Celebrating Four Years of Transforming Communities Initiative

Hartford, Conn. – On April 25, Trinity Health Of New England’s Community Health & Well-Being department convened its Transforming Communities Initiative (TCI) sites representing communities in Hartford, Springfield and Waterbury for a day of learning, reflection and networking at the Chrysalis Conference and Training Center. TCI is a hospital–community partnership launched more than four years ago as part of Trinity Health’s community investing strategy. 

The partnerships focused on engaging community-based organizations, residents and local evaluators to collaboratively design and implement strategies to address community-identified needs and drive system changes. Each TCI site is organized by a trusted community‑based organization. In Hartford, Trinity Health Of New England partnered with YWCA Hartford Region; in Waterbury, with Waterbury Bridge to Success; and in Springfield with the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts. Regional affiliates collaborated with residents, grassroots organizations and hospital partners to advance health equity and address long‑standing community challenges. Over the four-year period, Trinity Health and Trinity Health Of New England invested $3.9 million to its three sites to support this work.

The event opened with welcoming remarks from Adrienne Cochrane, CEO of the YWCA Hartford Region, and leaders from Trinity Health Of New England Community Hospitals, followed by an inspiring keynote address from Thea Montenez, Senior Advisor in the Office of Governor Ned Lamont. Speakers reflected the importance of continuing the collective progress to improve the policies, systems and environmental conditions shaping community health, with a shared focus on housing, transportation, food access and mental health. Special guests included Sheila and Curtis Robinson, founders of the Curtis D. Robinson Center for Health Equity and the Office of Senator Richard Blumenthal. 

“Transforming Communities Initiative is about trusting residents as the experts of their own lived experience and investing in their leadership to drive meaningful systems change,” said Carolyn Alessi, Regional Director of Community Health & Well‑Being for Trinity Health Of New England. “Over the past four years, we have seen what’s possible when hospitals, community‑based organizations, evaluators and residents work together with a shared commitment to equity, data‑informed action and long‑term impact.”

Residents from each TCI community shared lessons learned from their work and successes, highlighting the importance of authentic partnerships with local evaluators, including Hartford Health Initiative, Partnerships in Practice and Dillinger Research and Applied Data. These evaluation partners have collaborated with resident leaders and grassroots organizations to support data collection, capacity building, evaluation and root cause analysis helping communities narrow their focus and develop actionable, resident‑driven community action plans. 

Together, the convening, with the theme, “From Ideas to Action: Youth & Community Driving Change,” created space to celebrate progress, deepen cross‑community learning and reaffirm a collective commitment to advancing equitable, community‑led systems change across the region. A highlight of the day was an intergenerational lunch plenary, where elders and youth came together to discuss the importance of passing the torch of advocacy, leadership, and civic engagement to the next generation. The dialogue emphasized the power of lived experience, mentorship, and collective action in shaping healthier and more equitable communities.