Depending on your issue or preferences, the Greater New Haven area was the place to be in the early evening hours on Tuesday. Fresh air and hot air abounded on the steps of City Hall; whether they inhaled and exhaled for Jorge Perez or just to be part of the happenings, they were a vocal group of folks. Many of them travelled from other cities to express their curiosity or dismay. Some had done their own personal and professional battles with the Man who would be King. John Daniels and Jim Newton may not hablan espanol, but they were well understood!
Refreshments and conversation were far more cordial at Business After Hours. The Tripeg Studios hosted the amiable gathering of thirsty
networkers. It is not easy to balance food and drink in one hand and to shake and distribute business cards with the other. This gives new definition to multi-tasking.
Back at the Green, the United Way convened a group of already well
networked folks at the first official community meeting to start its transformational journey to a change of status to a Community Impact Organization. Thirty community partners have signed on to the goal of achieving systemic changes to socio-economic conditions that will have long-term effects to improve lives. Only six United Way agencies in the country have been awarded the resources (thanks to SBC — another company you used to love to hate!) to effect this
dramatic change. Board members and strategic partners included Board Chair Barbara Pearce, Regional Water Authority
President David Silverstone, Regional Growth Partnership President Bob Santy, New Alliance Bank Foundation’s Kim Healy, the City’s Social Service Administrator Sheila Allen Bell, Yale-New Haven Hospital’s Sue Fitzsimmons, New Haven Family Alliance Executive Director Barbara Tinney, Judith Hackman Dozier of Yale University. We don’t know if they can dance, but the movers and shakers were definitely
assembled. Willie Freeman, Dick Fitzpatruck, Ed Dowling, Tom Sansone, Michael Schaffer, Ben Kaplan, Al Smith, Lindy Gold, Rita Berkson and other participants probably multi tasked a combined total of more than 300 years of community board leadership roles to provide vision and funding to most of the nonprofit institutions in the area. They will be out, in force, to explain the
New United Way and to ask for more community input of time, talent and treasure!