If you are at all active in our community you have probably met Denise Qualey. Denise is well known for her involvement on local committees and boards especially those that champion children. Her family moved to Ridgefield in 1991. She and her husband raised their children, Caroline and Joseph here and consider family life in Ridgefield to be a 'wonderful experience.'
Denise currently chairs the Youth Commission and Kids in Crisis as well as holding positions on other town boards. Her work mostly involves investing in and elevating the youngest citizens of Ridgefield. Denise believes that you learn a lot about the place you live by engaging with its youth. She also believes that organizations that provide support like the ones she chairs are integral to a compassionate community.
Bridges are built on the Youth Commission between students and officials in our town government. Students have an active role in informing town officials about the issues that are facing our teens who are coming of age by putting on relevant programs and participating in meaningful discussions with leaders who communicate with town officials on a frequent basis. This year students will formally report to the SelectPersons Board at the end of the fiscal year to update them on the State of Ridgefield's Youth.
The commission is fortunate to partner with important youth and family organizations like The Youth Services Bureau, Insight Counseling, The Ridgefield Boys and Girls Club, the public schools, youth officers, and prevention council to name a few. They are always looking for new adult and student volunteers so please feel free to stop in at a meeting at the Teen Barn the first Wednesday of the month at 7pm to see what they are all about!
Denise also leads Kids In Crisis, an organization that has been around since 1981 and provides resources to assist the area's most vulnerable youth. Kids In Crisis provides emergency shelter, crisis counseling, and community education programs for children of all ages and families facing crisis. Crisis can include domestic violence, mental health concerns, homelessness, substance abuse, economic difficulties, and other critical challenges.
Denise and a group of girlfriends started a fundraiser called Have a Heart event a few decades ago. This event is a significant fundraiser for the organization and continues today. A dedicated group of volunteers who strongly believe in the mission to benefit Kids In Crisis in support of their 24-hour emergency shelter for children of all ages has kept this fundraiser going. The next Have a Heart event is in February 2025.
Denise wants parents to know that life has unique challenges today for teens with social media and technology but there are also social, academic and general highly programmed schedules that can create stress. Youth mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression are on the rise. She suggests that making time to connect with your kids is more important now than ever.
'Making time to connect with your kids is more important now than ever.' - Denise Qualey