Hartford in Progress july1012 - Hartford Police Department - City of ...

June, 2012 Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan Hartford News Special Edition 21Q&A with Liam McGee, Chairman, President and CEO of The HartfordThe Hartford has been headquarteredin Hartford’s Asylum Hillneighborhood for more than 90years. How does the company supportthe neighborhood?We have been involved withAsylum Hill for years. Our companywas a founding partner of theNorthside Institutions Neighbor -hood Alliance, or NINA, whichhelps working families find newhomeownership opportunities. Wehave also been a long-time supporterof The Village for Families andChildren, the Asylum Hill Boys andGirls Club, and West MiddleElementary School.Improving Asylum Hill remains aphilanthropic priority for TheHartford. Our company formalizedthis commitment in November2010, with a $7 million, five-yearinvestment in the neighborhood.We strive to make a lasting differenceby partnering with communityleaders to revitalize the neighborhood,educate children, and developoutreach programs for the familiesthat live here. Exemplifyingour culture of service and outreach,employees place a high value onvolunteering their time and skills inthe community.How has the neighborhood benefittedsince November 2010?A major accomplishment is thedemolition of the blighted CapitolWest building in Asylum Hill. Alongtime eyesore, the building hasbeen torn down and the property isbeing transformed into an invitinggreen space. We were pleased topartner with the city of Hartford onthis project, and I congratulateMayor Segarra on his commitmentto revitalization.Another neighborhood revitalizationeffort is our partnership withNINA. Together, we helped restoresix blighted properties and plant 50trees to help re-establish thecanopy. I’m proud that 150 volunteersfrom The Hartford have giventheir time to NINA.What about education and communitysupport services?Golden Anniversary MeansRejuvenation for the CathedralStretching 280 feet into the skyand featuring a magnificent stainlesssteel cross, the Cathedral ofSaint Joseph makes a strikingappearance for those who travelinto Hartford everyday. The viewinside the cathedral is amazing aswell. Visitors are greeted by theresplendent beauty of 26 stainedglass windows commissioned byworld-renowned artist JeanBarillet, and a one-of-a-kind mesmerizingceramic of Christ locatedat the rear of the high altar. It istruly majestic place, and fittinglythe Mother Church of theArchdiocese of Hartford where peoplefrom across the archdiocesecome to praise God. Upon closeinspection, however, one can seethat the years have begun to tarnishher beauty. Like many structuresthat are 50 years old, she is in needof substantial rejuvenation and modernization.As she celebrates hergolden anniversary in 2012, theArchdiocese of Hartford has startedto tackle one restoration project at atime.Some projects have already begunand have been completed. A leakyroof was replaced, a stairwell alongthe east side of the front entrancewas restored, and a new audio systemwas installed enhancing thesound quality throughout the cathedraland its side chapels.Archbishop Henry J. Mansell tookthe opportunity to speak to parishionersabout some of the improvementsduring the celebration of the“50th Anniversary Mass” of theconsecration of the cathedral, whichtook place on May 20th with over1800 people in attendance.He talked about one of the mosthighly anticipated improvements –the installation of the new permanentaltar. Weighing 4800 pounds,and measuring 4 feet wide and 12feet long, it is made of solid Biancomarble, and is a spectacular sight.Funded by the Knights ofColumbus, the new altar is dedicatedto their founder, Father Michaelborn and raised in Waterbury.The Archbishop also announcedthat discussions were underwaywith benefactors who will fund theconstruction of a handicappedaccessible entrance on the west sideof the cathedral. The designs call forthe construction of a driveway connectingthe parking lot of the cathedralon Asylum Street (which facesthe back of the cathedral) with thenew entrance. The entrancewaywould house an elevator, whichwould give transport to the first andsecond floors. Each floor wouldhave eight handicapped-accessiblerestrooms for a total of 16.Talks are also ongoing to transformthe lower cathedral into agathering area where people couldmeet after Masses for a variety offunctions. Classrooms for religiouseducation are also planned for thisspace.We have seen a lot of progress ineducation in Asylum Hill. Our partnershipwith Junior Achievementand Hartford Public Schools hasreached more than 1,000 studentsand helped increase their financialliteracy, workforce preparedness,and entrepreneurial skills. Ninetypercent of participating teachers saytheir students demonstratedincreased understanding.The Hartford is also involvedwith West Middle ElementarySchool, which is a few blocks fromour headquarters. Hundreds of studentshave participated in the afterschooland summer programs andmore than 200 Hartford teammatesvolunteer at the school every year inprograms such as Reading Buddiesand Math Buddies.Through the Hartford Consor -tium for Higher Education’s CareerBeginnings program, our companyhelped fund a new on-site studentadvisor at Hartford Public HighSchool to assist students with thecollege application process.Since financial literacy is a philanthropicpriority, we also partneredwith Co-opportunity and theUnited Way to create the FinancialResource Center, which providesfinancial literacy and budget planningresources to Asylum Hill residents.So far, we have been able toreach 135 Asylum Hill residents.We also support The Village forFamilies and Children, the YWCAof Hartford, and the ChrysalisCenter.Have you been pleased with thisprogress?While there is always more workto do, The Hartford is encouragedby the progress in Asylum Hill.Our teammates have given generouslyof their time, volunteeringtheir skills and expertise to helpimprove the neighborhood. Morethan 1,000 employees have volunteeredapproximately 6,500 hoursin Asylum Hill since November2010.The city of Hartford has been ourhome for more than 200 years, andwe welcome all the efforts underway from City Hall, our schools,non-profit groups, and neighborhoodorganizations to make the citya better place in which to live andwork.