Join the HRLAC to learn more about human rights and engage in community service projects with your peers.

Our Mission
The Human Rights & Action Learning Community engages students through academic, experiential, and residential activities designed to enhance their understanding of social justice, diversity, and civic responsibility. In partnership with the Human Rights Institute and Community Outreach, we offer service experiences and immersion programs to provide practical forums that foster a greater understanding of individual values, community issues, and the principles necessary for active citizenship.
Eligibility
First-year and sophomore undergraduate students interested in human rights.
On Monday, Feb. 13, we invite you to join Dodd Human Rights Impact at @uconnstamford for an event celebrating the documentary 'Grit & Grace: The Fight for the American Dream,' produced by the 117th Congress's @fairgrowthcmte and directed by @uconndmd Associate Professor Oscar Guerra (@guerraproduction).
We'll be joined by U.S. Representative @repjimhimes and former U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, the film's director Oscar Guerra, and community leaders working across Connecticut.
We hope to see you there! Register to join us at the link in our bio.
@uconn @uconnsfa @uconn.global @uconnalumni ...
Tomorrow is the final day to see Madeline Baird's exhibition up in our main hall in the Dodd Center, so we're celebrating this striking work with a reception from 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm in the Lounge.
We encourage you to come out to join us and read our just-published companion piece in UConn Today!
Links to both in our bio.
@uconn.global @elin_uconn @uconndmd @uconnsfa @uconnanthro @uconnart @uconnprlacc ...
Coming up on Wednesday, February 1, we hope you'll join us for a reception with the photographer of our most recent exhibition in the halls of The Dodd Center for Human Rights.
Madeline Baird, a PhD student in @uconnanthro and the creator of the exhibition, will join us to describe the treacherous journey migrants take through the Darién Gap, and how her photography reveals both the dangerous individual experience in transit and the policy context that underlies it.
More info at the link in our bio!
@uconn.global @uconnsfa @elin_uconn @uconndmd ...
How can the #cleanenergy transition address historical inequities in how energy is produced and distributed? Join our Engineering for Human Rights team on February 1 for a community dialogue on what opportunities it poses in energy generation, infrastructure, transportation, and #environmentaljustice?
Register at the link in our bio.
@uconn.global @uconnengineer ...
Our first event of the new year!
On Tuesday, January 24 at 4:00 PM, Carl Wilkens will join @uconn.global @uconnjuds and Dodd Human Rights Impact to share his first-hand account of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and discuss how society restores trust and justice after such devastation.
We hope to see you there!
Register at the link in our bio or s.uconn.edu/rwandas-restorative-journey ...
Welcome back, #UConnNation! May today be a superb start to the Spring 2023 semester for you all. We’re delighted to have you back and wish you a happy new year! ...
Before we wrap up the Fall 2022 semester, allow us to shout out Derby Egyin, a dedicated student in human rights and sociology and a recipient of our Open Society Foundation Award. Congratulations, Derby!
Stay tuned! We look forward to returning next semester to our #AwardeeSpotlight series to highlight the innovative work of our graduate and faculty awardees!
@uconn.global @uconnhonorsprogram @uconn_sociology ...
We are so grateful to share the success of the Dodd Human Rights Impact Campaign. This considerable support is vital for our cross-cutting Dodd Impact programs in education, business, democracy, film & digital media, and helps us in our mission to prepare the next generation of human rights advocates.
To read more about the Dodd Human Rights Impact Campaign and the programs it benefits, head over to UConn Today at the link in our bio.
@uconn.global ...
It was a great pleasure to host Senator Chris Murphy, former Senator Chris Dodd, and Professor and President Emeritus Susan Herbst this evening for a fascinating conversation on civic engagement. We’re so grateful to all that came out to join us.
@uconn @uconn.global ...
We are thrilled to announce the establishment of the new 'International Students, Scholars, & Refugee Fund,' developed to provide support for students & scholars impacted by conflict in their home country. @uconnglobal @uconnalumni
Check the link in our bio to read how the fund got started. ...
Sage Phillips ‘22, an outstanding student in our MA in Human Rights, was recently interviewed by UConn President Radenka Maric on the experience of Native American and Indigenous students at UConn, her legacy at the University, and much more. Sage is a Truman, Udall, and Cohen scholar, as well as a graduate of the BA in Human Rights & Political Science.
Full interview at the link in our bio. ...
We're thrilled to share our colleagues from @pandemicjournaling were featured in UConn Today for their growing reach with the 'Picturing the Pandemic' multimedia exhibition, currently installed at the Hartford Public Library.
Read the article at the link in our bio, and if you haven't yet, check out the exhibition at @hplct until Thursday, December 15. ...
In this week's student awardee spotlight, let us introduce you to Aiman Hameed. Aiman is a @uconnhonorsprogram student in @uconn_pols and @uconnhri, with minors between @uconnwgss and @uconn.global. Between writing a book and her many commitments on and off campus, Aiman is surely very busy! We're proud to say she is the recipient of the Alan B. Slifka Award. ...
A new documentary from professor Oscar Guerra (@uconndmd & @uconnhri affiliate) premieres TONIGHT on @frontlinepbs! In his new film, Guerra examines zero-tolerance immigration enforcement with the story of a mother & daughter separated at the border. @uconn.global
Check the link in our bio to read the story. ...
This Saturday, we hope you'll join us at @ctoldstatehouse for an interactive Encounters dialogue that explores the history of the 'Constitution State.'
Register here or at the link in our bio: bit.ly/CTConstitutionEncounters ...
Continuing our student awardee spotlight series, today we'd like to recognize Sophie Lemire! Sophie is a junior in @uconnhonorsprogram studying Economics and Human Rights. She is a recipient of the Open Society Foundation Award. Congratulations, Sophie! ...
On Nov. 30, we hope you'll join us in welcoming Christine Sylvester for an innovative conversation on how the public 're-curates' perspectives on war at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Join us in person at The Dodd Center for Human Rights or online by Zoom.
Register at the link in our bio. ...
On December 8, join us at The Dodd Center for Human Rights for an interactive conversation on civic engagement and democracy with Senator Chris Murphy and former Senator Chris Dodd.
Register to join us at the link in our bio, or s.uconn.edu/civic-engagement ...
For this week's #AwardeeSpotlight, meet Emily Lucke, a senior Political Science major, Human Rights minor, and recipient of the Mark S. Rudy Award! ...
On Wednesday, Nov. 9, our Research Program on Humanitarianism's History group will be hosting David Evans for a presentation that addresses how state and non-state actors responded to global food insecurities through the 1970s, symbolizing larger trends in the politics of resource distribution and access to life's most basic necessities.
The discussion is open to all, we encourage you to join us! Link in bio and here:
s.uconn.edu/from-crisis-to-activism
@uconnhistory @uconnclas @uconn.global ...
Reflections from Past Members

“The Human Rights and Action Learning Community is the place that I consider my home here at UConn. I think that being in the LC has really allowed me to expand my thought process and really think about the issues that are affecting not only myself, but everyone around me as well.”
- Richard Garcia
“HRALC has done so much for me. I found my best friends, my passions, and because of it I have gotten the most out of my first two years at UConn.”
- Kristen Belisario


“This LC helped me step into college feeling confident and sure of myself. This group of people have helped make this transition much easier and I love the values we believe in as a community.”
- Olivia Stevens
“I would absolutely encourage incoming freshmen to join the HRALC! Sure it may seem like a lot of work at first, but it’s worth it. Especially for those who like want to make friends, care about human rights and like volunteering.”
—Simran Thakur

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