3 Upcoming Metro Hartford Progress Points Forums

Last year, we introduced Metro Hartford Progress Points in order to identify and better understand the critical education, income and opportunity gaps that exist in our region. This year, we're continuing the discussion, looking for ways to improve access to better schools, better jobs and stronger neighborhoods for everyone in the region.

How can we change the trajectory for the Hartford region and increase access to opportunity? Three key questions emerged from this year's report, which we will explore in a series of forums this fall:  

UPDATE: This year's forums are over. See below for details and videos of the forums.

 

The goal of these forums is to highlight potential solutions to these questions and key barriers to implementing solutions.

Who should attend the forums? Anyone interested in changing the direction for the Hartford region, especially practitioners, decision-makers and others with experience in the areas we will be discussing. If that’s you, we want to hear your voice!

At each forum, a panel of experts will discuss their own work and examples of what's working. What did it take to achieve change? What were the obstacles or barriers to change? A moderator-led discussion will then focus on ways to increase access to opportunity in housing, transportation, jobs and schools through better community engagement, policies or investments. We will capture the ideas raised at each forum and report out on the key takeaways from the entire series in early 2016.

For questions, please contact: progresspoints@hfpg.org or Scott Gaul at 860-548-1888 x 1033. We will distribute directions and a two-page background brief on each topic to all registrants prior to each session.

 

 

Past panels

Access to stronger neighborhoods: 
How can housing and transportation connect people to opportunity?

Thursday, October 8, 2015
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.

Location: Elmwood Community Center, 1106 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, Connecticut 06110

Moderated by: Tom Condon / Deputy Editorial Page Editor, Hartford Courant

Panelists:

  • Hiram Peck III, AICP, Director of Planning and Community Development, Town of Avon
  • James P. Redeker, Commissioner of the Department of Transportation
  • Jennifer Valentino Rodriguez, AICP, Town Planner, CZEO, Town of Windsor Locks
  • Johnny Carrier P.E., Vice President, By Carrier

Watch the live recording of this panel on CT-N

 

Access to better jobs:
Where are the opportunities to find work at living wages in Metro Hartford?

Friday, November 20, 2015
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.

Location: Manchester Community College, Great Path Academy (GPA) Commons, 60 Bidwell St, Manchester, CT 06040

Moderated by: Gena Glickman / President, Manchester Community College

Panelists:

  • Dr. Martha McLeod, President Emeritus, Asnuntuck Community College
  • Michael Goodman, Ph.D., Executive Director, Public Policy Center; Associate Professor of Public Policy, UMass Dartmouth
  • Susan Winkler, Executive Director, Connecticut Insurance & Financial Services
  • Terri Wilson, Founding Member, Hartford.Health.Works and Executive Director, BEACON

Watch this forum:

 

Access to better schools:
How will declining enrollment and school choice shape our region's schools?

Friday, December 11, 2015
7:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Location: Trinity College, Washington Room at Mather Hall, 300 Summit St, Hartford, CT 06106

Moderated by: Richard Sugarman / Executive Director, Hartford Promise

 

Panelists:

  • Bruce E. Douglas, Ph.D., Executive Director, CREC
  • Lon Seidman, Chairman, Essex Board of Education
  • Mike Zuba, AICP, Associate, Director of Planning, Milone & MacBroom
  • Robert Cotto, Jr., Director of Urban Educational Initiatives and Lecturer in Educational Studies at Trinity College

Watch this forum: