Examples of Past Team Projects

Many of Leadership Greater Hartford programs feature a dynamic learning experience with community action projects carried out by task teams over the course of a year. Not only do these projects support important community initiatives, but they also give program participants the opportunity to apply their new training in an active team environment.  Some examples of projects include:

Youth

• Helped six Hartford elementary schools to acquire new computers, staff training, career planning, library books, office equipment, arts and culture programming. 
• Helped the Sports Sciences Academy charter school market its program, find a permanent physical home and organizing social functions with the students.
• In 1986, designed a regional youth leadership program called Common Ground. By 2006, almost 1,600 high school students from across the region had participated in this leadership and diversity program.
• In 2002-2003, developed “Readers as Leaders.”  Middle school students were recruited and trained in leadership and to be readers to children in kindergarten and first grade. Last year, over 130 middle school leaders read to more than 400 kindergartners.
• In 2001, organized a new mentoring/tutoring program for 25 youth at Hartford’s McDonough School.
• “Asylum Hill Halloween Happenings” in 2006.  Children who participate will be part of dramatic storytelling and play, and will receive a goody bag with a free book to promote literacy. 
• During the 2002-2003 school year,  piloted a program at the University of Hartford Magnet School, to help kids use the harts to explore their heritage.  The children's work was exhibited at the Peoples Bank branch in downtown Hartford, and the program was incorporated into the curriculum. 
• In 1996, launched Camp COPE, a series of weekend camping experience for adolescent girls in the city.
• The Common Sense Curriculum Team created, developed and implemented a curriculum to teach young adults a common sense approach to life. They piloted the program as part of the rehabilitation of youth referred to the Hartford Community Court in the fall of 2002 and the spring of 2003.  It has now been institutionalized as part of the court’s restorative justice program with “Men in Recovery,” an organization of Hartford men, serving as the mentors/teachers.
• In 2006, a team is developing a mentoring program matching high school honor students with elementary children.

Homelessness

• Raised more than $100,000 in cash and donated goods to furnish 30 new transitional living units for homeless women and their children.  This development is called “My Sister’s Place II.”
  
• Developed two video presentations for Community Access Cable to dispel some of the myths about poverty, especially homelessness.
  
• In 2005, organized a community awareness day about homelessness and worked throughout the year to raise funding and awareness for supportive housing

Community Initiatives

• In 2001, developed Holiday Skate, a temporary skating rink in Bushnell Park for the enjoyment of over 13,000 skaters.  Over $125,000 was raised in order to provide free skating time and rentals over a nine week season.
  
• A Third Age Initiative team organized and hosted a full-day conference on June 21, 2004.  Approximately 150 older adults came to explore the question, “What’s Next? Your Future, Your Way.”
• A 1993 group commissioned an artist to create “Harvest Gate,” an 18 foot high sculpture located at the corner of Main & Asylum Streets, designed to raise awareness and raise money to combat hunger.
• In 1993, LGH joined with Upper Albany residents to fight crime through improved street lighting.  In this same neighborhood, a 1999 group worked with elderly residents of a public housing project on the construction of a greenhouse where senior citizens and local students work together on growing plants.
• A 2006 group has organized the “Art of Leadership and Community Service,” to be held on September 21. This social event for young professionals will benefit Foodshare, and encourage young professionals to either volunteer or donate to Foodshare.
• To encourage families willing to adopt or provide foster care for children, a 1999 task force developed a 12-page insert that ran in The Hartford Courant and other state newspapers.
• In 2005, improved the services at the Spanish American Senior Center for Frog Hollow Residents.  Also generated new programming, including recreational days at Pope Park and computer training services.
• A 2005 group worked with the Hartford Food System’s GROW Hartford Youth Program and the Knox Parks Foundation to re-create the Laurel Street Farmers Market. They increased the average number of visitors by 200% and doubled the number of vendors.

Job Training

• In 1997, a group worked with the Jubilee House to fund and design a $30,000 kitchen renovation project needed to support a culinary training program. 
• A 1996 task force created a model mentoring program for helping first-time job holders retain employment. 
• A 1998 group ran a series of workshops for unemployed and under-employed residents of the Sheldon Charter Oak neighborhood. 
• A 2004 Quest team built a Training and Job Center at the Saint Elizabeth House, a day shelter and soup kitchen located in Hartford.
• The 2006 Medical Diversity Taskforce is developing an educational curriculum that provides Hartford’s middle school students with a roadmap to careers in the health and science fields. 

Promoting Hartford

• A 1994 team designed and raised money for information kiosks to be erected downtown to promote Hartford’s events and tourist attractions. 
• In 1999, a team used the LGH web-site and Ctnow.com to stream video and images from Hartford’s neighborhoods. 
• A 1998 group prepared a special Hartford Courant publication promoting the river that appeared in the spring and was circulated to schools throughout Greater Hartford.
• In 2002, a team launched “Rediscover Hartford", promoting well-known and undiscovered Hartford historical  and cultural attractions.
• In 2002, 200 people enjoyed a bus tour of some of outstanding specimen trees at the Institute for Living and Cedar Hill Cemetery.  This tour was repeated semi-annually for several years.
• A 2006 team is working on a programmatic design that would bring suburban and urban residents together to enjoy various festivals and events held in Hartford’s neighborhoods and the surrounding towns.
• A 2006 team is replanting between 8-12 trees in downtown Hartford where trees once stood and identifying new planting sites.