"Understanding happens when we talk to each to other."

Lasting change happens when people organize. Paul Boudreau, a canvassing strategist at The Connecticut Project, has spent much of his life immersed in community advocacy. From tenant organizing to legislative campaigns, Paul’s experience is an inspiring part of his story. What stands out the most from our conversation was his unwavering belief in everyday people.

Paul’s organizing journey didn’t begin with a typical introduction into politics or advocacy; it was a response to the need to stand up for his community. Paul is a resident of North Haven and has called different parts of Connecticut home for about 60 years. His experiences in Bridgeport and Hamden have shaped the way he views community.

Brianna: What was your first introduction to advocacy or community organizing?

Paul: I think it started, actually, back when I was about 19. I was in a building collapse [while working construction] in Bridgeport. And it was mainly due to cutting corners and stuff like that. What really kind of sucked me in was how the community in Bridgeport came together to help. We didn't leave that site for six days, digging people out. People just came with food, new clothes, and beds—like anything you could imagine. And I thought, this is how it can be. This is the kind of community I grew up in. And I spent a large portion of my life trying to figure out how to reproduce that.

Long before he joined The Connecticut Project, Paul already witnessed what people are capable of when they care for each other. This experience stayed with him long after the rescue ended and would later guide him to organizing.

Paul: Ultimately, it wouldn't happen until 2020 when my car and about 40 other tenants' cars got towed one day. That was our introduction to our new landlord right after quarantine. I was yelling at cops, and they were yelling back, and one of them yelled, “Well, you'll just have to change the law.” And I went, “Fine, I will.” And without realizing the commitment I just made there, six years later, that was the beginning of my real organizing. And I started knocking on doors the next day. Like, I guess I will change the law.

Paul found his way to The Connecticut Project through a recommendation from a friend and fellow organizer, Hillary Desideraggio. It began as a temporary job and quickly became something bigger. To Paul, The Connecticut Project is a team that supports one another while building power with communities across the state.

Paul often reminds the team that organizing isn’t about experts or credentials. It’s about people. He often speaks about “the real genius of community” and believes that the people closest to the problems are the people who understand the solutions best.

“We're willing to do the hard work—knocking doors in the winter, in the summer, all year long. It's not about shortcuts. It's about building something that lasts." - Paul

Brianna: How has your experience been as part of the canvassing team?

Paul: It's been awesome. It's the first time that I look forward to going to work every single day. I don't think there's been a single day where I really wasn't looking forward to seeing what we could get done today. I love how great everybody's attitude is, how we work together on helping each other get better, [and] work through the normal conflicts you might have in any work environment, but in a very healthy way.

The work isn’t just about knocking on doors. It’s about watching people realize that their story matters.

Paul: Seeing people find their voice is one of my favorite things in the world. Seeing somebody testify at a legislative hearing up at the Capitol or at a rally—or even just like when we're getting together to do a community canvass—seeing someone who you could clearly see has never been able to say their truth, suddenly find their voice and be invested in it, and suddenly stop being self-conscious about what they're saying and just say their thing … that's always amazing to me.

Democracy is not reserved for lobbyists or legislators. It belongs to the people whose lives are affected by policies every day. Organizing is a marathon, not a sprint. Paul reflected on campaigns like Fight for Our Care and his years-long effort to pass towing legislation, emphasizing that meaningful change takes persistence.

Brianna: Is there a specific campaign, issue, or conversation at The Connecticut Project that has resonated with you?

Paul: Yeah, I think Fight for Our Care [is] an amazing campaign. I'd met so many people at the doors that were affected by these things, who had lost their services, who weren't getting enough food, who weren't getting their insurance anymore. I don't think we should give up on it until we have it all. I think more people should be in it, and more people probably need it now, HUSKY and SNAP, than when we started this campaign, because people are becoming more and more financially challenged by how expensive everything has gotten.

When describing the feeling of being at the Capitol in Hartford with other working class people, Paul said:

Paul: I can't think of a better word than beautiful. One of the first things I say to people, when they look nervous, is, “This is your house. These people work for you, and they need to hear you. They need to know what you're thinking.” I feel like my job is to connect people with legislators so that they can speak, so they're not intimidated by this, and help them realize that you can just walk up and talk to people and tell them your story, and they'll listen.

Brianna: Why do you feel organizing and collective advocacy around the cost of living is important in Connecticut right now?

Paul: I think Connecticut is seeing some of the most drastic differences between [the] rich and [the] poor here now. There's so many more people struggling now than there used to be. And the rich are just getting richer, honestly. And we're seeing that class division get wider and wider, and the racial divisions get wider and wider as we start introducing the new age of trillionaires now. Connecticut is really a microcosm of, I think, the wealth division in America, and maybe in the world in some ways, because we have such extreme polarity between rich and poor in Connecticut.

As the cost of living continues to increase, more working class families are struggling to make ends meet. Paul remains hopeful and believes that this is a pivotal moment for Connecticut. Through countless conversations at the doors, he found that people still remember a time when neighbors looked out for one another. When someone on the block got sick, you brought them food. When the sweet grandma next door needed help shoveling her driveway, you lent a helping hand. That sense of community has not disappeared. We just need to find our way back to it.

Brianna: What message do you have for people about community organizing, advocacy, or just hope as a whole?

Paul: If you can do it, if you have capacity, get involved. If you don't have the capacity, support it. Because together, we're going to win. We're not going to win without the other half of the country coming into the discussion. One of the ways I was able to win the towing legislation [was by] bringing the big towing companies to the table to discuss it and find out what they needed, because they're just working people too.

Community organizing isn’t only about winning campaigns. It helps people discover their own voice, creates long-lasting relationships that go beyond a legislative session, and builds a Connecticut where opportunity means everybody. Paul’s story is a reminder that meaningful change does not require a five-page resumé. It can start with a neighbor showing up, a difficult conversation, or the decision to keep knocking on the next door.

Join the fight for an affordable Connecticut when you sign up for your local Community Action Team.