Institute for Community Research

Public Programming

ICR's Community Gallery

Calendar of Events

ICR-Abstracts

ICR's Conferences

May 15, 2010

ICR will host a folk artists' marketplace showcasing artists from Somalia, Bosnia, Burma, Laos, Sri Lanka, and many other communities now living in Connecticut. In addition to featuring a variety of textiles, the event will debut exquisitely crafted rugs made from local Shetland wool by a master Bosnian weaver. The event will be held from 11 am to 3 pm. For more information, call 860-278-2044 x251or email Lynne Williamson.

Press Release

May 13, 2010

An exhibit of photographs, reflections and narratives from ICR’s Youth PhotoVoice project on 'Reducing Racial, Ethnic and Economic Health Disparities' will be on display at the Health Equity Alliance's symposium at the Crowne Plaza Cromwell, 100 Berlin Road in Cromwell, CT from 11 am to 4 pm.The exhibit contains work created by youth from Hartford and from the Youth Health Service Corps of Northwestern Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Contact Marlene Berg for more information.

April 27, 2010

The Institute for Community Research will host a reception for Trudie Lamb Richmond, an American Indian educator and storyteller, who has received the Community Spirit Award from the First Peoples Fund. The reception, which is free and open to the public, will feature a talk by Trudie, and remarks from Native cultural leaders and colleagues. The event will take place from 5 pm to 8 pm at ICR, 2 Hartford Square West, 146 Wyllys Street in Hartford. For more information, call 860-278-2044 x251 or email Lynne Williamson.

More-Trudie Lamb Richmond

April 22, 2010

An exhibit of photographs, reflections and narratives bringing teens' voices and perspectives to the issues of personal and group abuse, and health disparities, opens April 22 with a reception from 4 pm to 6 pm at ICR. The exhibit provides case examples of how PhotoVoice, a participatory action research methodology, has been used by youth to explore and document important issues. The exhibit runs through May 7. ICR's Jean J. Schensul Community Gallery is located at 146 Wyllys Street in Hartford. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, during special weekend events, and by appointment. For more information, call 860-278-2044 x226 or email Marlene Berg.

February 6, 2010 (snow date February 7)

ICR will host a gallery Open House from 11 am to 1 pm. All visitors are welcome to join the Sewing Circle Project artists as they demonstrate and work on their textiles. Instruction and materials will be provided at no cost. The event will take place at ICR, 2 Hartford Square West, 146 Wyllys Street in Hartford. For more information, call 860-278-2044 x251 or email Lynne Williamson.

More-Open House | Sewing Circle Project

January - February 2010

A variety of quilts are being displayed in ICR’s gallery and in other venues throughout central Connecticut. The exhibitions are part of Community Threads, a region-wide quilting project that celebrates the work of local quilters alongside the famous Gee’s Bend quilts from Alabama. ICR's gallery is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, during special weekend events, and by appointment. Contact Lynne Williamson for more information.

More-Community Threads

February 2010

An exhibit of photographs, reflections and narratives from ICR’s Youth PhotoVoice project on 'Reducing Racial, Ethnic and Economic Health Disparities' will be on display in the lobby of the CT Department of Health and the CT Department of Mental Health, 410 Capital Avenue in Hartford. The exhibit contains work created by youth
from Hartford and from the Youth Health Service Corps of Northwestern Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Contact Marlene Berg for more information.

PhotoVoice Example (pdf)

December 1 , 2009

Hartford City Councilman Luis Cotto will be the keynote speaker at this year's Hartford World AIDS Day event at the Connections Drop-in Center at ICR. The event, which starts at 11 am, will also feature speakers Kevin Lembo, Connecticut's Health Advocate, and two community members living with HIV/AIDS. 'Love in the Time of HIV,' a documentary focusing on the impact of AIDS on several HIV positive people and their families and friends, will be shown at 1 pm. Shawn Lane, Director of Public Policy at CT AIDS Resource Coalition, will host a post-screening discussion with audience members. Event participants and community members are also invited to display mementos, notes and remembrances on an AIDS altar that has been installed in ICR's Jean J. Schensul Community Gallery.

November 14, 2009

The Sewing Circle, a project of the CT Cultural Heritage Arts Program (CHAP), will hold an open house and sale of textiles and decorative arts from 11 am to 4 pm at ICR. This event, part of Hartford Open Studios Weekend, is free and open to the public. Artists from Somalia, Bosnia, Burma, Liberia, Iran, and Lithuania will be demonstrate their crafts. For more information, call 860-278-2044 x251 or email Lynne Williamson.

More information | News article

October 16, 2009
Marlene Berg, Associate Director for Training at ICR, and a panel of youth research activists will hold a workshop on health disparities, "Through Our Eyes: Youth Visualize the Future," at the 6th New England Regional Minority Health Conference in Rhode Island. The panel will describe their experiences using PhotoVoice, a participatory-action research methodology, in which the youth explored issues of health care disparities through photography, writing, reflection and social action. The workshop will be held from 1 - 2:30 pm at the The Westin Providence at One West Exchange Street in Providence. An exhibit of photos and narratives from the project will be on display throughout the conference which starts on October 14.

More information

ICR researchers will hold a workshop, "Addressing Disparities and Promoting Advocacy: Two Decades of Community-Based Research Among Older Urban Adults," from 3 - 4:30 pm at the 6th Biennial New England Regional Minority Health Conference in Providence, RI. Utilizing case studies that address disparities and health concerns in the areas of HIV/AIDS, depression and influenza, the panelists will
provide an introduction to ICR and community-based collaborative research, as well as an overview to conducting research among older urban adults; and describe building partnerships, delivering interventions, and developing and implementing appropriate measurements.
More information

October 2, 2009

Yanka Carillo, Youth Research Activist and student at Manchester High School, and Marlene Berg, ICR's Associate Director for Training, will be speaking about ICR's Teen Dating Violence Project at the CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) kick-off event for Domestic Violence Month. The event takes place at 10 am at Capital Preparatory Magnet School which is located at Capital Community College, 950 Main Street in Hartford. Yanka is one of 10 youth researchers from Hartford area schools who designed teen violence prevention posters and cards as part of a Teen Healthy Relationships and Dating Violence Initiative. The posters have been adapted by CCADV as part of their October Domestic Violence Awareness campaign.

For more information, call 860-278-2044 x226 or email Marlene Berg.

September 22, 2009
ICR will participate in UCONN's Career & Networking Fair at the Greater Hartford Campus at 85 Lawler Road in West Hartford. The career fair will be held in Zachs Community Room from 2 to 6 pm. ICR staff will introduce students, faculty and associates to our research and internship programs and discuss career opportunities in applied, participatory action and community-based collaborative research. For more information, call 860-278-2044 x285 or email Kim Radda.

June 5, 2009

As part of the exhibit programming for Siyazama: Traditional Arts, Education, and AIDS in South Africa, ICR will host a forum on Innovative Community-Based Intervention and Education Methods and Models. The forum and workshop will feature presentations and discussions by an interdisciplinary group of artists, researchers, activists, and health professionals working in Africa, India, and Connecticut. The forum will be held from 10 am to 4 pm. There is a $10 fee for lunch. The event is cosponsored by AIDS Project Hartford, the CT AIDS Resource Coalition, the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS at Yale, and the Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention at the University of Connecticut. Registration is required; call 860-278-2044 x251 or email Lynne Williamson.

More information

May 28, 2009

As part of the exhibit programming for Siyazama: Traditional Arts, Education, and AIDS in South Africa, ICR will host a film screening for 'Thing With No Name,' a film by Sarah Friedland about AIDS in South Africa. The screening will be followed by a discussion between the filmmaker and audience, moderated by Shawn Lang of the CT AIDS Resource Coalition. The event, which will be held from 6 to 8 pm, is cosponsored by AIDS Project Hartford, the CT AIDS Resource Coalition, the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS at Yale, and the Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention at the University of Connecticut. Registration is required; call 860-278-2044 x251 or email Lynne Williamson.

More information

April 17, 2009

An exhibit opening reception for Siyazama: Traditional Arts, Education, and AIDS in South Africa will be held from 5 to 8 pm at ICR's Jean J. Schensul Community Gallery, 146 Wyllys St. Hartford, CT. The opening will feature a gallery talk by curator Marit Dewhurst and remarks by AIDS Project Hartford and CT AIDS Resource Coalition leaders. The event is free, open to the public, and ADA accessible. The Siyazama exhibit includes 120 art works made in traditional South African styles by rural craftswomen to carry messages about AIDS prevention.

More information | Exhibit Background | Selected Exhibit Images

April 3, 2009

ICR will host a ‘Stand Against Racism’ event at its Hartford office from 2 to 5 pm. The event will feature exhibits, posters, slide shows and videos illustrating how research intersects with issues of race and can be used to promote social justice and equity. The event will include a mural on racism that reflects findings from research that Hartford teens conducted with their peers and adults; a documentary, 'Docin’ Da Beat,' created and produced by youth, that explores predictors of racism; panels related to how drugs affect young people's lives and communities; and posters and a slide show on race and research ethics. Visitors will be encouraged to reflect on issues raised by the exhibits. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 860-278-2044.

February 19, 2009

Marlene Berg, Associate Director for Training at ICR, and two youth action researchers will discuss their research on promoting healthy relationships and preventing teen dating violence at the UCONN School of Social Work's Institute for Violence Prevention and Reduction. The presentation will be held in the Zachs Community Room from 12:15 to 1:45 pm. Bring your lunch. Light refreshments will be provided.

Event Flyer

February 17, 2009

An exhibit reception and artist demonstrations for ' Weaving a New Life: The Refugee Artists Sewing Circle,' will be held from 5 to 7 pm at the Clare Gallery, 285 Church Street, Hartford, CT. The multi-media exhibition features textile arts created by recent refugees and more longstanding immigrants to the Greater Hartford area. The Sewing Circle Project began in 2007, initiated by The Institute for Community Research’s Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program (CHAP) based in Hartford. The opening and exhibition is free to the public. The exhibit runs through February 22, 2009.

More information | Event Flyer

February 10 - 28, 2009

'Race: The Lived Experience' - A Mural Exhibit by ICR's Hartford Youth Researchers will be on display at the entrance to the building housing the Department of Public Health and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut.

December 1 , 2008

An opening reception for 'Connected Threads,' an interactive community arts installation commemorating World AIDS Day, will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 pm at The Jean J. Schensul Community Gallery at The Institute for Community Research. The gallery is located at 2 Hartford Square West, Ste. 100 (146 Wyllys Street), in Hartford, CT. The exhibition will feature quilt squares, memory dolls, and wall hangings created by community members, and an AIDS altar displaying donated photos, written messages and mementos. The exhibit, hosted by ICR and AIDS Project Hartford, runs through December 19, 2008 and community members are encouraged to visit and contribute to the installation throughout this time. Gallery hours are 10 am to 5 pm on weekdays, during special weekend events, or by appointment. The exhibit and opening reception are free and open to the public.

More information

November 8, 2008

Hmong embroiderers, Burmese weavers, a Liberian tailor, a Lithuanian book illustrator, and a Somali basket weaver are just a few of the artists who will demonstrate their arts and sell their work at a traditional artists' marketplace on Saturday, November 8, 2008 from 11 am to 5 pm at The Institute for Community Research (ICR), 2 Hartford Square West, Suite 100 in Hartford, CT. The event, which is free and open to the public, will also include rug weavers, crochet artists, and jewelry makers, representing recent immigrant and refugee groups from across Southern New England.

More information

October 24, 2008

An opening reception for 'Ancestors: Day of the Dead Celebration,' a multi-media exhibit featuring ten New England artists will be held from 5 to 8 pm at The Jean J. Schensul Community Gallery at The Institute for Community Research. The gallery is located at 2 Hartford Square West, Ste. 100 (146 Wyllys Street), in Hartford, CT. The exhibit, which is curated by Guatemalan artist Balam Soto, runs through November 21, 2008. Gallery hours are 10 am to 5 pm on weekdays, during special weekend events, or by appointment. The exhibit and opening reception are free and open to the public.

More information

August 23, 2008

Bosnian weavers and needleworkers, Somali basketmakers, Assyrian lacemakers, and a Liberian tailor will showcase their beautiful traditional textile crafts at an Open House on Saturday August 23, 2008 from 1 to 4 pm at The Institute for Community Research, 2 Hartford Square West, Suite 100 (146 Wyllys Street) in Hartford. There will be food, music, and information available about the different cultures. Art works will be for sale. The event is free.

More information

August 8, 2008

Youth researchers will present their findings on personal and group abuse in the lives of Hartford teens. The event is the culmination of this summer's youth-driven participatory action research project and will take place at The Institute for Community Research, 146 Wyllys Street in Hartford from 1 – 4 pm; a reception will follow from 4 – 5 pm. The event is free and open to the public.

More information

June 21, 2008

Xperience youth artists will perform in a drug-free community concert at the Charter Oak Cultural Center, 21 Charter Oak Ave, in Hartford, CT. Doors open at 6 pm with pizza and refreshments, and the show starts at 7 pm. Audience members will receive a copy of the “Xperience: Volume 3 ” CD and be eligible for raffle prizes. The event is free and open to the public.

June 14, 2008

Bus Tour Celebrates Cape Verdean Traditions in Connecticut

May 31, 2008

An opening reception and youth-led workshop for 'Race: The Lived Experience' - a multi-media mural exhibit by ICR's Hartford Youth Researchers will be held from noon to 3pm at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum.The youth action research mural project will be presented in conjunction with the Connecticut showing of the national understanding race project. The mural will be on display at the museum from May 24 through June 19.

May 1 - 3, 2008

'Race: The Lived Experience' - A Mural Exhibit by ICR's Hartford Youth Researchers will be on display at the CT SERC (CT State Education Resource Center) Symposium 2008: The Intersection of Race and Education. Five youth, Yury Clarke, Nehemiah Gray Jonathan Rosario, Brenda Santiago and Jillian Solis, will present their research and action project as members of a keynote panel on Friday, May 2, from 9 to 10:30am. This event will be at the Holiday Inn in Waterbury.

April 21 - 25, 2008

'Race: The Lived Experience' - A Mural Exhibit by ICR's Hartford Youth Researchers will be on display at the Atrium at City Hall, 550 Main Street, Hartford, CT. The youth researchers will lead a workshop on Friday, April 25 from 3:30 - 5pm in the Court of Common Council. Refreshments will be served.

April 19 - 21, 2008

'Race: The Lived Experience' - A Mural Exhibit by ICR's Hartford Youth Researchers will be on display at the Wadsworth Atheneum, 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT in conjunction with the Amistad Center’s TAG film on Saturday, April 19.

April 4, 2008

Exhibit Explores Cape Verdean Stonemasonry Traditions

March 13, 2008

Peer Health Advocates Promote HIV Prevention Through Personal Art

March 8, 2008

Bus Tour Explores Franco-American Culture in Connecticut

February 12, 2008

HIV Forum Focuses on Latest Scientific Findings and Trends in Care

January 19, 2008

Youth Artists to Perform in Drug-Free Community Concert

December 11, 2007

Forum Focuses on HIV/AIDS among Latinos