Blog

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.

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 ...

In fall 2024, we made the decision to rename the Trinity Homelessness Project (THP) to the Trinity Community Care Project (TCCP).Today, TCCP centers around four main initiatives: Food Recovery, the Backpack Nutrition Program, our partnership with Journey Home, and a Harm Reduction Initiative.

Meet Aida Haile who is involved in many programs at CHER, from academic to co-curricular ones. Aida loves working with HMTCA students and but it was truly her time at CHER that influenced her career choices in the field of human rights.

The Center for Hartford Engagement and Research is pleased to share final research posters from the Fall 2025 Community Learning Research Fellows! This competitive program allows selected students with previous community engagement experience to challenge their learning by taking on research or creative projects grounded in the value of mutual benefit: students deepen their learning and their project advances the goals of Hartford community partners.

Three community-engaged Liberal Arts Action Lab projects presented on on housing equity, transportation justice, and inclusive arts programming in Hartford this fall. Students worked alongside faculty and community partners to address research questions that community partners were looking to answer.

Fourteen students completed the first semester of the Community Action Gateway (CACT), taught by Professor Elise Castillo of the Educational Studies Program, and supported by mentors Makayla Cervantes ‘26 and Raven Reynoso ‘28. CACT is a selective, year-long first-year program for students interested in social change and community engagement. The students developed new profiles for the Hartford Changemakers collection.