Conversations, Connections and Commitments to Build a "Better" Greater Hartford

Hartford Cares is a community-based initiative focused on events.  It brings people together across boundaries of geography, race, gender and politics.  Created in Summer 2008 in response to a series of violent incidents, it provides a variety of events to engage a diverse audience that cares about Hartford.

The initial rally in Bushnell Park brought together nonprofit organizations and thousands of attendees to demonstrate that violence was not acceptable. Hartford Cares went on to bring Bill Cosby to town, speaking to high school students and their families about responsibility.

Hartford Cares also created the Corridor of Hope to rehabilitate a rundown stretch of Capitol Avenue that was an eyesore to commuters and a dirty, frightening path for students walking to high school. Volunteers transformed the area by removing litter, planting flowers, removing graffiti and creating a mural.

Watch the video!  Click here.

Click on the arrow in the box below to hear Hartford Artist Carlos Hernandez Chavez describe his inspiration for the piece and relates his thoughts on what the mural represents to the city.

 

In Fall 2010, 40 volunteers through the United Way Day of Caring converged on the Corridor of Hope to start the next phase of the area's revitalization.  Brighter Hope was launched on September 3rd with the help of volunteers from Aetna and United Health Care.

This phase of the project was supported in part by The Home Depot and the United Arts Campaign through the Greater Hartford Arts Council.

For more information, contact Mae Ryan at 860.951.6161 x25 or email at Mae.Ryan@leadershipgh.org