News & Events

Stowe Center Workshop on Justice & Community

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, UConn Hartford student leaders staff visited the Stowe Center and participated in a workshop on Justice & Community. UConn Hartford understands that education and knowledge are the prerequisite to actionable steps toward positive change. We will use what we’ve learned to be better students, colleagues, and leaders on our campus and in the community. In the words of Dr. King, “Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedication individuals.” UConn Hartford honors Dr. King and strives to uphold his legacy.

Beat of the Street

About a dozen people experiencing homelessness participated in a short course on crafting personal immigration stories taught by Campus Director and Historian, Mark Overmyer- Velázquez. The course is part of the Charter Oak Cultural Center’s Beat of the Street (BOTS) enrichment program. Students who complete 12 short courses successfully receive a free laptop computer and qualify for free tuition at Goodwin College.

Footwear with Care – Annual Boot Giveaway

On a blistering cold day, hundreds of folks experiencing homelessness visited UConn Hartford to receive a new pair of boots and other essential care like toiletries, hats and socks, flu shots, medical checks, and a meal. It was the first time UConn Hartford hosted Footwear with Care’s annual Winter Boot Giveaway and we hope our campus becomes the permanent partner and location for this deeply impactful service. Thank you to all volunteers and community partners who helped to make the event an act of community care. Read more on the [Hartford Courant].

Footwear for Care event at Uconn Hartford on Dec. 7, 2019. (Leonard Blanks/UConn Photo)
Footwear for Care event at Uconn Hartford on Dec. 7, 2019. (Leonard Blanks/UConn Photo)
Footwear for Care event at Uconn Hartford on Dec. 7, 2019. (Leonard Blanks/UConn Photo)
Footwear for Care event at Uconn Hartford on Dec. 7, 2019. (Leonard Blanks/UConn Photo)

Just Mercy

UConn Hartford partnered with the Dodd Center to offer a private screening of Just Mercy, a film based on the powerful and inspiring true story of Bryan Stevenson and his historic battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard with a law degree, Stevenson decided to dedicate his career to defending incarcerated individuals who were not afforded their right to proper representation or fair trial. To do so, he moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where he founded the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a human rights organization whose efforts have exonerated or reprieved hundreds of wrongly convicted or unfairly sentenced individuals. Less than a month before the screening, Stevenson visited UConn to receive the prestigious 2019 Thomas J. Dodd Prize in International Justice. Just Mercy stars Michael B. Jordan and Oscar winners Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson and will be in theaters world-wide on Jan. 10, 2020. You can also purchase Stevenson’s book, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.

“Hear Us Out” – Kickoff Conversation

The Capital City Crew, a UConn Hartford student group, whose mission is to connect students to the Hartford community, organized the first of many “Hear Us Out” conversations. Reflecting the strong civic and community spirit of our students, Hear Us Out is a forum for dialogues around inclusion, equity, and justice. The inaugural conversation was themed “Hartford Against Hate,” and asked critical questions about racism and social justice in relation to student experiences on campus and in Hartford. Scott Campbell, Professor of English and who lives in and advocates for Hartford, moderated the conversation. In the last segment of the event, students responded to the question, “How can we make our campus community more inclusive?” Their responses included:

“more communities to work, listen, and learn together” | “campaigns + education on issues of concern” | addressing problems head on and not trying to sweep them under the rug” | “treat others how you want to be treated” | “inclusive curriculum (representation within classroom) | “Islamophobia discussion” | “more cultural events/represent all cultural holidays/events” |

Stay tuned for more Hear Us Out conversations!

 

Hartford Public Library “Beyond the Words” Gala

UConn Hartford was well represented at the Hartford Public Library’s “Beyond the Words” annual Gala at the Hartford Marriott Downtown. Author Reyna Grande was the featured keynote who spoke about her immigrant experience and how books and libraries gifted her with equal access to knowledge and information. West Hartford resident and architect, Tai Soo Kim, received the Caroline M. Hewins Medal, which “recognizes an individual who embraces the City of Hartford and its people, who breaks the mold and provides service of a revolutionary kind, who stretches the boundaries of a social or cultural institution with a humanistic approach to public service, and who shows strong guardianship of and advocacy for the basic right to equal access to information and opportunity.” As one of the most impactful institutions in our city, UConn Hartford is committed to supporting this partnership and HPL’s programming.

 

Dialogue on Race & Community


UConn Hartford continues to bear witness to the systemic violence against Black, Brown, and Indigenous bodies and communities. To create an antiracist community that is just, equitable, and inclusive, we must center the voices and experiences of those who are suffering from fear, bigotry, and all forms of systemic oppression. UConn Hartford will continue to ensure the safety, protection, and advancement of all our students, staff, and faculty, but we must do more for our Black peers and colleagues. In November, some of our students, staff, and administrators traveled to Storrs to engage in a critical conversation about our individual and collective roles in realizing an anti-racist community.

Obama Foundation 2019 Community Leadership Corps Reception

In June, 100 young people in Hartford between the ages of 18-25, many of them UConn students or alumni, were chosen to participate in the Obama Foundation’s Community Leadership Corps. For the next 6 months,
they would be tasked with a community challenge to address with support from Obama Foundation success coaches. As a community partner, UConn Hartford participated in regular feedback sessions between the young, emerging leaders and community stakeholders. In November, the program concluded with a reception, where it was revealed that the program will continue in Hartford for another year. UConn Hartford is enthused that the CLC will continue to develop the leadership in our city and is proud of the UConn students and alumni who have been chosen for the honor. Go Hartford! Go Huskies!