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WORKING CITIES INITIATIVE: MIDDLETOWN WORKS
The Working Cities Initiative, Middletown WORKS, is based on a collaborative leadership model, consisting of 30 partners led by The Connection, Inc., Middlesex United Way and the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT). Middletown WORKS is different than other initiatives because we bring together residents and business owners to improve the City of Middletown. This initiative was formed with funding from the Working Cities Challenge grant program administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (click on logo to the right to view website).
The City of Middletown was chosen as our target because despite Middletown's culture of collaboration and diversity, a high level of disparity and poverty exists in our City.
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Root Causes of the Problem
Did You Know?
1) Single parents, particularly women of color, lack access to, and feel excluded from, vocational resources and opportunities that lead to living wage jobs.
2) Local employment services and municipal resources are fragmented and not necessarily geared toward single parent employees.
3) A high level of turnover in entry-level positions is accepted as the norm by local employers.
About Us
About the Director
Rebecca Lemanski, MSW
Rebecca began her career as a Parent Educator in 2005 at Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) in Middletown, CT. For over a decade, Rebecca worked with hundreds of caregivers impacted by severe trauma and abuse to promote nurturing parenting and self-reflection. After spending 14 years providing community-based education and support to families, Rebecca pivoted her career and began focusing on community health and well-being, with an emphasis on resilience. Rebecca’s passion for mitigating trauma and cultivating resilience is evidenced by the founding of a regional collaborative in 2018 called the Community Resilience Collaborative of Middlesex County (CRC) to help develop systems grounded in trauma and resiliency informed approaches.
Currently, Rebecca serves as Director of Middletown WORKS, an economic initiative of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, designed to increase prosperity among Middletown’s single parent families living in poverty through systems change, collaborative leadership and collective impact. Rebecca holds a Master of Social Work Administration from UConn School of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6) from Central Connecticut State University. She lives in Connecticut with her 13-year-old son and during her free time, enjoys reading, cycling, lifting weights and traveling.
The Working Cities Challenge Initiative
Overview
The Connecticut Working Cities Challenge, a grant competition through the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston is designed to support cross-sector, collaborative leadership and ambitious work to improve the lives of low-income people in small and mid-size cities in Connecticut.
Connecticut's winning cities include (cities with population > 25,000 that have median family incomes below the state's median family income and poverty rates above the state poverty rate): Danbury
Hartford
East Hartford
Middletown
and
Waterbury
Please click here to learn more.
Thank You
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Whether you help through monetary donations, volunteering your time, or spreading our mission through word-of-mouth, thank you. We couldn't accomplish our goals without the help of supporters like you.
Meet our newest staff
Camille Smith | Career Navigator
Camille is a dedicated school and community volunteer. She serves on the several boards including the Middletown Racial Justice Coalition, School District’s Leadership Team, Equity Team, Middletown High School Governance Councils and Macdonough School’s Family as Partners.
Camille works as a Parent Leadership Training Coordinator for Middletown Public Schools, a substitute Direct Support Staff for individuals with mental health challenges and a companion and caregiver to the elderly.
In May 2006, Camille received her Associate’s Degree in Human Services from Middlesex Community College and in May 2009, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Saint Joseph University.
Camille resides in Middletown with her three sons, one daughter and two grandsons. During her free moments, she cherishes time with her family, and enjoys traveling, singing, dancing, gardening, advocating for the community, cooking and reading.
Donate Now
We are dedicated to improving the lives of those in our community. Your contribution today helps us make a difference.