Creativity Connects Danbury: Meet Lynn Negron, Second Generation Danburian, Small Business Owner
Creativity Connects Danbury
What fuels a vibrant, connected and creative community? What makes people feel good about living in Danbury?
When locals share the creativity that they uncover in the nooks and crannies of their community it brings about connectivity and makes us all feel good.
Believe it or not, you discover creativity every day as you walk, shop, work, and play in Danbury.
Creativity connects us.
Meet Lynn Negron, second-generation Danburian, co-founder with her husband, Michael, of Weenie Lynns.
Tell us about an organization in your town that makes you feel good
It is not so much an organization in town that makes me feel good, but rather it is the school system in Danbury that makes me feel happy. Both my parents, George Radachowsky and Rachel Radachowsky attended and graduated from Danbury Public Schools, as did I and my three siblings. Our five children also attended the very same schools that I did - from elementary through high school! Each child took full advantage of the opportunities afforded them through the amazing staff, academic and athletic programs.
As a parent, I was involved for over 10 years with the elementary school PTO as a volunteer and as an officer. My experience was welcoming, filled with excitement, interest and a hunger for being a part of the school community (staff, students and their families). I led three Girl Scout troops with meetings held in the schools and had the support of parents/grandparents, staff, custodians and cafeteria employees. I saw first-hand that it truly does take a village to nurture, educate and support our youth.
Four of my five children have graduated from college, the 5th graduates in May 2021, and two have so far completed their Master's. Danbury Public Schools initiated the pathway for my children to excel and to prepare for college and thus life.
That is what makes me feel good and what makes me feel proud.
Where do you go for inspiration and creativity?
One of my favorite places to unwind, to count my blessings, to breathe, oddly, is Wooster Cemetery by Danbury Hospital! My three daughters and I (or any combination of us on a given day) have been walking there with our dogs for the past five years incorporating over 3 miles each time of hills and valleys, older historic areas and more recent areas. The history of Danbury is buried there... local heroes from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam are buried there, as are those who brought the hatting industry to town and put Danbury on the map.
We straighten the American flags on soldier's graves and thank them for their service; we Google names as we walk and learn more about those who came before us and marvel at their contribution to Danbury's history. In addition, the beauty of the foliage of the wildlife (rabbits, deer, chipmunks, squirrels, geese, ducks, birds, snakes) make it a visual feast for the eyes any season of the year.
What do you love about your community?
What I love about the Danbury community is its diversity.... that children of all races and ethnic backgrounds go to school together, learn from each other to celebrate their sameness and to accept each other for their differences; that my neighborhood is alive with different languages, traditions and scents of food wafting through the air 3 seasons out the year.
I love my connection to the history of our community...that my paternal grandparents were founding members of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church...that my maternal grandparents worked in the hatting industry.
I love that my roots are deep in my community.
Creativity Connects Danbury made possible by LIFEWTR.
The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of HamletHub or LIFEWTR.