
“Thanks to all our partners and supporters, HCTC will strengthen efforts to meet the emotional, psychological, and physical needs of victims of violence in our communities."
Andrew Woods, MSW, VPP
HCTC Executive Director
Hartford Communities That Care (HCTC)
About HCTC
Hartford Communities That Care (HCTC) is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3), community-based organization founded in 1998, whose mission is to create a thriving, non-violent and drug free environment for youth and families. As a leader and advocate for victims of violence and trauma in underserved communities, HCTC identifies, develops and implements culturally appropriate, high quality and evidence-based crisis response, mental health and supportive programs, partnerships and policies to improve the lives of youth and adult victims of crime and their families.
To address the issues of violence in Hartford, HCTC implements distinct and intentionally overlapped programs and service models to address the social-emotional, behavioral, trauma, academic and workforce development needs of youth and families living in Hartford.
We are about to add a new chapter to the story of our two decades of service, which increasingly have improved conditions for many of the city’s most vulnerable residents: those directly victimized by shootings – and those indirectly but traumatically drawn into these tragedies, as family and loved ones.
Andrew Woods, MSW, VPP
Executive Director, HCTC
Director, CT Hospital Violence
Intervention Program Collaborative
Joseph Wilkerson Jr., MBA
Deputy Director & HR Administrator
Edward Brown, BS, Director
Greater Hartford Youth Leadership Academy
Shenell Benjamin, AS, VPP
Lead Case Manager
Hartford Care Response Team
Larry Johnson, VPP, Director
Hartford Care Response Team
Darlene Childs, MS, VPP, Coordinator
Community Health Worker Program
Daniel Palmer, BS, VPP
Intervention Specialist/Community Health Worker
Winston Kennedy, VPP
Intervention Specialist/ Community Health Worker
Samariya Smith, MSW
Intervention Specialist
Kelvin Lovejoy, AS, VPP
Intervention Specialist
Areader (Ari) Cruz, MSW, VPP
Case Manager
Hartford Care Response Team
Clifton Drayton, BS
Community Health Worker
Sherelle Reid, AS
Community Health Worker
Jennika Lebron, BS
Community Health Worker
Aaron Ellis
Community Health Worker
HCTC is pleased to partner with the following organizations and alliances in our work.











