Lex250 would like to thank our amazing community for their support of the Lex250 celebrations by highlighting a few of our volunteers. We appreciate everyone for their work in making sure our events are a success.
Today, we’re highlighting our volunteer Alison Stevens!
What inspired you to get involved in Lex250, and what does this milestone mean to you personally?
In addition to being a parent and School Site Council member at Clarke Middle School and Lexington High School, I am the Committee Chair of Lexington Scouting America Troop 119 (formerly Boy Scouts of America). Our Scouting troop is made up of 60 Scouts — boys and girls — ages 11 to 17, from Lexington, Arlington, and Hanscom Air Force Base.
Lexington’s history is filled with stories of courage, community, and change. Is there a particular aspect of that history that resonates with you and why?
Lex250 brings us together. Lex250 is as much a recognition of that first battle of the American Revolution as a celebration of 250 years of Lexington’s evolution as a town and as a community of people since. For all of us, Lexington is just one of the multiple identities we have, and it is exciting to come together around that common aspect of who we all are. I live near Lexington Center, and I love to see the different groups of people who take their picture in front of the Countdown Calendar each morning, each one representing a different community within our town. Many of us are part of many formal and informal communities, and we are all part of Lexington.
Lexington’s history is filled with stories of courage, community, and change. Is there a particular aspect of that history that resonates with you and why?
Lexington is a far cry from the community it was 250 years ago. Sometimes change is gradual, and other times it seems to happen faster than we are comfortable with. Embracing change takes courage, and when we want to resist it, we have an obligation to ourselves and our neighbors to understand the source of our own resistance. Sometimes, we like the way things are, and we fear that we may lose something we love and value. But often changes in a community allow new opportunities for a greater number of people to access what was previously off-limits — such as Scouting America’s decision five years ago to welcome all youth regardless of gender, allowing more than just boys the opportunities to develop the leadership skills, respect for nature, and commitment to integrity and honesty that Scouting provides.
How do you hope Lexington’s 250th anniversary will inspire future generations?
I hope that Lex250 will inspire future generations to continue to see history not simply as events in the past, but as the interconnected stories of people through the present day.
What spot in Lexington would you suggest visitors check out?
Beyond all the historical sites that any visitor should check off their list, on a summer or fall day, visitors should grab lunch at a local restaurant and have a picnic in Antony Park, located in the corner of Tower Park. If they are in town for a couple of days, the ACROSS Lexington trail system is a fun and well-marked way to explore Lexington’s beautifully maintained trails through the town’s neighborhoods and conservation land.