Announcing Our Director of Strategic Communications
The William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund is excited to announce the recent hire of Calondra McArthur as our new Director of Strategic Communications. As a member of the foundation’s senior leadership team, Calondra will lead the organization’s communications strategy and expand capacity to support the Memorial Fund’s mission to achieve equity in education by working with those affected and inspiring all to end racism and poverty. The new role reflects our commitment to strengthening how […]
Black History Month Reflection by Dr. Gislaine Ngounou
As we honor Black History Month, and quite frankly celebrate Black history and achievement all year, I dream of the world I want to be true for my 1-year-old Black son and the generations to come. A world where they get to be free and thrive as exactly who they are—safe and basking in their collective genius and […]
End-of-Year Message
An End-of-Year Message from our CEO, Dr. Gislaine Ngounou Hello, beautiful people! Wow, what a year it’s been. 2025 showed up—and showed out. We’ve weathered extraordinary challenges, and yet, we’ve also seen incredible courage and resilience in our communities. As I reflect on this past year—my first as CEO—I’m reminded that a year can hold so much change, and […]
Authoritarianism Has No Place in Connecticut or Anywhere
The William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund believes deeply that all children, and all people, deserve security, safety, human rights, and freedom. Together with our partners, we are working to create a vision of a future that is just, thriving, and liberated for all. However, every day, we are experiencing shocking expansions of authoritarianism, both nationally and internationally. This is lethal […]
A Message this Independence Day
“What to the slave is the Fourth of July?” said Frederick Douglass in 1852. “What to the vulnerable and oppressed is the Fourth of July in 2025?” we might ask today… 173 years later. On this Fourth of July, we are witnessing the likely passage of a federal budget that stands to inflict irreparable damage […]
A Post Election Message from Gislaine Ngounou & Lisa Graustein
As we continue to process the news of the election results, Gislaine, our CEO, and Lisa, our Board Chairperson, share a message of hope and solidarity.
Make The Road CT: Advocates push for legislation to benefit immigrants during rally at State Capitol
This International Workers’ Day, advocates for the immigrant community are raising their voices with a May Day march and rally at the State Capitol. The core message: that immigrant labor is one of the many ways that immigrants contribute to our country. “They work as hard, they work over the average that any American worker […]
CONECT: Criminal justice advocates rally for CT’s Clean Slate law
Criminal justice reform advocates rallied at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday to call on Governor Ned Lamont (D) to uphold the state’s Clean Slate law. Connecticut passed its Clean Slate law in 2021. It was supposed to automatically erase misdemeanors after seven years and certain low-class felonies after 10 years to make it easier for people […]
She Leads Justice: Expanded paid sick leave bill heads to the governor’s desk
A bill that expands paid sick day requirements to all employers awaits the governor’s signature. The bill, An Act Expanding Paid Sick Days in The State, was passed by lawmakers in the state Senate on Monday night. Once it becomes law, it will require all businesses, regardless of size or industry, to provide paid sick […]
All Our Kin: Advocates Say Child Care Is A Path To Sustainable Business, Stronger Children
As the state legislature continues to grapple with a housing crisis, education funding shortfalls, and maintaining the state’s fiscal guardrails, one advocacy group is drawing attention to the potential for childcare to improve the lives of both children and their caregivers. All Our Kin, a New Haven-based nonprofit, seeks to draw attention to the work […]