Meet the community member behind the site: Kayleigh Mihalko

Kayleigh Mihalko is a lifelong community connector, storyteller, and digital strategist with a deep love for the Lower Naugatuck Valley — and the people who call it home. As the creator of OurValleyCT.com, she created this space to share local stories, preserve community history, and help neighbors feel more rooted and proud of where they live.

Kayleigh has lived in Shelton, Derby, Seymour, Naugatuck, and now makes her home in Ansonia — giving her a truly unique, lived-in perspective on the Valley. A Shelton High School graduate, she’s made it her mission to highlight the voices, values, and volunteer spirit that define our region.

She currently serves as Project Coordinator with Valley Council, a community liaison with Save the Sound, and is active on numerous local boards including the Seymour Historical Society and Derby Neck Library. She’s also contributed to the Ansonia Cultural Commission, Valley Shakespeare Festival, and serves as a Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce Ambassador and proud graduate of Leadership Greater Valley (Class of 2013).

A longtime blogger and co-founder of the marketing firm Craft My Marketing, Kayleigh blends her skills in storytelling, outreach, and digital strategy to uplift local organizations and small businesses. She’s worked with, for, and volunteered alongside dozens of nonprofits and community groups across the region.

Whether she’s writing about hidden gems, organizing community events, or spotlighting the unsung heroes of the Valley, Kayleigh is driven by a deep belief in Valleyness — that unique mix of grit, heart, and hometown pride that makes this region more than just a place on the map. It’s home. And she’s here to help others feel that too.

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