The Connecticut Project recently honored 69 grantee partners, from community-based nonprofits to advocacy, organizing, and policy organizations, for their work to improve the lives of working class people across the state.
Held Oct. 8 at The Estate in New Haven, the “Power in Partnership Event” coincided with the fifth anniversary of The Connecticut Project and offered an opportunity to reflect on the progress made over the past five years.
“Our work together, five years in, is already starting to bear fruit,” Garth Harries, president and CEO of The Connecticut Project, told the crowd.
He cited the addition of 2,000 child care seats, expected to save families $23 million annually; support for the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit, projected to save working families nearly $22 million; a pipeline for more than 900 affordable homes; the formation of 24 tenants’ groups across Connecticut; and the passage of state legislation expanding access to absentee voting.
“It’s because of your work,” Harries said of the milestones.
Since its founding, The Connecticut Project has supported initiatives focused on improving outcomes for working class people in early education, housing, economic opportunity, and democracy. In 2025, the organization invested $12.7 million in 55 grantee organizations.
“We gather with this shared purpose to celebrate and appreciate you, our partners, who do the work, the hard work, day in and day out, to make Connecticut better for everyday people – work that is carried out with care, selflessness, courage and love, even in the most difficult circumstances,” said Mirellise Vazquez, vice president of investment for The Connecticut Project.
Tracey Madden-Hennessey, CEO of YWCA of New Britain, attended the event. The Connecticut Project funds and partners with the YWCA’s Childcare Business Incubator, which helps entrepreneurs launch child care businesses and develop the skills needed to succeed.
Madden-Hennessey said she valued the opportunity to meet other grantee partners.
“I appreciate that The Connecticut Project brings together its partners from many different but related sectors,” she said. “The value of speaking with others we might not meet elsewhere allows us to make connections and increase our ability to look at systems change from a much broader lens.”
Whether it’s working to ensure accessibility to quality affordable housing or creating generational wealth-building through the state’s baby bonds program, Vazquez credited such efforts to the cooperation that’s happening across Connecticut.
“All this work happens through partnership at the community, regional and state level, across sectors and stakeholders and with each other – partnerships ground in relationship, trust and mutual respect,” she said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to be in partnership with each and every one of you, and to support your important and powerful efforts to make Connecticut better today, and for generations to come.”
Harries acknowledged the challenges nonprofit leaders are facing, including funding cuts and what he described as ideological attacks that make their work harder.
“Funding cuts and ideological attacks are making your daily battle with poverty and bureaucracy even harder,” he said. “It is also a challenging time in politics. People of all political stripes, all backgrounds, are feeling neglected, unseen and unsupported.”
Harries said difficult times make it especially important for organizations to take proactive steps. The Connecticut Project aims to help nonprofits build more vibrant and sustainable organizations through gatherings like the Oct. 8 event, wellness initiatives, leadership development programs and efforts to mobilize philanthropic partners.
“We hope all those things,” Harries said, “help your organization thrive.”
