NEWS CENTER

Hartford librarian among 9 awarded for work in community

Gabbie Barnes is a multi-faceted woman who continually seeks ways to expand her knowledge and set forth on new journeys, she said.

“It’s important to me that we move through the world looking for opportunities to transform ourselves and how we relate to one another,” said Barnes, of Hartford, who was recently named a 2023 Connecticut Arts Hero.

Being named a Connecticut Arts Hero is meaningful to Barnes, a librarian for 20-plus years who utilizes her love of art and passion for engagement and lifelong learning.

“This award is a huge honor. I love that all of the awardees are nominated by their communities,” Barnes said. “Not that being given an award by an institution is less special, but knowing that people in your community think of you as extraordinary overwhelms me with gratitude.”

Barnes is a founding member and worker-owner of the People’s Saturday School and the current director of Mutual Aid Hartford.

As an advisory board member, she supported the development of Cooperate Connecticut, an emerging cooperative network dedicated to the solidarity economy and is currently serving a three-year term for the city of Hartford’s Commission on Cultural Affairs and as board member for the Windsor Art Center. She’s also made an impact on the art world through various positions she’s held at YOUmedia Hartford, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Seattle Art Museum, and Real Arts Ways. She holds a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Washington’s iSchool and a bachelor of arts in communication and media studies from Central Connecticut State University.

 

To read the full article from the Hartford Courant, click here.
By Pamela Brown Special to the Courant