August 25, 2026
Youth-led project turns community advocacy into lasting neighborhood improvement in Hartford’s Asylum Hill neighborhood
Young people from the Center for Children’s Advocacy’s (CCA) Speak Up! youth will join community partners and Hartford residents on Tuesday, August 25, at 11:00 a.m. to cut the ribbon on a newly restored basketball court at Sigourney Square Park in Hartford’s Asylum Hill neighborhood.
As part of CCA’s Speak Up! initiative, youth conducted field research and resource mapping in a Hartford neighborhood with high rates of youth arrests. Through that work, they identified the need to repair one of the basketball courts at Sigourney Square Park and create greater opportunities for young people to use the park for positive recreation and community connection.
CCA’s Speak Up! youth successfully pursued a $25,000 Love Your Block Community Grant from the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, in partnership with the City of Hartford, to restore the smaller of the park’s two basketball courts. The project was designed to encourage young people to get outside and participate in activities that promote exercise, teamwork, skill-building, and connection with their community.
“This project shows what can happen when young people are given the opportunity and support to advocate for the changes they want to see in their communities. Witnessing their advocacy turn into something tangible that other young people can enjoy is incredibly meaningful,” shared Stella Rose, CCA’s Speak Up! Youth Coordinator.
Throughout the project, Speak Up! youth worked alongside the Friends of Sigourney Square Park, Hartford City Councilwoman Marilyn Rossetti, the Hartford Department of Public Works, KNOX, Our Piece of the Pie, and the Hartford Police Department. Beyond executing park cleanups, the youth actively led community discussions on safety, spearheaded the installation of new planters, and continue to advocate for long-term neighborhood investments.
“My goals are to make Hartford a safer place overall,” said Gavin Roane, a Speak Up! youth advocate.
Roane’s experience reflects the core mission of CCA’s Speak Up! project, which empowers young people to develop leadership skills and shape the policies affecting their lives. These youth advocates regularly present their perspectives to state leaders through the Connecticut Legislature’s Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee, driving reform in juvenile justice, school discipline, transportation access, and community safety.
The newly completed court stands as a tangible monument to their dedication, proving what is possible when youth are equipped to lead community change. Moving forward, Speak Up! will continue partnering with the Friends of Sigourney Square Park, Greater Hartford Gives, and the City of Hartford to secure funding for the larger basketball court, updated seating, and improved park lighting.
Ribbon Cutting Details
WHAT: Speak Up! youth Basketball Court Ribbon Cutting
WHEN: Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Basketball Court at Sigourney Square Park, 251 Sigourney Street, Hartford, CT
Members of the public and media are invited to attend.
About the Center for Children’s Advocacy
The Center for Children’s Advocacy is New England’s largest children’s legal rights organization. It was founded in 1997 on a $2,000 budget, in loaned office space over the boiler room at UConn Law School. In the 29 years since, CCA has grown to a stand-alone nonprofit organization with 30 staff and a $3.8 million operating budget. CCA serves children across Connecticut from its offices in Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport.
Media Contact:
Maggie Prendergast
Director of Development
Center for Children’s Advocacy
860-570-5327 x231
mprendergast@cca-ct.org
