Toni Nathaniel Harp

Furthermore, despite her responsibility for the Appropriations Committee and the state budget, Senator Harp remains fully engaged in efforts to improve early literacy in an effort to bridge Connecticut‘s Achievement Gap, as well as the ongoing fight against childhood obesity.

Throughout her tenure, Senator Harp has prioritized many initiatives important to her constituents, including managed care reform, providing insurance for uninsured children, raising the minimum wage, advocating economic development for cities, encouraging an early detection system for child abuse, prohibiting drive-through deliveries, supporting truancy court, and ensuring the safety of children in child care. Senator Harp has worked hard to bring state resources to local small businesses and to open the legislative process to constituents.

Senator Harp’s expertise is recognized at the national level, too. She is the former chairperson of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ standing committee on Health where she had the responsibility of reviewing policy, coordinating lobbying strategies, and presiding over programs throughout the United States. In 2006 Senator Harp spoke at an international forum in Brussels on public policy challenges prompted by the fast-growing population of senior citizens.

Her standing has been recognized by numerous groups, associations, and organizations: the American Lung Association of Connecticut presented her with a Breath of Life Award; it had previously named her Legislator of the Year for her leadership in the areas of public health and lung health. End Hunger Connecticut! commended her for efforts to redistribute food and get it onto the plates of those who struggle to afford it, and she also received a Legislative Award from the Connecticut Psychological Association for her leading role in maintaining access to mental/behavioral health services for state residents.

Senator Harp was a recipient of the 2007 Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service in the category Outstanding State Senator. This award was established by the American Medical Association and is one of the most prestigious forms of recognition for outstanding public service in the advancement of public health.

She received an annual Legislative Award from Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services, Inc. for her ‘unfailing’ support and assistance on behalf of legislation to help sexual assault victims, survivors, and their families. She has also been active in efforts to reform Connecticut’s corrections system and has spoken many times before corrections and probation officers.

She led the fight against Big Tobacco as an outspoken proponent of the state law to mitigate second-hand smoke through a ban on indoor smoking in places of public accommodation. She also helped start Connecticut’s Asthma Action Plan, through which health officials began to track asthma in Connecticut’s public schools beginning in 2003. She was also recognized by the Connecticut Local Administrators of Social Services (CLASS) for her contributions in that area.

In 2000, Senator Harp received the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Connecticut Psychiatrists Society. She has also selected by the New Haven County Silver Shields to receive the Dedicated Service Award. The Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics presented her with its annual award. She has been named the Woman of the Year Award from the African-American Affairs Commission. She was also named 2000 Family Legislator of the Year by the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies for her extraordinary efforts to strengthen families in our state. She received the Clarence Daniel Advocacy Award from the Connecticut AIDS Residents Coalition. Senator Harp received the Women‘s Advocacy Award from the Connecticut Women‘s Consortium. And, she was honored by Children in Placement—CT/CASA (CIP) for her contribution to a better life for Connecticut‘s abused and neglected children.

In 1999, the Connecticut Chapter of the NAACP selected Senator Harp to receive its Clarence Mitchell Political Action Award. She was cited for her outstanding leadership in a number of issues, including managed care reform, the increase in the minimum wage, economic development for cities and making insurance coverage available to uninsured children, among others. Also in 1999, Senator Harp received the Phoebe Bennett Award from the Connecticut Association of Mental Health Clinics for Children.

In 1998, she was selected by the Council of State Governments for its prestigious Toll Fellowship Program. In 1997, Senator Harp was named Legislator of the Year by the Connecticut Psychological Association for her work on managed care legislation. In 1996, many groups honored her, including her peers in the Connecticut State Senate in a bi-annual recognition ceremony at the Old State House when she was named “the conscience of the Senate.” She was also honored by the U.S. Congress as the 1996 Woman of the Year from Connecticut‘s Third Congressional District for “her achievements and contributions in public service and the advancement of women‘s issues.”

Senator Harp has twice been honored by the Connecticut State Medical Society, first for her “advocacy on behalf of patients,” and most recently with their Legislative Service Award for her record of preserving and enhancing quality medical care.

In 1995, she was awarded citations by the National Association of Social Workers, the Connecticut Association for Human Services, the New Haven Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the New Haven Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women‘s Clubs, Incorporated. She was also honored as one of New Haven Business‘ 20 Noteworthy Women. Senator Harp received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois, and a Master of Environmental Design from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

For five years Toni Harp served as the Alderwoman for the Second Ward in New Haven. During her term, she served as President Pro Tempore, Vice Chairwoman of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, Chairwoman of the Select Committee on Homelessness, a member of the Human Resources Subcommittee on Discrimination and Harmony, and the Public Service and Substance Abuse Committee. On behalf of the Board of Alderman, she also served on the Affirmative Action Commission. She is a member of Links, Inc., the New Haven Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated, a public service sorority, and The Coalition of 100 Black Women.

Senator Harp has lived in New Haven for more than 25 years and is currently employed as the Homeless Service Director at the Hill Health Center. She is the proud mother of three children—Djana, Jamil, and Matthew.

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