Interview with New Haven’s Janna Wagner on The Group With No Name

Two New Haven originals: TGWNN & founder Janna Wagner

The Group With No Name – 14 years old, and still going strong.

This year marks the 14^th anniversary of The Group with No Name, better known as TGWNN. It was created by Janna Wagner, who while in her twenties decided to remain in the city but worried about the social drought that existed for young professionals. So she banded together with a group of friends and started organizing and/or advertising social events targeting young professionals and communicating with friends – and then friends of friends via email. Over the years, the scope of emails have covered a broad range of issues – from purely social events, to events for the civic minded, to the now famous Cluefest scavenger hunt. While TGWNN has a Facebook page now, members still receive regular emails with notices about upcoming events.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Janna about TGWNN. The Q and A appears below. — Kica

You have previously stated that “Turning Residents into Citizens” has been TGWNN’s motto.  How do you think you’ve accomplished that?

I think there’s a growing group of residents who care deeply about the city and are willing to take risks and make change. There have always been activists and community leaders in New Haven but I think the number is increasing. We like to say that we’re “dreamers and doers.” Instead of complaining about the way city is run, we run for office, devise a solution, or go to Democracy School, for example. Instead of saying that New Haven is no fun, we make fun.

How do you think that TGWNN has changed New Haven?

I think we’ve encouraged a group of residents, over the years, to engage in city life, to create projects and take action on issues that matters to them. I think this commitment to active citizenry has changed New Haven. I also like to think we’ve made New Haven a more fun place to live.

Has the group’s mandate changed over time?

TGWNN is organized and run by residents who volunteer their time because they love New Haven, and want to share their love of and commitment to the city with others. I don’t think the mandate has changed. Maybe evolved. New Haven is changing, and TGWNN is too.

How big is your membership? And how diverse is it? (race, age, town gown etc.)

About 1000 people are on the e-mail list and about three times a month someone emails to be included in the list. Friends refer friends who refer friends. Most of the time, these requests occur when people are new to New Haven or want to meet like-minded, engaged citizens. But we’re also out there talking TGWNN up. When I meet someone new to town or someone I haven’t met, I always ask: “Do you know about TGWNN?”

Today, we’re a diverse group along all kinds of lines. We have older folks, young people, Yalies, non-Yalies, people from every racial and ethnic background. But it is primarily a group of young and “young-at-heart” professionals. I would like to see more diversity, especially along lines of race and socio-economic status. This is something we need to actively organize around. We try to make all of our events free or low-cost, and try to highlight events and opportunities around town that don’t cost much money but it’s not adequate.

TGWNN is entering its teenage years. As humans, we tend to get rebellious when we enter our teens. Are you planning any radical change?

Not yet! But you know, at some point, maybe we’ll say TGWNN has done its job and we don’t need it anymore. Or maybe we’ll become more engaged in the political process—we could have a TGWNN slate of candidates for leadership in New Haven! Or—this would really be exciting—we could find a way to harness our members’ energy to work on key city issues like poverty, violence, and inequality.

As I understand it, the focus at the outset for TGWNN was engaging young people in their 20’s to be civic minded and for them to also have an exciting social life and therefore be compelled to plant roots in New Haven. Is that still the focus?

Yes, that’s still the focus, but it goes beyond planting roots—we also want people to care, get involved, be active, make change.

You started this in your 20’s and are now in your 30’s. How have you accommodated the 30-somethings that were with you at the outset while pulling in the younger generation?

I’m actually now 41! It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. I moved back to New Haven when I was 26. It was unexpected and wonderful but also challenging to move back to your hometown so young. I helped started TGWNN for myself, so that I could find community, and I think the group still serves that function for people in their twenties. At the same time, lots of us are in our thirties and forties, and you’re right, that makes things different.Some of us are married and / or have children. It’s changed the shape of the group.

TGWNN is designed to be responsive so the members actually shape what we do—for example, we’re holding a masquerade party this Saturday (for more info: https://darkspringnhv.squarespace.com) because someone in the group thought it would be fun, so we all mobilized and made it happen—and, in the TGWNN spirit, added a donation to a local nonprofit as part of the event.

What initiatives have you seeded? Are there events that you have created that are repeated on a yearly basis, aside from Cluefest?

Cluefest is our marquee event and a truly unique experience that encourages folks to explore hidden treasures in our community. We also hold an annual holiday fundraiser for a non-profit organization that has become a tradition—people look forward to it all year. Everything else is designed by the members in response to current interests and issues. For example, a member wanted to learn more about city politics so we went to happy hour and then to a Board of Aldermen meeting. Someone loved wine and wanted to share his love of wine with TGWNN so we had a wine series. This is the spirit of TGWNN and I think it’s contagious—this dreamer and doer mentality. I think we’ve inspired TGWNNers to stop being complacent and to be more active in their community.

In addition to you, who else is involved in the “day to day” so to speak of keeping things moving?

The group has changed over time but it includes Christine Kim, Daisy Abreu, Uma Ramiah, Laura Snow, Miles Lasater, and many more. It’s a constantly changing group.

TGWNN seems to be apolitical – what are the pros and cons of this?

When TGWNN was started we discussed making it a political organization. We were a very small core group—about five people—so we decided it made most sense to organize friends and colleagues, get to know each other, and then see what evolved. We committed to something very low effort: one happy hour each month. After that, we’d see where we were. We ended up becoming a civic organization that is open to everyone who loves New Haven. We don’t take a political stand but that doesn’t mean we’re apolitical. We give our members opportunities to become involved in their community, to learn about local politics, and to become engaged as voters and citizens, but we don’t support specific candidates and campaigns. Our tagline is: “To turn residents into citizens.” I think we do that—through fun, through community, and all for the love of the Elm City.

Janna Wagner was born and raised in New Haven and attended the New Haven Public Schools. She returned home in 1999 to co-found All Our Kin, a Connecticut-based non-profit devoted to expanding access to high-quality early care and education for all children. She loves to sing and is learning letterpress printing. She is also one of the city’s finest DJ’s.