Co-opportunity Inc.

Mission: To create neighborhood stability and economic prosperity by increasing the income, earnings and wealth of residents of the Greater Hartford region through financial education and counseling; workforce development; and asset building, including homeownership.

Background: Co-opportunity was founded in 1987 to help low-income families purchase, maintain and manage cooperative housing.

Now in its 20th year, Co-opportunity has broadened its efforts to help Hartford’s working families attain economic security by ensuring they have sufficient income to meet basic needs and weather unexpected crises, and to help them acquire and preserve assets.

Co-opportunity services fall into three primary areas:

1) Work force development, provides job training and placement, case management and life skills, and includes YouthBuild Hartford, a comprehensive education and training program that provides young adults with an opportunity to earn their high school equivalency diploma while participating in on-the-job training in construction trades;

2) Financial education and counseling, includes classes in personal money management issues as well as individual assistance with budgeting, credit repair, debt reduction, and ;

3) Asset building, includes matched savings programs, a HUD-approved housing counseling and education program for first-time home buyers, and free income tax preparation at 14 community-based sites.

Co-opportunity recently opened the Financial Resource Center, a central location for working families to get education and help with financial issues they face.

Co-opportunity served over 5,500 residents of Hartford and surrounding communities in 2007. 

The agency is funded by U.S. Departments of Labor, Housing & Urban Development and Health & Human Services; City of Hartford; United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut; Annie E. Casey Foundation; Connecticut Housing Finance Authority; and other private foundations, corporations and donors.

Major Fundraiser: Annual appeal.

Volunteer Needs: Over 150 volunteers support Co-opportunity’s work throughout the community.

Volunteer opportunities include preparing electronic tax returns for working families, coaching working families on managing their budget, serving as a greeter at a free tax preparation center, tutoring young adults in General Education Development (GED) classes, among others. Contact Laura O’Keefe at 860-236-3617, extension 113.

Leadership:

Donna Taglianetti, executive director

R. Web Shaffer, president

Gerald Sazama, vice president

Derek M. Johnson, esq., treasurer

Ken Karl, secretary

Address:

Co-opportunity Inc.

20-28 Sargeant Street,

Hartford, CT 06105

(860) 236-3617

www.co-opportunity.org

Donna Taglianetti is executive director of Co-opportunity Inc.