Alyson O’Connor of Rust Belt Love – Paper Company spoke about the enduring emotional power of handwritten communication in an increasingly digital world. She opened by inviting the audience to reflect on how easily one can recognize the handwriting of a loved one, comparing it to a fingerprint that is unique, deeply personal, and full of feeling in a way that emails and text messages cannot replicate.

Alyson shared the origins of Rust Belt Love, beginning with a pop‑up shop in the Market Arcade in 2014. What started as a temporary experiment unexpectedly became permanent as shopping returned to Main Street and the Arcade regained energy and foot traffic. Rust Belt Love eventually expanded into a storefront on the Washington Street side of the Arcade and later took on additional space within the building for production. By January 2020, the Arcade was fully occupied and Main Street felt vibrant and alive, until the COVID‑19 pandemic abruptly changed everything.

During the quiet summer of 2020, Alyson launched Rust Belt Love’s own line of stationery. Despite the stillness of the space, people were craving connection, and the stationery resonated strongly. The business experienced significant growth, and by 2023, Rust Belt Love products were carried in thousands of stores nationwide, including Barnes & Noble.

As the company evolved, Alyson and her team reassessed how best to use their space in the Arcade, ultimately deciding it should not continue to function primarily as a production facility. Having formed meaningful friendships within the building, they coordinated thoughtfully with other small businesses that were expanding, allowing others to take over portions of the space.

Alyson also discussed the ongoing struggles facing small businesses, noting that Rust Belt Love responded by participating in more markets and creative initiatives. In March, she undertook a personal project of signing a greeting card to a different person every day, reinforcing the intentionality of handwritten connection. In May, Alyson experienced a stroke and expressed deep gratitude for her recovery and for the overwhelming number of greeting cards she received during that time. The experience reaffirmed her belief in the power of written notes, reminding the audience that the small messages once left on refrigerators, in suitcases, or for loved ones running late have largely been replaced by technology.

She closed by encouraging everyone to reclaim those moments of connection and to make a conscious effort to send a card an act that carries care, presence, and humanity in a way few modern communications can.