After the Makers: Mayor Arunan Arulampalam | An Immigrant Story Through Public Service
A personal health journey unexpectedly brought us to Hartford, Connecticut. What was supposed to be a temporary stay became an opportunity to experience a city that felt remarkably connected through its people. Walking its neighborhoods, we met Guyanese families, Caribbean business owners, immigrants from across Africa and Latin America, and people who had relocated from other parts of the United States in search of opportunity. It raised a simple question: Was Hartford’s diversity something that happened naturally, or was it intentionally cultivated?
That question became the starting point for this special edition of After the Makers with Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, whose own life reflects the very story the city continues to tell. The son of refugees, Arulampalam became Hartford’s 68th mayor, bringing his family’s immigration experience into public service and civic leadership.
Rather than focusing on politics, our conversation explored something more universal: what it takes to build a city where people from different backgrounds not only live together, but genuinely belong.
Early in our conversation, Mayor Arunan Arulampalam reflected on the significance of Hartford electing the son of refugees to lead the city. For him, representation extends beyond symbolism. He described bringing schoolchildren into City Hall to see the portraits of previous mayors and showing them how leadership can evolve over time. His hope is that young people, regardless of where they come from, can see themselves in positions of leadership and believe that they, too, belong in places of influence.
That same philosophy extends beyond City Hall. Throughout the interview, the mayor described efforts to strengthen neighborhood business corridors, invest in local entrepreneurs, and celebrate Hartford’s cultural diversity through food, arts, and community events. His vision is one where government creates opportunities for communities to flourish rather than expecting communities to succeed without support.
The conversation became deeply personal as Mayor Arunan Arulampalam reflected on watching his own parents navigate the immigration process. He recalled seeing them overlooked because of their accents and backgrounds despite their talents and resilience. Those experiences continue to shape how he views leadership today. Rather than seeing immigrants as a burden, he argues that communities receive immeasurably more from immigrant families than they often recognize.
One of the interview’s most memorable reflections came when he challenged the familiar description of America as a “melting pot.” Instead, he described reading an article where it was described as a potluck, where every community contributes its own traditions, culture, and identity without losing what makes it unique. It was a simple metaphor that captured the heart of our conversation: diversity is not about becoming the same. It is about bringing different strengths together.
That idea is particularly meaningful in Hartford, where Caribbean communities continue to leave a lasting imprint on the city’s cultural identity. Guyanese restaurants, entrepreneurs, faith communities, and families have become part of the broader story of Hartford alongside immigrants from dozens of countries around the world.
Each summer, that story becomes especially visible during the West Indian Independence Celebrations, one of Connecticut’s longest-running Caribbean cultural traditions. Established in 1962, the celebration honors the independence of Caribbean nations through a vibrant parade, live music, cultural performances, authentic cuisine, and a marketplace that brings together communities from across the region. The annual celebration continues to connect Caribbean-born residents with younger generations while sharing the richness of West Indian culture with the wider Hartford community.
This year’s West Indian Independence Celebration will take place on Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Bushnell Park. The event features a parade beginning at Albany Avenue and Main Street before continuing into Bushnell Park, followed by a vendor marketplace and concert celebrating Caribbean heritage. Additional information is available through the organizers at WIIC Hartford.
For viewers in the Guyanese diaspora, this conversation offers another reminder that Guyanese stories are often woven into larger narratives of immigration, entrepreneurship, and community building. Hartford’s story belongs to many people, and Guyanese families continue to be among those helping shape it every day.
In the end, this interview is not about one city or one mayor. It is about belonging. It is about dignity. It is about recognizing that communities become stronger when people are given the opportunity to contribute fully, regardless of where their journey began.
After the Makers continues to document the people, places, and stories carrying Guyanese lineage while celebrating the broader communities that shape our shared experience across the diaspora.
Documenting Those Carrying Guyanese Lineage.
Berbice Peace® 🇬🇾