SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Saratoga County’s impact sector is growing stronger together thanks to a collaborative event series called The Art of Community.
 
Presented by Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Caffè Lena, The Art of Community is a monthly impact sector gathering series through which nonprofit workers and volunteers can meet up to swap news, ideas and encouragement. 
 
Each month, Caffè Lena’s executive director Sarah Craig kicks off the program with a 30-minute conversation featuring a local nonprofit leader, followed by an informal half hour of networking.
 
The Art of Community happens from 4 to 5 p.m. on the last Tuesday of every month at the historic Caffè Lena music venue, located at 47 Phila St. in downtown Saratoga Springs. The events are free to attend, and all are welcome to come recharge and connect. The conversations are also livestreamed and available on Caffè Lena’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@CaffeLena.
 
Attendees have the opportunity to hear from the folks who care for hungry and homeless neighbors, maintain nature trails, put on concerts, keep seniors active, preserve historic buildings and so much more within the Saratoga County community.
 
The Art of Community provides a platform for nonprofits to share their stories, inspiration, hopes and advice with others from the impact sector.
 
“What I’ve tried to do is really bring out those lessons,” Craig said. “All nonprofit leaders have figured something out that will help other people survive.”
 
Most recently, Craig sat down with Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, Inc. founder Erin Christopher-Sisk, a Saratoga-based nonprofit that helps community members with mental health needs while also providing retired racehorses with a new career and long-term home after their racing days. Christopher-Sisk said she was grateful to be able to share her organization’s mission at April’s The Art of Community, and appreciates the series for giving nonprofits a chance to learn from each other.
 
Next up, The Art of Community will welcome Youth Squared founder Beverly Lazar Davis, along with youth representatives who are getting involved in their community. Established in 2003 and now celebrating its 20-year anniversary, Youth Squared was formed to encourage young people to think about the issues that concern them and to facilitate volunteer or social action projects for youth and by youth.
 
In June, Craig will speak with community volunteer and advocate Steve Rosenblum, who is associated with Opera Saratoga, Saratoga Book Festival and Saratoga Pride.  
 
“One of the joys of being in a small town is that you can make an impact here that you just can’t make in a big city,” Rosenblum said after attending April’s gathering, “and you can do it by getting involved at a grassroots level or taking a leadership role, but either way you can really impact the culture of what people do here.”
 
More information about The Art of Community is available online at www.caffelena.org/impact-sector-series.