Western Connecticut is a region rich in history, and it is gratifying to be part of an effort to shine a light on a legacy that has made our region what it is today.

In Danbury, Mayor Mark Boughton’s office is leading the effort to create a mural to honor and commemorate the life and legacy of one of the city’s most accomplished residents.

The exceptional life of Marian Anderson (1897-1993) deserves recognition. She was a renowned singer of American classical and spiritual music and a civil rights pioneer; she will soon be memorialized on a new mural that will be created on the wall behind the Kennedy Park Fountain on Main Street.

The Bank is pleased to partner with Mayor Boughton’s office to fund the creation of this mural. It’s a great investment in our community. Banks can be instrumental in helping a community preserve its past so that generations to come will enjoy our rich history.

For the mural project, local artists will be invited to submit renderings and quotes that feature Marian Anderson’s achievements and life in Danbury. The Danbury Museum & Historical Society will offer artists a look at Danbury’s collection of Marian Anderson’s personal belongings including gowns she sewed herself for several performances and a look into her studio that now sits on the Danbury Museum property.

Watching this mural come to fruition will be an exciting activity that will bring the community together. When it is complete, residents and visitors alike will learn much more about who Ms. Anderson was and how much she meant to our community.

Marian Anderson lived a courageous life during very difficult times. For example, on Easter Sunday 1939, she sang to a crowd of 75,000 people on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The concert had been arranged by Eleanor Roosevelt, because the Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow Ms. Anderson to sing to an integrated audience in Constitution Hall because of her race. She would go on to sing at the inaugurations of two American presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. Ms. Anderson was a huge supporter of the arts in the community, and a supporter of the Danbury Chapter of the NAACP.

Another historical restoration our region recently undertook, and where the Bank had a chance to assist, was the rehabilitation of the Charles Ives Home, now under the ownership of Danbury Museum and Historical Society. When completed, visitors will be able to tour this piece of history which dates back to 1780, just as the Revolutionary War was ending. This project is especially significant for the Bank, as it was the first home of Savings Bank of Danbury when the Bank opened its doors in 1849.The Home offers an interesting window into what life was like in the later part of the 1800s and the early 1900s in Danbury.

In our communities throughout the region, there are a number of chances for banks, and businesses, to step up and help revitalize our sense of community through the preservation of our historical buildings and the honoring of historical figures. There is no shortage of community needs, as we all know. Yet, in our desire to see life in our communities thrive, it’s important to remember that our past is part of our present – and our future. We are looking forward to seeing our region continue its quest to honor its past. Learning more about our past can help us understand and appreciate the present, and prepare for the future.

(Martin G. Morgado is president and CEO of Savings Bank of Danbury, http://sbdanbury.com).