Hartford Library Honored for Its Connection to Community, June 2013
From Hartford Courant: Hartford Public Library received the LibraryAware Community Award Wednesday [June 5, 2013]. This is a national award being given to only three libraries in the nation. Roy Futterman, advertising director at the Library Journal, which sponsors the award, presented a bronze plaque to Mayor Pedro Segarra and a $5,000 check to the library in a ceremony at the Old State House Wednesday morning. Members of the library community, including an ESL class of recent immigrants, attended the ceremony at The Old State House as well as Homa Naficy, manager of outreach and multicultural education at the library and other library staff. Read the full article here. 

Hartford Public Library's Homa Naficy Chosen 'Champion of Change', May 2013
Homa Naficy,the library’s Chief Adult Learning Officer, has been chosen a “Champion of Change” by The White House as part of an initiative with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). She will be part of a national forum at The White House in June. Responsible for the Library’s educational services, learning opportunities, and programming for immigrants and refugees, Naficy founded The American Place at the Library, which is the fulcrum for these services.“Homa Naficy is a superstar to the population she serves,” said Poland, “because she is tireless in creating opportunities that help immigrants become acclimated to their new home.”

Born in Paris, a native of Iran and a U.S. citizen since 2000,Naficy holds a master’sdegree from Rutgers University, and received the Connecticut Immigrant of the Year Award in 2001.On staff at Hartford Public Library since 2000,Naficy has made The American Place a magnet for new arrivals seeking immigration information, resources for learning English, and preparing for U.S. citizenship. “I am honored to be a Champion of Change,” Naficy said. “Our work in public libraries is central to the success of our democracy.” 

State Representative Visits Citizenship Class, May 2013 
From Hartford News: Every Saturday morning, Urania Petit, Hartford Registrar of Voters (Working Famlies Party), holds a citizenship class at the Albany Avenue Branch of the Hartford Public Library. On Saturday, May 4, 2013, State Representative Matt Ritter spoke to class about the United States Political Process. Click here to see PDF file. 

Naturalization Ceremony at Hartford Public Library, April 2013
On April 11, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services presented 30 candidates for U.S. citizenship. Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman and Hartford Public Library Chief Executive Officer Matthew Poland provided the Naturalization Ceremony’s opening remarks with additional remarks by Secretary of State Denise Merrill, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra, and Hartford Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Christina Kishimoto. Special elements of the April 11 ceremony also included a presentation of the nation’s colors by the First Company Governor’s Foot Guard and performances by the Martin Luther King Elementary School Choir and the Hartford Public High School Show Choir. Walter Dean Myers, the influential author and national advocate for children’s reading programs, spoke after the ceremony.  View video of the ceremony here. View the Courant photo gallery here.

Karen New Year Celebration, January 2013
From Hartford Courant: The Karen New Year was celebrated at Hartford Public Library. The Karen pepole are an ethnic people primiarily from a southeastern state in Myanmar (Burma.) There is now a large community of Karen refugees living in Hartford after fleeing their homeland in Myanmar to esape the oppresive military regime. The event included readings, food, music, and skits highlighting various parts of the Karen culture. See the photo gallery here.

Hopeful Things Art Exhibit, September 2012
From Identidad Latina: “Hopeful Things” a thought provoking art exhibition by English Language Learners from four Hartford Public School academies went on display this week at the main branch of the Hartford Public Library to commemorate National Welcoming America Week. Read full article here. See the photo gallery here.

Hartford Public Library Is Awarded A Connecticut State Department Of Education Grant, August 31, 2012
From Hartford Courant: The Connecticut State Department of Education awards Hartford Public Library a $35,000 Adult Education grant. Read the full article here.

Discussion of Islam & Screening of Amreeka, May 23, 2012
From RealHartford.org: The origins of negative images surrounding Islam will be a topic for discussion Wednesday [May 23, 2012] at the Hartford Public Library...(Bridging Cultures Book & Film Series) Read full article here. 

Community Dialogues on Adult Learning Action Forum, May 15, 2012
From RealHartford.org: The grant funding these forums intends "to give immigrants a specific sense of belonging in America, and experience as active community participants and future civic-minded individuals." This project — “Creating a Vibrant Hartford: Adult Learning as a Pathway to Change” — allowed participants, immigrants and native-born alike, to participate in a democratic process...Celebrating the end to one phase of the dialogue groups, facilitators and participants presented their action ideas on Tuesday evening at the library... Read the full article here.

Anti-Immigrant Backlash Catches Muslims, May 13, 2012
From Hartford Courant: Rabia Chaudry, president of the Safe Nation Collaborative highlights two events at Hartford Public Library that examine the connected issues- the experiences of American Muslim immigrants and U.S. immigration policies that have become increasingly rigid and troubling from a civil liberties perspective. Read the full article here.

Library Forges Pathway for Dialogue,  April 2012
From The West Indian American: Hartford Public Library’s recent kickoff event of its series of Community Dialogues designed to promote immigarnt civic engagement brought out a well-attended diversified crowd. Read the full article here.

Community Dialogues on Adult Learning Kick-Off Event, March 22, 2012
From RealHartford.org: “Diversity also means inclusiveness,” Mayor Segarra told the crowd, as he spoke in support for greater access to learning opportunities, especially for immigrants..Read the full article here. 

Immigrant Civic Engagement Pilot Community Dialogue on Adult Learning, February 18, 2012
From RealHartford.org: A pilot community dialogue intended to give interested parties practice with a community dialogue before the Immigrant Civic Engagement Project moves into its recruitment phase. Read the full article here.

Hartford Public Library Features Muslim Women Speakers, January 26, 2012
From webjunction.org: The program, called 'Muslim Immigrant Women's Voices' features four terrifically talented speakers. Read the full article here.

Helping Refugees at the Hartford Public Library, January 26, 2012
From webjunction.org: In July 2005, Naficy, The American Place (TAP) coordinator, with $20,000 in LSTA funding, began an ambitious effort to position Hartford Public Library as a bridge institution for refugees resettled in Hartford. The American Place is an assemblage of the Hartford Public Library's services for the city's ethnically diverse and immigrant populations. Read the full article here.

Hartford Public Library American Place Program, January 26, 2012
From webjunction.org: Supported with LSTA funding, the Hartford Public Library and its community partners are making a sustained effort to provide services to Hartford's ethnically diverse and immigrant populations. Read the full article here.

Increasing Civic Involvement in Immigrant Community, July 20, 2011
From RealHartford.org: The National Leadership Grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services provides funds ($637,896) for the Immigrant Civic Engagement Initiative. Read the full article here.