Trinity Health Of New England and YWCA Hartford Region Hosted Transforming Communities’ Initiative (TCI) Activation
July 7, 2025HARTFORD, Conn. – Trinity Health Of New England and YWCA Hartford Region hosted the public roll out of the Transforming Communities Initiative (TCI) on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at Unity Plaza, 259 Barbour Street, Hartford. The event, themed “Unity in the Community,” brought a mixture of community pride, collective action, and strategic collaboration to North Hartford. Marking the 99th week of Wake-Up Wednesday, a local tradition of grassroots activation and neighborhood care, the TCI roll out demonstrated what is possible when community and institutional partners unite around a shared vision of health equity and wellbeing.
“Unity in the Community” Celebration to highlight resident-driven health equity and neighborhood revitalization in North Hartford.
Now in its fourth year, TCI is a five-year, $1.6 million grant by Trinity Health and Saint Francis Hospital to help transform North Hartford, through a data-informed, resident-led strategy, to address “influencers” of health that impact health and quality of life outcomes, and improve access to mental health, housing, food, and economic opportunity. It began with the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment to identify priority needs in the community. The Trinity Health TCI grants support three Trinity Health Of New England sites. In addition to Hartford, grants were afforded to Waterbury, CT and Springfield, MA.
The celebration was not just a ceremonial kickoff; it was a living example of TCI’s mission in motion. With over 30 local organizations participating, residents were able to engage directly with critical services and programs while enjoying live music, youth performances, storytelling sessions, wellness activities and resource giveaways. Local entrepreneurs and nonprofits had the opportunity to showcase their work, strengthening the economic and social fabric of Barbour Street.
“TCI proved what’s possible when health systems, community leaders, and residents unite in pursuit of equity by building strong families. We are building lasting community-driven change,” said Montez Carter, PharmD, FACHE, President and CEO of Trinity Health Of New England.
That sentiment echoes throughout the event, which served as a dynamic demonstration of how Trinity Health’s five-year investment strategy can directly support measurable improvements in mental health, housing access, food security and economic opportunity. Local partners and volunteers staffed tents and booths with actionable information and resources, offering everything from fresh produce and job leads to mental health support and housing referrals.
“The strength of this initiative lies in the trust and collaboration among partners and residents. We are healing through connection and purpose,” said Adrienne Cochrane, CEO of YWCA Hartford Region. “This launch signals not only our commitment but also our accountability to the people of North Hartford.”
Throughout the day, residents were encouraged to share their stories, priorities and visions for the future. That feedback was collected by the Hartford Health Initiative, the local evaluation lead for TCI, as part of a broader effort to develop a framework rooted in equity and informed by community voice. The insights gathered will directly shape program benchmarks, policy goals and accountability measures over the next several years.
“These early insights will support the development of measurable, equity-focused solutions for North Hartford and beyond,” said Dr. Rebecca Woods, Executive Director of Hartford Health Initiative. “Our goal is to ensure that data reflects lived experience and drives impact.”
By combining policy advocacy, cross-sector partnerships and resident-led solutions, the TCI model addresses the root causes of poor health outcomes through a systemic lens. Whether it was a youth dance troupe’s performance or a wellness circle’s open dialogue, every aspect of the event was intentionally curated to reflect a community not only seeking transformation but leading it.