VITA Tax Clinic Works with Action Lab’s Family Finance Project this Tax Season
Now in its sixth year, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) clinic at Trinfo is expanding not only its free tax preparation services but also its network of support by collaborating on timely research with the Liberal Arts Action Lab Family Finance Project. Students in the Action Lab collected data and interviewed community members regarding the necessity of a proposed Child Tax Credit in Connecticut, which the United Way of CT has utilized to advocate for change at the state level.
The VITA Tax Clinic offers free tax preparation services to English and Spanish-speaking clients who make less than $64,000 per year. This year, 756 returns were e-filed at the clinic. Since opening in 2018, the clinic has increased student participation, hours, and the total number of returns filed yearly. Serena Laws, Senior Lecturer in Political Science and the site’s director leads the VITA Tax Clinic and was a faculty fellow for the Family Finance Project. Twenty-seven students worked in the Tax Clinic, with seven returning volunteers. Clients who used the clinic saved an estimated $166,320 in fees. The outstanding growth and sustainability of the clinic are driven by Laws, site coordinators, and dedicated students.
In addition to offering tax services to the community, the site serves as an educational opportunity for Trinity students. Students in Laws’ “Tax Policy and Inequality in Hartford” class are trained as IRS-certified tax preparers after gaining a foundational understanding of the tax code in the classroom. They received hands-on experience at Trinfo.Cafe, where they applied classroom skills while helping prepare client tax returns at the VITA Clinic.
The VITA Tax Clinic was also featured this year on El Show de Analeh. Guest speakers were Linda Martinez, VITA volunteer; Larry Bello-Castillo ‘24, Trinity College student and volunteer; Laura O’Keefe, Director, Village for Families & Children, and Karolina Barrientos ‘22, Program Manager at Trinfo.Cafe. In the video, they explained the necessity of having a Tax Clinic and how it benefits the Hartford community, as well as the value of Trinfo.Cafe, which provides so many services in the community beyond offering a VITA Tax Clinic.
“VITA and Trinfo are an essential partnership for the community. The collaboration provides a free service to those who are often prey to financial predators in a community setting many are familiar with and feel comfortable coming to.” – Karolina Barrientos ’22, Program Manager at Trinfo.Cafe
This year, students from the Liberal Arts Action Lab Family Finance Project collaborated with United Way CT and the VITA Tax Clinic to conduct interviews documenting the potential benefits of the Child Tax Credit. Students worked with community partners to create multimedia content and shared testimony during legislative hearing sessions that emphasized the importance of the Child Tax Credit for Hartford residents. Thaddeus Hempel ‘28, a student at Trinity College, testified alongside Prof. Laws during a legislative hearing regarding the issue, where he mentioned the story of Maria Nunez, one of the interviewees, to illustrate the impact of the Child Tax Credit would have on individuals who need it.
“The Action Lab project was a wonderful example of using our resources at Trinity to try to make positive changes for our community.” – Prof. Serena Laws
Prof. Laws said, “In Spring 2024 I was delighted the Action Lab took on a project for United Way, in which they interviewed clients at our VITA tax site at Trinfo Cafe about their financial struggles and their views on a proposed Connecticut Child Tax Credit. The Action Lab did an amazing job raising the voices of the Hartford families who would benefit most from a child tax credit, collecting and presenting data, and creating a beautiful video highlighting the experiences of a very special VITA client who generously agreed to share her story.”
A press conference was held on Wednesday, March 27th at Trinfo.Cafe, where students from the Liberal Arts Action Lab presented their preliminary findings from the Family Finance Project. Jude Staples ‘28, a freshman at Trinity College, mentioned that they interviewed 19 families. Half of the interviewees said they struggle to pay rent monthly, and 39% said they struggle to pay any utilities. All interviewees stated they are in favor of a Child Tax Credit, indicating they would spend the additional funds on bare necessities. Attendees of the press conference included CT ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families, leadership from Connecticut United Way chapters, Representative Jason Rojas, and other Child Tax Credit advocates.
Maria Nunez, one of the people interviewed by the Family Finance Project and a client of the VITA Tax Clinic, now volunteers at the VITA Tax Clinic. She stated how this resource was beneficial for her when she needed it most, and now she gives back by volunteering her time there. A Child Tax Credit for her would go to her son, allowing him to have opportunities she couldn’t afford when she was younger, such as playing for a soccer team.
The VITA clinic at Trinfo.Cafe exemplifies how a community-driven, multi-institutional partnership can provide essential services while fostering educational growth and community engagement. By expanding its services and collaborating with research projects like the Liberal Arts Action Lab Family Finance Project, the VITA Tax Clinic continues to support underprivileged families, advocate for important policy changes, and offer invaluable hands-on experience for students.
