Month: August 2025

CelebratED 2025: A Party with a Purpose

Change is good—and this year, the Manchester community showed just how ready it was to embrace it. CelebratED 2025 transformed Victory Park into a joyful, bustling hub of connection, support, and celebration.

Music filled the air as more than 80 community partners came together to cheer on our students and families. Nearly 20 hairstylists volunteered their time and talent, giving 118 students fresh haircuts so they could head back to school with confidence. In just 90 minutes, 550 backpacks were distributed—so many that we ran out as families eagerly lined up. Students had the chance to tour a school bus, explore STEM learning, and choose from 659 books distributed by the Bookmobile. They also climbed aboard fire trucks, visited the Dental Van for resources, and connected with even more hands-on experiences throughout the park.

CelebratED has always been more than fun—it’s been about celebrating our students and community. This year, we did that and more. Families left not only with supplies, haircuts, and books, but also with the sense of being supported by a community that believes in them.

All of this—and so much more—took place in just three short hours on a warm Thursday evening. Victory Park was filled with families, laughter, and a powerful sense of pride.

CelebratED 2025 was truly a party with a purpose—helping students feel ready, excited, and equipped to start the new school year. The pictures tell the story best, but for those who were there, the feeling was unmistakable: there was magic in the air.

Bringing the Joy, Together

Last month, I shared that Manchester Proud had begun our strategic planning process—an opportunity to reflect, listen deeply, and imagine the future of our work together. That work continues, and already we’re hearing one message loud and clear: our community is ready to show up for our students.

You can feel it in the energy building around CelebratED. With over 60 community partners, hairstylists offering free back-to-school cuts, clothing and backpack distribution, and generous sponsorships—it’s clear Manchester is not just ready, but eager to welcome our students back with pride, care, and celebration. In a time when education is too often under threat, our city is choosing to lift up joy, connection, and collective action.

We’re seeing that same spirit come to life through the Manchester Community Schools initiative. This summer marks the first full season of programming at Beech Street and Gossler Park, and the momentum is real. From food pantries and clothing closets to hands-on STEM learning and family engagement nights, these schools are becoming hubs of support and opportunity—and it’s all made possible by listening to families and building strong partnerships.

I had the privilege last week of sharing this work at a regional conference, highlighting how we’ve built something uniquely Manchester: grounded in local voices, shaped by collaboration, and driven by a deep belief in what’s possible. That’s what Manchester Proud does—we communicate, collaborate, and convene to make our community stronger.

As we look to the year ahead, I can feel the excitement rising—not just for a new school year, but for a renewed sense of purpose. Manchester Proud is here, and we are listening. We want to hear your hopes for the future, your ideas for where we go next, and your vision for what our young people deserve.

We are proud of our work, proud of our community, and above all, proud of our youth.

Here’s to a joyful and hopeful August.

Aimee Kereage
Executive Director, Manchester Proud