Wilmington, Del. –Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) spent the day in Wilmington, where she visited the Latin American Community Center (LACC) as well as EastSide Charter School and the Chemours STEM Hub. Blunt Rochester also gave remarks at the Historic Commemorative Wall Dedication Ceremony honoring her late father, the Honorable Theodore “Ted” Blunt, hosted by the Wilmington City Council.
“After 10 straight weeks of the Senate being in Washington, I was glad to spend this week traveling across Delaware to hear directly from my constituents,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “Today in Wilmington, I joined the LACC and partners to highlight the need to maintain funding for Head Start programming, celebrated the critical work the Chemours STEM Hub is doing to prepare our future generations for the challenges of today and tomorrow at EastSide Charter School, and honored the life and legacy of my dad, the late Ted Blunt, a lifelong advocate for Delaware students. I look forward to continuing to shine a light on the experiences of Delawareans and fighting for the First State in the United States Senate.”
First, Senator Blunt Rochester visited the LACC and their La Fiesta 2 Early Learning Center. Through the Fiscal Year 2023 Community Project Funding process, Blunt Rochester secured $3.5 million to support the construction of the LACC’s new Infant and Toddler Center. She visited this location while it was under construction in 2022, and the project was completed in 2023.
Blunt Rochester joined LACC leadership, as well representatives from partners Rodel and the Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (DEAYC), to call attention to the importance of protecting and fully funding Head Start programming for Delaware’s children. Federal funding for Head Start was threatened by the Trump administration’s reckless and illegal attempt to freeze all federal grant and loans. The measure was both struck down in federal court and rescinded but amid illegal attempts to shutter entire federal departments, the threat to this programming remains.
Blunt Rochester then traveled to EastSide Charter School and their Chemours STEM Hub. She celebrated the impact of the STEM Hub, which students use during the school day to learn more about the STEM fields. The facility is also available for students after school, on weekends, and over the summer thanks to community partners. This aligns with Blunt Rochester’s tireless work to prepare Delaware for the future of work.
To end the day, Blunt Rochester attended a ceremony for the dedication of the Historic Commemorative Wall at the Louis L. Redding City County Building honoring her father, the Honorable Theodore “Ted” Blunt. The event was hosted by the Wilmington City Council in honor of Mr. Blunt’s service to the city as city council president. Blunt Rochester gave remarks at the event representing the Blunt family.
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Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.