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Author Archives: Robert Cotto Jr.

Sheff Movement Design Challenge – Sat., October 22, 2016

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On October 22, the Sheff Movement will host a design challenge to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Sheff v. O’Neill decision. This event is meant to promote meaningful public discourse and engagement that will ultimately strengthen Greater Hartford’s ongoing efforts to address racial and socioeconomic isolation and related inequities.

This conference aims to: 1) engage community members in a forward-looking process of generating new ideas for the Sheff plaintiffs, the state, and the city; 2) help our coalition envision a community-informed plan to meaningfully advance the goal of quality integrated education over the next three to five years; and 3) inspire innovation, alignment, and collaboration.

Date: October 22, 2016
Time: 9am-4pm (reception to follow)
Where: Hartford Public Library, Center for Contemporary Culture (get directions using Google maps)

Register here. More information below and at the Sheff Movement.

 

Basic Details of Our #improvesheff Design Challenge Conference

A “design challenge” is an event where participants learn the process of design thinking while applying its methodology to a specific question.

We believe design thinking offers a valuable framework for helping us assess Sheff’s progress, figure out what is (and is not) working well, identify and respond to unmet needs, and work in collaboration with partners to help us advance our ultimate goal of quality integrated education for all. We need to know how we might improve our efforts and accelerate our progress, and what needs to happen in order to provide students and families a fair, coordinated, and sustainable education system that embraces quality integrated education as a guiding principle.

The focus of the Sheff Movement’s design challenge (“What are the key ingredients for a fair, coordinated, and sustainable school integration system in the Greater Hartford region?”) will provide students, parents, educators, and other community members dedicated time and space to learn about, reimagine, and contribute to the advancement of quality integrated education. Using this dynamic and engaging process, participants will help:

  • Co-create a vision for achieving quality integrated education for all Hartford’s children
  • Reinvigorate the court-mandated process of providing all Hartford’s children a quality integrated education
  • Generate fresh new ideas, and outline strategies to meaningfully advance the goal of quality integrated education over the next three to five years

 

Who Should Attend?

Everyone! Our venue can accommodate 150 people (our goal is for 30 teams of 3-7 people to participate). We will invite a broad set of stakeholders—parents/caregivers; students; educators; policymakers; scholars; nonprofit, community, and business leaders; artists; advocates; school designers; and public education supporters—to lend their voice, creativity, and determination to this challenge.

 

Registration:

Register as an individual or as a team. Individual attendees will work together in teams based on their identified interests.

 

Supporters and Partners:

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We hope that we can count on your support! If you are interested in making a financial contribution or exploring a partnership with us, please contact us at sheffmovementcoalition@gmail.com.

“Marking Territory: Muralism and Techniques of Gender in the Unincorporated Territory of Puerto Rico” on Nov 2 at 4:30

Dr. Adriana Garriga-López, will present the talk, “Marking Territory: Muralism and Techniques of Gender in the Unincorporated Territory of Puerto Rico” on November 2 at 4:30 p.m. in the Dangremond Commons (Hallden North, or the space formerly known as “Gallows Hill”).
For more information on Dr. Garriga-López, please see her website: http://garrigalopez.tumblr.com/
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Hartbeat Ensemble Presents: “Neighborhood Investigative Project: Frog Hollow State of Mind”, October 15 & 16

Frog Hollow State of Mind is a grassroots investigative theater project dedicated to collecting the living stories of our neighbors in Frog Hollow. Written by Frog Hollow resident Cin Martinez, the play will be presented in two acts: half of the program will be a scripted performance using the interviews that HartBeat assembled from neighborhood residents, and the other half will be a live, unscripted civic dialogue.  This will give the audience an opportunity to discuss and reflect on issues that were just presented. Conversations will moderated.

Lear more here.

FH Poster English

FH Poster Spanish

Dream Camp After-School Mentoring Program: Looking for Trinity Students as Paid Mentors & Unpaid Volunteers

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Dream Camp is looking for Passionate, Caring, and Reliable students to take part in this year’s After-School Mentoring Program. Mentors will work with students on completing homework, building life skills, and self-enrichment through fun activities.

Mentoring positions are paid (2 day commitment). Flexible non-paid volunteer positions are also available. Please Check Us Out!!

Contact: Adah Gillon at agillon@esfdreamcamp.org
Office: TC 122 Ext. 6209

Download (PDF, 238KB)

CT Parent Power – 4th Annual Red Carpet Hero Award Gala on Friday, September 16, @ 6 pm

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What: Connecticut Parent Power – 4th annual “Red Carpet Hero Award Gala”

When: Friday, September 16, 2016, 6 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Where: Four Points Sheraton Hotel, 275 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT. Get directions here.

Contact: Marilyn Calderon at (203) 980-8511 or marilyn@ctparentpower.org if you have any questions.

Buy a ticket using this form.

Become a sponsor using this form.

Background

Connecticut Parent Power invites you to partner with us in honoring heroes for our 4th annual “Red Carpet Hero Award Gala” our honorees for the evening are exemplary parent and professional leaders from across the state that are extra-ordinary people who lead with integrity and unwavering commitment to co-create a world, not as it is, but as it should be: “equitable for all!” The honorees will be lifted up with a heartfelt recognition award that our statewide parent led organization has nominated them for their commitment to building foundational strengths in our communities for all children, parents and their families

This fourth annual event is an opportunity to help support our statewide co-created vision entitled: ALL-IN CT Equity4Change that fosters engagement, education, and mobilization of diverse parents and partners who are passionate about children’s preventive issues to gain the knowledge on what is happening at the local and statewide levels to make informed decision by developing and maintaining linkages with stakeholders who work hand in hand to find solution based thinking and action steps to end poverty and racism with better health, safety, equity and wellness for all children through collective action.

Connecticut Parent Power (CTPP), established in 2001, is one of the state’s largest parent volunteer organizations. CTPP focuses on local, state and global affairs with issues that include, but are not limited to early childhood, (cradle to career) education Pre-K thru 12th grade school systems, immigration/racial/equity/economic security and health care reform.

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Puerto Rico New England Summit Saturday, September 17, 2016, @Holyoke (Mass) High School

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What: Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans New England will bring together key members of the Puerto Rican diaspora in New England and their allies to examine and gain a broader understanding of how the economic, fiscal, and unfolding humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico has impacted the stateside Puerto Rican community. This event is free for all and open to students as well!

When: September 17, 2016 at 8:30am – 5:30pm. The summit will start with a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m., and the program will start promptly at 9:00 a.m.

Where: Holyoke High School, 500 Beech St, Holyoke, MA 01040, United States, Google map and directions
Learn more here.

NEW ENGLAND SUMMIT PROGRAM

8:30 – 9:00 A.M. COFFEE AND REGISTRATION


9:00 – 9:20 A.M. WELCOMING REMARKS

Mayor Alex B. Morse, City of Holyoke

Betty Medina Lichtenstein, Executive Director, Enlace de Familias, Inc.


9:20 – 10:00 A.M. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

Dr. Edwin Meléndez, Director, Center for Puerto Rican Studies


10:00 – 11:00 A.M. PLENARY PANEL: FISCAL, ECONOMIC AND HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN PUERTO RICO

Moderator: Joe Rodríguez, Deputy State Director, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal

Ruth Santiago, Esq., Legal Counsel, El Puente Puerto Rico

Dennis Rivera, Unidos Por La Salud

Gretchen Sierra-Zorita, Project Director, Media Diversity Initiatives for the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, Washington, D.C.


11:00 – 11:15 A.M. COFFEE BREAK


11:15 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. CONCURRENT PANELS

1. Education (bilingual ed/dual language)

Moderator: Dr. Eileen de los Reyes, former Assistant Superintendent for ELLs, Boston Public Schools

Robert Cotto, Jr.,  former Senior Policy Fellow in K-12 Education, CT Voices for Children

Dr. Arlene Rodríguez, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Springfield Technical Community College

Dr. Sonia Correa Pope, School Principal, Holyoke Community Charter School  

Dr. Lorna Rivera, Director, Latino Studies, University of Massachusetts-Boston

Anna Lugo, Director of English Language Education, Holyoke Public Schools

2. Health Disparities and Community Strategies

Moderator: Dr. María Idalí Torres, Director, Gastón Institute, University of Massachusetts-Boston

Margarita R. O’Neill-Arana, Ed.D., Director of Clinical Training, Union Institute & University

Sofia Segura-Pérez, Associate Director, Community Nutrition, Hispanic Health Council- Hartford, CT

Milagros Rosal, PhD, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Worcester

3. Political Representation in New England

Moderator: Lourdes Montalvo, Director of Constituent Services, Connecticut Secretary of the State

Jossie Valentin, City Councilor Ward 4, Holyoke, MA

Luis Aponte, City Council President, Providence, Rhode Island

Minnie González, State Representative, Majority Whip at Large, Hartford, CT

Carlos González, Springfield State Representative

Adam Gómez, City Councilor Ward 1, Springfield, MA

4. Economic Development

Moderator: Dr. Ramón Borges-Mendez, Community Development and Planning, Clark University

Juan Vega, Assistant Secretary, Massachusetts Office of Housing and Economic Development

Sheyla Rivera, Artistic Director, AS220

Marcos Marrero, Director, Planning and Economic Development, City of Holyoke, MA

Taino Palermo, Ed.D., Program Director, Community Development, Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI

5. Media 

Moderator: José Massó, ¡Con Salsa! Radio

Vanessa Pabón, Community Engagement Director, WGBY-PBS-Western NE

Norma Rodriguez-Reyes, La Voz Hispana de CT

Natalia Muñoz, Verdant Multicultural Media, Northampton, MA

Manuel Frau-Ramos, El Sol Latino, Amherst, MA


12:30 P.M. LUNCH


1:30 P.M. PLENARY PANEL: CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

Moderator: Nilda Ruiz, President and CEO, Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, Inc.

Yanil Terón, Executive Director, Center for Latino Progress (CT)

Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, Chief Executive Officer, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción

Natascha Otero-Santiago, ParrandaPR


2:45 P.M. – 4:00PM CONCURRENT PANELS

1. LGBTQ

Moderator: Nelson Roman, City Councilor Ward 2, Holyoke, MA

Amaad Rivera, former City Councilor, Springfield, MA

Jennifer Lynn Vélez, Trans Pioneer, Holyoke, MA

Myriam Quinoñes, Holyoke Community College

2. Youth

Moderator: Alejandro Manzanares, Stand UP for Puerto Rico

Jafet Robles, Community Organizer

Cristy Marrero, Editorial Vice President, Hello & Hola Media, Inc., New York, NY

Melinda González, El Puente, Brooklyn, NY & BombaYo, New York, NY

Roslyn Sotero, Director, LACE Youth Program, and El Centro Cultural, Waterbury, CT

3. Engagement and Faith Based Communities

Moderator: Dr. Efraín Agosto, New York Theological Seminary

Reverend Dr. Damaris Whittaker, Center Church; The First Church of Christ in Hartford

Pastora Adaliz Díaz, Restoration Worship Center, Springfield, MA

4. Cultural Activism and Historical Preservation

Moderator: Juan González, Esq., San Juan Bautista Parade, Inc.   

Lucila Santana, Springfield PR Parade & PR Cultural Project, Holyoke Public Library

Rafael Zapata, Rhode Island Latino Arts

Lydia Perez, Yoruba II, PR Institute for Arts and Advocacy, Rhode Island

Ana Valentin-Jackson, The Connecticut Institute for Community Development-Puerto Rican Parade Committee (CICD)- Hartford Chapter

5. Veterans 

Moderator: Dr. Harry Franqui, former researcher, Centro  

Sergeant Gumersindo Gómez, Executive Director, Bilingual Veterans Outreach Centers of Mass. Inc.

Lieutenant Colonel Lesbia Nieves, Connecticut National Guard

Sergeant Jorge Pagan, Boston, MA

Vietnam Veterans of America National Service Officer Wilfredo Meléndez, Veteran’s Agent and Deputy Director for the City of Holyoke, MA Veterans Services Department


4:00 PM COFFEE BREAK


4:15 P.M. PLENARY PANEL: WRAP-UP PLENARY: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Dr. Edwin Meléndez, Director, Center for Puerto Rican Studies and Betty Medina Lichtenstein, Executive Director, Enlace de Familias, Inc.


5:30 P.M. RECEPTION


6:30 P.M. ADJOURN

Separate and Unequal: How Do We Achieve Equity in Education? Thursday, Sep. 22, 2016 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. @ Stowe Center

Separate and Unequal: How Do We Achieve Equity in Education?

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center

Though it has been more than 60 years since the Brown v. Board of Education decision ordered schools to desegregate, our educational institutions are still separate and unequal.

How do we create equity in education? How do we ensure everyone has the resources to succeed? 

Join the conversation with featured guests Jose Colon, Hartford Public High School and Robert Cotto, Trinity College and Hartford Board of Education.

When: September 22, 2016 – 5:30 – 6 PM Refreshments and 6 – 7:30 PM Discussion

Where:  Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Salons at Stowe (web site)

Cost: Free Event

Reservations or 860-522-9258, x317.

 

What happens at a Salon?

Since 2008, the Stowe Center has brought community members together for Salons at Stowe, spirited discussions of contemporary issues to foster engagement and community action.

Salon admission is FREE thanks to our members, donors and CT Department of Economic & Community Development; CT Office of the Arts; Ensworth Charitable Trust; Greater Hartford Arts Council; Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; The Hartford; Lincoln Financial Foundation; and Travelers Foundation.

First Day of HMTCA Summer Academies at Trinity College

Theresa starting of high school

Today the Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy (HMTCA) 9th grade summer writing and 10th grade science academies began at Trinity College. Although the two programs take place on Trinity’s campus, this is technically the first day of high school for the rising 9th grade students in the writing academy. Summer Academy administrator and HMTCA teacher Theresa Kemp (top right) explained this fact and other key info at the Fuller Arch before the start of classes.

These academies are part of the Trinity-HMTCA partnership and a key part of the students’ high school experience. The writing and science academies are taught by a mix of Trinity and HMTCA faculty, as well as undergraduate interns. HMTCA students earn high school credit for both the writing and science programs. Trinity College has hosted the writing and science academies since 2011.

Summer academy continues from June 21 to July 15.