| Understanding the need for information,
research, and educational services on urban issues, a concerned
group of Hartford residents formed the Citizens' Research
Education Network, Inc. (CREN). CREN empowers residents and
community organizations, by providing critical information to
the people who work to revitalize Hartford. Founded in 1981,
CREN has produced dozens of original reports that explore issues
often overlooked by the mainstream media and government.
In 2005 and 2006, CREN will re-create its community access
television station, and celebrate our 25 th anniversary in 2006
with a Hartford Heroes Celebration.
CREN’s mission is to….
Inform.
CREN publishes independent, non-partisan previews of City
Council and school board meetings, and also tracks ands monitors
council actions and other government functions. There is no
knowledge without information. Since 1981 CREN has been a
trusted, impartial source of city news and information for the
people.
Explore.
CREN researches and reports on issues that often go
unexplored. CREN also localizes issues of national importance:
Voting rights, economic justice, election reform. These and
other issues all require more analysis than they often get in
the mainstream media. CREN goes deeper and finds out how these
issues effect citizens.
Empower.
There is no power without knowledge. All CREN reports and
activities are driven by the belief that people have power and
need knowledge and context to exercise it. CREN works with
resident and community organizers to make information meaningful
and help people discover their power.
Engage.
Democracy requires a respectful exchange of ideas. CREN
provides a venue for people to engage in their community, with
their government, and with other people and institutions with
power or influence. |