people together. This year, CWP-Fairfield is using her leadership model to think about ways to go beyond our classroom walls, locally and globally. It's been a wonderful confluence for summer programming, especially in how teachers interact with the Young Adult Literacy Labs and youth in the Labs interact with each other.

It is Ubuntu for us all.

I'm happy to say that Senator Bob Duff's advocacy helped CWP-Fairfield to stay in the CT budget for 2015-2016. As I work with over 150 young people on our campus, the new teachers attending our institute, and the CWP fellows who lead our labs, I can't help but think that we're on to something very special. In the words of a parent from last week's programming, "I wish my daughter could have this experience year-round in her school. Her participation has made her passionate about learning and writing again."

And with that, I send a round of finger snaps and applause for all Bob Duff has done for our work at Fairfield University. His fight for us helps us to fight for the yearlong programming we provide!