Faces of New Canaan

Faces of New Canaan: Fatou Niang

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Since moving to New Canaan a decade ago, France native Fatou Niang has immersed herself in civic work through church and charitable organzations here, learned the nuances of American football— and learned to love it, though she worries about on-field collisions for her son, a New Canaan High School sophomore who plays JV and varsity—and started working as a Realtor, while finding an area nonprofit to which she feels deeply connected. During the 30 minutes or so that we talked at Dunkin Donuts on Elm Street (our interview is transcribed in full below), at least four passersby stopped to greet Niang and say hello. That makes her a wonderful candidate for this debut installment of “Faces of New Canaan.” In the feature, we talk to New Canaanites that—through often quiet or unnoticed work or other ways—make up the fabric of our town. Though they may look familiar to fellow New Canaanites, the individuals we profile in this feature are not known because they’re famous beyond New Canaan or prominent through high-profile jobs or elected office. It’s also a timely interview for Niang with respect to her involvement in a cherished nonprofit, Carver Center.

Business

Coming Friday: Shopping Event to Benefit Young Women’s League of New Canaan

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An organization that supports artisans around the world and recently opened a storefront downtown is holding a community shopping event this week that also will benefit a longstanding local nonprofit composed of civic-minded New Canaan women. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, 15 percent of sales at Ten Thousand Villages—located since Nov. 8 on the corner of Main Street and East Avenue, just above Forest Street—will go to the Young Women’s League of New Canaan, store manager Shawn Webb said. Ten Thousand Villages is itself a nonprofit organization and founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization that purchases handmade gifts from artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Asked about the synergy between his organization and the Young Women’s League of New Canaan, Webb said, “Many of our artisans are women, probably about 80 percent of the merchandise you see in the store is made by women.”

“This actually is International Women’s Month and the 8th, the day after our event, is International Women’s Day,” he continued.