Liberal Arts Action Lab Project Highlights

This student team worked with their community partner, the Hartford History Center, to raise awareness about the Talcott Street Congregational Church, the first black Congregational church in Hartford and the third in the nation. Students conducted archival research at Hartford History Center, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and the Old State House. Jeff Partridge, Faculty Director of the Action Lab for Capital Community College, successfully applied for a $149,426 National Endowment for the Humanities grant stemming from this project.

Students collaborated with SINA in fall of 2021 to begin the Frog Hollow People’s Oral History Project. In collaboration with residents and leaders of the community, students assembled a multimedia archive documenting the neighborhood’s lived history, experiences, and public art. Student teams are continuing to work on the project through translation and expansion of the walking tour.

A team of students in the Liberal Arts Action Lab investigated the long-term outcomes of ConnectiKids’ programming on participant well-being and educational attainment. Through data analysis, the students found that ConnectiKids’ past participants were more likely to attend college than other similar Hartford residents. Through interviews, they found that participants experienced a sense of stability in early adulthood, along with years of genuine mentorship and social support.

Past project have included topics such as energy efficiency, arts education, school nutrition, and community ownership. Past partners include the Sierra Club of CT, Hartford Food System, SAWA Refugee Resettlement, and LISC. View a full listing of past Lab projects.