2007: The Koeppel Community Sports Center opens with more than 10 community groups and 1,000 Hartford school children participating in skating programs. More than 800 students volunteer in the city at least once annually and over 700 undergraduates annually participate in city-related internships and courses. Trinity also enters its 10th year hosting the Dream Camp for 300 children from Hartford. Working with the Connecticut Council on Humanities, Trinity continues to run a free, 10-month-long humanities program that offers Hartford residents a chance to earn two college credits and an entrée into higher education.
2006: The Community Learning Initiative (CLI) celebrates 10 years with a two-day Campus/Community Symposium encouraging academic collaborations between and among Hartford Consortium schools and community organizations. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recognizes Trinity College for its Community Engagement.
2005: SINA successfully completes Phase I of the Cityscape Homes project with the construction and rehabilitation of 31 neighborhood homes.
2004: Groundbreaking for the Community Sports Complex (CSC), a partnership between SINA and Trinity College. The multiple-use athletic facility will serve primarily as a skating center and will provide safe recreational space for Hartford children and families and the surrounding area.
2003: W.K. Kellogg Foundation awards Trinity $1.6 million bridge grant to support continued urban engagement initiatives. In addition to maintaining and expanding existing community programs, the award increases the level of community-based learning and involvement at the College and evaluates the institution’s urban initiatives. The Saturday Academy receives state funding for continued success with educating middle school students and their parents.
The Rockefeller Foundation's Partnerships in Community Transformation program awards the Hartford Studies Project (HSP) $100,000 for the Hartford 1969/2004: a community documentary film project, toward the completion of a 90-minute documentary and public film archive on the recent history of the city. The grant is received in conjunction with the HSP's work with nine community partners: NAACP, Hartford Public Library, SAND, CRT, La Voz, Shiloh Baptist Church, Broad Park Development Corporation, All Our Children, and Walk in the Light Ministries. The award is part of a $219,000 package, supplemented by $48,000 of in-kind support from Motion, Inc., and ongoing support from the College.
2002: Trinity receives Mutual of America Community Partnerships Award for its work with The Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford. Trinity partners with SINA to improve employment services and programs in the community. The continued growth of Trinity's global sites increases opportunities for urban engagement and internships in locations around the world: Barcelona, Santiago, Moscow, Trinidad, Istanbul, Katmandu, Cape Town, and Rome.
2001: The Marie and John Zimmermann Fund of New York awards Trinity a $330,000 grant to establish a tutoring and mentoring program enabling Trinity undergraduates to work with Hartford Magnet Middle School students, located on the Learning Corridor. SINA receives the American Architectural Foundation award for bringing together public and private sector institutions in a community building effort.
The Cities Data Center produces the first edition Hartford Primer & Field Guide, which provides Trinity College and the community essential data about the City of Hartford and the region. Trinfo.Café begins offering a Computer Technician Apprenticeship Program, with assistance from Computers4Kids.
2000: American Planning Association awards Trinity and SINA its “Outstanding Planning Award” in recognition of the comprehensive community improvement initiatives. The Learning Corridor opens for classes serving approximately 800 students with overall operations provided by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC). Pre-programming begins in anticipation of construction plans for the Aetna Center for Families to provide parenting, pediatric wellness, school readiness and childcare programs on The Learning Corridor campus. Trinfo.Café opens adjacent to The Learning Corridor and offers technical support, web design, and computer hardware to neighborhood residents and businesses.
1999: Boys & Girls Club at Trinity College opens in the Ann and Thomas S. Johnson building on Broad Street across from Trinity's playing fields. First Boys & Girls Club affiliated with a college. Its opening was celebrated at a dedication ceremony attended by General Colin Powell (Ret.), then chairman of America’s Promise -- The Alliance for Youth. Trinity also named by America’s Promise as a national "College of Promise." HART and SINA partners create Neighborhood Block Watch Program, with community policing bicycle patrols based out of Trinity.
1998: W.K. Kellogg Foundation awards Trinity $5.1 million grant to support the College’s plans to strengthen campus-community connections that emphasize civic renewal and educational innovation. Initiatives include fulfillment of The Learning Corridor, new faculty and academic resources focused on infusing urbanism into teaching and research, enhanced community learning and volunteerism for students, and a “smart neighborhood" center to improve community access to information technology.
The Community Service and Civic Engagement Office is formalized to continue supporting student leadership development in the Hartford community. The Mega-Cities Program is located on campus, linking Trinity to 19 cities throughout the world and thus providing new opportunities for academic pursuits, community service and corporate internships around the world. Inter-Neighborhood Collaborative (INC) formed by area merchants, leaders and residents to develop strategic planning for area neighborhoods assisted by international urban planner, Ken Greenberg.
The first Dream Camp was held in the summer of 1998 and it served a cohort of 100 children from Hartford in the first, second, and third grades. It currently reaches over 300 students annually and consists of a traditional summer program for children ages six though 16, and an academic mentoring program during the school year. Trinity students serve as tutors and mentors throughout the academic year, and many remain as camp counselors during the summer. With an annual retention rate greater than 85 percent year to year, Dream Camp’s programs and objectives have evolved to reflect the current needs of campers.
1997: Successful institutional, federal, state, local and corporate fundraising marks ground-breaking of
The Learning Corridor. The plan will clean up a 16-acre urban brown field adjacent to Trinity and Hartford Hospital as the site for a new magnet Montessori elementary School, magnet Hartford Middle School, and two magnet high school programs -- Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and Greater Hartford Academy of Mathematics and Science.
Saturday Academy begins on campus to provide academic enrichment and leadership opportunities for Hartford middle school students and families. Trinity receives Habitat for Humanity chapter on campus.
1996: Trinity announces plans for a comprehensive $175 million Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative to rebuild a community infrastructure for families that sustains stable home ownership, neighborhood economic development and educational improvement. The cornerstone of this initiative is planned construction of The Learning Corridor as a state-of-the art educational park. The effort is supported by a pioneering private-public partnership between Trinity and its institutional partners and neighbors. Kevin B. Sullivan appointed Vice President for Community and Institutional Relations to oversee the College’s expanded community engagement.
College launches Cities Program, a non-major gateway program for students wishing to make the study of cities an important part of their liberal arts education. Trinity also joins in opening HART Jobs Center/El Centro de Trabajo to provide employment training, counseling and referral for neighborhood residents. SINA begins full implementation of Cityscape housing redevelopment program aimed at first time homebuyers.
1995: Evan Dobelle inaugurated as 18th President of the College. Dobelle combines experience in higher education and public service to advocate broader focus on liberal arts, community engagement, public-private partnerships and stabilization of the community around the campus. Office of Community and Institutional Relations (OCIR) created with Eddie Perez as Associate Vice President. Community Learning Initiative (CLI) launched as a college-wide movement to incorporate service learning and research into Trinity courses.
1994: Trinity Center for Neighborhoods (TCN) funded by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to spur community outreach. TCN offers training, data resources and applied research assistance to community groups. Grassroots Problem Solving Committees created to help neighborhood residents and businesses address community issues.
Trinity hosts the annual Urban Issues Forum featuring local and national authorities on urban problems examining a broad spectrum of political, ideological, and policy standpoints.
1993: Major neighborhood crisis develops due to gang violence and drug trafficking. College joins with residents to rally support through HART for successful federal, state and local crack down on gangs, drug dealing and prostitution. The CityTerm Program begins in the fall semester, which allows students to undertake full-time public or non-profit internships.
1992: Trinity, in partnership with SINA and HART, establish Frog Hollow Revitalization Project, targeting fifteen square-block area immediately to the north of campus for a pilot neighborhood development project. Plans begin for a new magnet elementary school and other institutional improvements.
1991: Through the HART HOME Program, Trinity begins providing up to $10,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance to residents of Hartford who buy an owner occupied home adjacent to the campus.
1990: As national and state recession worsens economic conditions in city neighborhoods, Eddie Perez appointed College’s director of community relations reporting directly to the President. Perez is widely recognized in the community for his advocacy and leadership. The Hartford Studies Project began as an interdisciplinary workshop on the post-Civil War era in Hartford and the region with the intention of illuminating the city's past and present experience.
1989: Neighborhood Posse program created for Trinity student volunteers to spend time with Hartford children for one-on-one and group tutoring and recreation. Trinity faculty intensifies involvement in programs aimed at motivating secondary school students and broadening educational opportunities, including a Talented and Gifted Program, Connecticut Pre-Engineering Program and Upward Bound.
1987: High School Colloquium created to introduce local high school students to college and encourage interdisciplinary studies.
1985: Trinity opens the Community Child Center for neighborhood families and Trinity employees.
Mid 1980s: Significant urban blight appears around the College, especially on the north and east sides of campus. Working with SINA, Trinity joins in new housing rehabilitation initiatives directly and through new Neighborhood Housing Improvement Program, establishment of Frog Hollow Revitalization Committee and enhancement of community policing.
Early 1980s: Downtown redevelopment in Hartford pushes overcrowding and housing deterioration nearer to Trinity. The College begins recruiting students interested in studying in an urban setting and initiates programs directed at enhancing city-college relations.
1980: College’s Academic Internship Office formalized to provide students with course credit for experience-based learning.
1979: TRICE program extended to provide 12-week training cycles for community leaders and organizations on housing and economic development.
1978: SINA (Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance) established by Trinity, Hartford Hospital, Institute of Living, and neighborhood residents and merchants to promote housing rehabilitation and economic development. Ivan Backer appointed executive director.
Broad-Park Development Corporation formed by SINA, HART, and area merchants to promote commercial and residential redevelopment in the neighborhood.
1975: HART (Hartford Areas Rally Together) neighborhood alliance formed by residents and clergy to advocate for community improvement and investment. Alta Lash among HART’s principal community organizers.
1974: Trinity and University of Rensselear Politechnical Institute funded by U.S. Department of Education to create TRICE: Trinity College/Rensselear Institutes for Community Education. TRICE provides city residents and organizations with research and educational information.
1973: Upward Bound, a federally funded college program for low income, first generation high school students, established on-campus.
1972: Trinity hosts Connecticut Educational Seminar affiliated with the national Institute for Educational Leadership. Legislative and academic leaders meet to discuss educational issues facing the state and its cities.
1971: New Urban and Environmental Studies programs provide academic base for study in the city. Volunteering and internship opportunities expand. Community Forums held to focus on improving educational opportunities in the community.
1970: First College-funded and student-run Community Action Center (TCAC) founded by Kevin Sullivan, ’71, which became Trinity’s Office of Community Service. Students volunteer for tutoring and recreation programs, assist community organizations and arrange courses in urban related topics.
1969: Trinity creates an Office of Community Affairs and appoints Robert Pawlowski as its director.
1968: First full-time undergraduate legislative internship program established, with students involved in developing local and state policies.
1967: Urban planner Constantine Doxiades’s visionary report, “The Trinity Community,” marks the College’s first concentrated effort to consider its role in the city.
Mid 1960s: Growing College awareness focuses on economic insecurity and neighborhood deterioration as Hartford’s industrial base declines. Community volunteerism increases among students and the College’s first internship program begins.