The Center for Hartford Engagement and Research (CHER) works to strengthen and evaluate academic and co-curricular partnerships between Hartford’s diverse communities and students, staff, and faculty at Trinity College. CHER coordinates the work of five core programs below.

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Community Learning

Community Learning fosters academic connections with Hartford partners to deepen experiential learning through mutually beneficial collaboration. Community Learning programs include the Community Action first-year gateway and Community Learning Research Fellows. Contact Director of Community Learning [email protected].

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Community Service and Civic Engagement

Community Service and Civic Engagement fosters leadership by engaging students in building and maintaining sustainable community partnerships in Hartford, as well as educating and involving them in a range of broader social issues. Contact Director of Office of Community Service and Civic Engagement [email protected].

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Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy (HMTCA) Partnership

The HMTCA-Trinity Partnership connects the College with Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy (HMTCA), a grade 6-12 interdistrict magnet school with city and suburban students and an early college program. Contact Director of CHER Strategic Partnerships [email protected].

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Liberal Arts Action Lab

The Liberal Arts Action Lab engages research teams of students and faculty from Capital Community College and Trinity College to investigate questions posed by Hartford partners and propose solutions. Contact Director of CHER Academic Programs and the Liberal Arts Action Lab [email protected].

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Trinfo.Café

Trinfo.Café is a neighborhood gathering space, cyber café, and community garden. Trinfo provides computer literacy training for Hartford youth, adults, small businesses, and non-profits. Trinfo also hosts a VITA tax clinic each year. Contact the Program Manager at Trinfor.Cafe  [email protected].

Learn more about CHER

Opportunities to Get Involved and Resources for Research and Engagement

From community-engaged courses and participatory research, to service projects, CHER has varied opportunities for student involvement. View opportunities here.

Faculty and staff can get involved with designing community learning courses, advising participatory research projects, and engaging in volunteering in Hartford. Learn more.

CHER works with Hartford community partners through students on volunteer projects, research, events, and more. Learn more.

The VITA tax clinic at Trinfo provides free tax preparation services to the community. The clinic is one of several VITA locations in Hartford run by the United Way of Northeastern CT and The Village for Families & Children. Call 2-1-1 or visit 211ct.org from mid-January through mid-April for an appointment at the VITA clinic at Trinfo or another nearby VITA site. Learn more.

 

CHER maintains a volunteer opportunities database to help match Trinity volunteers with Hartford community partners. We will review, edit, and publicize postings, but we cannot guarantee that every opportunity will find a volunteer match. View current volunteer postings.

View the CHER research archive of past student projects in the Liberal Arts Action Lab, Community Action Gateway, and Community Learning Research Fellows.