Last week, North Hartford Ascend hosted its Summer Programs Fair, “Plan Your Summer, Secure Your Spot!” Families from across North Hartford gathered to explore local summer programs, ask questions, and begin applications before spots fill up.
The event focused on summer planning, and it also reflected something larger: what is possible when community partners align their efforts so families can access opportunities more easily.
Bringing Opportunities Into One Place
The Summer Programs Fair created a shared space where that planning could happen efficiently and confidently. Twenty-five vendors came together, representing sports, experiential learning, musical theater, youth employment, and more. Families spoke directly with program staff, compared options, and began applications onsite.
The event included free and low-cost programs, as well as opportunities for children with disabilities. Fifty-one attendees connected directly with providers, and 86 percent strongly agreed they learned more about available programs and Ascend’s work.
One attendee shared:
“This was a great event. I did not know Hartford had so many events for children and adults. I was thinking about moving out of Hartford because I always thought there were not enough opportunities for my children. However, after this event, I have confidence that there is hope.”
When information is coordinated and accessible, families can see the full range of opportunities around them and make decisions rooted in possibility.
A Community Driven Vision for North Hartford
North Hartford Ascend is a prenatal to career initiative that partners with residents, schools, and community organizations to ensure children and families in the Clay Arsenal, Northeast, and Upper Albany neighborhoods have the support and opportunities they need to thrive.
The vision is long term and grounded in what families want for their children. Children enter school ready to learn, continue to grow academically, and move confidently toward graduation and whatever comes next. Throughout that journey, they are healthy, supported, and surrounded by strong families and community connections.
This vision builds on the assets already present in North Hartford and works to ensure efforts respond to and amplify those strengths.
Making Community Resources Easier to Find
For families who were not able to attend the fair, the North Hartford Ascend Community Resource Map offers another way to explore local supports. The digital tool connects residents to resources related to basic needs, childcare, education, health care, mental health services, and more, all in one place.
Shaped by resident input and developed with community partners, the map reflects what families said they needed: a simple, accessible way to see what is available in their neighborhood. Like the Summer Programs Fair, it helps make opportunity more visible and easier to navigate.
Cross Sector Collaboration in Action
North Hartford Ascend is facilitated by Connecticut Children’s, with its Office for Community Child Health guiding how this work aligns with a broader population health strategy.
The Office for Community Child Health helps ensure initiatives like Ascend are grounded in community priorities, connected across sectors, and supported by shared goals and accountability. This approach brings health care, education, community organizations, and residents into closer partnership so progress is collective and sustained.
The Summer Programs Fair is one example of that collaboration in action. The planning for the event began with North Hartford Ascend service providers, who meet monthly to help shape Ascend’s work and connect with one another. Service providers came together to suggest local organizations to reach out to, or volunteered their own organizations to table at the fair. Their input strengthened partnerships across networks and helped create a responsive event that reflected the community’s needs.
Organizations shared space. Families connected with multiple programs in one visit. Providers strengthened relationships while supporting children’s growth together.
Building on Strengths for Long Term Success
Healthy child development grows from opportunity, stability, and strong relationships. North Hartford families bring resilience, commitment, and vision for their children’s futures. Community organizations bring expertise and dedication. When these strengths are connected, the impact expands.