A Lovely Day
Kathy Taylor, President and CEO
Last week, we gathered around a crowded table.
Not literally, of course, though it certainly felt that way. Not because we were elbowing each other for more room, but precisely the opposite. We were grateful to be together, catch up with one another, celebrate what We the Community has accomplished, and dream about what still remains to be done. It was hopeful and, as someone reminded me afterward, it was just what the doctor ordered.
At our Annual Meeting, surrounded by friends, partners, volunteers, donors, nonprofit leaders, and community champions, I was reminded once again of what makes Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills so special. In a world that can often feel divided and uncertain, there is something powerful about being in a room filled with people who care deeply about one another and about the future we are building together.
As I shared that evening, in the words of Robert Frost, the world can be lovely, dark, and deep. We see the challenges around us every day. And yet, when I look across Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills, I always find reasons for hope. I see people stepping forward to help. I see generosity in action. I see neighbors investing in neighbors and communities choosing possibility over despair. I see our community living out the wise and courageous words of our nation's first National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman:
"For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it."
In the stories featured in our September newsletter, you'll find highlights from our Annual Meeting, opportunities to connect and engage, updates on Give Local 2027, inspiring stories from local nonprofits doing good work, and introductions to the newest members of our Board of Trustees. Together, they tell a story not just of what we've accomplished, but of what remains possible.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Thank you for helping keep the promise that those who came before us entrusted to our care.
And as we step into a new season together, may we continue to plant seeds, nurture hope, and believe that tomorrow is worth preparing for.
Because it is.
