Left to right: Executive Director Laura Downing and Special Events/Fundraising Chair Debi McGahren
Meet the Executive Director and Special Events/Fundraising Chair of The Depot Youth Center, a Darien-based organization run by and for students. Executive Director Laura Downing and Board of Directors member Debi McGahren are local leaders and moms helping to further The Depot’s mission of building confident youth in our community. They’re also gearing up for the non-profit’s annual fundraiser. Don’t miss it! The Hottest Ticket in Town is a Live Concert with 80’s cover band Rubix Cube on Saturday, March 26 at the Country Club of Darien. Read more about these interesting moms and don’t miss your chance to get tickets for the Big Event!
What brought you to the area and how long have you lived here?
Laura: I grew up in New Canaan and have lived in Wilton since 2001 where I raised my son. The Depot has brought me to Darien, and I couldn’t be more delighted!
Debi: We moved to Darien in July 2005, so 17 years ago. We moved from Charlotte, NC, where we had been living for five years for my husband’s career. Once we had our first son in September 2004, we wanted to move back closer to family and fell in love with Darien.
How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
Laura: I have a 19-year-old son who is in his sophomore year at American University, and I also have 3 bonus kids who are 7, 9 and 12.
Downing with her oldest son
Debi: I have 3 boys! Mac is a junior (17) at DHS, Sean is a sophomore (15) at DHS and Ryan is in eighth (14) grade at MMS. I am looking forward to next year when they will all be back in the same school.
McGahren with her three sons
What’s your favorite family activity in town or nearby?
Laura: I’ve really enjoyed shopping at the Darien Sport Shop! And I love stopping by Valvala’s Deli for a delicious lunch.
Debi: Honestly, we have less time for “family” activities with all the sports and teams for each boy. But when they were younger some of my favorite times were meeting friends at the Sugar Bowl or the Darien Diner for lunch with the kids. It was a nice way to connect with adults but also be with the kids.
Tell us about your role as Executive Director.
Laura: I’ve really enjoyed settling into the role of Executive Director of the Depot over the last six months. It is truly a unique and special place. And the opportunities here are almost limitless! The thing I love most about the Depot is that it is led with a youth voice. We believe that the kids we serve know their needs better than anyone else does. They’re great kids and it’s an honor to work with them!
How long have you been involved in The Depot Youth Center?
Debi: I have been with the Depot for about 4 or 5 years. I began doing committee work and then was asked to join the Board of Directors. My main role has been fundraising and event planning, which I enjoy very much, and it fits well with my skill set and professional experience.
How can people get in involved in the Deport and lend their support?
Laura: We are so grateful for the support of the Darien community! Without our parent volunteers, we could not be the organization we are today. We rely on our adult mentors to provide additional support to our kids. And the volunteers find that their lives are also greatly enriched by getting involved with the kids at the Depot. We also have opportunities to serve on various committees at the Depot to help advance out work. Volunteering at our special events is also a great way to get to know us and the work we do.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve gotten about raising children?
Laura: The greatest gift you can give to your children is your own emotional well-being.
Debi: My mother-in-law told me once “The days are long, but the years are short” so to make sure that you don’t let the time slip by. I now see what she meant – it is hard to believe that I will have a senior in high school in the fall.
How has the Depot Youth Center been helpful to your own children?
Debi: My boys have been involved in several clubs and enjoyed doing community service, which is very important to me. I hope as the world opens back up more opportunities will come along for the children to give back to those less fortunate in our area.
Tell us about the upcoming Depot fundraiser and live concert on March 26 and why it’s the “hottest ticket in town!”
Debi: We are thrilled about our annual fundraiser on March 26 at the Country Club of Darien. I think first and foremost people are looking for a return to normalcy after the past two years and want to reconnect with friends and neighbors. Rubix Kube brings an electric energy, and we look forward to their live performance and getting people out on the dance floor to have some fun! And of course, this is a fundraiser, so we are working really hard to curate an amazing live/silent auction. We want to get some healthy bidding to bring out the generous nature that our wonderful town is known for, in order to give back to the Depot.
What are your favorite ‘80s bands and movies?
Laura: I actually listened to a lot of alternative rock in the 80’s – The Smiths, Violent Femmes, Siouxsie & the Banshees, etc. These were bands that sat on the sidelines of music at the time, and they influenced what I still listen to today. My absolute favorite movie in the 80’s had to be Heathers!
Debi: I am a funny movie person – so I would say Ferris Buellers Day Off, Vacation, Breakfast Club, Weird Science, etc. For music it was probably Madonna, Wham/George Michael, Michael Jackson – they were my jam. My best friend and I would make up dances in my dining room every day after school, and we thought we were so cool!
