Them's thriving words!

Nick: “We were living in London when Louisa got pregnant with our first son. The question was, Well, we probably need to move out of the city—where are we going to move to? We’re big outdoors people, and we wanted to live somewhere where we could hike and ski and counterbalance our incredibly intense professional life with something beautiful. I had visited New England as a teenager, and it had sort of seeped into my system. So I Googled ‘best small towns in New England’ and Louisa was dropping pins on Google Maps and looking around on Street View, and we turned to each other simultaneously and said, “Have you heard of this place called Keene?”

Emerson: It’s a very quick identifier when people say, “I’m from the Monadnock Region”—it’s something that comes to mind right away and rolls off the tongue with a lot of pride. I think people really love being from this area, and it’s a backbone of who they are. A few weeks back, a couple in their mid-20s came into the shop. They were from Massachusetts, looking at apartments here, and said they’ve always wanted to live in Peterborough. And I was so excited by the idea that there are people who are just starting their families or their careers who looking to move to the Monadnock Region. That narrative of young people wanting to leave this area—it’s great to see it disproven, that people are eager to come here and contribute and be a part of what we all love so much.

MEGHAN:  I was born in Nashua and raised in Peterborough, but I’ve moved all over: Connecticut, Boston, Burlington, Arizona. And I spent a number of years traveling the country for my former job [in marketing for Pepsi], seeing different cities and suburbs and rural communities, yet none of them truly felt like someplace where I would want to come back and live. There’s an intangible quality to being here and living in the Monadnock Region, something I can’t necessarily put my finger on. I think that’s part of what makes it so great: Each person loves it for their own reason

JOSH:  Adam and I met working together at a summer job in Rhode Island, and we were both on the same page for starting a business that was health- and wellness-focused. I believe New Hampshire was the best place to do that—this region is full of entrepreneurs, and we hope what we are building in Peterborough is encouraging everyone else to see the potential in what can be done in beautiful southwest New Hampshire.

ADAM: In Peterborough, what we discovered was, in my eyes, the true sense of community. Which was: If you’re trying to do something, the response is, How can I help? What can I do? How can I lift you up? A lot of that help and advice came from the business talent that lives in the Monadnock Region, and a lot of that comes from older or retired people with decades of experience in their given fields. What we’ve learned from them, we probably wouldn’t have gotten in a city like Boston. They had the time and the knowledge to help us, and they had the desire to give back.

AJA: Molly and I met in Brooklyn, where both of us had been living for quite some time. When Covid hit, we decided to come hang out in New Hampshire for a bit, maybe six months. And now it’s been three years! We bought a house here; we’re having a baby here. You could say we’ve become New Hampshirites. As a newcomer I find this region to be surprisingly open, especially when it comes to having these conversations about diversity and inclusion. It’s not instinctual, and we could bring more awareness to it, but generally people are open to it. I do think having initiatives to entice small business owners [from diverse backgrounds] to the region would be wonderful.

MOLLY: Aja is from North Carolina, but I’m from Dublin, and in hindsight it was pretty special to grow up here. It was lovely to know people; it was lovely to be known and felt cared for by an entire community. More generally, I find there’s a peacefulness in this area not only in the natural surroundings, but also in the way people interact with each other.

Gail: I moved to the Monadnock region for a career growth opportunity. Prior to coming to the area, I lived in the Philadelphia/New Jersey area where I lived for some time after migrating from Jamaica.

I have made so many rewarding connections in and around my community.  There are so many individuals and organizations that have supported my efforts to advance cultural and diversity engagement I am always overcome with gratitude. From the Monadnock Coop, Hannah Grimes Center, Arts Alive to the Local Crowd Fund and others, I can say enough to thank them.

Paul: Keene was a great place to grow up. I had friends all over town and was able to bike-ride anywhere I needed to go. The schools had great athletics programs with wonderful coaches and support, and Keene features great outdoor spaces and trails where I could spend the days exploring freely

Ritu: By profession I am an educator, I teach 8th grade Science at the Keene Middle School. By passion I am a community builder. I tirelessly work towards building our community into a welcoming and inclusive place. I am a founder and President of regions first Keene India Association, Chair of Keene International Festival, Member of Keene Human Rights committee, Advisor at The daily Good and Trustee Member of The Keene Public Library. 

For newcomers to the Monadnock region, I would suggest taking the time to explore the area’s natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking trails, lakes, and parks. Engaging with the local community through events, farmers’ markets, and multicultural festivals such as Keene International festival can help newcomers connect with their new surroundings and meet fellow residents. 

Jenni: I started working in MacDowell’s New York office in 2013 and moved to Peterborough in 2020. Even before the pandemic started, I’d been thinking about leaving the city and had enjoyed visiting Peterborough on work trips. Being able to keep my job and my connections to my coworkers made this major life transition feel much less intimidating.

MacDowell was founded in 1907 and has a rich history. Both new and long-tenured staff are committed to stewarding the organization and dedicated to MacDowell’s mission of serving artists.  Having this shared purpose leads to a natural sense of community.  

Jan: My partner grew up in the Monadnock region and I relocated here, it wasn’t on my radar before that and has become dear to me for all it has to offer. 

As a marketing agency focused on supporting businesses, our goal is pretty ambitious. We aim to help local businesses have access to the tools typically available solely to larger enterprises and franchises. New Englanders want to support local businesses and we help to get businesses out in front of the competition both online and in person.

I’m an avid cyclist and I love all the small windy roads between Walpole and Surry; an abundance of climbs and descents with very little car traffic and it leads through some really beautiful farmland. I also really enjoy the rail trails, especially in the spring when everything begins to get green.

Jeff: Every year, I’m more confident in my decision to base my business in the Monadnock Region. I can easily reach clients from western Massachusetts to the Seacoast and beyond, and find talented people for our team. Being so close to nature has benefits, like inviting key clients up for annual kayak trips. It’s easy here to live and work in balance.

Julianna: We moved here from Virginia in 2017 after my husband landed his dream job at Bensonwood, the renowned timber framing company. From our very first visit, the Monadnock Region just felt like home. I love being able to hit up a hike and the beach in a day, then taking our family to the farm where we get our food, and then finding myself in dance class with my banker. Being able to engage in local government so easily has led me down a path that I never imagined in my career doing economic development and entrepreneurship support at the Hannah Grimes Center, an innovative nonprofit.  Although I’ve been very geographically mobile my whole life, at this point, I can’t think of a reason to leave.

Adam: I am the co-founder and Board President of Keene Pride and I work at Brown Computer Solutions. I also co-own a queer entertainment company called Your’s Queerly, and am in the process of opening a venue in Downtown Keene. The community response to Keene Pride Week has been incredible! Thousands of people are coming to our events every year and they just keep growing. It shows how much this community is supportive of the LGBTQ+ community and how welcoming we are. 

Jessica: I grew up in the Monadnock Region, but I don’t think I fully appreciated how truly wonderful it is until I moved back in 2020. I now find myself continually inspired by some of the things I took for granted as a kid: how much beauty is right in my backyard; the world-class arts and culture available; and the comfort and joy of finding community in a small town. I appreciate how many interesting people live here, how I can raise my hand to volunteer and immediately make a difference, and how this region supports me in building such a satisfying life. I didn’t anticipate moving back, but I’m so glad that I did.

Jaime: I came here for College in 2002, and have never left. It has always felt like home with many outdoor hiking and biking adventures available within a short drive, as well as some good shopping and good local restaurants. The rail trail is great for jogging, walking or biking with family and friends. Prior to having kids, I played softball in the local league at Wheelock Park, which is now the same park that I am visiting often to take my two sons to their baseball games.  Keene is a great community to raise my family, it has good schools (one of which I am lucky to teach at), many programs and activities available for kids, and a caring community of people that get to know and support one another. It has the small town feel that I grew up with, however with many more people which also brings more opportunities and businesses which I appreciate. I feel lucky to be a part of such a friendly and supportive community.

Hannah: When my family first visited Keene State I was hoping to fall in love with the campus. What I didn’t know then was that I would also fall in love with downtown Keene. Coffee shops, vintage clothing, cool little stores, and performance spaces all within walking distance. And my parents always want to visit!