By Deidre Montague
Hartford Courant • Dec 10, 2022 at 6:00 am
Hartford — As Tasha Rose walked up to receive a document certifying her completion of violence prevention training, she was enthusiastic — not just about her accomplishment, but also about how she plans to change her community for the better.
Rose and her classmates completed the three-day Violence Prevention Training and Behavioral Health Management training at The Brother Carl Hardrick Institute, which is at 444 Albany Ave, inside of the Wilson Gray YMCA.
In partnership with Hartford Healthcare, the second certified graduating class went through a rigorous training during which they were taught about trauma and its impact on youth and families, and the ways it continues to perpetuate cycles of violence. The students also spent time discussing how they can interrupt cycles of violence that are happening within the cities of the state, officials said.
The goal of the program is to train community members who are willing to go to volatile scenes to work with people to stop cycles of retribution and seeking vengeance through violence. Another aim is to help create a healing environment where people are rallying to support reduced violence in the city.
Hardrick said seeing participants earn certificates is emotional, “because it’s looking like they really want it. If we are going to change the community, we have to look at this class here.”
“They have many experiences. Some lost loved ones, nephews, brothers in the street, so they know what’s out there,” he said. “And this gives them the energy to go forward, in terms of whatever we need to do legislation wise, streetwise, organize. Because if we are going to make a difference, it has to come from the bottom up. It can’t come from the top down. Then, we’ll meet collectively together and we can make a difference in the city,” he said.
Graduates of The Brother Carl Hardrick Institute and Hartford HealthCare “Violence Prevention Training and Behavioral Health Management” program. (Deidre Montague)
He also said the class will give people the opportunity to think of new ways to make a difference in the city.
“Things that they thought about, they can do now collectively,” he said. “We can hit the ground, we can do this. Because each one of them is going to influence 10 to 15 people. We are going out. And if we can do that collectively, then we are in good shape.”
