Honoring 10 Years of TriCircle
As TriCircle prepares to celebrate its 10-year anniversary at our Annual Gala Brunch on Sunday, July 26, 2026, we are embarking on a special history project to reflect on a decade of impact, growth, and community connection. This milestone is more than a celebration — it’s an opportunity to honor the people, partnerships, and perseverance that have shaped TriCircle into what it is today.
Helping bring this story to life are two talented women working behind the scenes: Alana Valdez, our new Social Media and Communications Coordinator, and Sheila Kinscherf, a dedicated community collaborator with a passion for preserving organizational history.
Bringing the Story to Life
Alana joined TriCircle with a strong background in communications and nonprofit strategy. She currently serves as Senior Communications Coordinator at the Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI), where she focuses on social media and email marketing. Her previous experience includes four years as a middle school art teacher and serving as Project Coordinator at The Connecticut Women’s Consortium, where she led content creation and digital strategy initiatives.
Alana first connected with TriCircle through The Connecticut Women’s Consortium, when former Executive Director and current Board Chairperson Colette Anderson introduced her to Ana. Inspired by TriCircle’s mission and Ana’s infectious dedication, Alana felt called to contribute her skills to help expand the organization’s reach.
While Alana has not personally experienced addiction, she lives with mental health challenges and has close family members and friends impacted by substance and alcohol use disorders. These lived and relational experiences fuel her passion for shifting the narrative around addiction from judgment to compassion and ensuring that clear, accessible information reaches those who need it most.
Through this history project, Alana is helping shape how TriCircle’s story is told — translating complex milestones into meaningful, accessible content that reflects both heart and impact. Her expertise in graphic design, storytelling, and digital engagement will help ensure that this 10-year reflection resonates with our community.
Preserving the Past, Celebrating the Future
Working alongside Alana is Sheila Kinscherf, who modestly prefers to remain in the background but has played an essential role in documenting TriCircle’s journey. Sheila became involved through her professional connection with Colette Anderson and was invited to assist as TriCircle approached its 10-year milestone.
Over the past several weeks, Sheila has been researching archived materials, reviewing past programs and events, and compiling a detailed timeline that captures the organization’s evolution. Her work highlights key milestones, challenges overcome, and the individuals who have helped shape TriCircle’s development.
Currently in the drafting phase, Sheila and Ana are weaving this research into a cohesive narrative that reflects TriCircle’s mission, growth, and lasting impact within the community. The goal is to ensure the story is not only historically accurate, but engaging and accessible to a broad audience.
A Decade of Impact
This history project will debut as part of our 10-year anniversary celebration at the Gala Brunch in July. It will serve as both a reflection and a tribute — honoring TriCircle’s “small but mighty army” of volunteers, board members, collaborators, and participants who have built and sustained TriCircle over the past decade.
As we look ahead to the next 10 years, we are grateful for the thoughtful storytelling, professional expertise, and heartfelt commitment that Alana and Sheila are bringing to this milestone project.
Stay tuned as we continue counting down to July 26, 2026 — we can’t wait to celebrate with you.