Today I found the publisher’s website for a book that I worked on - The Community Place: More than a place, a way of welcoming. I spent over a year on the layout and design of this book, mostly due to life getting in the way. It’s great to see it in print (and for sale!). The website also features a summary, written by yours truly.

We often find community in the most unexpected places - cafés, book shops, hair salons - but no matter where we find it, the benefits are undeniable. There is a feeling of belonging, of mattering in a community that we often seek and rarely find.

In 1994, a group of dedicated individuals set out to build and nurture a community that celebrates everyone’s gifts in Manchester, Connecticut. Located on Main Street, The Community Place was a card and gift shop on the outside and much more on the inside. It was a gathering place, a place to have a cup of tea, a place to meet local artists, and most importantly, a place where everyone was welcome.

Although The Community Place closed its doors in 2003, its legacy continues through the lessons learned and the lives it touched. This is the story of Pat Beeman, George Ducharme, Bev Jackson, and countless others that came along on this rocky yet rewarding community building experience.

I have a lot of great memories from when I worked at The Community Place. In many ways, it has shaped who I am today. It changed my outlook on community, it taught me to respect people, to appreciate everyone’s gifts, and to show my appreciation.

The Community Place was a business with a clearly defined vision that everyone who walked through its doors was dedicated to fulfilling, whether they knew it or not. It was impossible to come in and not feel welcome.

Sometimes I miss the feeling of believing 100% in a mission shared by everyone involved in the business. The Community Place was a place I felt passionate about, where my creativity was encouraged, and where I felt like I was part of something greater than myself. All this, just from a part-time job I had when I was in high school. Not bad at all.