My name is Matt McGowan and I have lived in the north end of Ansonia for almost two decades now.
In the time that I’ve lived here I have never seen more energy or felt more pride for our communities than during large public events like the Harvest Festival, the annual Juneteenth celebration in Gatison park, or Derby Day.
This is the type of energy myself and many others have come to the realization through multiple meetings over the past few months that needs to be emulated not just on those special days but throughout the entire year via a community center!
In these trying times the added trials and tribulations have compounded the pre-Covid hardships that were already plaguing all of us, the working folks of Derby and Ansonia.
This has brought about a greater need for stronger community support and defense in our two communities. One of the greatest solutions that has worked for decades in communities with similar needs to ours – not only in Connecticut but across the USA – is a community center.
A community center has the ability to both support many of the services that our two towns already have and bring new services we desperately need, while also bringing some much needed community connections and pride, which many of us in Ansonia and Derby deeply miss.
A community center itself does not work properly unless there is both powerful true input and strong support from us the people of Derby and Ansonia. That is why I would ask you to fill out this survey http://www.bit.ly/3LVbK2Z presented by All in for Ansonia and Derby, an alliance made up of organizations and residents who live and work in our two communities, in order to give your input on what you want to see out of a community center.
The survey also offers the chance to get informed of future meetings led by All In For Ansonia and Derby to help make this idea a reality for Derby and Ansonia!!
Opinions expressed in letters to the editor are the opinions of the letter writer, not necessarily the publication. There is a 550-word limit.
