Jane Brown named Revitalizing Waterbury’s 2023 Volunteer of the Year

January 20, 2024  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

Along with members of the Revitalizing Waterbury Design Committee, Jane Brown (center) accepts her 2023 Volunteer of the Year Award, a framed print of a painting of Stowe Street by artist Peter Huntoon. Left to right: Debbie Bard, Sue Johansen, Marie Gervais, Brown, Carolyn Fox and Julie Frailey. Photo courtesy of RW

Revitalizing Waterbury’s Board of Directors recently named Jane Brown as the group’s 2023 Volunteer of the Year. 

Shared at the organization’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Party, the award recognizes a volunteer who has gone above and beyond their usual role over the past year.  

A longtime member of the organization, Brown has served on the RW Design Committee for more than a decade, helping with projects that impact the physical image of Waterbury as a place that’s attractive to shoppers, business owners and visitors. 

RW Executive Director Karen Nevin explained that in 2023, Brown recognized that many of the spaces along Main Street were not being maintained. In fact, many areas were overgrown. “Jane spent time inventorying all of these spaces, listing what needed to be done and proposing plantings and maintenance plans,” Nevin said. “From her work, the ‘Orphan Garden’ project was born and will become a major focus for the Design Committee in 2024.”

Brown also participates on the Stowe Street Alley Committee and last spring provided her expertise in saving a tree and small bushes from the alley, replanting them elsewhere before new landscaping will be installed in the alley this year. 

“As an involved member of the community, Jane is always thinking about how we can beautify our streets with flowers, plants, trees and bushes,” Nevin said. “Waterbury is a more welcoming place because of the presence and leadership of Jane Brown.”  

Julie Frailey, president of the RW Board of Directors, said volunteers are key to the organization’s efforts. “Our goal is to engage the community and grow our committees and corps of volunteers,” she said. “We also want to make sure our volunteers receive the recognition they deserve for the hours, effort and heart given to help us thrive. We say it often – we couldn’t do it without our volunteers.” 

Revitalizing Waterbury is a nonprofit community and economic development organization. According to Nevin, more than 70 people volunteer with the group’s various projects for a total of approximately 2,000 hours each year. Volunteers serve on the RW board and its various committees, overseeing the Waterbury Train Station operations, participating in marketing and tourism initiatives, organizing and running the annual Waterbury Arts Fest event. 

Volunteers help plant flowers and put up holiday decorations in public spaces; they stuff envelopes and deliver materials to local businesses. 

More information on how to get involved is online at revitalizingwaterbury.org or call 802-793-6029.