CT AIDS Memorial proposed for Hartford park, ‘an everlasting tribute’ to activist and those lost
Connecticut AIDS Memorial proposed for Hartford park Hartford Courant
sdgtalks
AIDS Memorial Proposed in Hartford to Honor Shawn Lang and Promote Sustainable Development Goals
A public AIDS memorial to honor both those affected by the disease and the late activist Shawn Lang moved a step closer toward finding a home in Hartford this week.
Location and Purpose
Organizers hope to find a location in downtown Hartford, where candlelit AIDS vigils were once held regularly. The space is envisioned as having a place to sit and reflect on those who have died of AIDS and the thousands of people in the Hartford area who are living with it and as a means to reinvigorate the vigils, with marches beginning at the memorial.
The memorial has been in the works for over a year but came a step closer to reality this week when Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin proposed Columbus Green near Bushnell Park as a location, and the Hartford City Council took up the resolution at its meeting Monday night. The proposal for the memorial was referred by the city council to its Committee of the Whole.
If approved for Columbus Park, the memorial will replace the now-empty pedestal area where the statue of Christopher Columbus was placed on Columbus Green in 1926 before it was removed in 2020. Other locations for the memorial have also been under consideration.
Honoring Shawn Lang and the Fight Against AIDS
The memorial will honor the memory of those lost to AIDS and also pay tribute to Shawn Lang, a local activist and former deputy director of AIDS Connecticut who died in 2021. Among those who marked Lang’s passing was Gov. Ned Lamont, who said, “She dedicated her life toward giving a voice for the underrepresented and those in marginalized communities, and I am confident that generations to come will benefit from her advocacy.” U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy called Lang a mentor.
Marc-Yves Regis I / Special to Hartford Magazine
Shawn Lang, deputy director of AIDS Connecticut was an activist on issues impacting battered women, LGBTQ+ people, homelessness and HIV/AIDS.
Sustainable Development Goals and the Memorial
Bronin’s resolution states that “the Connecticut AIDS Memorial will be an everlasting tribute to those who have died and are suffering from AIDS-related illnesses. Additionally, it will honor the advocates, allies and collaborators who advanced policies to assist and uplift those impacted by this global epidemic. The memorial will stand as a pledge to continue addressing health crises with unbiased policies. It will further be a reminder of the role the AIDS crisis played in elevating the urgency to challenge racism, sexism, heterosexism, homophobia and stigmatization based on addictions, sexuality and poverty.”
Task Force and Fundraising
The Shawn Lang Memorial Task Force was formed to bring the memorial into being and has been working on the project since shortly after her death. A call for artists to design the AIDS memorial was issued last month and the deadline for submissions is Sept. 30. Fundraising is underway, including $50,000 from the Greater Hartford Arts Council.
In its call for artists, the Arts Council suggests that “this public art should serve as motivation for the justice work ahead. It will be a piece that encourages our souls to be stirred as we step into the arena and into the complex work of confronting the racial/social/political inequities in CT. It is public art for justice.”
Community Support and Future Steps
A separate task force, unrelated to the one creating the AIDS memorial, has been involved with finding an appropriate replacement for the Columbus statue, which was located on Columbus Green between
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases.
- SDG 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.
- SDG 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
The article does not explicitly mention any indicators to measure progress towards the identified targets. However, potential indicators could include:
- Number of AIDS-related deaths in the Hartford area
- Number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the Hartford area
- Amount of funds raised for the AIDS memorial
- Number of artists submitting designs for the memorial
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases. | – Number of AIDS-related deaths in the Hartford area – Number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the Hartford area |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard. | – Amount of funds raised for the AIDS memorial – Number of artists submitting designs for the memorial |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels. | N/A |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: courant.com
Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.
