The Front Porch Program Long before the days of smart-phones, video games and satellite TV, people used to entertain themselves by stepping outside after their evening meal and chatted with their neighbors and friends. They caught up on the latest gossip, news and events, they talked about their favorite recipes or sports team, often sharing a beverage. This social interaction typically occurred on someone’s front porch. Over time, as modern technology and entertainment options advanced, people became less social and more isolated. It has also become apparent that living conditions in many neighborhoods began to deteriorate Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary & State over time as fewer Rep. Larry Butler at the Ribbon Cutting. people stepped outside their homes to engage in conversations and activities with their neighbors. As a child growing up in Waterbury, I heard stories of the older Italian woman in Town Plot boiling water on a Saturday morning to clean the sidewalks and their front yards. These were not the homeowners, they were tenants and it didn’t matter who owned the building. That is where their families lived and keeping a clean place for their family to line-in mattered greatly to them, regardless of ownership. In 2012, the Front Porch Program sprouted from the notion that neighbors would still help neighbors and most people do enjoy a sense of community. The Citywide Front Porch was the brainchild of Sharon Hallock, executive vice-president of the Greater Waterbury Board of Realtors. Sharon applied for
US Senator Chris Murphy , then a Congress getting ready to clean up Hamilto
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