October 28

As a recipient of the 21st CCLC federal grant – the only federal funding source for non-school-hour programming – the Hartford Public Library has partnered with other community institutions to extend after-school opportunities to students from Hartford Public High School. The grant runs for five years and enables the HPL to tap into community institutions, such as UConn Hartford, which then operate as expanded community learning centers for students to enhance their academic performance, college readiness, English language skills, cultural awareness, social-emotional growth, and more. UConn Hartford fulfills its role on Mondays, from 4:00 – 6:00 PM, on campus. Thank you to all the academic centers, programs, students, faculty, and staff who have contributed to enrichment programming for students this inaugural semester. If you are interested in being involved in this effort, please contact: hartford.engagement@uconn.edu

October 26 – 30

Leading up to Election Day, the Nancy A. Humphreys Institute in the UConn School of Social Work partnered with UConn Hartford on a voter registration campaign. The Humphrey’s Institute reported 54 student registrations and roused many meaningful conversations with students about the importance of voting. We know that voting is a significant marker of civic engagement and UConn Hartford is committed to bolstering its efforts to cultivate a more civically engaged campus and community. Our vote is our voice – be heard! Register to vote, here.

October 27

UConn Hartford’s Capital City Crew treated hundreds of Hartford’s youngest residents to a spooky and sweet good time with delicious candies – about 3,500 pieces of them – that our campus community collected! Thank you to the Yard Goats for hosting this event for a second year and bringing so much joy to our community.

October 20-23

UConn Hartford is one of the newest institutional members of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU). CUMU is the longest-running and largest organization committed to serving and connecting the nation’s urban and metropolitan universities and their partners. Some of UConn Hartford’s administrators and faculty attended the annual conference in Philadelphia where they learned about the role of urban universities on the communities they serve and are home to. CUMU is a fantastic resource for knowledge about challenges of, and opportunities for, higher education institutions to engage in public service. (Pictured is trailblazer Bob Wilson, professor in the Department of Public Policy and director of the Sustainable Global Cities Initiative (SGCI).)

UConn Hartford partnered with the YWCA Hartford Region to bring attention to, and hold a solidarity action against, intimate partner violence. Every third week of October is the YWCA’s Week Without Violence, a period to galvanize awareness and engage action to end a broad spectrum of gender-based violence. Bryan Hall, mental health counselor, and our community teamed up and held a solidarity action in Zachs Atrium that involved a clothesline and paper t-shirts for any willing participants to write and pin uplifting messages for survivors of intimate partner violence. The collaborative effort was a powerful call to support victims and survivors of gender-based violence. We look forward to partnering with the YWCA on more calls to action.

 

UConn Hartford was represented at Leadership Greater Hartford’s 15th Annual Polaris Awards at the Bushnell Performing Arts Center. The annual gala honors exemplary leaders who serve as guiding lights in our region. Leadership Greater Hartford is the premier organization working to develop current and future leaders in our city and some of UConn Hartford’s own administrators and students have participated in and benefited from LGH programming. By supporting LGH, UConn Hartford contributes to our city and region’s leadership stock and success.

 

In partnership with UConn Public Safety, the campus community was able to stuff a police cruiser with school supplies to support Hartford youth in the new school year. All supplies were donated to the Hartford Police Athletic League, which does the work of “empowering the youth of Hartford to reach their fullest potential.” Thank you to everyone who supported this community-wide effort!

A few hundred youth streamed with giddiness and anticipation through UConn Hartford classrooms for the Center for Latino Progress annual Career Day. The CLP was given access to UConn Hartford spaces and classrooms where youth participated in employment and learning workshops to prepare them for opportunities on their path to success.