Page 16 - 08-Nov-Dec-2024

PUBLISHER’S NOTE.
LOCAL HEROES
I’m not atheletic. I don’t even watch sports. When I went to school, there were no participation ribbons, so I didn’t get anything on Sports Day. My lack of interest in sports is perplexing to our editor, Steven Sandor, who seems to know everything about the Oilers and soccer and maybe baseball, too.
I sometimes stop listening when he talks about sports.
But I do like magazines. In our office we have lots of team publishing awards, but I’ve never received a trophy with my name on it. Until now.
It’s an Achievement in Publishing Award. It’s a trophy. My first. This might sound like bragging, but my colleagues will tell you that I’m not that sort of person.
I am telling you this because it’s given me a new perspective on our Top 40 Under 40 program. Being recognized for your work is pretty great, but something a Top 40 judge said really made me think.
In a recent Edify Unfiltered podcast, you’ll hear Heather Thomson say, “...there’s so much drive, there’s so much vision. And the main thing I was reading through all this is the amount of support that these individuals have, and were able to reference in their team or reference in their family dynamic... They were talking about these massive things they’ve accomplished, but the context of how they accomplished it, I thought was really interesting.”
It’s because no one accomplishes anything without help.
I received my publishing award because I work with talented, committed people who care deeply about journalism, magazines and our city. Telling the stories of people is a big part of city-building. Local journalism- based magazines connect the community — business, arts, culinary, style, life — even sports. As Thomson said later in the same podcast about Edify: It’s an everything magazine.
It’s like the Top 40s. They are everything people. They represent all that is good and industrious and smart and talented in the capital region. But here’s the thing — others supported them.
Maybe you aren’t a Top 40 and maybe you aren’t being recognized as an Edifier or one of Six Who Inspire in our next issue. Maybe you are like me and you will only ever have one trophy on your shelf with your name on it. But the real question is: What are you doing to help someone else?
If you aren’t sure how to be a contributor to
our community, call an arts organization, or a hos- pital foundation, or a shelter. Or better yet, go to volunteerconnector.org and see what suits you. On the day I looked, there were 721 opportunities. Really, there are endless ways for you to be a city-builder — just reach out and help someone.
Trudy Callaghan
Publisher
Scan here to find the Edify Unfiltered podcast.
We can make it together.
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