Biography
Jim Boucher is an active community member of Hartford. Presently Jim works as the director of Youth Services for the Capital Region Workforce Development Board., and is an elected member of the Hartford City Council. Jim is serving as a Councilperson from 2004 – 2007. Previously, Jim most recently worked at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, coordinating the After-School Initiative; and previous to that served as executive director of Hartford Areas Rally Together for eight years.
Jim most recently served on the State-appointed Hartford School Board of Trustees for two years. Jim has been very active in Hartford’s community development for years. His work presently involves strengthening positive youth development for adolescents through increased partnerships of youth-serving organizations in Hartford. This was a continuation of the type of work that he provided at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.
Jim’s earlier work at HART included working with a number of community revitalization groups, neighborhood groups and leaders on community improvement projects and issues. He was skillful in working with community leaders to make progress on such issues as public safety, school modernization, property tax burdens, home ownership, quality of life, positive youth development issues and more. Having been involved in some of these initiatives over the years, Jim now hopes to add some of his experience, energy and commitment to the many successful City initiatives presently underway, thanks to the countless efforts of a number of dedicated City leaders, spawning significant new opportunities for Hartford residents.
Jim’s candidacy for Hartford City Council is inspired by a vision and desire “for a city with a good quality of life, that is safe, enjoyable and provides the kinds of opportunities and assets critical to one’s own development – as well as family and community development.” While optimistic about the future of Hartford, he is also aware of the many challenges facing the City. With decreased federal and state resources for the most part – coupled with eroding local public and private dollars – he understands that the City faces very difficult issues. He is hopeful that he can contribute to a Democratic leadership team composed of strong Mayoral and City Council candidates that will continue to make inroads on important issues to Hartford.
Jim has been a resident of Hartford since 1987, after working as a community organizer in Toledo, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan. Jim has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Connecticut, and a BA from the College of Holy Cross in Political Science.
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