For 62 years, Blue Hills Civic Association, or BHCA, has stood alongside the people of Hartford’s North End. With the support of organizations like the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, we are making a tangible difference.
Our efforts are further empowered by a two-year, $450,000 grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, allowing us to build on the progress we have made in recent years. This investment acknowledges the impact of structural racism, which has left Black-led organizations like BHCA with 76 percent fewer assets than their white-led counterparts. Stable, flexible funding like this is critical to advancing our three strategic goals: economic development and housing, community engagement, and workforce development.
In partnership with Eli Patrick & Co., BHCA is crafting a new strategic plan centered on creating economic opportunities for our community. While downtown Hartford has seen revitalization, real and lasting change in the North End must be driven by its residents. Grassroots organizing remains a cornerstone of our work. We continue to provide training and support to empower residents to participate in local and state decision-making processes that directly affect their neighborhoods.
Our focus on economic development and housing includes addressing homes in disrepair. We are finalizing plans for a development center that will serve as a hub for workforce development, connecting individuals—particularly youth—with job training and career opportunities. This center, along with expanded partnerships with local businesses and nonprofits, is a key element of our broader economic agenda.
BHCA’s efforts to expand community organizing and training continue to engage both children and adults. Through our “each one, teach one” model, resident leaders are trained to pass on their knowledge to others, covering topics like voter registration, public speaking for policy advocacy, and research to hold policymakers accountable.
Our new Neighborhood and Community Development Center will usher in a new era of economic and community growth. This center will support workforce development, homeownership, financial literacy, and generational wealth building. Partnerships with institutions like Connecticut State Capital Community College, Trinity Health Of New England, and CT Green Bank will help provide career exposure to over 700 students at Weaver High School and beyond.
BHCA is also strengthening local entrepreneurship through collaboration with SHEBA’s Incubator and Accelerator Program. This intensive initiative offers local entrepreneurs training, coaching, and a comprehensive funding package to expand their access to capital.
Understanding that homeownership is crucial to vibrant communities, we have launched a program to assist homeowners struggling with deferred maintenance. With state funding, we are working with Rebuilding Together Hartford to repair 100 homes, with plans to extend the program to another 100 homes.
Through these collaborative initiatives and a focused approach to economic opportunity, North Hartford residents are finally on the path to realizing long-awaited change. Though much work lies ahead, we are confident that the people of North Hartford, who know best what is needed, will lead the community toward its full potential.
Vicki Gallon Clark is the executive director of Blue Hills Civic Association.
