United Way of Kennebec Valley (UWKV) hosted its second annual Impact2032 Summit on October 28, 2025, gathering a record number of community leaders, nonprofit partners, and engaged residents to focus on the next phase of collaborative action toward Impact2032’s 10-year goals in Health, Education, and Financial Stability. 

The morning brought together over 90 attendees from across sectors to celebrate early successes and refine strategies for the year ahead. Highlights included inspiring reports from partners like Augusta Adult and Community Education, Literacy Volunteers of Kennebec, and NRF Distributors, demonstrating how cross-sector partnership transforms goals into real-life progress. 

Katie Doherty, Co-chair of the Impact2032 Council, encapsulated the event’s purpose. “Impact2032 matters because it turns good ideas into collective solutions. It gives us a way to align our energy and measure whether we are making the change we set out to achieve.” 

The success of the 2025 Summit underscores a critical truth: when Kennebec County works together, collective impact is achievable. UWKV serves as the backbone organization for this 10-year roadmap, but the work is driven by a broad coalition of businesses, nonprofits, schools, municipalities, and residents who share ownership of the outcomes. 

Katelyn Pushard, director of community impact at UWKV, reminded attendees that the Summit is about progress and possibility, not just planning. “This second Summit builds on that momentum, carrying forward last year’s wins, lessons, and connections into the next phase of Impact2032. Looking around this room, I see neighbors, business leaders, educators, nonprofit partners…all of whom share a common belief: when we work together, our county can become healthier, better educated, and more financially stable for every resident.” 

Attendees participated in informative sessions led by community and conversed during a collaborative speed networking portion to spark new partnerships. In addition to the deep-dive sessions within the three Impact Cabinets, focused on health, education, and financial stability, a significant feature of the day was the unveiling of UWKV’s Commitment Wall. This interactive display captured the specific, measurable ideas and commitments of attendees, turning a shared vision into actionable steps that will guide the work of the cabinets throughout the coming years.