Jim Boucher -- "The Latest in Hartford's Community Happenings & Revitalization"

Join us at the Hartford Public Library on October 18th (5:50-7:30)

for a Sheff Movement "Celebration of Progress"

Sheff Movement Coalition

Join us at the Hartford Public Library on October 18th (5:50-7:30) for a Sheff Movement "Celebration of Progress": we will be celebrating the voluntary two-way integration system that is providing high-quality education to thousands of children in magnet schools and Open Choice and honoring three leaders of quality integrated education in Connecticut (Norma Neuman-Johnson, Bruce Douglas, and Steve Perry!).

Come and enjoy entertainment from students at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and the Kinsella Performing Arts Magnet. Please RSVP to Grace Clark (grace.clark@sheffmovement.org) if you'd like to join us. Forward email

Sheff Movement Meeting with State Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor

Sheff Movement Meeting with State Education Commission Stefan Pryor

State Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor will be attending the Sheff Movement’s February meeting this coming Saturday, February 18, from 9:30-11:00 at Capitol Preparatory Magnet School (this is a rescheduled meeting, after the January meeting was snowed out).

Consider attending and sharing in the experiences, data and stories of success with Commissioner Pryor, about the significant progress occurring with the increased number of Hartford and Capital Area regional students reaching high academic standards because of quality integrated education.

Important Reading: The Metropolitan Moment

 

Important article by Bruce Katz and Jennifer Bradley, The Metropolitan Moment.  According to the Brookings Institute excerpts:

• "Katz and Bradley explain how states can help build the foundation of the new economy, and a big part of that is adequately supporting their metropolitan economic engines."
• Katz and Bradley "call for a view of the United States based on reality, not nostalgia. The "real America" is not the romantic small-town version of days gone by. Rather, it is a complicated, multi-ethnic, globally connected metropolitan America that will power its citizens through the 21st century. The sooner America realizes what it really is, the sooner it can begin rebuilding itself."

This reinforces the positive synergies building bewteen the state, region and city of Hartford.  Stay tuned for positive steps emerging in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

"Ringing in" the New Year's Changes and Optimisms

It has been a privilege and honor serving the City of Hartford over the past eight years on Hartford's City Council, and as I conclude my second term I wish the incoming Council and Mayor the very best in continuing to address critical issues and policies that successfully impact the City's well-being, safety and quality of life. Indeed I have learned firsthand of the significant amount of personal sacrifice that public service involves working with the Mayor, Council, and many of the City's Commissions and Task Forces, while also having the honor to work with Hartford's hard working State Legislators, Board of Education, Federally-Elected Officials and various regional authorities.

In the past several years of public service and activism I have experienced firsthand the complexity of issues that confront the city's ability and capacity to enable residents, businesses and other city institutions to thrive to the heights and standards that so many aspire. While progress and success in a number of ways can be accounted for -- too often the larger economic realities and trends, coupled with local/state/regional government historical structural deficiencies create barriers and undertows that prevent many initiatives to gain greater results.

As the New Year embarks I remain optimistic that greater progress and results are possible and wish our public leaders the very best in further mobilizing the community, policy and resources to achieve our collective goals. In regards to my immediate future, I will be continuing to be pro-active and supportive on various initiatives, and further concentrating on my core work of strengthening workforce development and training opportunities for individuals and businesses needing assistance. I also welcome some further reflective opportunity to review and assess what degree of public/private legislative policy reform and local community organizing/development can best contribute to what continues to inspire so many of us to achieve as described by Martin Luther King: 'the beloved community,' where all families and individuals have the equal opportunity to realize their fullest human potential.

My very best to our public servants and community leadership in the New Year ahead that we may further make strides in Hartford and other communities to make the progress needed to reach this vision.

City Update on Anti-Blight Strategies

City Update on Anti-Blight Strategies

Anti-Blight Special Fund – The Council passed
an amendment to the Anti-Blight Ordinance on November 28th that establishes an Anti-Blight
Special Fund for the purpose of providing a source of funds for the City to use
in securing and remediating blighted properties and in enforcing the provisions
of the Anti-Blight Ordinance. All monies collected as fines, penalties, or liens
as a result of violations under the Anti-Blight Ordinance will be deposited into
the Special Fund, a permanent revolving account, which shall be administered by
the City’s Director of Development Services. The funds will be used exclusively
for anti-blight activities.

The City has also completed a survey of most of the City's Housing stock and building and about 575 properties have been identified as abandoned properties, many of which might need anti-blight actions. A special meeting will be held by Mayor Segarra on December 15th to update community leaders and other officials about the status of the city's anti blight efforts and sustainable communities efforts. Updates will include the City's recruitment and hiring of additional city inspectors, corporation counsel and neighborhood district coordinators to address anti-blight strategies

Hartford Public Schools Presentation on CMT and CAPT Scores - This Wednesday

Dr. Christina Kishimoto, Superintendent of Hartford Public Schools, will present an update on the Hartford Public Schools CMT and CAPT results to the Hartford City Council's Education Committee on Wedneday, August 24th at 5:30 p.m. at the Hartford Public Library, 3rd floor (History Room). The meeting is open to the public.

Hartford Public Schools Presentation on CMT and CAPT Results

to the Hartford City Council Education Committee

Wednesday, August 24th 5:30 p.m.

Hartford Public Library (3rd Floor)

Open to the Public