Duff honored for assistance with after school program

State Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) was named Legislator of the Year on Thursday evening by the Naramake Elementary School Family Resource Center. A ceremony was held during the center's Family Art Appreciation Night, which featured entertainment and an art show by the school's students.

"We are thrilled to have a legislator who recognizes the work we do here at the Naramake Family Resource Center to help children grow, learn and thrive. Senator Duff was instrumental in helping us to secure grant funding for our After School Program. It allowed us to extend our hours to 6 p.m., while still offering families a 5% reduction in tuition during these tough economic times. On behalf of the children and the families we serve, we want to thank Senator Duff for all he has done to support us," said Naomi Miraliotis, the Naramake Family Resource Center's before and after school coordinator.

"I am proud to have been a supporter of the Naramake Family Resource Center for many years now, and it's an honor to be recognized tonight by the center's staff and all of the families they serve," Duff said. "This center plays an enormous role in our community by enriching the lives of students on a daily basis. Their After School Program builds on what kids learn in the classroom and takes it to another level."

The Naramake Family Resource Center, located within the Naramake Elementary School, provides information, programming and support to help parents, grandparents, and guardians successfully raise their children. The center's After School Program provides students with homework help, foreign language lessons, and a variety of art and cultural programming including photography and African drumming.

The center's other services include: preschool, a Parents-As-Teachers program, resource and referral services, day and evening parent workshops, training for child day care providers, adult education programs, youth development programs and scholarships.