West Hartford Honored For Helping The Elderly And Disabled

Town of West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The Town of West Hartford has received the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative’s 2025 Wellspring Award for fostering community inclusivity for every age and every ability.

West Hartford was one of Connecticut’s first municipalities to host a Daring Dialogue.

This Age Well Collaborative-designed community workshop brings together community members and local leaders to challenge assumptions about aging and disability and explore how biases influence our thoughts and actions.

West Hartford is among three Connecticut towns, along with Wethersfield and Newtown, that will be recognized at a celebration in June.

The Town of West Hartford’s participation in the "Daring Dialogue" program was cited.

Recently, more than 20 participants, including residents, town leaders, and elected officials, were present to share their lived experiences and discuss ways the town can engage and better serve aging and disabled community members.

“Being able to host a Daring Dialogue was a meaningful experience for everyone. Putting your words into action, as the town has done, proves that West Hartford is a town for everyone and that our leaders and community members are willing to work together to ensure our town continues to create spaces for dialogue that are solution-driven. I’m thankful to work and live in a community that shows up,” says Adrienne Billings-Smith, manager of employee development and community engagement at West Hartford.

The Connecticut Age Well Collaborative, an initiative of Connecticut Community Care (CCC), is a statewide, cross-sector initiative to foster communities for every age and every ability.

“Fostering more inclusive places doesn’t just help Connecticut residents who are already aging or living with a disability. It helps all of us, both for our future selves and right now, with more just, equitable communities for everyone,” said Alyssa Norwood, director of the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative. “This year’s Wellspring Award recipients are incredible thought leaders.”

For more information, visit ctagewellcollaborative.org.