Democratic community leader, Veronica T. DeLandro, who is exploring running for Mayor, is continuing her campaign’s focus on spreading the word about COVID-19 vaccination.
The effort continues the program DeLandro organized in March — a “Vaccine Hesitancy Campaign” — in which her campaign said that she and volunteers would, “visit various neighborhoods throughout the city and talk to residents about the importance of getting the Covid-19 vaccine, while providing them with specific information on where they can schedule an appointment and noting who is eligible.”
“We’re back with the Canvassing in the Community initiative under my Vaccine Hesitancy Campaign,” said DeLandro. “On Saturday, April 10th & April 17th from 12PM-3PM, we will be back in the streets sharing COVID Vaccine information.”
DeLandro is presently publicizing the availability the new Federal Emergency Management Agency Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Units in New Britain.
There are two availabilities of this Mobile Unit that have been publicized. One is to be at Veterans Stadium at Willow Brook Park on April 10th and 11th, from 9:00am to 4:00pm on each of the two days. The other is to be at Chesley Park in the East Side on April 12th and 13th from 11:00am to 6:00pm of each of these days. Registration for the vaccination at this Mobile Unit is to be in-person at City Hall at 27 West Main Street, in room 108, between 9:00am to 6:00pm. The registration is to be available until this Friday, April 9, 2021.
“Griffin Health is hosting COVID-19 Vaccination clinics for New Britain residents,” Griffin Health said. The clinic are April 10th and 11th, the Hospital said, “from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium, 230 John Karbonic Way. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is being administered. Walk-ups are welcome.”
DeLandro said online that she has, “concerns about residents having to go inside of a building and having to make their way to a place in person to register for the vaccine, whereas other cities were able to do it online or by phone.” But she still encouraging people to register so that they can be vaccinated.
There is another opportunity to be vaccinated, DeLandro said, at New Britain High School this Saturday, from 9:00am to 12:00pm. She referred people to the city Heath Department at 860-612-2771 for more information about that.
DeLandro has been exploring a potential candidacy for Mayor of New Britain since she announced in January that was forming an an exploratory committee. She has said that she has raised $30,000 in that effort to build a potential campaign.
DeLandro has served as District Director for Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-5) and now provides consulting, training and coaching to nonprofit organizations at VTD Consulting Group, which she founded. She previously had a career at ESPN before she began working with organizations with a focus on philanthropy, college access and mentoring.
DeLandro ran for City Council in 2017, very nearly winning an upset victory in an uphill race in the City’s First Ward, where Republicans have historically had the advantage in city level elections, and then was selected as the City Council’s first woman and first African American Clerk of Committees. She has also previously served on the city’s Youth & Family Services Commission and the school system’s Graduation Odyssey Task Force.
A longtime community leader, DeLandro is on the Executive Board of the NAACP New Britain Branch and serves on the Board of the YWCA New Britain, co-chairing the YWCA’s Policy Committee. She is a founding member of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s Black Giving Circle, and her biography notes her roles as, “Connecticut State Coordinator for the Eastern Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Recording Secretary for the North Atlantic Region of the National Hampton Alumni Association, Inc. and Technology Chair for the Greater Hartford Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.”
DeLandro was one of Connecticut Magazine‘s “40 under 40” of rising leaders, recognized for her leadership at the Inaugural MIP (Minority Inclusion Project) Honors Gala and was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Blacks by the New Britain NAACP.
Editor’s Note (4/9/2021): Online registration for the FEMA Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Units appears to have been made available at griffinhealth.org/NewBritain.
Editor’s note (4/10/2021): The article was updated to include information from Griffin Health.
