Alliance for Community Empowerment proudly welcomed U.S. Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) to its Bridgeport headquarters on Friday, July 11th to celebrate the award of a more than $12 million Federal Head Start grant, making Alliance the largest Head Start grant recipient in the State of Connecticut.

The event brought together staff, parents, and community leaders to commemorate the continued support for early childhood education in the Greater Bridgeport area. Dr. Monette Ferguson, Executive Director of Alliance, opened the celebration by expressing her gratitude for the grant’s renewal. “We’re here to celebrate the more than 12-million-dollar grant for our children, staying in our community and our neighborhoods to help our families. Things have a way of working themselves out,” she said.

Congressman Himes emphasized the critical importance of early childhood programs like Head Start, noting, “At a place like Alliance, you know that the child will not just be well cared for, but will advance and make progress in terms of vocabulary and all the things that are really important to the young child.”

Parents and staff also shared testimonials during the event. Sonia, a parent and policy council member, praised Alliance’s commitment to inclusion, stating, “Not only does Early Learning support children and their families but also children with special needs, and that’s very important to me.”

Dr. Anthony Oliver highlighted the nurturing environment at Alliance: “We tried four other centers that just weren’t working for our family. At Alliance, the teachers treat our kids like their own. They give them that extra care, and our kids love it here.”

Karen Pascale, Head Start Collaboration Office Director for Connecticut, added her congratulations: “Alliance is our largest Federal Head Start recipient in the state. You have the most spots across Connecticut, and this grant is a testament to the impact you’re making.”

With this significant funding secured, Alliance looks forward to continuing its 60+ year legacy of delivering high-quality, comprehensive services to families and children in the region.

Alliance thanks Congressman Himes and all supporters who made this momentous achievement possible.