Ladies and Gentlemen: 

My name is David Wolin, and I am a partner in the law firm of Willkie, 

Farr & Gallagher. I am testifying today on behalf of our client, Habitat for 

Humanity International, which we represent on a pro bono basis. My purpose in 

testifying today is to describe Citicorp’s involvement in Habitat’s innovative 

securitization program to raise additional funds to build more low income 

housing and to describe the Traveler’s Group’s program for providing low cost 

homeowner’s insurance to Habitat families. 

A. Background of Habitat for Humanity 

Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 to build and sell simple decent 

homes at no profit to low income families who are not eligible for conventional 

financing. Those families finance their homes with a no-interest mortgage to 

Habitat. 

In the United States, the Habitat for Humanity program is run by 1,450 

local not-for-profit affiliate in different communities. In 1997, Habitat affiliates 

built. repaired or renovated 3,717 houses. The typical mortgage is for twenty 

years and the average combined monthly payment, including taxes and insurance, 
is $290. Typically, family income for a Habitat family of four ranges from just 

under $11,000 to under $2 1,000. 

Although the homes are generally built by volunteers, the affiliates are 

limited in the number of homes they can build because of a lack of funds. 

B. Habitat for Humanity’s Securitization Program 

Citicorp has been active in helping local affiliates raise money and by 

providing volunteers. 

In particular, Citicorp has purchased bonds in Habit’s securitization 

program which is converting Habitat’s portfolio of mortgages into cash to build 

additional housing. The Affiliates hold millions of dollars in zero interest 

mortgages which previously were illiquid assets. With approximately 18,000 

mortgages held in the United States, the total potential pool of Habitat mortgages 

is approximately 500 million dollars. 

Habitat’s goal is to raise 100 million dollars for its affiliates through this 

program over the next five years. To date, 25 affiliates have raised 

approximately 5 million dollars to build new homes. Habitat for Humanity 

International is expecting to make’its next offering of bonds in the fourth quarter 

of 1998. The bonds pay interest at a below market rate to its investors. 
Citicorp has already invested $400,000 in low interest bonds that were 

secured by mortgages issued by the Rochester, New York and Washington, D.C. 

affiliates. By providing the necessary liquidity for these affiliates, Citibank has 

allowed their programs to expand. 

For example, the Rochester affiliate has been able to expand the types of 

services it provides. For years, the Rochester affiliate had been trying to 

establish a program to rehabilitate homes in its community, in addition to its 

building new homes. However, it had been unable to raise the funds for the 

rehabilitation program. Using Citibank’s investment in the Habitat bonds, the 

Rochester affiliate has been able to institute the long-awaited rehabilitation 

program. In addition, Citicorp has provided direct grants to the Rochester 

affiliate and permits its employees to take time off to work on Habitat homes. 

Citibank has made a commitment to Habitat that it will continue to invest in 

bonds which are secured by mortgages held by affiliates in one of Citibank’s 

service areas. Through Citibank’s commitment to the securitization program, 

affiliates in Citibank’s service area have needed liquidity which allows them to 

provide more homes with low income families. 

C. Homeowner’s Insurance Program. 

3 
In addition, Habitat has worked with Traveler’s since 1993 to provide low 

cost homeowner’s insurance to our partner families. Traveler’s currently insures 

approximately one-third of all Habitat homes in the United States. 

Traveler’s program has helped to allieviate the difficult problem of Habitat 

families obtaining homeowner’s insurance. Because Habitat homes are typically 

in low income neighborhoods and have low dollar values, many insurance 

carriers will not insure them. Some affiliates have even been unable to transfer 

ownership of the homes because the family could not to obtain insurance. Even 

when coverage was available, the polices only provided limited coverage, and the 

family had to pay substantially higher premiums than would be paid by 

homeowners in more affluent communities. 

Traveler’s policies are issued to the homeowners without any credit checks 

or limitations on home value. Traveler’s coverage is even available to Habitat 

families in states where because of weather related problems, insurance is 

difficult to obtain. Under its program, Traveler’s charges Habitat homeowner’s 

its lowest rate for homes situated in that community. 

The policies provide full replacement cost for the home and property, and 

$100,000 in liability coverage. The typical homeowner pays between $150 and 

$250 per year for this coverage. Because the average Habitat homeowner earns 
between 25 % and 50 % of the area median income, the low premium can be the 

difference between being able to afford a home or not. 

In conclusion, I want to emphasize that Habitat for Humanity has been 

fortunate to work with Citicorp and Travelers in the past and is looking forward 

to a long term relationship with the new Citigroup. 

Thank you 
LONG ISLAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 

MONEY B TFCHNlCAL nSSlSTmCE FOR SMALL BUSINESS 

June 251998 

Federal Reserve Bank of New York 

33 Liberty Street 

New York, New York 10045-0001 

Att: James K. Hodgetts, Sr. VP 

Re: Proposal by Travelers Group, Inc. to 

acquire Citicorp 

Gentlemen: 

Thank you for allowing me to testify at the public meeting regarding 

the above proposal. This shall constitute my written testimony. Long 

Island Development Corporation supports the proposed acquisition. 

What is Lono Island Development Corporation (LIDC)? 

LIDC is a not-for-profit (501 C3) economic development organization 

providing financing and technical assistance to small businesses in 

Nassau and Suffolk Counties, Long Island, New York. LIDC’s 

members represent the economic development community of Long 

Island and include representatives of Citicorp. LIDC has made over 

1,000 loans to LI small businesses under the following programs: 

l SBA 504. LIDC is the US Small Business Administration’s Certified 

Development Company under the SBA 504 loan program. Funds 

are provided to help small businesses acquire and renovate capital 

assets. LIDC’s loans provide up to 40% of the project cost in a long 

term, subordinate mortgage at a low, fixed interest rate. Banks or 

other lenders provide 50% of the project cost and the small 
. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

businesses provide equity of 10%. This scenario induces small 

businesses to expand, create and retain jobs and otherwise aid the 

economy. The 504 funding comes from debentures issued by the 

certified development companies nationwide, pooled and sold to 

major institutional investors. The pool is guaranteed 100% by the 

SBA. The program operates at a zero subsidy rate and receives no 

federal appropriations. LIDC approves, closesservices and 

liquidates the SBA 504 loans it makes to small business. 

New York Job DeVdODrIXnt Authoritv (JDA) (under auspices of 

Empire State Development Corp.). LIDC is the Long Island branch 

bank of the JDA. In small business capital asset projects where 

both SBA 504 and JDA financing are used, LIDC has authority to 

commit state funds. JDA loans provide long term, subordinate 

funds up to 40% of a project. JDA issues bonds to fund the loans. 

LIDC underwrites and approves the loans. JDA closes and services 

them. 

LI Defense Diversification Revolving Loan Fund (Defense RLF). 

The RLF is funded by grants from the Economic Development 

Administration (US Dept. Commerce) and NYS. The fund provides 

loans to help defense dependent manufacturers diversify. 

Applicants are required to undergo a self improvement process 

under the NYS Industrial Effectiveness Program. LIDC underwrites, 

approves, closes, services and liquidates these loans. 

LI Fisheries Assistance Revolvina Loan Fund (Fish RLF). The RLF 

is funded by the EDA and NYS and provides loans to commercial 

fishermen and fishing related companies negatively impacted by 

pollution or regulation. Technical assistance is provided by Cornell 

Cooperative Extension. LIDC underwrites, approves, 

closes,services and liquidates these loans. 

Suffolk Countv HUD 108 Revolvina Loan Fund. This is a fund to 

provide working capital to small businesses in Suffolk County, in 

depressed areas in need of revitalization. It is funded by Suffolk 

County and HUD. LIDC underwrites the loans for the county. 

Conventional Loan Placement. LIDC packages and places 

conventional loans (non government guaranteed) with banks and 

other lenders on a fee based basis. 

SBA 7A Packaqina. LIDC packages and places SBA 7A loans for 

small businesses with banks and nonbank lenders, In some cases, 
LIDC approves, closes and services the loans on behalf of the 

lenders. 

l Hempstead Minority & Womens Micro Revolvina Loan Fund. LIDC 

provides technical assistance for and underwrites loans for a local 

micro loan fund for minority and women owned businesses in the 

Town of Hempstead. 

l In formation: LI Workina Capital Loan Fund. Eleven area banks 

are lending $12 million to LIDC to lend to targeted industries on 

Long Island in cooperation with technical assistance programs and 

loan loss reserve funds provided by NYS and Nassau and Suffolk 

Counties. 

l In formation: DCC Growth Fund LLP. LIDC is a co-founder and 

limited partner in two new national Small Business Investment 

Companies which will provide small business venture capital for 

economic development. 

In addition to lending, LIDC provides free counseling to small 

businesses to help them obtain and perform on government and other 

contracts under the LI Procurement Technical Assistance Program 

(PTAP). PTAP is funded by grants from the Department of Defense 

and local matching private sector sources, LIDC works with small 

companies to find them contracts, help them submit bids and assist 

them with performance issues. Under this program, LIDC has worked 

with 1800 small businesses on Long Island and brought over $180 

million in DOD contracts alone to very small LI companies. In this 

initiative, LIDC works with Black Women Enterprises on a national 

certification program for women owned businesses in cooperation with 

the Women Business Owners Corporation and Fortune 500 

Companies. 

LIDC is also active in community development and regional 

marketing. LIDC is a founderfinancial and technical supporter of the 

Long Island Neighborhood Initiative (LINDI) which provides technical 

assistance to community based groups to accomplish projects in 

blighted areas. LIDC coordinates a regional economic development 

effort which promotes Long Island to a national audience. It is 

centered around a major sports event and televises Long Island 

nationally, promoting Long Island as a place to do business. 
LIDC staff and members are active in a number of nationalstate, and 

local businesscivic and charitable organizations and they interface 

with a number of the organizations testifying before this group on this 

matter. 

What is LIDC’s relationship with Citicorp and Travelers? 

LIDC has no direct relationship with Travelers. Several of its small 

business borrowers have insurance with Travelers. LIDC does, 

however, have numerous interactions with Citicorp through its 

subsidiary Citibank NA: 

l Douglas Asofsky, VP Citibank NA, has been a member of LIDC’s 

voting board of directors since January 24, 1996. Michele 

DiBenedetto, VP Citibank NA, is a member of the procurement 

technical assistance program committee of LIDC. 

l Citibank NA has participated in at least 21 of LIDC’s financing 

projects with first mortgages in front of SBA 504 loans. 

l Citibank NA has assisted LIDC in marketing its programs by 

sponsoring meetings, inviting LIDC representatives to speak before 

Citibank NA customers and potential customers, etc. 

l Citibank NA is a participant in the LI Working Capital Loan Fund 

and is providing a $1 million loan to LIDC under that fund. Citibank 

NA is also acting as lead bank in the venture. 

l Citicorp has tentatively committed to providing a $6 million 

investment in the new DCC Growth Fund LLP (national SBIC’s for 

venture capital for small business). 

l Citibank NA is a founder, major funder and participant in LINDI. 

l Citibank NA provides an annual grant to the LI PTAP. 

Why does LIDC SUDDO~~ the acquisition of Citicorp bv Travelers GrouD 

Inc.? 

l The acquisition will result in a large increase in funds committed by 

Citicorp to small business and community development. Citicorp 

has pledged $115 billion (twice its domestic deposits) for 

community initiatives. This will greatly increase Citicorp’s 

participation in the SBA 504 program as a first mortgage lender. It 

will also increase the conventional and SBA 7A loans available to 

small businesses on Long Island. Initiatives such as LINDI which 

help to revitalize blighted areas will be increased as a result of this 

commitment. 
l The acquisition will create a direct tie between the insurance 

products offered by Travelers and the lending by Citicorp. This will 

increase the availability of insurance products such as bonding to 

Long Island small businesses. Ability to bond contracts is a major 

need of small businesses seeking to expand and do government 

contracting work. 

l The acquisition will give the Citicorp small business lenders access 

to a variety of products and services which can benefit the small 

business customer. For example, Travelers investment banking 

and other finance businesses provide the knowledge to create 

innovative financing products (such as securitization of small 

business loans) for small business. 

l The acquisition will provide increased accessibility for small 

business customers to Citicorp products via the Travelers agents 

network. Instead of having to go to a Citibank NA branch for 

service, a customer will be able to work through its insurance 

agent’s office. 

l Due to the acquisition, an office of financial literacy will be created 

which will increase the knowledge base of the small business 

person as well as the individual consumers. It will also spread 

information about financial products available including those 

offered by LIDC and other government programs. 

For all these reasons, LIDC supports the proposed acquisition of 

Citicorp by Travelers Group Inc. 

Thank you for your courtesies, 

Very truly yours,/ 

DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 

RG/ 

Disclosures: 

Roslyn D. Goldmacher owns 100 shares of the Travelers Group Inc. in 

a retirement account. There also may be mutual funds held by her or 

in the LIDC pension plans which own shares of Citicorp or Travelers. 
Black Women Entemrises Inc. Parre I 

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK 

RE: PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING THE PROPOSAL BY TRAVELERS 

GROUP INC. TO ACQUIRE CITICORP. 

LOCATION: Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 33 Liberty Street NYC 12th. FI. 

TESTIMONY - PANEL # 14 June 25, 1998 

PRESENTED BY: Dr. M. Vicki Wacksman, President & CEO 

New York State Association of Black Women Owned Enterprises inc. 

730 Fulton Avcnuc. Hcmpstcxi, NY I 1550 (5 16) 4X5-.5900 

My name is M. Vicki Wacksman. I am the President and CEO of the New York 

State Association of Black Women Owned Enterprises Inc. The Association is 

known publicly as Black Women Enterprises or BWE. Black Women Enterprises 

is the outreach and service division of the organization. For the purposes of this 

testimony, I will refer to our organization as BWE. 

I am here this afternoon, on behalf of the BWE Board of Directors and our 625 

members, to share some of the experiences our organization has had with 

Citibank over the years. It is our hope that these experiences will assist your 

deliberations related to the proposed Travelers Group, Inc. acquisition of Citicorp. 

Black Women Enterprises, (“BWE”) is a nonprofit, statewide, 501 (c) 3 organization, established in 1993 and located in Hempstead Long Island. The 1991 

Croson Report was the catalyst for the founding of the organization. The report 

studied the awarding of contracts to women and minorities by New York State 

agencies. The report revealed that the greatest disparity fell upon Black women 

owned firms.. To reverse this trend, a group of progressive Black women business owners established BWE. 

The mission of BWE is .to remove barriers that impede the success of Black 

wumen who desire to start or expand a business. Our mission is achieved 

through the delivery of a comprehensive Monday-Friday, 10-6 p.m., counseling, 

technical assistance and training service to BWE members. The organization 

started in November 1993 with 25 members. Today, four and one-half years later, 

we have over 625 members. We remain the only organization in New York State to 
specifically target the disparity issues affecting Black women owned firm: the State’s 

largest group of minority women owned enterprises. The chart below, presents data 

provided by a 1998 report by the National Foundation of Women Business Owners, 

It describes the enormous gap that exists between Black women owned enterprises and enterprises owned by Caucasians, Hispanic, and Asian women. 

Comparison between Women Owned Businesses in New York State 

by number of firms, employment and sales FV 1996 

All Women 527.000 I .3hS.?(X) $205.639.300 (205.6 billion) $ 390,ocf) 

White 437. IO0 I ,277,ow 191,918,000 (191.9billion) 439,000 

Asian 27,700 36.X0() 7,258,500 (7.3 billion) 262.000 

Hispuic ‘7,900 40.x0() 4.3 19,000 (4.3 billion) 155,000 

Black 34.300 10,600 2,143,800 (2.1 billion) 63,000 

Its important to note, that all women and minority owned enterprises fall at the bottom rung in overall sales. However, it is important to our mission to show that the 

targeting of Black women owed firms in economic development is not race-based 

but need driven. Black women owned firms average $63,000 annually in sales 

while their Hispanic, Asian and Caucasian counterparts average from $155,000 to 

$439,000 

Since opening our door for services in January 1994, BWE has sponsored 84 

workshops in small business planning and management, provided over 2,000 hours 

of individualize technical assistance and business development coaching and in 

1997, piloted a Corporate Procurement and Technical Assistance Program. This 

program makes a frontal attack on the disparity we talked about earlier by helping 

our members win corporate contracts. Our goal for Phase I was $700,000 in contract awards and we achieved $1,619,000. We are finally getting a handle on how 

to help small micro businesses compete effectively and we hope to double and 

triple these achievements in the coming year. 

BWE’s achievements would be far less without the help and support from Citibank. 

In establishing the organization, we broadly reached out to government and the 

corporate community to assist the funding and implementation of our mission. 
Black Women Entetphes Inc. Page 3 

Citibank was among the first to respond. To assist our outreach and start-up 

service delivery, Citibank donated $20,000. They also invited us to attend some 

of the community development and revitalization training that Citibank offers which 

broaden our perception, skills and knowledge about economic development and 

revitalization issues. We needed to get our mission before legislators, especially 

those serving minority communities. Citibank assisted this need by sponsoring 

our BWE Legislative Reception that is held in Albany each year during the Black 

and Puerto Rican Caucus Weekend. We cannot achieve our mission without advice and guidance in identifying easy to use resources from the private-sector. 

We formed a Corporate Advisory Board for this purpose. Citibank accepted our 

invitation to join and actively assist the planning and implementation of all BWE 

programs including the Corporate Procurement and Technical Assistance Program. Each year they provide $5,000 to assist our cash match requirement for 

grants we use to support overall program delivery. We have attached a newsletter, brochure and a calendar of events to illustrate how we have leveraged this 

important help into a comprehensive service delivery. 

Thus, Citibank has truly been an excellent partner. It provides BWE invaluable 

assistance. From the very beginning of our relationship, Michelle DiBenedetto, 

Citibank’s Vice President for Government and Community Relations and CRA 

Officer for Long Island, provides advice on a regular basis. She has encouraged us to reach out to other lending institutions for support and assistance. As 

illustrated in our newsletter, this outreach has fostered a variety of helping relationships with other banks. 

We feel certain that the Citibank/Travelers acquisition will result in greater opportunities for the entire community and especially for small minority and womenowned businesses. Our members say that Citibank “listens and provide real guidance in business finance”. We know, first hand, that Citibank knows how to help 

people who need help the most and have the capacity to do so while maintaining 

the integrity of a helping relationship. 

We sincerely hope that this testimony will provide decision makers a clearer 

insight into the people behind the name Citibank and ask that the proposed acquisition request be granted. We feel confident that the combined strength of Trav- 
elers and Citicorp will enhance their capacity to support to assist women and 

minority in their quest to participate more fully in economic development. 

Thank you for the opportunity to share our views. 

BWE Board of Directors and Founding Officers: 

Chairperson Vice Chairperson 

~v;c~v&x~ 

President and C.E.O. 

Viola Newton 

Secretary/Treasurer 
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK 

RE: PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING THE PROPOSAL BY TRAVELERS 

GROUP INC. TO ACQUIRE CITICORP. 

LOCATION: Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 33 Liberty Street NYC 

12th. FI. 

TESTIMONY - PANEL # 14 June 25. 1998 

PRESENTED BY: Dr. M. Vicki Wacksman, President & CEO 

New York State Association of Black Women Owned Enterprises Inc. 

My name is M. Vicki Wacksman. I am the President and CEO of the New 

York State Association of Black Women Owned Enterprises Inc. The 

Association is known publicly as Black Women Enterprises or BWE. Black 

Women Enterprises is the outreach and service division of the organization. 

For the purposes of this testimony, I will refer to our organization as BWE. 

I am here this afternoon, on behalf of the BWE Board of Directors and our 

625 members, to share some of the experiences our organization has 

had with Citibank over the years. It is our hope that these experiences will 
assist your deliberations related to the proposed Travelers Group, Inc. 

acquisition of Citicorp. 

Black Women Enterprises, (“BWE”) is a nonprofit, statewide, 501 (c) 3 

organization, established in 1993 under the charity law of New York State. 

The 1991 Croson Report was the catalyst for the founding of the 

organization. The report studied the awarding of contracts to women and 

minorities by New York State agencies. The report revealed that the 

greatest disparity fell upon Black women owned firms.. To reverse this 

trend, a group of progressive Black women business owners established 

BWE. 

The mission of BWE is to remove barriers that impede the success of Black 

women who desire to start or expand a business. Our mission is achieved 

through the delivery of a comprehensive Monday-Friday, 10-6 p.m., 

counseling, technical assistance and training service to BWE members. The 

organization started in November 1993 with 25 members. Today, four and 

one-half years later, we have over 625 members. We remain the only 

organization in New York State to specifically target the disparity issues 

affecting Black women owned firms that are the State’s largest group of 

women owned enterprises. The chart below, presents data provided by a 

1998 report by the National Foundation of Women Business Owners. It 

describes the enormous gap that exists between Black women owned 

enterprises and enterprises owned by Caucasians, Hispanic, and Asian 

women. 
3 

Its important to note, that all women and minorities enterprises fall at the 

bottom run in overall sales in our great State. However, it is important to 

our mission to show that the targeting of Black women owed firms in 

economic development are not race-based but need driven. Black women 

owned firms average $63,000 annually in sales while their Hispanic, Asian 

and Caucasian counterparts average from $155,000 to $439,000 

Since opening our door for services in January 1994, BWE has sponsored 

84 workshops in small business planning and management, provided over 

2,000 hours of individualize technical assistance and business development 

coaching and in 1997, piloted a Corporate Procurement and Technical 

Assistance Program. This progranr makes a frontal attack on the disparity 

we talked about earlier by helping our members win corporate contracts. 

Our goal for Phase I was $700,000 in contract awards and we achieved 

$1,619,000. We are finally getting a handle on how to help small micro 

businesses compete effectively and we hope to double and triple these 

achievements in the coming year. 

BWE’s achievements would be far less without the help and support from 

Citibank. In establishing the organization, we broadly reached out to 

government and the corporate community to assist the funding and 

implementation of our mission. Citibank was among the first to respond. 

To assist our outreach and start-up service delivery, Citibank donated 

$20,000. They also invited us to attend some of the community 
4 

development and revitalization training that Citibank offers which broaden 

our perception, skills and knowledge about economic development and 

revitalization issues. We needed to get our mission before legislators, 

especially those serving minority communities. Citibank assisted this need 

by sponsoring our BWE Legislative Reception that is held in Albany each 

year during the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus Weekend. We cannot 

achieve our mission without advice and guidance in identifying easy to use 

resources from the private-sector. We formed a Corporate Advisory Board 

for this purpose. Citibank accepted our invitation to join and actively assist 

the planning and implementation of all BWE programs including the 

Corporate Procurement and Technical Assistance Program. Each year they 

provide $5,000 to assist our cash match requirement for grants we use to 

support overall program delivery. We have attached a newsletter, brochure 

and a calendar of events to illustrate how we have leveraged this important 

help into a comprehensive service delivery. 

Thus, Citibank has truly been an excellent partner. It provides BWE 

invaluable assistance. From the very beginning of our relationship, Michelle 

DiBenedetto, Citibank’s Vice President for Government and Community 

Relations and CRA Officer for Long Island, provides advice on a regular 

basis. She has encouraged us to reach out to other lending institutions for 

support and assistance. As illustrated in our newsletter, this outreach has 

fostered a variety of helping relationships with other banks. 

We feel certain that the Citibanmravelers acquisition will result in greater 

opportunities for the entire community and especially for small minority 
and women-owned businesses. Our members say that Citibank “listens and 

provide real guidance in business finance”. We know, first hand, that 

Citibank knows how to help people who need help the most and have the 

capacity to do so while maintaining the integrity of a helping relationship. 

We sincerely hope that this testimony will provide decision makers a clearer 

insight into the people behind the name Citibank and ask that the proposed 

acquisition request be granted. We feel confident that the combined 

strength of Travelers and Citicorp will enhance their capacity to support to 

assist women and minority in their quest to participate more fully in 

economic development. 

Thank you for the opportunity to share our views. 

BWE Board of Directors and Founding Officers: 

Phyllis Hill Slater Vera Moore 

Chairperson Vice Chairperson 

Viola Newton 

Secretarymreasurer 

M. Vicki Wacksman D.P.A.. 

President and C.E.O. 
hrtfoid’s Strategic Plan for Te’en Pregnancy Prevention Progrerr Report, Sgringlhmmer 1998 ’ 

Community Shows Progresr 

On Ppgnancy ,Goals 

Births to Hanford reens dropped significantly in 1997 over 1996 in 011 three 

age categories targeted *or reduction by Breaking the Cycle. For the first time in 

two decades, teen births dropped below 20 perck,t of total births in the city 

Teen births declined in ahmxf every Hartford neighborhood during 1997. 

Beyond improvements throughout rhe city and in every age category, the data 

&o show that nartford substontiaily exceeded goals set by Breaking the Cycle 

inNovember 1995. 

“We’re very pleased with this develapment,” said Hartford Action Plan Fresident DO” wiimn. “The community’s work is plying Off.” 

“This progress is very good news for Hartford,” said Deputy Maymr Frances 

Sanchez, “but now we need to work even horder. We have to keep the numbers 

going down,” Sanchez said, “and not let what happened in other @aces happen 

to us. They got rbe numbers down and then forgot about it and within a year 

they were way back u,, there.” 

The city Health Deportment’s epidemiologist is working with Breaking the 

Cy& to further qnalyze the data. In addition, Breaking the Cycle’s partners are 

collerting more information about existing youth programs that could help impact teen pregnancy 

The dota on teen binhs in ,997 were acquired through the Hurtford Health 

Depamnent’s participation in Breaking the Cycle and are considered preliminary until validated by the state. 
Ii artford Public H/gh senior N&ha Burton, Fox 61I\NTIC-TV, and the Travelers Rep. Carter helped xc”re state funding for teen pregnancy prevention in HanFoundation were among 50 groups and individuals honored by Sreoking the ford. Carol Jackson-Lawhorn provided leadership to launch PSI. Hartford Deputy 

Cycle for contributions to teen pregnancy pr&ention at WC’s 1997 awardr Mayor Frances Sanchez has championed Breaking the Cycle throughout the city, 

luncheon. 8u;ton, an honors student and athlete, is a Postponing Sexual ,nvo,veOthers recoanired ‘or individual mntrih,oti”n~ tn lfrm‘inn thr Cvrla inrlurle. 

- ^^.I “r,\ . . . . I~~>~~ ~~1 ^ .I-. 
.Teens Find Challenges ~cont;“urd Imm pqge ,, 

.4”mJDES about sex, BUT it’s NOT OK m HAVE rex. 

‘Being a t&n leader has given me more than I could have imagined. It has 

helped me career-wise., It ha given me skills in reading’and analyzing the c&u. 

lum. I have learned how to prepare for a class and how to deal with students A,, this 

has given me’confidence and exberience I will be qble to utilize as a future c,assroom 

,teacher. My Spanish has improved because I have taught twobi,ingua,&rser. My 

oratorical skills have improved. Most importantly, I have become a better person. 

Hartford has one of the worst teen pwgnancy:prob,ems in the nat$. Through 

this program teen pregnancies can decrease. “l~tiar born in Hartford and I’ve li;ed 

here all my life. 1 know that the& is hope out there. I have put a lot into this program 

and I know that my effort will help break the cycle of babies having babies. 

less& CasteSIon& is II B&k&y kigh Schwl junior and has been (1 PSI yen feeder for two 

yeorr. She is o Nationql Honor Society member & plans co puwe o career in education. 

~BYlASON~.WAi+ o me, PSI is making the future better. T: It motivates our younger generation to 

be more aware of the dangers of having sex. As one of the 30 PSI teen leaders 

in my school, I am in the piogram to lower Hartford’s alarmihgly high preteen 

and teen pregnancy rater and to reduce the casual sex prevalent among these young 

wessage to the fifth grade students. I en&motivating ihem to make wire deciridnr 

about when they should become sexually active. I believe the decisions that th6y 

make about sex will affect the rest of their lives. 

Becaure,I plan to haye kids one day,+ don’t want to h&e to worry about them 

growi6g up in a sex-crazed world v&erg preteens and teens%&& &I themany’ 

painful conseqtiences of having sex at an early age: One wai for me to make a 

differ&and ensure that this scenario w&happen is to go out and shpre informatcoon with theyou_ngergeneration comirig up behind-me. PSI gives’& the chance’& 

do just that. I like being pa@ of it. 

Also, PSI developr~a keen sense of responribili’& in us teen leaders: We soon 

discover that although teaching is rewarding, it is not an easy thing tb do. just like 

a&thing else in life, we get back ar much as we put into it. We see that our hard 

work produces positive results. Spendilg the time‘td prepare’fo, teaching determines if we succeed or fail at presenting PSI to the fifth graders. 

As PSI teen leaders, we are c‘ommitted to attending weekly meetings, studying 

our materials. preparing lessons and visuals, and showing Upton time to teach. Our 

sense of responsibility and our presentation skills have both increased as a result. 

Many of us joined the pro&m to help fifth graders, but found out that it benefited 

us just as much. 

/aron Wyatt is (I junior ot WarTford Public High Schdol wfiere. he is o/so on oil-tonference 

football @loyer.~ Thir is hb first yea! os a PSI teen leade,: 

I’ 

BY MORGAN ROANE 

n my high school heing pregnant is a farhipn rtateinent. We have girls walking 

the halb with their jeans unbuckled because their pants can no longer accon;- 

modate the size of their b6llies. There are girls boasting about receiving public 

assistance. ~There are gjrb fighting over a certain boy who has fathered both of their 

‘certain life. Every day is a struggle. Her life as a teenager ended abruptly. 

Having, observed the consequences of teenage pregnancy, I decided to 

come a PSI teen leader. By focusing on fifth graders, we catch students while 

are thinking about sex but may not have acted on th$ feelings. 

PSI teen leaders do not preach. Rather ouipurpore is to foster understanding 

and dialogue. We use videos, art, and group dircurrionr to address issues like 

pressure, the importance of Abstinence, and the consequences of pregnancy 

sexual involvement. We role-play tricky rittiations students might find themselves 

and suggest Gays to get out of them. I often ark.my students, “If your friend 

forcing you to do something, is he/she really ycuririend?” I tell the students, “sometimes making the ribht choicer meanr losing the wrong friends.” Our goal is notto 

tell the.r;udents never to have sex or’to scare them, but to lei them know that 

,best thing to,do,ir poftpone rex.unril~they are res#onsib,e. 

I have participated in PSI for three years n&and enjoy every minute. 

wonderful feeling to know you have made a positive impact on a young person. 

‘do not reach e&y&e, &we are making a $fference. It is my hopeJhat programs 

‘like this one will help make teenage pieg&mcya fashion faux,pas. I ‘4 

I 6 

Morgan Roone is o renior of Weover High Si.hool and will begin cokge in September 

An earlier ver$on of her esroy oppeored in the Hartford Inquirer. 
Notional Eyitj On Sexuality Troininj Speokf On Whot~Works To Prevent Tun, Pregnqncy 

As keynote speaker at Breaking the Cycle’s 1997 awards 

luncheon. Barbara tiub’ernian cha,lencJed Hartford to maintoin and build upon its commitment to teen pregnancy prevention. Huberman, on international expert with 25 years’ 

experience in the field of adolescent sexuality, is Director of 

Training ot Advocdtes for Youth and o board member of the 

‘National Campaign to Prevenf Tee” PregnanLy 

Huberman praised UC’s effort to involve et&y sector 

&the community and to focus on setting measurable goals., 

Hubermor\als~emphosized,the importonce of insuring access to contraceptive services, noting thbtnationolly 80 perce”t of youth are sex&y a+du~ng rheii tw years. 

just bock from d European f”ctLfinding mission, 

Hubwna” noted reasons for Europe’s low teen pregnancy 

rate OS compared to that of the Uniied States. First, mo& 

European countries provide a,, youth with access to bolanced, accumte~sexuolity education that helps them make 

informed decisions. Second, most European feeens hove access to free health care, in$uding folfiily planning services 

“at easily accessible fo U.S. teens. Finally, reproducti+e 

health policy in Europe focuses more a” contraception than 

on so-called “abstinence only” approaches. 

While in Hotiord, Huberma”.also met ,?viTh BTC partners, including staff, volunteers and teens from the PSI 

program, Project YES, and many other Hartford ,youth 

organizations V&h support from the Annie E. Casey Found&ion, Huberma” has also been o consultant to the Hartford Action P,on:s Plain ialklHablo”do Clara program, helpingthe program develop its services forsexuolly active teens 

and their parents. , I(, 

ItiPROV$NG SERVICES TO 

SEXUALLY AdTIVE TEENS 

To reduce teen pregnancy in Hartford, BnokingVw Cyclemust improve 

’ reprodiactive health services for sexw 

ally e.ct,ve youths., To, achieve this, 

Breaking the Cycle is working with 

~h<h providers throughout the city 

to develop compreheniitie reproduct/w he&h se+es for teens, inclu$ 

~Ing,,“teen ,frie!nd,y” reproductive. 

‘h&h $I+. ‘What makes a tlil)ic 

,,“~<en*@i&dly?” How do. reproduc: 

,:t@e health $e+es fwteens fit into 

.:&eaking. tlie QClC’r overall strategy? 

.+d on to learn more; 

‘:.,;I,: r.‘.,“:,, ,’ , 

. ._i_,’ HOWTO.MAKE 

‘R~,PItCjDljCTIVE HEALTH 

SERVICES MORE “TEEN 

FRIENDLY’: IN HARTFORD: 

Include reproducd 

for teens as pan 

and make it a re 

nual physical ex, 

Make~sure that i 

TeaBirths in Hartford, lanuor,y I - bx~rnbdl, 1997 

ng app?intm+s; 

.:irave &if rhai sp$aks the~language 

and ‘imderstandiand ierpects the 

,.‘.< <uw~f the teenwho use the- 

.clinic; , 

- offe;he full range of age-appropriSt6 se&eS including education: 

cwn@ing, birth control, and Jest- 

$kig, fqr,pregnavyand STDs. 

r:,,~ ,, ,. *