Congressman Murphy Seeks Facts, Finds Real People
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Congressman Chris Murphy who serves the 5th District in Northwestern Connecticut, understands the need for continuing dialogue and, more important, concerted action so he took a trip to the Gulf Coast. The purpose of his journey to was to receive honest, unfiltered insight into the many serious issues faced by the people of the Gulf Coast. The guide for the Honorable Mr. Murphy during his two-day official visit was Tracy Hewat, a member of the GSAF Steering Committee and a Twenty-First Century Foundation donor. The task at hand was for the Congressman to see the devastation firsthand, and to find out what was happening to the people who live in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. Mr. Murphy shared dinner with Lauren Anderson of Neighborhood Housing Services and Mary Fontenot of ACT NOLA, an affiliate of PICO-LIFT, as well as a cold glass of water courtesy of a resident of one of the FEMA trailer parks. In addition, he met with the leaders of NOLA ACORN, who spoke of their work and the challenges they face. Experience shows that the intimacy of one-on-one conversations and small gatherings can shape the manner in which services and resources are delivered to those in need.