Recognition? We all need a bit more

Greater New Haven has many people who help our communities in many ways.

Some give money, some give their time, some offer their skills, and some raise their voices for a cause.

All are important and critical in helping to make Greater New Haven and beyond a better place to live, work and play.

I want to take a time out here to recognize some of these unsung people, which I intend to do from time to time. Many people and organizations are worthy and my lists have nothing to do with who or which is more deserving or more important. It is just my way of letting some people know what they do or did is appreciated.

And if you haven’t guessed already, these “shout-outs” from me aren’t worth anything — they don’t come with a prize or even a free subscription to the Register.

But some people must be applauded for their efforts.

⏩ Let’s start with Kaileigh Roby, the Guilford High School student who recently penned a Letter to the Editor that the high school “is not a safe space for children when it comes to bullying.”

“Academic and athletic excellence mean nothing when the children haven’t learned to be kind,” she wrote.

I don’t know the situation at the high school when it comes to bullying, but it took courage for this young lady to call out what she feels are the shortcomings of school administrators who were supposed to help her.

⏩ Every little bit helps when that help has that neighborhood feeling.

Arlene Henry, pastor of Now Faith Ministries Church, located on the first floor at 552 Winthrop Ave. in New Haven, only talks about the joy of giving back as she and church members carry on their tradition of handing out backpacks and school supplies to kids heading back to school, feeding the hungry at Thanksgiving or making sure something is under the Christmas tree for low-income children.

There is something special about people who do good deeds simply to spread good will.

⏩ Some things shouldn’t get lost with time, and language is one of them.

Kudos to Stephanie Fielding, a member of the Mohegan tribe, who is working to preserve the language of her ancestors, in which no Mohegan is fluent anymore.

Fielding told the Register she is working on a dictionary and grammar of her ancestors’ language to re-create as much of it as possible before it is lost, like so many American Indian languages.

“The last fluent speaker died in 1908,” she said.

It is a daunting challenge and Fielding should be congratulated for making an effort to keep her native tongue from going extinct.

⏩ First responders

If there were ever any doubt that people in Greater New Haven are in good hands in a medical emergency, that doubt was erased on Aug. 15.

That was the day there were 76 overdoses in New Haven during a 24-hour period — many on the Green.

It was a massive emergency and a massive, efficient response. There is no better feeling than knowing the public is in capable hands.

Well, there you have it. I didn’t spend agonizing hours trying to determine who should make up my first list of deserving people or organizations to recognize. And I know there are a lot more out there just as deserving to be in print this Sunday morning. I certainly hope in the coming months those people and organizations will find themselves in my column, too.

And there is a good reason for that. Recognition? We all need a bit more.