Our Staff
|
|
VolunteersThe Staff at Neighborhood Connections is very grateful to the volunteers who cover our reception desk each day; answering phones, greeting visitors and supplying important clerical assistance with various projects.
If you are interested in volunteering, please call us at (802) 824-4343. |
Board of Directors
|
Trish Paradis
|
Trish Paradis is a Vermont native who grew up in Southern Vermont. She is a Castleton University graduate who studied Education and Psychology. Over the past 16 years, she has had experience working in both medical and human services fields.
She began her career working in a clinical research facility assisting individuals facing cognitive impairment. During her time there, she worked in several capacities including business management and clinical research coordination; it was in this setting where she realized her passion for working with people. Later she shared her practice at Lincoln Street, Inc.: a non-profit organization that provides individualized care to people with intellectual disabilities. She again served in many roles and provided clinical direction, supervision and quality assurance. Trish currently lives in Chester, VT with her husband and son. They enjoy family activities such as camping, bike riding, hiking, gardening and just being in the great outdoors of this beautiful Green Mountain State. |
Jackie Borella
|
|
Mary Claire Schwartz
Volunteer Coordinator, Program Director
Mary Claire (aka MC) came to Neighborhood Connections five years ago after having moved to Peru, Vermont from Scotch Plains, NJ. She answered an ad in The News Guide for a volunteer coordinator at Neighborhood Connections. Since she had been a volunteer coordinator for the Union County Master Gardener's Help Line office in the county's Rutgers University Cooperative Extension Service, it seemed a natural move.
In addition to coordinating the organization's Front Desk volunteers, she is also charged with booking talent in The Meeting Place, Neighborhood Connection's community meeting room; maintaining the agency's website; and keeping the Facebook page current. She lives in Peru with Buddy, a standard poodle and DeeDee, a miniature version and is a professional gardener.
In addition to coordinating the organization's Front Desk volunteers, she is also charged with booking talent in The Meeting Place, Neighborhood Connection's community meeting room; maintaining the agency's website; and keeping the Facebook page current. She lives in Peru with Buddy, a standard poodle and DeeDee, a miniature version and is a professional gardener.
Liz PeetsCommunity Outreach Coordinator
Liz recently joined Neighborhood Connections after having graduated from the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine with her Master's in Public Health. She will be focusing her time reviewing and applying for grants; coordinating new fundraising efforts; working with community partners on needed resources and helping out wherever needed.
Prior to her move to NC, she worked seven years in developmental services as a case manager. In conjunction with school and work, she was an in intern for a Vermont-based international non-profit that sought to develop access to health and sanitation systems while preserving local culture in over seven countries. She serves on the board of directors of Cedarcrest Center for Children with Disabilities. In her spare time she enjoys playing ice hockey, reading and spending time with her French bulldog, Luda. |
|
Message from the Board President:
Welcome to Neighborhood Connections, Inc.’s official website! For those of you who are visiting for the first time, hopefully you’ll not only find what you’re looking for, but also will be inspired by what we do. Our Mission, in a nutshell: To foster hope – particularly for the most vulnerable individuals and families in South-Central Vermont- by delivering care and connecting all people who walk through our doors to comprehensive well-being support. We pride ourselves in being a unique resource for all people in nine mountain towns in Vermont – regardless of personal financial situations.
If you have suggestions for how we can be more effective, please let us know!
And if you care to help us – as we help others in need – you’ll find information in this website on how to volunteer and/or generously donate to our cause.
Thanks for visiting us!
Bob Wells
President, Board of Directors
- We recognize how confusing it can be to identify/assess available well-being resources – particularly in our rural area.
- In short, if you are facing challenges or a personal/family crisis, we try to help.You can come visit us. And if need be, we come to you. Moreover, “walk with you” for however long it takes.
- We pro-actively serve as a “connector hub” for dozens of community partners in our area – working collaboratively to problem-solve human service needs.
- And underlying everything, we understand and live by the value of “neighbors helping neighbors”. For us, it’s simply the right thing to do.
If you have suggestions for how we can be more effective, please let us know!
And if you care to help us – as we help others in need – you’ll find information in this website on how to volunteer and/or generously donate to our cause.
Thanks for visiting us!
Bob Wells
President, Board of Directors
Founders
Meet Dolores and GloriaNeighborhood Connections is a community based health and human services organization located in Londonderry, Vermont. It was founded in 2009 by Dolores Barbeau and Gloria Dawson -accompanied by a nurse and a business woman who recognized a need for coordinated and connected assistance for low income and vulnerable individuals. Together they pooled resources with that of a few friends and neighbors and opened their office doors in The Mountain Marketplace Shopping Center in Londonderry.
It did not take long for word to travel and within a short time the staff were working endless hours helping people find resources for affordable housing, food, transportation, medical needs, and assistance with utility bills and economic benefits applications. |
Gloria Dawson (at left) and Delores Barbeau
|