Meet Me in Medford | Haila Darcy, Neighborhood Ambassador

By 4Squares Residential Group with Judi 411

Glenwood Resident and Medford Neighborhood Ambassador

Haila Darcy didn’t grow up in Medford. In fact, her route here included Connecticut, California, Cambridge, Atlanta, and a few other Massachusetts communities along the way.

But after years of calling Medford home, Haila decided it was time to get to know her city a little better—and perhaps help a little, too.

That curiosity led her first to Trees Medford and eventually to Medford’s Neighborhood Ambassador Initiative, where she now represents the Glenwood neighborhood. For Haila, the role is less about having all the answers and more about helping people connect with one another, with information, and with the resources already available to them.

We sat down with Haila to talk about finding Medford, finding ways to participate in it, and why sometimes being a good neighbor can be as simple as paying attention.

What made you decide to become a Neighborhood Ambassador?

Quite by accident, I got involved with Trees Medford. I was lucky enough to get a couple of trees for my yard, and through that I started meeting people and realized how little I actually knew about Medford.

Then I saw something from the Mayor's Office about the Neighborhood Ambassador Initiative and thought, I could do that. I have the time now, and it seemed like a good way to get more involved and maybe help.

I've really enjoyed it. I'm still trying to get the word out in my own neighborhood and help people understand that we're here as a resource. I've put information in people's mailboxes, and I'll be at the Farmers Market in September and participating in an event at the library.

I'm hoping those kinds of opportunities give people a chance to meet us, ask questions, and understand a little more about what the Neighborhood Ambassadors can do.

Did you grow up in Medford, or did you discover Medford?

I definitely discovered Medford.

I grew up in Chester, Connecticut, a very small village on the Connecticut River. I've moved around quite a bit over the years. I've lived in California, different parts of Massachusetts, Cambridge, Atlanta—and somehow I kept finding my way back to Massachusetts.

I eventually came to Medford when my daughter was attending Commonwealth School in the Back Bay, and I needed to be close enough to Boston to get her there.

And here I am. I've lived here a long time now. Medford is home, and this is my community.

What do you hope the Neighborhood Ambassadors can bring to the community?

Communication that goes both ways.

There are so many ways to communicate now, and that's both a benefit and a challenge. Digital communication is wonderful for people who use it, but not everybody wants another platform to check. Some people are comfortable with email. Others would rather make a phone call. And people are busy, so information can be easy to miss.

I think the Ambassadors can help create more ways for people to connect with the City—and with one another.

I'd love to see us out in the community more, whether that's at the Farmers Market, the library, or gathering in one of the parks. It gives people an opportunity to meet us, ask a question, share something that's on their mind, and know there's another person they can reach out to.

The whole thing takes time. As Milva McDonald keeps telling me, the day will come!

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Clockwise from upper left: Haila's beautiful bully is cozy by the fire, the Clippership Connector, which connects pedestrians, bicyclists (and dogs!) from Riverside Avenue and Glenwood, to Medford Square, Haila hanging out, and the Chevalier Theater on Forest Street.

You’ve lived in Medford for a while now. What are some of your favorite places?

I love being near the water.

I love the Clippership Connector trail along the Mystic River, including the newer sections around the Senior Center and Riverside Yacht Club and down toward Macdonald Park near Wellington. I like walking around the Mystic Lakes in West Medford, especially with my dogs, and of course I love the Middlesex Fells.

I also like the dog park behind the Andrews and McGlynn Schools, and I’m a big fan of Bob’s Food on Main Street, over in South Medford. I’m close enough that I can walk there, although it’s a bit of a schlep from my house!

And I like Chevalier Theatre right in Medford Square. I’ve seen some lovely performances there. I’m one of those people who really enjoys going out and seeing something in person.

One of the things I appreciate about living here is how much we have around us. I love the beach, too, and Nahant Beach is close enough that I can go early, enjoy a few hours, and still be home before the day gets away from me. That access to so many different things is one of the things I really enjoy about living here.

It sounds like your dogs have helped you get to know the neighborhood, too.

Dogs are great icebreakers.

I've always had a dog since I've lived here. My newest dog is actually 12 years old and new to me. She's an American bully, the first bully breed I've ever had, and she gets more attention from strangers than any of the dogs I've had before her!

Having a dog gets you outside and walking around the neighborhood. You meet people. You start talking to people you might not otherwise have had a reason to talk to.

In their own way, dogs make pretty good neighborhood ambassadors themselves.

If someone told you they were thinking about moving to Medford, what would you tell them?

I would tell them that, relatively speaking—and this is Massachusetts we're talking about—you can still get a lot for your housing dollar considering how close you are to Boston.

I also think Medford is a city that's moving forward. There are people here who care deeply about the community and are willing to get involved and serve as a resource when someone needs help finding their way.

And generally speaking, it's a friendly place. That's important to me.

There's a lot happening in Medford, and people aren't always going to agree about everything. I actually think discussion and engagement are good things, as long as we remember to be civil with one another.

I've been here a long time. I've gotten a lot from living here. Becoming a Neighborhood Ambassador felt like one way I could give something back.

Sometimes giving back happens in pretty small ways, doesn’t it?

Absolutely. I have the nicest garbage collectors. I love to bake, so every week I leave them a little something on the trash bins—a little nosh for them to take. My mail carrier gets something, too.

That's a different kind of giving, but I think those little interactions matter. It's part of living in a community: noticing the people around you and appreciating what they do.

And maybe that's what I'm trying to do with the Neighborhood Ambassadors, too. I've lived here a long time, and I thought, Let's see if I can do something.

Have a question or an idea?

The Neighborhood Ambassador Initiative is designed to strengthen connections between Medford residents and the City, and Haila is helping represent the Glenwood neighborhood.

If you have a question about City resources, something you'd like to share about your neighborhood, or an idea you think deserves a little more attention, Haila would love to hear from you.

You can reach her at hd@mindspring.com.

Keep Meeting Medford

Meet Me in Medford is our way of introducing you to the people who make this city what it is—the neighbors, business owners, volunteers, community leaders, and familiar faces whose stories become part of Medford's story.

As we continue to highlight Medford's Neighborhood Ambassadors, we'll also keep introducing you to the local business owners, volunteers, artists, educators, community builders, and neighbors who help shape life here in ways both large and small.

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