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Hartford residents urge council to restore funding and staff at Blue Hill Civic Association ahead of summer programs
Summary
Multiple speakers at the May 12 meeting asked Hartford leaders to intervene after Blue Hill Civic Association (BHCA) closed and staff were let go; commenters described the organization as a 62-year neighborhood institution and urged emergency funding to run summer youth employment programs.
Dozens of speakers at the City Council's May 12 public comment session urged the council and mayor's office to help restore staff and funding to the Blue Hill Civic Association, a long-standing North Hartford nonprofit that several commenters said has closed operations and laid off staff.
Speakers described BHCA as a 62-year-old neighborhood institution that runs after-school programs, a senior center and the summer youth employment program. "For 62 years there has been a mother quietly working in the heart of North Hartford. Her name is Blue Hill Civic Association," said Kelvin X Lovejoy, who asked the council for resources so staff could "work with 100 or more students in this city" this summer.
Multiple former staff members, parents and youth testified that BHCA's summer youth employment and learning program previously served hundreds of young people. Julia Leonard told the council the Blue Hill Civic Association recruited "4 to 500 youth members and young adults" in its summer program, while others said reopening should begin with funding to serve at least 100 youth this summer.
Speakers asked the council to convene public meetings with BHCA's board and interim leadership and to provide short-term funding to preserve the senior center and summer programming. State Representative Ken Green asked the council to "direct the community" to obtain clearer information about what happened and to hold a public meeting with BHCA's board and interim director.
Some commenters alleged mismanagement or political interference and urged investigation. Alyssa Peterson, who said she is a Hartford resident, called the closing "appalling" and alleged the $300,000 cyber theft originated with a partner agency, not BHCA, and that the BHCA board did not file an insurance claim timely. Peterson further alleged that a former board president and current state senator, along with a state representative, helped BHCA function as a pass-through for state funding; she framed those as allegations and called for restored funding with fiscal oversight. Peterson's remarks were presented as her account from recent meetings at the state capitol.
Several speakers who identified as former BHCA staff or program participants described the organization's services in detail: Janae Wilson, a Weaver High School student and BHCA participant, said the organization provided job training, lifeguard and CPR training and other workforce programs. Rose Rivera, who identified herself as a mother and mentor, called the summer employment program a "lifeline" and asked the city for urgent resources.
Speakers asked the council to act quickly because school will end soon and summer programming is time-sensitive. Community members urged the council to help preserve both the senior center contract and immediate youth employment capacity while audits or investigations proceed.
Ending: Council members did not record a formal vote on BHCA during the May 12 meeting. Commenters asked for a public meeting with BHCA leadership and for short-term funding to ensure summer programs run while any investigations continue.
