Hannah: When my family first visited Keene State I was hoping to fall in love with the campus. What I didn’t know then was that I would also fall in love with downtown Keene. Coffee shops, vintage clothing, cool little stores, and performance spaces all within walking distance. And my parents always want to visit!

Jaime: I came here for College in 2002, and have never left. It has always felt like home with many outdoor hiking and biking adventures available within a short drive, as well as some good shopping and good local restaurants. The rail trail is great for jogging, walking or biking with family and friends. Prior to having kids, I played softball in the local league at Wheelock Park, which is now the same park that I am visiting often to take my two sons to their baseball games.  Keene is a great community to raise my family, it has good schools (one of which I am lucky to teach at), many programs and activities available for kids, and a caring community of people that get to know and support one another. It has the small town feel that I grew up with, however with many more people which also brings more opportunities and businesses which I appreciate. I feel lucky to be a part of such a friendly and supportive community.

Ritu: By profession I am an educator, I teach 8th grade Science at the Keene Middle School. By passion I am a community builder. I tirelessly work towards building our community into a welcoming and inclusive place. I am a founder and President of regions first Keene India Association, Chair of Keene International Festival, Member of Keene Human Rights committee, Advisor at The daily Good and Trustee Member of The Keene Public Library. 

For newcomers to the Monadnock region, I would suggest taking the time to explore the area’s natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking trails, lakes, and parks. Engaging with the local community through events, farmers’ markets, and multicultural festivals such as Keene International festival can help newcomers connect with their new surroundings and meet fellow residents. 

Nick: “We were living in London when Louisa got pregnant with our first son. The question was, Well, we probably need to move out of the city—where are we going to move to? We’re big outdoors people, and we wanted to live somewhere where we could hike and ski and counterbalance our incredibly intense professional life with something beautiful. I had visited New England as a teenager, and it had sort of seeped into my system. So I Googled ‘best small towns in New England’ and Louisa was dropping pins on Google Maps and looking around on Street View, and we turned to each other simultaneously and said, “Have you heard of this place called Keene?”