June 1, 2026
Categories: Company & Community News
By Laurie Baker, President & CEO
Community isn’t just where we live, it’s how we live together. It can be made up of family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, or the local businesses that know our name when we walk in the door. Community can mean something a little different to each of us.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the many ways community shows up around us. Sometimes it’s visible like at a local festival or farmers’ market. Other times, it’s quieter but just as powerful like a neighbor helping out or supporting a local shop.
I am often reminded that there are people who help us see what is already here in our communities. They highlight our restaurants, small businesses, and hidden gems. They don’t necessarily create the magic but they help us notice it. And, when we’re reminded to recognize the value of what’s around us, we begin to invest in it with our time and attention and we become part of the story.
Community also lives in the needs we do not always see. There are organizations doing meaningful, hands-on work every day, like building beds for children who previously slept on the floor, stocking food pantries and providing winter coats to those who don’t have one. What stands out to me most is that this need doesn’t follow a calendar. It isn’t seasonal. It’s constant.
I often hear from people who want to give back, but aren’t sure where to start. My advice is always to start with what matters to you. For me, that means investing my time to serve on the board for Mary Cariola and to give back to my alma mater to support First Generation students at SUNY Geneseo. I have found that the strongest connections come from aligning your energy with something you care about. That is how community becomes personal.
At The Summit, understanding this guides us. As we learn more about our communities, we learn more about the people and businesses within them. Sometimes support means connecting someone to a resource. Sometimes it means helping a local business take the next step to grow or bring an idea to life.
This season reminds me to slow down and appreciate what is right here. To get outside, explore what’s around us, visit the places that make our region special, and support the people who bring it to life. There is so much to value when we choose to see it. We are part of a larger fabric made up of individuals, families, and organizations. Every piece strengthens the whole.
Community is not something we find. It is something we build together. And I am grateful to be part of that work every day.