This Is My Hartford: Patrick Doyle

This Is My Hartford is a series from the MetroHartford Alliance where we connect with local businessowners, community drivers, residents, and employees to find out how the Hartford Region has shapedthem throughout their career, and how they have contributed to our city and region.By Nan Price, Content Manager, MetroHartford AllianceNext in our series, KNOX Executive Director Patrick Doyle.WHY HARTFORD?PATRICK DOYLE: After growing up in the Washington, DC area, I’ve always been drawn to what citieshave to offer. When I moved to Connecticut about 15 years ago, I started working in Hartford andimmediately loved it. There’s just so much going for the city. I love being able to connect to greatpeople, live music and events, as well as the beautiful parks and outdoor spaces. I really feel at home inHartford.HOW HAVE YOU BECOME A PART OF HARTFORD?PATRICK: I think the way you become a part of any area—and how I’ve become a part of Hartford—is byinvesting in it, whether it’s through volunteering or through what you do for work. I’ve always found itnecessary to be involved in the community and invested in everyone working together to make thespace we share a better space for everyone.I’m in Hartford to work, but I also come here to listen to music, attend events, volunteer, and enjoy localsporting events. So, it’s important to me that I feel connected to Hartford by getting to know people inthe community and learning the different ways we can collaborate.HOW HAS HARTFORD BECOME A PART OF YOU?PATRICK: Hartford is a place I really care about. I’m in the city almost every day. It’s become a happyplace for me to spend time and work toward making it even better for folks.It’s become a part of me from a standpoint of meeting amazing people here and all the good thingshappening in the city—and the potential to be a part of even better things coming down the line.WHAT MAKES HARTFORD UNIQUELY HARTFORD?PATRICK: The first thing I would say in response to that question is: It’s not proximity. I think too oftenpeople talk about Hartford being an awesome place because it’s close to Boston and to New York, but Ithink that sells us short. Hartford is its own awesome place—and it’s not awesome because it’s close toother points.All the wonderful things happening here are because of Hartford’s history and the contributions ofpeople living here now. It’s a very accessible, walkable city. I think it has all the best that cities have tooffer without a lot of the hassle you get in other places.HOW DO WE TELL THE STORY OF HARTFORD?PATRICK: There are so many ways to tell the story of Hartford because there are so many differentpeople here who have a story to share. What’s most important is to let those stories stand on their own.For example, here at KNOX, we’re doing great things to restore the urban tree canopy, build communitygardens, and educate the next generation about the environment. But that’s just one of the manystories of Hartford.What’s really wonderful about Hartford, in my experience, is that it’s always been a place where there isspace for all of those different stories and people to come together. So, I think the story of Hartford isone about lots of great things going on and lots of amazing people contributing to that from their ownunique perspective.WHERE DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF HARTFORD?PATRICK: I think the sooner people in Hartford embrace the city and embrace the potential here, there’sno telling where we can go. I see a lot of good efforts around creating a greener, more vibrant city—a city where we’re planting trees at school so kids have cleaner air to breathe, where people are pulling fresh food out of the ground and sharing that with their friends and neighbors and selling it at farmers markets. A city where everyone has a chance to succeed.Many of these efforts are already happening and people are starting to connect the dots in a way that’sreally exciting. So, in five to 10 years, I see more of those efforts coming together and, when thathappens, Hartford and the people living and working in Hartford will be even stronger.Learn more about KNOX in our feature story: Knox Beautifies Hartford, Strengths Communities