The Memorial Fund’s 2001-2003 Triennial Report is now available
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Grantee Stories

Getting the Picture

The photographs were passed out as people walked in the door. Dozens of pictures that seemed to typify New England -- of parks and cemeteries, schools and post offices, ponds and bridges -- documented the long history and the life of Thompson, a town of 9,000 nestled in the furthest northeast corner of Connecticut. As over a hundred town residents of all ages gathered on an autumn evening in 2002 to participate in a New England tradition -- the community potluck -- the photos were a focal point for engendering conversation. "They allowed us," said one participant, "to hear each other differently." [Read More]

Starting Smart

"It’s a real struggle sometimes," a woman caring for her three young granddaughters told a meeting of Windsor’s Early Childhood Council (ECC). As an older caregiver, she spoke about the challenges she faces in locating resources, getting support, helping her family with homework -- and her fatigue at the end of a long day of both paid work and family caretaking. "Stories like that remind me of why I accepted the invitation to join the Council," says an ECC parent member. While her own children are now past the "early" years, she notes that she wanted to get involved in setting the direction for early childhood care in town. "We have to remember," she says, "that if parents are feeling overwhelmed they are less likely to be responsive to what their kids need." [Read More]

Minding Our Business

"There have been moments when -- I have to confess -- I’ve referred to it as group therapy," laughs a member of Norwalk’s School Readiness Council in describing the process surrounding Norwalk’s involvement in the Discovery Initiative. "At other times I can say that it was a lengthy process of building consensus." For Norwalk, as for the other 48 Discovery sites, building consensus was essential. To encourage collaboration, the Memorial Fund accepted only one Discovery application per community; each application had to be signed by representatives of five specified groups. "Our Discovery steering committee spent much of its first year developing trust and defining a common purpose," notes a Board of Education member. [Read More]