Easthampton Community Center Executive Director Robin Bialecki was the first recipient of the Easthampton’s new “Keys to the City” program created by interim Mayor Salem Derby.
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EASTHAMPTON — The newly introduced “Keys to the City” program saw its first recipient presented during the City Council’s Sept. 17 meeting as honoree Robin Bialecki was recognized for her work and leadership as executive director of the Easthampton Community Center.
Created by interim Mayor Salem Derby, the new initiative looks to honor individuals whose exceptional contributions have significantly enhanced the quality of life in the community.
Honorees can be celebrated for extraordinary achievements in service, arts, education, business, environmental stewardship and civic leadership, reflecting Easthampton’s core values of equity, sustainability, creativity and collaboration.
“This is an absolutely huge honor, which I share with most of the audience. My volunteers, my wonderful friends, they’re amazing. They work extra hours, they do everything beside me, It is a community effort. we truly love being a community center and part of this community and most people know that we would do anything to make it work and keep people fed and healthy,” said Bialecki. “Thank you, this is just a huge honor and I am very pleased. Thank you so much.”
The Easthampton Community Center provides a Food Pantry, Community Care Kitchen and a Clothing Closet, along with meeting space for community groups and holiday or celebratory gatherings. A resident of Easthampton for almost four decades, Bialecki was named executive director in 2008, and she served on the board of directors for nine years prior to being hired in her current role.
Before presenting the honor, Derby explained that his idea for the Keys to the City program was born from him looking to do something that could last during the time he was guaranteed in office as interim mayor. Derby announced at the end of August that he will be running for mayor this fall after initially not having intentions to do so when first moving into the interim position this summer.
“One of the ideas I had for a very long time was to try and find a way to bridge the divide between people in the community and government and try to put forward that we’re all on the same team,” said Derby. “And I think one of the best ways to do that is to see the connections we all have and to see how people’s actions within the community can really lift up the entire community and how the government can recognize that and try to support that and shine a light on that.
Derby added when first taking over in the role he began using his lunch times to walk around downtown to observe and meet with people in an attempt to be an “on the ground” mayor. After visiting the Easthampton Community Center, Derby found himself spending time with Bialecki for a chunk of the afternoon witnessing first hand her hard work and the operation she runs.
“When I met Robin at the Easthampton Community Center, I was blown away, honestly. I was so struck by the genuine, empathetic, caring nature that was in front of me. It was absolutely kind of stunning,” said Derby. “The reason I wrote it up was because I felt like this is something that can live on. This is something that we can do in perpetuity to recognize the people that have such an enormous impact on our community. They don’t do it to be recognized, they do it selflessly and I think it’s important for us to be able to look at that and say, ‘this is important and what is happening is so beneficial to the city.’”
Derby added something that struck him about Bialecki was her leadership and the fact that she would not ask somebody to do something she was not willing to do herself.
“She was no stranger to hard work and that really resonated for me,” Derby said.
Derby added in his closing remarks, “The Easthampton Community Center, it’s not the most ideal setting for what they do and I wish we could wave a wand as a city and find a way to give you the most beautiful state-of-the-art facility, but in lieu of that, I wanted to at least recognize the amazing work that you’ve done and the huge impact you had on the city of Easthampton and the surrounding communities. Not just food, clothing and toys, but really the kindness, the compassion and the empathy that you project when you meet people and you’re out there working and I think that’s amazing.”
State Rep. Homar Gomez, an Easthampton Demorcrat, was also in attendance at the meeting and ceremony and read a citation from the State House congratulating Bialecki for the honor.
“Food insecurity is really concerning, more now than ever. We’re getting cuts from the federal government for food stamps and other programs, and we have a champion in our community. A champion who really cares about people. A champion who really cares about people getting the right food for their tables. That’s Robin. Robin, I’m so proud of you and to represent you,” Gomez said.
City Council President JP Kwiecinski expressed his gratitude to Bialecki on behalf of the council for her role in Easthampton.
“Robin, it is our pleasure to acknowledge you and what you’ve done and the work of your volunteers. Everyone has worked hard in this process. It takes a village to raise a village and to care for a village. We feel honored and special to have that in our community,” said Kwiecinski. “I know personally, a long time ago, I met you for the first time and every time since its been the same smile, the same caring for the community. I truly am honored to be able to give you this recognition today. It is our pleasure. I’m sure I speak for the entire council. Thank you for being a part of Easthampton, for making Easthampton what it is.”
