Blog

Community access on campus, researching Hartford changemakers, and more

This past fall semester, the Liberal Arts Action Lab welcomed new community partners, an interim director, and a postdoctoral fellow. The new energy contributed to the Action Lab's continued work, where Trinity and Capital Community College students partake in an Action Research Methods in Hartford course (LAAL 200) and a Hartford Research Project (LAAL 201) each semester. Professor Atalay taught Action Research Methods in Hartford and led one of the three Hartford research projects. Professor Minor led the other two projects. Each team worked with a community partner who posed a pressing question about the city.

In spring 2020, the Black Heritage Project at the Liberal Arts Action Lab (LAAL) took on the task of investigating and telling the story of the historic Talcott Street Congregational Church. The church was the first Black church and school in Hartford and was home to prominent abolitionists, notably the Reverend James W.C. Pennington, who led the church in the 1840s and 50s. I participated in the project as a student at Capital Community College (CCC).

Voces de la migracion, over 30 years of Halloween on Vernon, and more

Do It Day, Finding a Home at Trinfo, and more

In fall 2021, when I saw the opportunity to collaborate with a youth service organization in the Liberal Arts Action Lab, I knew I had to apply. I ended up working on the Positive Youth Development Project with ConnectiKids this past spring, where I participated in conducting research on the organization’s long-term impact. The project fit my academic interest in public service and education and allowed me to learn about research methods and collaboration. Our work also had a direct impact on our community partners at ConnectiKids, who have since used our deliverables in their internal reporting and communications.

Preserving the Legacy of Carrie Saxon Perry, Transitions in the HMTCA-Trinity Partnership

Data visualizations, Liberal Arts Action Lab presentations, VITA, and more

Four teams of students collaborated on projects with community partners in the Liberal Arts Action Lab this spring. They completed projects on youth development, housing and environmental justice, community health perspectives and COVID-19, and anti-racist education.

Do you know of the Talcott Street Church and School? Through the Black Heritage Project, Capital Community College (CCC) is hoping more people in the Hartford area can answer that question with a resounding yes.