eMagazine February 2023
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OUR PEOPLE,<br />
OUR MISSION<br />
Global Health<br />
<strong>eMagazine</strong><br />
<strong>February</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
How to Build a Support System in Five<br />
Easy Steps<br />
Written by Jacqueline Cabrera<br />
Jacqueline Cabrera is a first generation<br />
Dominican-American author and artist. She is<br />
also the mother of two boys. On her time off, she<br />
enjoys going out for hikes and getting involved<br />
in her community. Jacqueline loves all things<br />
Danbury, art and nature. For more tips, follow her<br />
on Instagram jcabsal.<br />
Commentary<br />
Highlights<br />
Reflections<br />
Voice of Uganda<br />
Voices of Hispanic/Latinx<br />
Global Local<br />
Innovation and Technology<br />
Art to Remind Us of<br />
Who We Can Be<br />
Our Beautiful Planet<br />
Nursing Division<br />
Womens Health<br />
News<br />
Among the Letters<br />
Article of the Month<br />
Congratulations<br />
Photo Gallery<br />
Calendar<br />
Resources<br />
Previous Issues of<br />
the <strong>eMagazine</strong><br />
As I reflect on 2022, life, and all the changes that have occurred since I moved<br />
to Connecticut, I can finally say that I have built my community. In 2019, I<br />
left the Bronx with the hopes of giving my children a better future. In 1996,<br />
my mother made the same decision and moved to NY from the Dominican<br />
Republic. Just like my mother and I, many women decide to leave it all behind<br />
for the well-being of their children. But what happens when you don’t have a<br />
community in your new city? How do you start to build one?<br />
Here are five ways you can connect to your local community and other likeminded<br />
members of your community.<br />
1. Connect to yourself, your children, and your loved ones first.<br />
The uncertainty and stress levels that we have experienced the past couple<br />
of years have caused us to disconnect from ourselves which causes us to<br />
also be disconnected from those we love and care about. To connect to<br />
yourself you need to figure out what makes you feel good and happy in<br />
life and do more of that. Do you like to spend time with friends? Do you like<br />
to read? Write? Dance? Whatever that is, do more of it. Once you build a<br />
better relationship with yourself, you’ll start to notice that it is easier to build<br />
relationships with others. Relationships are a two-way street. One must put<br />
in their part for them to work.<br />
2. Connect to your child’s school.<br />
Meaningful collaboration is a top goal for the DPS strategic plan. Each one<br />
of our 18 schools has a family liaison who is in charge of connecting parents<br />
to the school and community resources. Give your child’s school a call and<br />
let them know you’d like to speak to a family liaison. They can help you apply<br />
for services, find sports/activities for your children or refer you to other local<br />
organizations that can give you additional support.<br />
3. Connect to nature.<br />
If there is one thing that we have more than anything else here in Danbury, it<br />
is nature. Going out into nature helps lift your mood while giving you a chance<br />
to exercise as you admire all the natural beauty we have right outside our<br />
windows.<br />
Hispanic/Latinx Voices continued on next page >><br />
16
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