Summer Reading 2025: Diversity in our Community!

The American Place (TAP) is a department of Hartford Public Library that helps residents with the Immigration Process, English Language Learning, Job Trainings, and much more. Visit their website or contact below for further information about their services

Tel: 860-695-6337       Email: tap@hplct.org

We Need Diverse Books is an organization that studies representation in books, advocates for diversity in the publishing industry, and provides resources and programs around diverse representations in children's literature. Check our their website by clicking on the image to see the reading lists, activities, and more!

Queer Liberation Library (QLL) is a free digital library with a vast collection of LGBTQ+ titles. Anyone with a US mailing address can apply to become a member and receive access to their digital library collections. Visit their website to apply for a free membership (it can take up to two weeks), browse their catalog, and use their online resources. Download the app "Libby" on your phone, tablet, or other device to access their titles.

Hispanic Health Council (HHC) is a nationally recognized, statewide community-based organization based in Hartford, CT. Their mission is to to promote equity and address health disparities for Hispanics, Latinos, and other vulnerable communities through research, advocacy, and culturally resonant services. Annually, they provide services to over 15,000 individuals throughout Connecticut. The great majority of these community members are people of color who in a lot of cases do not speak English and/or are refugees or immigrants. It is important to note that over 50% of Hartford, the state capital of CT, is Latino or Afro-Latino.

They work towards meeting their mission through three core pillars:

1. They conduct community-based participatory research with federal organizations, and local universities such as Yale University and the University of Connecticut. Their work has been recognized by the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

2. They conduct system and policy advocacy for and with the community, to assure that structural conditions are in place for all people to achieve their highest level of health and amplify community voices and influence. To this end, they are committed to an advocacy agenda that is data and community driven.

3. They provide culturally competent evidence-based services. 100% of our services are based on 7 core tenants: 1) cultural competency (e.g. Over 90% of their qualified staff are Latino and almost 100% are bilingual); 2) learned experience; 3) integrated service and delivery models; 4) collaboration with the public, private and non-profit sectors; 5) sustainability; 6) best practices; and 7) equity focused.

They educate, empower, and engage parents and the community to improve the quality of life for children with special needs and others at risk of education inequity or system involvement. They serve diverse parents, youth and families that may need not only special education services, but also to navigate the juvenile justice, child welfare, and health systems, including children’s behavioral health.

AFCAMP Advocacy for Children educates, trains and supports parents and youth to become active participants in their education and care. They also advocate for policy and program reforms to promote equal access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services within multiple Connecticut child-serving systems.

The Village was one of the first agencies in the country to provide homes for neglected children. Today, they continue to achieve our mission “to build a community of strong, healthy families who protect and nurture children” by providing a full range of behavioral health, early childhood and youth development, substance use treatment and support services for children, adults and families in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut region.

Their more than 500 professional staff members include child psychologists, clinicians, social workers and parent educators. Their programs in several Hartford Public Schools, and offices in other towns throughout Greater Hartford, including Manchester, Meriden, Middletown and Bloomfield.

Mutual Aid Hartford (MAH) is a responsive community network. Their work furthers alignment in the social movement eco system through education, social care, and the stewardship of third space. Theirr work has transformed but, our mission remains; building community power through person to person care and connection.

As the designated community action agency for both Hartford and Middlesex Counties, the Community Renewal Team (CRT) is dedicated to helping people take steps toward healthy and economically stable futures. Since 1963, their 501(c)3 nonprofit organization has partnered with local elected officials, providers, funders, businesses and the community to address challenges like hunger, homelessness, unemployment and poverty. Together, they increase access to education, affordable housing, mental health services and much more for thousands of individuals and families throughout Central Connecticut each and every year.

Our Piece of the Pie, Inc. (OPP®) empowers youth with the key competencies needed to overcome barriers and succeed in education and employment. Our Piece of the Pie serves young people ages 14-24 in Greater Hartford CT who have one or more of the following risk factors: under-credited and overaged, Child Welfare involved, justice involved, low income and unemployed or under-employed.