Having started our journey together as members of the class of ’88 and the greater Dartmouth community nearly 35 years ago, it’s a good time to reflect on what it means to be part of a community and on what we have learned through the years about strong and lasting communities. It turns out our classmates have some fascinating perspectives and are doing much good in their local communities.

Stephanie Welsch Lewin says serving as our class president was one of the most meaningful commitments she has ever made, and she has now transitioned her focus to leading the Kenwood Citizens Association as president, working to create a warm and welcoming community in her neighborhood. She stays active in the Dartmouth community through Dartmouth Partners in Community Service, the Dartmouth Club of Washington, D.C., and Women of Dartmouth, and regularly sees Heidi (Schwartz) Brotman, Sarah Jackson Han, David Magilner,and Jean Wulff. At a recent event Stephanie saw even more ’88s: Jonathan Altman, Alex Azar, Ruth Cserr, Bob Lasher, Derek McDowell,and Chris Schons.

For his part, Adam Rabiner feels strong ties to the “micro-communities” he created at Dartmouth through dorm life or extracurriculars such as the Glee Club. Adam also notes the strength of communities of people with whom he shares common experiences and values, from the parent groups formed around kids’ activities to the Peace Corps volunteers, through which he met his wife, Dina.

Bob Victor is focused on public schools and education as key ingredients of a strong community. He chairs the board of the largest charter school in Philadelphia, which serves thousands of inner-city students. In his capacity as a member of the board of advisors of the Dartmouth Center for Social Impact, he is helping restart a program that helps Upper Valley high school students succeed as first-generation college students. Thilo Semmelbauer has also led communities of people who share an interest, responsibility, or passion for a cause. He observes, “The strength of a community is proportional to how much the members care about each other,” whether that mutual care is “grounded in shared space or environment, shared experiences, interests, and beliefs, or a shared sense of purpose or goals.” A part-time councilmember in Pasadena, California, Andy Wilson’s “day job” is running a new not-for-profit organization, the Alliance for SoCal Innovation, which works to strengthen the innovation and startup community in southern California. This group has identified critical ingredients for creating a vibrant community, and Andy sees these elements (and I agree) as translating well to our class of ’88 community: shared values, shared mission (or purpose), and opportunities to engage with each other to move the mission forward. So, ’88s, what draws you to our shared community, and what do you think makes the class of ’88 strong and getting stronger through the years? Please stay in touch, and let me know what is new in your life and community.

—Victoria Woodin Chavey, 128 Steele Road, West Hartford, CT 06119; dartmouth88classnotes@gmail.com