Blog

Happy New Year and welcome to a new semester!  This newsletter highlights CHER’s Fall 2024 semester in review, and provides updates on our work to strengthen mutually beneficial partnerships between Trinity and Hartford. We wish Laura Minor all the best as she recently decided to step down from her position as Director of Academic programs at CHER. As sad as we were to see her go, this departure gave us the opportunity here at CHER to do a bit of restructuring to build on the enormous talents of our staff.

Meet Linnea Mayo '26! She wears a lot of hats on campus when it comes to community engagement. From being a Community Engagement Fellow to leading various clubs on campus to taking on multiple CHER programs and Community Learning classes, she has done it all and inspires many to become more involved on and off campus.

During the Fall 2024 semester, Linnea Mayo '26 and Saanvi Bajaj’ '27 served as Community Engagement Fellows for the Center of Hartford Engagement and Research (CHER). As fellows, they aim to inspire Trinity College students to explore Hartford beyond the campus boundaries, foster a sense of community among other CHER students, and advocate for destigmatizing preconceived notions about the city. This semester they have emphasized building long-term community partnerships and relationships within Hartford.

This past fall semester, the Liberal Arts Action Lab welcomed twelve students for three projects. The students from Trinity College and CT State Community College Capital brought in great energy as they participated in the Action Research Methods in Hartford course (LAAL 200) and one of three Hartford Research Projects (LAAL 201): Frog Hollow Development Project, Talcott Street Church Commemoration Project, and Student Loan Equity Project.

The Center for Hartford Engagement and Research is pleased to share final research posters from the Fall 2024 Community Learning Research Fellows! This competitive program allows selected students with previous community engagement experience to challenge their learning by taking on research or creative projects grounded in the value of mutual benefit: students deepen their learning and their project advances the goals of Hartford community partners.

Over 30 Years of Halloween on Vernon, Student Highlight: Breanna Pitta and Eulalia Esquenet, Trinity Sophomores Coach HMTCA Middle School Soccer Team, Trinfo Offers High School Programming and more!

Every year, Halloween on Vernon invites children along with their families to dress up in their best costumes and trick-or-treat down Vernon Street on the Trinity campus. Activities and games are also hosted by Trinity College greek and cultural houses.

Breanna Pitta, '27, majoring in Environmental Science, and Public Policy & Law with a minor in Community Action and Eulalia Esquenet, '27, majoring in Political Science, bring their passion for soccer as coaches of the HMTCA middle school soccer team.

Hartford is Home Orientation Program, 25 Years of Do-It Day, HMTCA-Trinity College Summer Program Reaches Record Number of Students and more!

The Trinity College summer programs offered to high school students at Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy (HMTCA) reached a record number, with over 70 participants engaged in two enriching experiences: the Summer Writing Institute and the Designing Your College Experience program.