Doug McCrory

Sen. McCrory Named One of the 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut

State Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford, Windsor, and Bloomfield) was named one of the NAACP’s top 100 Most Influential Blacks in the state. The CT Conference of NAACP Branches will be awarding 100 Black people in Connecticut who are on their list as influencers, community leaders, and industry trailblazers later in the month.

“I want to thank the NAACP for this recognition and congratulations to my fellow honorees,” said Sen. McCrory. “Our country is at an inflection point. We have to seize this moment to the fullest to advance policies and initiatives that will uplift those in our communities who have been left behind or have not had the same access to opportunities as others. I remain energized to advocate for my constituents and to press for a more equitable future for all in Connecticut.”

As a long-time educator and community leader in Hartford, Sen. McCrory has focused on strengthening neighborhoods through education, community development and civic engagement that uplifts all residents.

Sen. McCrory has been leading advocate for education equity and enactment of policies that make Connecticut’s education system more inclusive for students and educators. He championed approval of the 2019 law that requires high schools in Connecticut to offer a course to students on African-American, Black, Puerto Rican, and Latino studies starting in the fall of 2022. Also, during the 2021 legislative session, he led passage of a bill in the Senate that would have bolstered minority teacher recruitment and retention in Connecticut.

Throughout his years of public service, Sen. McCrory has been committed to helping craft and approve legislation that will close racial disparities. His commitment more solidified following a summer of demonstrations across Connecticut calling for racial justice and re-imagining public policies to better support equity. This legislative session, he supported legislation that:

• Declares racism a public health issue to address root causes of unequal care and systemic racism in health care
• Restores voting rights to people on parole
• Has family dental and vision health insurance cover children through their 26th birthdays
• Prohibits workplace discrimination against individuals on the basis of hairstyles historically associated with race

Also, Sen. McCrory joined in strong support of a state budget that funded debt-free community college and boosted local education funding to increase learning opportunities.

The CT Conference of NAACP Branches will recognize the 100 Most Influential Blacks in the state on October 23rd at 6:00 p.m. The event will be held at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd. in Mashantucket.