Julie Kushner

SEN. KUSHNER HONORED WITH INAUGURAL 2025 ALICE CHAMPION AWARD

State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) was honored today with the United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut’s inaugural 2025 ALICE Champion Award for her “leadership, dedication, and steadfast commitment to advancing policies that support… individuals and families who work hard but struggle to afford life’s essentials.”

“In our region, nearly 40% of households are ALICE or living in poverty, making your advocacy and action not only timely, but critical,” said Ashley Gaudiano, the Chief Operating Officer United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut. “You were chosen for this award based on your strong legislative record, your leadership role in advancing economic opportunity, and your support of efforts that directly impact the financial stability, health, and well-being of Connecticut residents. Your work exemplifies what it means to govern with equity, compassion, and purpose.”

Sen. Kushner, who is Senate Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee, has a proven record of pro-family policies. Her life and legislative career have been committed to achieving minimum wage increases, improving access to health care, securing childcare benefits, funding public pre-kindergarten and tuition-free college, enacting paid family and medical leave, expanding access to paid sick days, making meaningful investments in the local infrastructure, protecting the environment, and promoting women’s and family issues.

“With every election and committee meeting and vote in the General Assembly, we have the opportunity to make life better for the people we represent and for the entire state. I take that responsibility very seriously and I try to use my time here in the legislature wisely in order to accomplish those goals,” Sen. Kushner said. “I am very proud and honored to be recognized by The United Way for my work to improve the lives of Connecticut residents, especially those who are still struggling to make ends meet on a daily basis.”

The United Way publishes an annual poverty assessment based on its “ALICE” methodology, which is an acronym for “Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained and Employed”. The United Way estimates that it cost a family of four in Connecticut – two parents and two children – about $116,000 in 2023 to cover basic needs such as food, housing, utilities, child and health care and transportation, and that 40% of Connecticut residents were below this level.