Mission
As a place-based learning initiative, the Hartford Heritage Project promotes significant and sustained interaction between the college and its surrounding communities, particularly between college classes and Hartford arts and cultural institutions. The HHP does this by fostering relationships with local institutions, supporting faculty in developing place-based lessons, and encouraging students, staff, and faculty to take part in HHP events and programming.
History
In January 2011, Capital Community College was awarded a Humanities Initiatives grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities, a grant that was recognized by the NEH under their "Bridging Cultures" and "We the People" initiatives. With this support, a team of fourteen Capital faculty members embarked on a study program that included seventeen full-day seminars on the Hartford’s arts, culture, and history. The readings, information, and relationships fostered in these seminars enabled the Hartford Heritage team to create and implement a variety of new courses and programs for Capital students that make Hartford an extension of the classroom. Today, HHP has grown into  a hub for engaging students in their courses, building community with classmates and a sense of belonging to the college, and exploring opportunities in Hartford that students might not encounter on their own, thereby fostering pride of place and civic engagement.
Timeline
2023
Events at TheaterWorks and Hartford Stage launch Herencias Latinas
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BHP's second Pennington Lecture features Columbia University Journalism Chair Jelani Cobb
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Herencias Latinas brings Pulitzer-winning playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes to campus (October)
2022
HHP launches first Pennington Lecture, featuring Harvard professor Sarah Lewis and Pennington biographer Christopher Webber
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HHP named by CT Explored magazine as one of 20 history game-changers in Connecticut
2021
NEH awards $150,000 grant for the HHP to launch the Black Heritage Project
2019
Capital@TWH program established with a Capital-dedicated performance of American Son at TheaterWorks Hartford
2018
Liberal Arts Action Lab launched with Trinity College in January
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Hartford History Lecture Series founded with Bill Hosley
2016
Isham-Terry House workshop established with CT Landmarks for first year nursing students
2015
First fully place-based course offered - Studies in American Literature at Mark Twain House & Museum and Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
2013
The first institutional memberships (HHP Partners) are established, allowing easy access to museums
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HHP awarded NEH Challenge Grant
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Workshops for second-year nursing students begin at Wadsworth Atheneum
2012
Faculty introduce place-based curriculum in a variety of courses
2011
(January) Hartford Heritage Project launched with $100,000 NEH grant
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One Play partnership with Hartford Stage launched with Water by the Spoonful premiere (October)