Joan Hartley

Senator Hartley Named Waterbury Youth Services Advocate of the Year

State Senator Joan Hartley receives the Waterbury Youth Services Advocate of the Year award at a fundraising event this week.

WATERBURY, CT – This week, State Senator Joan Hartley (D-Waterbury) received the Waterbury Youth Services Advocate of the Year award for her continual, unwavering and influential dedication to youth in the Greater Waterbury area. During the WYS’s recent fundraising event, Hartley was recognized for her work in helping youth throughout the city.

Sen. Hartley gave a short acceptance speech praising Waterbury Youth Services programs, specifically highlighting its “Girls Who Code” program. “This program teaches adolescent girls the 21st century skill of coding, which will provide program participants with training and background in coding, a necessary skill for future employment,” said Sen. Hartley. “This is the type of program WYS offers.”

Waterbury Youth Services Executive Director Kathi Crowe awarded Sen. Hartley, adding that “when we discussed who should receive this award, there was no one more deserving.”

Sen. Hartley has worked for years to empower and support the youth of Waterbury. Most recently, in 2018, she played an instrumental role in helping pass Public Act 18-81, which implemented the Youth Violence Prevention Initiative. As part of that, groups including the Boys & Girls Club in Waterbury received grant money to bolster anti-violence campaigns, help educate youth and improve the resources they provide.

Waterbury Youth Services, founded in 1976, works to help youth through 22 programs, including helping inspire children to pursue higher education, close the gender gap in fields like information technology, sending children to summer camps, providing crisis intervention and protecting children from abuse.