This week's "Hometown Hero," Adrienne Wilson, works to bring a sense of community to Troy. Fittingly, her nominator listed her occupation as a "community servant," reflecting the time and energy she puts into where she calls home.

She is driven to improve the environment and encourages youth to start thinking globally while acting locally. She has planned and executed countless festivals and events right here in the Capital Region, which give youth the opportunity to learn about their actions and the reactions.

As part of the “Hometown Heroes” series, we’ve partnered with County Waste, Latham Ford, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region and Awards by Walsh to celebrate local unsung heroes for their good deeds and honorable work.

We asked Adrienne a few questions. Here’s what she had to say:

Q: What inspires you to increase pride in your community?
A: Since I came here from Hawaii, I immediately noticed that Troy is a beautifully cultured and amazingly historic city, and the students at RPI are some of the most amazing, talented people I've ever met. From my perspective it seems natural that each should have pride in the other, and that visitors should be able to see the plethora of activity which makes this a great home.

Q: What's the most rewarding thing about what you do?
A: In promoting these goals I've been able to meet and work with people from every corner of Troy, from the hundreds of RPI clubs to the Big Brothers Big Sisters children. The experiences have given me insight into people's talents, interests, and goals from every imaginable category. As a result, I feel more connected to my home and the people I share it with.

Q: What are some challenges?
A: I've noticed a great division in the community between the local residents and the college students. The residents don't feel that the students respect the town and its culture and the students, in turn, have sometimes felt unwelcomed in the city. While I have never personally felt like I didn't belong, I knew that there was something I could do to bring about a greater sense of community.

Q: Do you consider yourself a "hero?" Why or why not?
A: Heroes come in many forms. I'm proud to consider myself a hero, as well as everyone who has helped me achieve my goals. Whether they helped me with my projects or made their own community activism campaigns, these people deserve to be recognized for their efforts. What I find most noble is that recognition is often the last thing they desire. They have long since realized that while fame and recognition are temporary, the improvements they make will last for generations to come

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