Corey Phillip Paris is a dedicated member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, representing the 145th district. He was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in April 2021, during a special election with 76% of the vote, and officially took office on May 4, 2021. His initial term saw him appointed to key committees, including Appropriations, Education, and Environmental. Paris' election to the House of Representatives marked a historic milestone as he became the first African American male to represent the district.

 

Paris emerged as a champion for his district, and he was re-elected for a second term in November 2022, continuing his commitment to serve. In his second term, Paris's responsibilities expanded as he was named the Majority Caucus Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. His appointments include the Education Committee, Environmental Committee, and a reappointment to the Appropriations Committee, where he serves as vice chair. Additionally, Paris co-chairs the bipartisan Future Caucus. 

 

Paris’ legislative efforts have focused on pivotal issues like universal early childhood education, support for first responders, homelessness, and student loan forgiveness. Notably, he introduced a bill addressing student loan debt, creating a reimbursement program for Connecticut residents with bipartisan backing.

 

Throughout his professional career, Corey Paris has been energized by values that drive his commitment to impactful work. Currently, he serves as the Chief Impact Officer at Person to Person (P2P) in Darien, which supports approximately 28,000 individuals in lower Fairfield County by providing healthy food, clothing, housing assistance, and a path to economic opportunity. He also serves as the Chief Philanthropy Officer at a fintech startup, Realist Lab, bringing his expertise in development and philanthropy to the tech sector. Previously, Paris was the Chief Development Officer for the Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County (CLC), the state's second-largest center-based early childhood education center, where he was instrumental in achieving record revenue acquisition for the organization.

 

Before his time in the Connecticut General Assembly, Paris led the Connecticut Young Democrats as President and worked for People For the American Way. He continues to serve his community as the vice chair of the Mayor’s Multicultural Council and holds board positions with the Stamford Partnership and the Ferguson Library.

 

A Western Connecticut State University alum, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Government and served as the president of the Student Government Association. Paris was an intern for the Clinton Global Initiative, an initiative of the Clinton Foundation.

 

For his contributions to public service, Paris has been recognized by several organizations, such as the 100 Men of Color, Connecticut Voices for Children, the NAACP, and the Council of State Governments.