Do you remember the places in your neighborhood where you felt most at home, where you played with your siblings, met up with friends after school, or spent time with your family in a park or community space? These are the spots that stay with us, where connections are made, curiosity grows, and families come together.
North Hartford Ascend works with residents and local organizations to support and strengthen these already vibrant spaces. Through programs and partnerships, parks, classrooms, and studios continue to be places for learning, creativity, and connection that reflect the community’s needs.
Hosting Community Conversations at places like Parker Memorial Community Center brings neighbors together to talk and be heard. These gatherings build trust and confidence. They also help people find support and resources in their community.
For many who attend, the impact is personal. One participant shared,
“These community meetings are greatly helping me. I have a learning disability and these groups help me understand my city, my rights, and other things I don’t think of.”
Another said,
“I was thinking of moving out of Hartford because I thought there weren’t enough opportunities for my children. After this event, I have confidence that there is hope.”
These moments show what is possible when people come together. Neighbors share, learn, and grow. What starts as a conversation can lead to something bigger.
Neighbors Leading the Way
Ascend believes that people in North Hartford should have a say in the programs and services that affect their families. One way they do this is through co-design sessions, where parents, caregivers, youth, and neighbors come together to share experiences, discuss what matters most, and guide the work in their community.
Co-design sessions take place in trusted spaces like Parker Memorial Community Center, where participants feel comfortable and respected. Nearly every participant so far has said that the co-design sessions help them connect with neighbors and see how their input can shape the future of their community.
In a recent session, families explored local data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Promise Neighborhood initiative, including student mobility, reading proficiency, and access to technology. Rather than just showing numbers, Ascend’s Data & Evaluation team helped families interpret the information and consider what it means for their everyday lives. Parents and caregivers shared whether the data matched what they saw in their neighborhoods, pointed out what was missing, and highlighted the issues that mattered most to them.
These co-design sessions turn community spaces into places of learning and action, where neighbors can discuss challenges and help guide next steps.
Community Partners Bringing Spaces to Life
Ascend’s partners are bringing programs, services, and creative experiences directly into community spaces across North Hartford, giving families and youth more ways to learn, explore, and thrive.
- Community First School is a neighborhood school that serves as a true community hub. Through transparency, collaboration, and Hartford's longest summer program serving 80 children, the school has built deep trust and shared ownership with families.
- The Artist Collective & Hartbeat Ensemble transform school hallways and classrooms into cultural spaces. Through theater, storytelling, and creative expression, they expand what learning looks and feels like for students.
- Keney Park Sustainability Project is converting the green spaces into extensions of learning, exploration, and community life through its youth-focused programming.
- Wheeler Clinic & Community Health Services bring medical and behavioral health services into familiar, trusted environments. These health partners close care gaps and strengthen the support systems families rely on.
Get Connected
Families and youth interested in participating in Ascend Community Conversations can visit the North Hartford Ascend website to see upcoming dates and details.
Ascend also uses Parent Square to reach parents and students from the five schools it supports—S.A.N.D. Elementary School, Wish Museum School, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, Milner Middle School, and Weaver High School. Watch for invitations to join a co-design session, share your ideas, and help guide programs in your community.
These co-design sessions give families a chance to share their experiences and help guide what matters most for their schools and neighborhood. The sessions are hosted and supported by Childhood Prosperity Lab, a team that works with Ascend to ensure community voices are at the center of planning and decision-making.
Getting involved with Ascend is a chance to help shape the places where memories are made and where kids run through parks, gather in classrooms, or explore creativity in community centers. Every idea shared helps these spaces become even more vibrant, welcoming, and full of possibility for families across North Hartford.