Mary Hooper:
Montpelier Alive’s First Executive Director from 1999 - 2004
In this interview, Mary shares her experience as the first Executive Director of Montpelier Alive (then known as the Montpelier Downtown Community Association or MDCA).
Why were you drawn to Montpelier Alive/what inspired you to work for the organization?
I was concerned with the well-being of the community. I was the chair of a City Council appointed citizen committee designed to evaluate the health and well-being of the downtown. The committee worked from 1997 to 1999 to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the downtown and to create a plan for supporting it. Part of the plan called for a community organization to be responsible for focusing on the downtown and we formed the Montpelier Downtown Community Association (MDCA), the predecessor organization to Montpelier Alive.
What was your role with Montpelier Alive and when?
I was the first executive director of the MDCA from 1999 to 2004.
What were some significant achievements/notable milestones during your time with Montpelier Alive?
Strong community support of the organization - we made it a community organization, not a business organization. This resulted in a willingness for the City Council and businesses to provide funding.
Community engagement - for example, we put on an event that had 500 people, in person, engaged in a planning process. Lots of citizen engagement through our committees.
Focused on the physical design of the downtown, this is when benches, improved sidewalks, flowers, and banners first appeared.
We helped the city get grants for downtown projects and helped the private sector get grants and tax credits for private improvements.
We were a critical part of Montpelier becoming (one of the first) designated downtowns.
Why do you believe the community needs an organization like Montpelier Alive?
Our downtown needs the community to see it as their front yard and to care for and support it.