Blog

This summer marked Trinfo's first full summer back since its closure for renovations last year. With Trinfo open again and welcoming community members, the summer was filled with youth programming, a flourishing community garden, exercise and wellness activities, and community partnerships that created a consistently fun and welcoming atmosphere. 

This past spring, our student research team at the Liberal Arts Action Lab partnered with the REACH Fund of Connecticut to investigate the financial, logistical, and emotional hurdles that residents face when seeking abortion care.

Each year, the Hartford Environmental Justice Research Partnership will award several mini-grants for curricular development, community co-instruction, and community-engaged research. We are pleased to announce the 2026-27 recipients.

In this newsletter, CHER welcomes Dr. Jacques Lesure as the Senior Director of Academic Programs, Trinfo has a record year of tax returns at the VITA Tax Clinic, CACT student and TA Chris Cervantes reflects on his community learning course, an overview on many community events with the Engagement Fellows and other on campus partners as well!

Chris Cervantes shares how community engagement and his community learning classes have shaped his understanding of the difference between assimilation and integration. Through his community learning course, AMST 349 “Global Migration and Refugee Resettlement Lab," he interned with eth Hartford Public Library's after-school teen English Learner Program.

This past semester, Wadana Kakakhel ’27 joined the Liberal Arts Action Lab project Islamophobia, Lived Experiences, and Community Space in Greater Hartford, partnering with the Muslim Justice Center (MJC) to explore how Islamophobia shapes the daily lives of Muslim residents across the Greater Hartford area.

As we celebrate the Class of 2026, we want to give a special shout-out to some of our incredible CHER seniors! From leading community-engaged research to building deep partnerships across Hartford, these students have embodied the spirit of collaboration, curiosity, and civic impact. Their work has strengthened the bridge between Trinity and the wider community, and we’re so proud of everything they’ve accomplished during their time with the Center for Hartford Engagement and Research.

Hartford is more than the city surrounding Trinity's campus, it's a place full of culture, history, and community waiting to be explored. As Community Engagement Fellows at CHER, our job is to make that exploration happen. Through events like parades, coffee shop visits, talks, and concerts, we bring students off campus and into the city, hoping they leave not only with a deeper appreciation for Hartford, but with new friendships and memories along the way.

In this newsletter, you will find Trinity College students reflect on the CT Forum discussion on environmental issues, an introduction to the Trinity Community Care Project, an overview of the Learn to Skate Program with HMTCA students, and Community Learning Research Fellow Fall presentations

What is your current position at Trinity, and what are you most looking forward to in this role? I’ve stepped into a new role as Program Manager at Trinfo. I am ...