Building Community, One Conversation at a Time: NHCT at Concord's National Night Out

Last week, New Hampshire Children's Trust joined almost 2,500 neighbors, first responders, and community organizations at Rollins Park for Concord's National Night Out — and it was a beautiful reminder of what happens when a community shows up for itself.

Our Communications Manager Carroll Berg and Development & Events Specialist Jen Paveglio represented NHCT at the event, held Tuesday, August 4th from 5–8 p.m. in Concord's South End. Now in its 42nd year nationally, National Night Out brings neighbors, police, and local organizations together for an evening built entirely around connection — no cost to attend, and a shared goal of making Concord an even safer, more caring place to call home.

Why an Evening in the Park Matters

It would be easy to think of National Night Out as just a fun night out with music, K9 demonstrations, touch-a-truck displays, and even a National Guard helicopter landing for the crowd to admire. And it was fun — almost 2,500 Concord families turned out to enjoy it. But underneath the music and the free-with-a-ticket food, nights like this do something quietly powerful: they build social connections, one of the Five Protective Factors that research shows helps families and children thrive.

Strong, connected neighborhoods are safer neighborhoods. When families know their neighbors, trust their local police and fire departments, and feel woven into their community, they have more people to lean on when times get hard — and more people cheering them on when times are good. That's prevention in its simplest, most human form.

NHCT in the Park

Carroll and Jen spent the evening doing what they do best: meeting Concord families where they are, sharing what NHCT offers, and connecting neighbors to resources that strengthen families across New Hampshire. It's exactly the kind of grassroots, face-to-face outreach that reflects our role as a convener and connector for family well-being across the state — showing up in the community, not just talking about it from a distance.

Events like National Night Out are also a great chance to spread the word about what's ahead for NHCT, including our 6th Annual Ride for Resilience on September 18th in the Capital Region — a perfect next stop for anyone who met us in the park and wants to stay connected.

A Community Worth Celebrating

A huge thank-you to the Concord Police Department, Concord Fire Department, city officials, local businesses, and every family who came out to Rollins Park. A special shout-out goes to Officer Carl Notarangeli Jr., who has organized National Night Out for the past five years — his dedication is a big reason this event keeps growing into the community celebration it is today. Nights like this don't happen by accident — they happen because a community chooses, again and again, to invest in itself.

New Hampshire Children's Trust is proud to be part of that investment. We'll see you at the next one!