AGE: 27
TITLE: President/Strategy
COMPANY NAME: Civic Mind
COMPANY’S LOCATION: Hartford
RESIDENCE: Hartford
What do you do? We are a project planning and design firm specializing in community development – “We Build Happier Communities.” We either start social enterprises from scratch or take on clients. Our first projects were creating Downtown Yoga Studios and Cycled Energy on Pratt Street to cultivate a community around health and well-being. We’re now working with the City of Hartford on another fun project — the “Movies After Dark” series in the city’s parks.
What do you want to be doing in 10 years? I was hit by a truck while walking in West Hartford Center two years ago instantly crumpling up my life plans and throwing them out the window. My rehabilitation led me to yoga and ultimately Downtown Yoga Studios. Career-wise, Civic Mind is driven to create and develop new ideas to build community so it’s hard to say exactly what we’ll be interested in ten years from now. I really love my work now, so I hope to be just as passionate in ten years.
What is your biggest strength? Finding smart people to work with, then getting out of their way. Creative people, in particular, don’t like to be micromanaged. I’m also naturally very curious and try to be a sponge when it comes to new ideas and advice. Much of my success has come from being a strong listener.
Where do you go for new ideas? Yoga class… It’s just you and your thoughts in there.
What is the best advice you received? “If I only had three words of advice, they would be, tell the truth. If I got three more words, I’d add, all the time.” – Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture)
What service or charitable cause has your attention? I’m really excited about working with the Partnership for Strong Communities here in Hartford. Affordable housing is the foundation to building any community and their most recent forum, “Connecticut’s Young Professionals, How Can Communities Keep and Attract Them?” has led to Young Energetic Solutions (YES), an initiative for young professionals to actively participate in shaping the future of our communities.
