A new way we’re engaging on Connecticut’s future.

Happy New Year.

I’m writing to you not in my former roles as mayor or state senator, but as Chair of the Board of ImpactCT—a growing effort focused on strengthening Democratic leadership and expanding opportunity across Connecticut.

ImpactCT was formed two years ago to engage in developing and supporting elected leadership that reflects peoples’ lived experiences, and advancing pragmatic policies that make Connecticut work for everyone. Our focus areas include housing, healthcare, education and public safety — the essentials that shape quality of life in every community.

This year, we’re launching a new Substack as part of our work. We’ll take major political and economic developments—here at home and nationally—and interpret them through a Connecticut lens, drawing connections across news, data, politics, policy, and lived experience. The goal is not commentary for commentary’s sake, but clarity: insight that helps people like you think more strategically about where the state is headed and what it will take to move it forward.

This work reflects how we operate more broadly. We’re committed to a long-term approach to building stronger Democratic leadership in Connecticut—investing in leadership pipelines, research and message testing, elections, and policy advocacy that actually resonates with voters. We aim to be a resource for people running smart, data-driven campaigns, and for advocates advancing serious ideas grounded in peoples’ lived experiences.

We take a deliberate approach to political engagement — fewer races, deeper impact. Recently, that approach helped Dr. David Chess be successful in his mayoral campaign in Stratford, a race that flipped a Republican stronghold seat and demonstrated what’s possible when campaigns focus on real issues, clear communication, and deep voter engagement. It’s one example of the kind of work we intend to continue—selective, focused, and built for impact.

We hope that you’ll see this space not just as something to read, but as a place to think alongside us—by sharing perspectives, flagging ideas, or engaging in future collaboration as this work evolves. 

Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your continued commitment to our state. We hope you’ll keep an eye on what we’re building at ImpactCT and join the conversation in whatever way feels most meaningful to you.

Toni Harp

Board Chair, ImpactCT