40th Anniversary Timeline

In 2012, LVGH celebrated 40 years of serving Greater Hartford, and is now recognized as the premier community-based literacy organization in the region.  While we’ve come a long way since 1972, adult literacy remains a major issue of concern for our community. We continue to grow; for the first time ever, we served over 700 students in 2011-2012.  As we look to the future, LVGH is poised to fully realize its developing role as a leader of adult education in the region, and we continue to explore ways to build our capacity so that we can reach more adults in our community.   

After 13 years of service to the agency, Susan Roman retires from LVGH.  CJ Hauss is appointed as the new Executive Director.

LVGH partners with the Wickham Library in East Hartford to open a satellite Reading Center there, expanding our service region to include not only East Hartford but also the surrounding towns of Bolton, Ellington, Glastonbury, Manchester, South Windsor, Tolland, Rockville, and Vernon. LVGH grows to serve nearly 600 students per year.

 

The first decade of the new century found LVGH in a strong, stable place – the perfect time to reflect on the past and strategize for the future. After years of operating as many as 12 community sites at a time, LVGH streamlined operations to just three community sites in Hartford, Bloomfield, and East Hartford. This resulted in improved coordination and evaluation of services, a greater variety of programming, and a strengthened sense of community.

After several location changes over the years, LVGH moves to 30 Arbor Street, finally establishing a permanent home base in which to grow and thrive.

The ‘90s were a time of in-depth student and community involvement. LVGH operated multiple program sites at libraries, schools, and community centers throughout Greater Hartford, in addition to the work at our Hartford Center. Greater efforts were made to recruit tutors from the neighborhoods being served. Students were active in literacy awareness campaigns and organized several fundraising events throughout these years.

“It’s opening up a new life for me, something I kept hid for a long time. I feel very confident now that I can pick up a book and read it and know what it is saying.”

– Sam Robinson,
Basic Literacy student,
Bloomfield