If we live in a place long enough, it’s inevitable that we get so used to seeing the same things everyday that sometimes they become invisible. At the Create Huntington summit on Monday evening, speaker Vaughn Grisham really helped me to “re-open” my eyes and see our city in a fresh new way. He said that Huntington already has so much going for it that other communities can only dream about having. We have a gorgeous and historic downtown with amazing architecture which is teeming with potential. We have beautiful parks filled with majestic one hundred year old trees, disc golf courses and walking trails. We have quaint brick streets and beautiful neighborhoods filled with old homes that have character… the kind of homes that people in big cities pay ridiculous amounts of money for but that are really quite affordable here. We have a university which offers endless opportunities for people to grow and progress through education. We are within a short drive of world class white-water rafting, skiing and hiking. We have a beautiful museum which offers entertainment as well as education. We are within driving distance of the nation’s capital, the beach and the Big Apple. And we have some of the friendliest, most kind and generous people I’ve ever met living right here, which is evident in the wonderful social services and programs we offer to our citizens. Our unique heritage is the backbone of what this country was built on and we should be very proud of that.

Yes, we have our fair share of challenges facing our city. I ask you, what city doesn’t? There’s not a city or town in this country that hasn’t faced its share of misfortune. As citizens of Huntington, we have a choice to make. We can sit around and complain about our problems, or we can re-evaluate our assets and get to work. The great news is that we are focused and we are organizing. We are motivated and we are engaged and we are working diligently to find creative solutions to the particular set of problems we face. I have never been as hopeful about anything as I am about the future of Huntington right now. And I have never felt as fulfilled by something as I am by the volunteer work I do to promote and improve the city.
I have lived in many beautiful and exciting places, but I have never felt more at home than I do right here in Huntington. If you’ve never been to Huntington, I invite you to come for a visit; I guarantee you’ll find something special. And if you already live in Huntington, I challenge you to get out of your car, take a walk around the block and see your hometown with a new set of eyes. I guarantee you’ll be reminded of just how lucky you are to be a part of the Jewel City!

– Jessica Pressman