Community

Inspiring the Next Generation: MPH Alumni host mentoring event for CT high schools

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UConn Health recently welcomed high school students from across Hartford for a dynamic and inspiring on-campus experience, marking the conclusion of a 10-week mentorship program under the Cato T. Laurencin Mentoring Programs.

The program paired UConn Health (UCH) students with students from Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy (HMTCA), creating opportunities for mentorship, academic support, and exposure to careers in health and research. The final event, held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., celebrated the dedication and achievements of both mentors and mentees.

Adding to the significance of the day, MPH alumni Raquel Rosa and Chelsea Erem were in attendance, representing the continued impact of UConn’s public health training and the importance of giving back to the community.

In addition to HMTCA participants, the event also welcomed approximately a dozen students from Princeton Technical High School, expanding the program’s reach and impact within the Hartford community.

Throughout the morning, students engaged in a variety of interactive and educational activities across campus. The program included:

  • A guided tour of UConn Health facilities
  • Research presentations delivered by both students and faculty
  • A hands-on experience in the simulation lab
  • Opportunities to connect directly with current UCH students

These experiences provided students with a firsthand look at academic pathways and careers in public health, medicine, and health sciences—helping to spark curiosity and build confidence in their future goals.

Hands-On Public Health: UConn MPH Volunteers Support Gather55’s Community Mission

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This week, members of our administrative team and graduate assistants took part in a hands-on volunteer experience at Gather55, a Hartford-based restaurant with a mission rooted in community and dignity. Powered by Hands On Hartford, Gather55 is more than a dining space—it’s a community-centered initiative designed to connect people through food while addressing food insecurity.

During their time on-site, our team supported day-to-day operations by working in the kitchen, cleaning, and serving meals and beverages to guests. These tasks, while simple on the surface, represent something much larger: the core of public health practice. Public health is not confined to research or policy—it is deeply embedded in community action, service, and partnerships that meet people’s needs in real-time.

Experiences like this bring our program’s mission and values to life. The UConn MPH program emphasizes preparing students to address complex health challenges through education, mentorship, and meaningful community engagement. Central to this mission is the importance of fostering equitable partnerships and promoting wellness as a fundamental right for all—principles that were reflected throughout the day at Gather55.

Gather55’s innovative model—where guests can dine regardless of their ability to pay—creates a shared space that reduces stigma and builds connection across diverse communities. By supporting organizations like this, our students and staff not only contribute to immediate community needs but also gain a deeper understanding of how public health initiatives can be implemented at the local level.

This volunteer experience is a powerful reminder that public health is about more than theory—it’s about action, compassion, and collaboration. Whether through service, advocacy, or partnership, our community continues to work toward a future where everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

Spring Cleaning Donation Drive

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This season, our department is proud to support 3 impactful initiatives dedicated to serving CT residents: Community Service Officer Jim Barrett’s Homeless Outreach Program, Hands On Hartford, and Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants.

As warmer months arrive, and financial instability continues to rise, community support is more important than ever.

About Community Service Officers & Officer Jim Barrett
Learn about Officer Barrett here: https://youtu.be/miVDWB2X3Yc

Community Service Officers work directly within Hartford neighborhoods, building relationships, attending community events, and addressing quality-of-life concerns. Officer Jim Barrett, the city’s homeless outreach officer, goes above and beyond to support unhoused individuals. His compassionate work has been recognized locally and nationally.

About Hands On Hartford (HOH)
Support their work here: https://handsonhartford.org/support/

Hands On Hartford strengthens the community through housing support, food access, homelessness prevention, and outreach services. Their MANNA Community Pantry, Backpack Nutrition Program, Supportive Housing, and Shared Use Kitchen all play a crucial role in meeting basic needs and fostering long-term stability. Their participation-based restaurant, Gather55, welcomes everyone—regardless of ability to pay—creating a space where community and compassion meet over a shared meal.

They also operate a Day Program that provides referrals, shelter support, health screenings, and a safe environment for those experiencing homelessness. With more than 1,400 volunteers each year and support from civic, faith-based, and organizational partners, Hands On Hartford continues to create a healthier, more inclusive Hartford for all.

About the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI)
Learn more about their mission here: https://cirict.org/who-we-are/

CIRI provides a compassionate array of high-quality legal, social, and educational programming for refugees, immigrants, and survivors of human trafficking and torture.

CIRI is a statewide nonprofit organization that assists refugees and immigrants resolve legal, economic, linguistic and social barriers so that they become self-sufficient, integrated and contributing members of the community. CIRI achieves this mission by providing a compassionate array of high-quality legal, social and educational programming and by promoting cross cultural understanding and decent treatment for all.

How You Can Help
This year, many community members are facing reduced assistance, unexpected hardships, and limited access to food or clothing. Even small contributions can make a meaningful difference—especially items like $5 fast-food gift cards, which provide unhoused individuals the opportunity to purchase a meal.

Most-needed items include:

  • Financial contributions 
    Please contact the following emails:
    jindavis@uchc.edu, lcook@uchc.edu, samociuk@uchc.edu, and parris@uchc.edu
  • Nonperishable food
  • Full-size toiletries & household essentials
  • Food for children’s backpack nutrition program
  • Hygiene products
    Examples but not limited to: body powder, travel size toothpaste, and deodorant
  • Diapers (sizes 4-5)
  • Baby wipes
  • Reusable water bottles
  • Small water bottles
  • Pedometers
  • Clothing
    Examples but not limited to: Boxer Briefs ( L, XL, 1X, 2X), Tee Shirts  (M, L, XL, 1X, 2X)
  • Adult Back Packs
  • $5 fast-food gift cards to McDonalds, Burger King and Dunkin Donuts
  • Bus passes

Your generosity directly supports individuals and families navigating challenging times. Thank you for helping us make a positive impact this season.

From Classroom to Community: Public Health Nutrition Students Drive Local Impact in Hartford

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Public Health Nutrition students at UConn Health are gaining hands‑on, community‑centered experience thanks to Dr. Angela Bermúdez‑Milán’s innovative approach to teaching public health practice. Through a partnership with the Keney Park Sustainability Project and local health programs, students are applying classroom learning directly to real community needs.

In her Public Health Nutrition course, Dr. Bermúdez‑Milán integrates public health practice, program evaluation, and community engagement. MPH students—including Lisbeth Moran and Michael Raizin—spent time at the Keney Park garden learning about hydroponics, urban farming, and the food hub program. Their work extended beyond observation: students collaborated with program leaders to evaluate existing recommendations from previous consultants and helped strategize how to put those recommendations into action.

During National Public Health Week, Dr. Bermúdez‑Milán also presented findings from a community‑based participatory pilot study conducted with the Hartford Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program at Keney Sustainability Park. The study, Barriers to Farmers Market Voucher Redemption among Hartford WIC Participants, aims to strengthen WIC benefit use and inform future childhood obesity interventions. This work was supported through a collaboration between the UConn Health Department of Public Health Sciences and the ICR/Community Research Alliance (CRA), funded by the Health Net, Inc. Chair in the Department of Public Health Sciences.

The partnership continues to grow. Herb Virgo, Director of the Keney Park Sustainability Project, is exploring new ways to bring fresh produce and nutrition education directly to Hartford communities. Plans include cooking demonstrations using garden-grown vegetables and a repurposed mobile bus that will deliver fresh produce to neighborhoods with limited grocery access.

Students will play an active role in these initiatives, gaining first‑hand experience in collaborative public health practice, community engagement, and program implementation. This partnership exemplifies how applied learning can prepare future public health professionals to address real‑world challenges with creativity, cultural humility, and community partnership.

For more information, contact Dr. Angela Bermúdez‑Milán at bermudez-millan@uchc.edu.

To learn more about the Keney Park Sustainability Project, visit: https://keneyparksustainability.org/

Supporting Our Community: Winter Donation Drive 2025

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Donation Drive Extended Through January!

This winter, our department is proud to support two impactful initiatives dedicated to serving Hartford residents: Hands On Hartford and Community Service Officer Jim Barrett’s Homeless Outreach Program. As the colder months arrive and financial instability continues to rise, community support is more important than ever.

About Community Service Officers & Officer Jim Barrett
Community Service Officers work directly within Hartford neighborhoods, building relationships, attending community events, and addressing quality-of-life concerns. Officer Jim Barrett, the city’s homeless outreach officer, goes above and beyond to support unhoused individuals. Operating out of a renovated bomb squad truck turned mobile care unit, he provides supplies, resources, and connections to social services. His compassionate work has been recognized locally and nationally.

About Hands On Hartford
Hands On Hartford strengthens the community through housing support, food access, homelessness prevention, and outreach services. Their MANNA Community Pantry, Backpack Nutrition Program, Supportive Housing, and Shared Use Kitchen all play a crucial role in meeting basic needs and fostering long-term stability. Their participation-based restaurant, Gather55, welcomes everyone—regardless of ability to pay—creating a space where community and compassion meet over a shared meal.

They also operate a Day Program that provides referrals, shelter support, health screenings, and a safe environment for those experiencing homelessness. With more than 1,400 volunteers each year and support from civic, faith-based, and organizational partners, Hands On Hartford continues to create a healthier, more inclusive Hartford for all.

How You Can Help
This year, many community members are facing reduced assistance, unexpected hardships, and limited access to food or warm clothing. Even small contributions can make a meaningful difference—especially items like $5 fast-food gift cards, which provide unhoused individuals the opportunity to purchase a warm meal.

Most-needed items include:

  • Financial contributions –
    Please contact the following emails:

    jindavis@uchc.edu, lcook@uchc.edu, samociuk@uchc.edu, and parris@uchc.edu

  • Nonperishable food

  • Full-size toiletries & household essentials

  • Food for children’s backpack nutrition program

  • Snack kits for outreach

  • Hygiene products

  • Cold-weather gear

  • $5 fast-food gift cards to Mcdonalds, Burger King and Dunkin Donuts

  • Bus passes

Your generosity directly supports individuals and families navigating challenging times. Thank you for helping us make a positive impact this winter.

Public Health Sciences Donates 615 Items to Cornerstone Foundation

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In a heartwarming display of community spirit, the Department of Public Health Sciences has recently donated an impressive 615 items to the Cornerstone Foundation in Vernon, CT. This generous contribution, consisting of a variety of food, clothing, books, and hygiene products, is set to make a significant impact on those in need.

The department’s initiative reflects its ongoing commitment to supporting the local community and promoting public health. Each item donated is a testament to the collective effort and dedication of the department’s staff and volunteers, who are eager to make a positive difference.

This donation not only helps to meet the immediate needs of individuals but also fosters a sense of hope and solidarity within the community. The Department of Public Health Sciences continues to inspire with its proactive approach to community service, proving that together, we can create a brighter, healthier future for all.

  • Coltin (volunteer), Shomrita Barua, Stefanie Farkas, Denise Parris, Christine Filanowicz (the clothing bank director), Holly Samiouck, Alyse Visconti, David Rulnick, and Lisa Cook.