SEEC Co-Hosts "Weaver" Gathering with United Way of the Greater Capital Region, Bringing Together Community Builders Across Schoharie County
SEEC's Co-Working Space Serves as the Backdrop for a Conversation About Trust, Connection, and the People Who Hold Communities Together
SCHOHARIE, NY — Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation (SEEC) recently co-hosted a community gathering with United Way of the Greater Capital Region, welcoming more than 20 local movers and shakers to SEEC's co-working space on Main Street in Schoharie. The event introduced attendees to a powerful idea — and a new identity: "I'm a weaver."
The gathering was part of United Way of the Greater Capital Region's work as one of 25 inaugural Community Hosts of Weave: The Social Fabric Project, a nationwide initiative of the Aspen Institute founded by New York Times columnist and author David Brooks. United Way of the Greater Capital Region was selected as a Community Host in January 2026, joining a four-year effort to find, support, and celebrate the everyday neighbors who are quietly building trust and connection in their communities.
SEEC team members Julie Pacatte, Billie-Joann Slingerland, and Afolabi Salami played a key role in bringing the evening together, opening SEEC's doors as a welcoming space for this important conversation.
What Is a Weaver?
At the heart of the evening was a simple but profound concept. Weavers are everyday people — not necessarily those with big titles or large grants — who bring neighbors together, build connection, and remind us what is possible when we choose relationship over division.
Weavers show up in many forms: getting together with neighbors to transform a pile of brush into a park; inviting longtime residents and newcomers alike to create public murals, wildflower plots, and potlucks; organizing tutoring programs and trash cleanups. What unites all of it is how it's done — through specific activities that help people discover what they have in common, appreciate how their differences make the community stronger, and work side by side toward a common good.
A National Movement, Rooted Locally
Backed by a $22.4 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., the Aspen Institute's Weave project is partnering with 75 community-based organizations nationwide to distribute Weaver Awards to 6,000 individuals and small groups doing grassroots work to rebuild social trust. Each selected Community Host receives seed funds of $225,000 along with tools, training, access to Weave resources, and peer support.
Weave: The Social Fabric Project tackles the problem of broken social trust that has left many Americans feeling divided and disconnected. The project was founded at the Aspen Institute in 2018.
United Way of the Greater Capital Region's selection as a Community Host reflects a deep commitment to addressing one of the defining challenges of our time: the erosion of trust in our communities. Their work in partnership with SEEC and other local organizations is bringing this national movement to life right here in the Capital Region.
Nominations and Applications Now Open
Community members who know a weaver — or who are doing weaving work themselves — are encouraged to get involved. Nominations and applications opened June 15th. Learn more about the Weaver Awards and United Way of the Greater Capital Region's community host program at unitedwaygcr.org.
To learn more about SEEC and its work fostering economic growth and community vitality in Schoharie County, visit seecny.org.
About Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation (SEEC)
Founded in 2019 by private sector leaders, SEEC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fostering economic growth and prosperity in Schoharie County. SEEC works at the intersection of entrepreneurship, placemaking, and community revitalization — having mobilized over $56 million in public-private investment in recent years. Learn more at seecny.org.
About Weave: The Social Fabric Project
Weave: The Social Fabric Project is a nationwide initiative of the Aspen Institute that connects, supports, and invests in local leaders who are rebuilding social trust and community connection. Founded in 2018 by David Brooks, Weave works to repair America's social fabric from the ground up. Learn more at weavers.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation
seecny.org | Schoharie, NY