Creativity Connects Westport
What fuels a vibrant, connected and creative community? What makes people feel good about living in Westport?
When locals share the creativity that they uncover in the nooks and crannies of their community it brings about connectivity and makes us all feel good. Believe it or not, you discover creativity every day as you walk, shop, work, and play in Westport?
Creativity connects us.
Meet Aarti Khosla, artisan chocolatier and resident Willy Wonka at Le Rouge Chocolate by Aarti.
Tell us about an organization in your town that makes you feel good
A Better Chance, Westport: a national organization that identifies, recruits and educates student leaders from the most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and places them in schools like our high school, Staples, to equip them to succeed. Since starting in 2002, twenty-five student scholars have benefitted from this program.
Where do you go for inspiration and creativity?
Everywhere you look in Westport there is inspiration. I’m inspired when I interact with the residents and see how they are involved with making Westport a better place to live. They are always ready to share their blessing with those who are less fortunate. This past year was a vivid example as I was deeply humbled by the support I received from the community for each of my giving projects.
What do you love about your community?
Westport feels like family - everyone looks out for one another and is ready to extend a helping hand.
2020 was a challenging year for everyone, especially small businesses. I have always believed in giving where I live so when COVID affected our community, I decided to use my chocolates as a means to engage the community while giving back.
The true colors of what our community is capable of was apparent when I decided to give each student graduating from the five high schools in Bridgeport a chocolate heart. Not only the members of our community sponsor the hearts, but people from age 8 to 80 in age volunteered to help me pack the hearts - truly make it a community effort!
I saw the same thing when I donated 900 plus hearts to the whole school staff in Westport. It’s one thing to come up with ideas to spread happiness through chocolate, but it’s only possible because my community supports me in my efforts.
As Easter approached, I made 300 chocolate eggs and chicks and donated them to kids in the community in a drive by Easter egg hunt. The downtown merchant association and the police helped me in this effort.
As Mother’s Day approached I decided to donate a star cake for each cake that was purchased to front line medical workers… again the community rallied behind my idea and gave their support.
Creativity Connects Westport made possible by LIFEWTR.
The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of HamletHub or LIFEWTR.