Our Story
Our Hudson Valley Network is a project of Our Community Networks, a Kingston-based company.
Our Community Networks is the brainchild of Carl Frankel, an entrepreneur and writer with 20 years’ experience in socially responsible business.
In 1999, Carl started organizing dinner parties at a local restaurant because he wanted to generate business for the owners. Soon he had a mailing list, and people started asking him to send out announcements. This e-letter came to be known as "carl's list," and over time it grew into something of a local institution. The monthly parties grew in size, regularly attracting 100 people or more. The restaurant where they had first met went to restaurant heaven and the group potlucked around, meeting at different locations.
In late 2004, Carl decided to combine his long-time commitment to socially responsible business with the informal social network that had grown up around him. Our Community Networks was born, with the mission of building community and supporting locally-owned businesses.
Our Community Networks is the brainchild of Carl Frankel, an entrepreneur and writer with 20 years’ experience in socially responsible business.
In 1999, Carl started organizing dinner parties at a local restaurant because he wanted to generate business for the owners. Soon he had a mailing list, and people started asking him to send out announcements. This e-letter came to be known as "carl's list," and over time it grew into something of a local institution. The monthly parties grew in size, regularly attracting 100 people or more. The restaurant where they had first met went to restaurant heaven and the group potlucked around, meeting at different locations.
In late 2004, Carl decided to combine his long-time commitment to socially responsible business with the informal social network that had grown up around him. Our Community Networks was born, with the mission of building community and supporting locally-owned businesses.