Empowering Immigrant Youth and Families
Hartford Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
Hartford Public Library empowers immigrant youth, first-generation college students, and underserved teens through integrated educational programs that combine literacy, college readiness, workforce skills, and mentorship. Programs like Barriers Can’t Stop Us and English Learner Success provide individualized academic support, social-emotional guidance, and peer networks to help students navigate higher education and achieve long-term success. Complementary initiatives such as YOUmedia and DriveTech engage teens in creative, technical, and career-focused learning, fostering confidence, skill-building, and community connection.
Challenge/Opportunity
Hartford Public Library’s innovation addresses persistent educational and opportunity gaps for immigrant youth, first-generation college students, and underserved teens:
• First-generation college barriers: Many immigrant young women lack family guidance for navigating U.S. higher education and face cultural and caregiving expectations that limit time for their own education.
• Limited English proficiency: English Learners arriving later in high school have less time to build language skills and post-secondary plans, increasing risk of dropout or delayed graduation.
• Youth workforce gaps: Urban teens often lack access to hands-on career skill-building and workforce readiness programs.
• Social isolation: Students benefit from peer networks and mentorship to build confidence, resilience, and community connection.
Our programs create equitable pathways for academic, social, and professional success.
Key Elements of Innovation
The Library delivers a coordinated suite of programs for immigrant youth, first-generation college students, and underserved teens.
• Key Partners: Aurora Foundation, State of CT agencies, Bulkeley High School, and community organizations, including ROCA, Boys & Girls Club, and OPP.
• Activities: Barriers Can’t Stop Us provides summer bridge programs, individualized college support, peer mentoring, and parent engagement. YOUmedia and DriveTech build creative, technical, and workforce skills through driver’s education and pre-employment training. English Learner Success offers intensive ESOL instruction, homework support, and credit-bearing coursework.
• Goals: Increase college enrollment and persistence, enhance workforce readiness, reduce social isolation, and strengthen community belonging.
• Innovation: Integrates literacy, career skills, and mentorship into a holistic model advancing equity and opportunity for Hartford youth.
Achieved Outcomes
Hartford Public Library measures impact through quantitative and qualitative metrics.
• Data metrics: College enrollment and retention rates for Barriers Can’t Stop Us (98% retention Fall 2024–Spring 2025; projected 86% enrollment for Fall 2025 graduates), English proficiency gains and attendance for English Learner Success, teen participation and engagement in YOUmedia and DriveTech, completion of driver’s education and pre-employment tasks.
• Partnerships: Aurora Foundation, State of CT agencies, Bulkeley High School, ROCA, Boys & Girls Club, OPP, CREC, CT State Community College.
• Feedback: Students report increased confidence, skills, and sense of belonging; parents appreciate individualized guidance; staff note improved engagement and strengthened community connections.
• Innovation impact: Programs create replicable models that integrate academic, social-emotional, and workforce skill-building across age groups.
