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| Night Fall event in Hartford with Connecticut's Capitol in in the background, October 7, 2017 |
Illuminating Stronger Ties at Hartford's Night Fall
By Preet Patel, Trinity College
Preet Patel (Trinity College ’21) is an aspiring economics major from Belchertown Massachusetts who is looking forward to getting more involved in Hartford in the coming years. During his first semester Preet volunteered at a Hartford Habitat for Humanity build with the Trinity Campus Habitat Chapter.
In the shadow of the illuminated state capitol building, hundreds of people sat mesmerized by a powerful show. Joyful laughter, sparkling smiles, and camera flashes dotted the magical landscape of Bushnell Park. Standing on stage and looking out onto people of many cultures and ethnicities, we raised and then lowered our lanterns, signifying the importance of a connected community rising through problems, and lowering barriers. Although it takes place only one night a year, Night Fall not only brings the community together, but serves as an epicenter for crossing borders, socially, economically, and ethnically, resulting in a region with greater social connectedness.
Night
Fall and Social Capital
Night
Fall is a yearly community event held on the first Saturday in October,
celebrating the rich culture, diversity and arts of Hartford through a majestic
puppet performance. The show is the creative concept of lead artist, Anne
Cubberly. The puppets and art featured in the show are created in conjunction
with local artists and creative people of Hartford. Many of the performers and
professionals in the show call Hartford home. Hartford's rich cultural
communities are emphasized throughout the event. Before the show, the
tempting aroma given off by the line of food trucks draws large crowds of
people anxiously waiting for a delicious treat. Adults of different races, and
cultures engage with one another, sparking fruitful conversations and
interactions.
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| People waiting in line at the food trucks at Night Fall |
Despite
the harmony at Nightfall, Hartford has seen a decline in social capital in
recent years, with important consequences. Social capital as defined by Robert
Putnam, is the social interactions, networks, and trust among community members
that allow for collective action.[1]
Hartford through a series of events such as deindustrialization,
suburbanization, and homogeneous communities, has experienced barriers to
collective action between the city and the municipalities beyond the urban core.
Declining
Social Capital in Hartford
Hartford
is an often misunderstood city that has experienced extraordinary
transformations throughout its history.[2] Today
Hartford is fragmented both jurisdictionally and socially, contributing to
weaker social ties between community members. There is not a clear chain of
events to track Hartford’s decline in social ties, but there are some factors
that illuminate the problem. One factor that led to the decline of Hartford was
the city’s dependence on stable manufacturing, industrial, and insurance jobs.
When those industries began merging with larger corporations, moving
headquarters, or shutting down, the problems for Hartford really began.[3]
The movement of high skilled workers out of Hartford created among the most
racially and socioeconomically polarized regions in America. In part as a
result, Hartford’s central city has among the slowest growing economies in the
United States. Meanwhile greater Hartford actually ranks as among the
wealthiest regions in the world.[4]
The polarization between the suburbs and the city is also clear along racial
and ethnic lines. The movement of people out of the city and into suburbs created
a separation of people, ideas, and cultures, increasing the ever present
divide.
The
suburbanization of Hartford caused a profound ripple effect that led to the
erosion of social capital between the city and the surrounding towns. Hartford
has a disadvantage in that it has a fixed boundary, with no ability to expand.
When the industrial jobs left, many high skilled workers left to the
surrounding areas, because there was little growth within the city.[5]
When largely white people moved to the suburbs, they created homogeneous
communities of politics, cultures, and ideals. The separation between the
suburbs and the city is toxic for bridging social capital which, according to
Putnam, allows people and communities to get ahead in life.[6] The polarized
communities across municipal boundaries prevent people from making social
connections that offer potential for economic growth.
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| A large crowd gathered near the stage at Night Fall |
Without
bridging social capital, communities cannot benefit from sharing skills, and
knowledge. Events like Night Fall are crucial, because they promote social
connection of people across different town lines, ethnicities, and cultures,
encouraging stronger social networks to address Hartford’s challenges and
opportunities in the future.
Night
Fall Strengthens Social Capital
Events
like Night Fall work towards bridging social capital between the city and the
surrounding towns in several ways. The food trucks with dozens of people in
line force different people to interact with one another. The performers in the
show are supported and are able to display their talents to the community. An
audience member from West Hartford reinforced that she values Night Fall
because it “increases social interaction between demographic groups.” This
shared sense of culture brings the whole community together. Not only does this
allow people from the suburbs to interact with people from Hartford, but it
also bridges ethnic groups in Hartford. Night Fall allows these divided groups
to come together and interact with one another, promoting unity and collective
action among the people of Hartford and with people of greater Hartford.
One of most crucial ways Night Fall increases social capital is its emphasis and work within the community. In the time leading up to Night Fall, the organization hosts artistic workshops throughout the city. In the workshops, the community is connected to the show through the creation of lanterns.[7] Constructing the lanterns increases social capital within the community because it fosters a sense of cultural unity. The people of Hartford have a chance to showcase their culture, art, and diversity, encouraging connection to one another.
Night Fall’s ability to promote diversity in the community makes it powerful tool in creating stronger social capital and consequently a tighter sense of community.[8] In an interview with the Hartford Courant, LB Munoz, a chairwoman for Night Fall, stated: “every year we're trying to relate everything back to the neighborhood we're in. Downtown is incredibly diverse, home to people who have come from afar.”[9] Night Fall celebrates Hartford’s diversity, and acknowledges that the city’s diversity is an asset that can propel the city past its barriers.
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| View overlooking the stage at Night Fall |
Transforming
Hartford Through the Power of Collective Action
It
is clear that the people of Hartford and its surrounding suburbs have the power
to transform the city. Residents in the surrounding suburbs should attend
events like Night Fall, and engage with and invest in the sleeping gem that
Hartford truly is. Events like Night Fall prove that interactions across
barriers are possible and fruitful. If there are more social interactions
between the suburbs and the city then, according to Putnam, the region will be
better equipped to meet any challenge.[10] Just as I
had the opportunity to lift the lantern from Night Fall’s stage, Hartford and
the surrounding towns have the opportunity to illuminate a whole new generation
in greater Hartford through collective regional action.
This article is the second in a series of four student blog posts featured from Trinity Assistant Professor Abigail Williamson's first-year student seminar Civic Engagement and Community as described in my blog post Classroom to Community at Trinity.
Don Shaw, Jr.
Writer and Editor
RedTruckStonecatcher.com
[2] Chen, Xiangming, and
Nick Bacon. Confronting urban legacy: rediscovering Hartford and New Englands
forgotten cities. (Lanham: Lexington Books, 2015.)
[3] Walsh Andrew, “Hartford:
A Glocal History,” Confronting urban legacy: rediscovering Hartford and New
Englands forgotten cities. (Lanham: Lexington Books, 2015.)
[4] Chen, Xiangming, and
Nick Bacon. Confronting urban legacy: rediscovering Hartford and New Englands
forgotten cities. (Lanham: Lexington Books, 2015.)
[5] Walsh Andrew, “Hartford: A Glocal History,” Confronting urban legacy:
rediscovering Hartford and New Englands forgotten cities. (Lanham: Lexington
Books, 2015.)
[9] Dunne, Susan. "Autumn Celebration Night Fall Moves To Bushnell
Park." Courant.com. October 02, 2017. (Accessed November 03, 2017.)
I would love to attend Night Fall next year! This is the first I've heard of it. I have friends in West Hartford who I can share the event with next year if there is a Facebook page etc. I will look now...
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