Grants address truancy in Hartford public schools and increase educational opportunities for Latino college students

Latino Endowment Fund members participate in a meeting about how the state’s community colleges serve Latino students.

Since its creation in 2003, the Hartford Foundation’s Latino Endowment Fund has focused on "Latino Leadership through Education." In early 2007, members met with a panel of experts to discuss the reasons why Latinos often don’t transfer from community colleges to four-year universities.

At the recent grantmaking meeting, Fund members awarded $40,000 over two years to the Eastern Connecticut State University Foundation for its dual enrollment project. Held at the Vernon campus of both Quinebaug Valley Community College and Eastern Connecticut State University, the project will enable 16 Latino students to begin college officially enrolled in both institutions.

By enrolling in both Quinebaug and Eastern, students benefit from a host of services, including professional and peer tutoring, academic and financial aid advising, access to on-campus housing, and family outreach. The goal is to increase the number of Latino students who successfully transfer from Quinebaug to Eastern to complete a four-year degree.

Catalyst Fund members discuss grant proposals for programs addressing literacy issues.

The Catalyst Endowment Fund studied Truancy: A Family and Community Matter in 2007. Members explored factors that affect students’ attendance in school, including safety concerns, health problems, caring for younger siblings, learning disabilities or poor academic performance, lack of motivation, pregnancy, low self-esteem, and transportation challenges.

After hearing from experts, members reviewed and discussed grant proposals submitted by agencies addressing the issue of truancy. In January, Catalyst members decided to award two grants totaling $50,000:

• $30,000 to Hands On Hartford – to support expansion of the Family School Connection program at Hartford’s Betances Elementary School, for families with students at risk of academic failure or with high rates of absenteeism, tardiness and unaddressed behavioral issues.
• $20,000 to Center for Children’s Advocacy – to enhance the Truancy Court Prevention Project by expanding educational advocacy on behalf of students, enhancing case management and evaluation, and educating parents and practitioners about truancy and effective responses.

To learn more about the Catalyst and Latino Endowment Funds, visit www.hfpg.org/typesoffunds or call 860-548-1888.