We have one rule when we write the editorial each week. The editorial must relate to Greenwich. You probably will not see a commentary here on international relations, unless someone from Greenwich is involved and shares a unique perspective. The reason for the Greenwich-centric focus is simple. There is so much about our community that deserves 650 words of focus (that is the average length of our editorials). We have written about our first responders and veterans. We wrote about what a great job our department of public works did during the recent snowstorm, and last week we even wrote about our parades. We have a jar of editorial ideas to tap when writer’s block sets in. Lucky for us, there continue to be many great things to write about, and we have not had to unseal the jar.
We want to give a big shout out to the Greenwich Town Party Community Heroes campaign. Don’t know about it? Well, everyone seems to know about the Greenwich Town Party, the annual celebration for our town to come together for a day of music, food, fun, family and neighbors to celebrate the strength of our community. Last year they launched a “Community Heroes” campaign. It is an opportunity to nominate someone in town who has had a meaningful impact on your life. We love this idea. What better way to celebrate the strength of our entire community?
On the concept of “hero,” the actor Robert Downey, Jr., said, “I think that we all do heroic things, but hero is not a noun, it’s a verb.” Hero as a verb: we like that concept. It applies to many in our community. It also means heroes walk among us every day. They are not just the ones who we give awards to or celebrate for a major accomplishment they are your favorite teacher, a neighbor who helps catch your dog when it gets loose, the volunteer who shows up every week to sort clothing. They are literally every person who has a positive impact on our community. And that is what makes Greenwich Town Party’s Community Heroes campaign so amazing. We get to see why every person was nominated. Their stories are impactful. Who would you nominate?
We gave this serious consideration. We wanted someone who might not normally be considered. We wanted someone who was heroic on a daily, even hourly, basis. We wanted someone who was humble and always puts others ahead of themselves. We wanted someone upon whose shoulders many stand today and who is proud of that accomplishment. We found the perfect candidate to nominate as a Community Hero. We nominate Susan Tabak Proto.
Ms. Proto, as her students call her, has been teaching at Julian Curtis School for 35 years, since 1981. She actually began her teaching career in 1977. She has impacted literally thousands of our children when they are impressionable. Ms. Proto teaches 2nd grade, and when you ask her about what she love about her job, she does not hesitate. “It’s watching children’s reactions to learning and doing new things. Their excitement keeps me young (even when I am feeling not so young).” She knows each student and how to reach them. She is a tender coach, a cheerleader and referee all at once. And when Ms. Proto is not teaching, she enjoys listening to music, reading, going to the theater and dining out with friends. She is constantly in motion.
So, who would you nominate? It is easy to do. You can go to www.greenwichtownparty.org/heroes or you can email them at GTPheroes@greenwichtownparty.org. Either way, include a photo and your nomination will go up on their website for the rest of us to see. In May they will choose 50 nominations at random to celebrate at the party. What a terrific way to showcase how our community is a community of heroes in action—verbs, not nouns.
