Race and Ethnicity in Greater Hartford
What: The Center for Urban and Global Studies’ third and final symposium of the Spring 2008 semester will feature four experts who will focus on the theme of Hartford as a city of racial and ethnic diversity.
When: Thursday, April 10, at 4:30 p.m.
Where: Washington Room, Mather Hall on the Trinity campus.
Background: The Center for Urban and Global Studies, which was launched in October 2007, is sponsoring a two-year research project on the transformation of Hartford. Its purpose is to deepen Trinity’s engagement in Hartford and to enhance its contributions to the city and region.
The two-staged project will involve a broad group of Trinity and non-Trinity faculty members, as well as policy analysts, community representatives, and students. The first stage will feature discussions of and research on the critical challenges facing Hartford. The second stage is expected to result in the publication of a book that will contribute to classroom and experiential learning, urban scholarship, and community development.
The first symposium, held on February 8, identified the critical issues facing Hartford in the 21st century. The second forum, on March 7, zeroes in on regional economic development and political governance in the Greater Hartford Region. The third panel discussion will center on the various cultural and ethnic groups that make up Greater Hartford.
The participants include:
• Ellison Findly, Professor of Religion and International Studies, Trinity College, and Michael Lestz, Associate Professor of History, also of Trinity College. The topic of their lecture is “An Asian Diaspora: Diverse Responses to American Life.”
• Luis Figueroa, Associate Professor of History at Trinity College, and Fernando Betancourt, executive director of the state Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission. They will discuss “From Florence to Park: A Research Agenda on Hartford’s Puerto Rican History.”
• Edgar Johnson, executive director of the Center for Urban Research, Education and Training. His topic is “Hartford’s West Indian Population: A Retrospective-Prospective Overview.”
• Diane Smith, community and program development officer for the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority. The subject of her talk is “An Economic Perspective on Black Hartford’s History and Future.”
A reception will follow the event, which is co-sponsored by Trinity’s Office of Multicultural Affairs.
The symposium is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Luiselle Rivera at Luiselle.Rivera@trincoll.edu or at 860-297-5175.