Ellen’s Work Blog
March 2024
February is normally a slow month, slogging through the last part of winter, long and dreary. But at AMP, February was all about activity. The number of new ideas we test-drove in these four short weeks was amazing. We also ushered in the 2024 LIVE @AMP season with Nikita. They are a fantastic group of talented musicians. They worked magic together and, as easily, threw in sparkling, tour-de-force solos. In addition, we hosted field trips, Teen Art Studio, the CHAMPS after-school program, and our fourth Friday piano hour.
On the last Saturday of the month, we had a special book signing with former NYPD lieutenant Edwin Raymond, who is depicted in the mural. Edwin talked and signed his book An Inconvenient Cop. We had a large turnout for the event, and many police officers and law enforcement workers from around the state attended, including Winsted’s own wonderful Chief of Police, Christopher Ciuci.
Edwin and I met in NYC in February 2016, the day he was promoted to sergeant. I had read an article about Edwin in The New York Times, and I knew I had found the person I needed to include in the mural. He was the one to represent all the great men and women in public service across the country. I had no idea at the time how rich my reward would be. Edwin is one of the most dedicated, principled human beings I know. His sense of fairness has put him in harm’s way on too many occasions, but he has never backed away from what he knows to be his sworn duty to lift up and protect those in his charge.
I am so proud we have the chance at AMP to make a loud noise for Edwin and every great American worker who stands by their convictions. This is the greatest gift we can give to our community—and one another.
