Who We Are

Our Staff

Nicole Wengerd
Executive Director

Retta Murphy
Social Worker

Elisa Donato
​Social Worker
Jackie Borella
Finance/Operations Manager

MC Schwartz
Program Director





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Volunteers

The 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

Jim Linville
Board Chairman
Weston

Dwight Johnson
​Vice Chairman
Londonderry

Ed Magee
Treasurer
Bondville

Carolyn Partridge
Secretary
Windham

Bob Wells
S. Londonderry
Mary Jo DeGrandi
S. Londonderry

​Susie Wyman
Londonderry

Joel Kuhlberg
Londonderry

Delores Barbeau
Weston

Pat Cherry
Windham

​Skip Raymond
Windham
Nicole Wengerd
Executive Director

Nicole was an original staff member when Gloria Dawson and Delores Barbeau first opened Neighborhood Connections eleven years ago. After two years as the agency's Social Worker, she left to pursue a Ph.D in Environmental Studies. She also holds a Master's Degree in Sociology, with a focus on applied community and economic development. For the past seven years she has taught at Keene State College. 

A New Jersey native, Nicole lives in Landgrove with her husband Josh and two daughters, Wren and Charley. When not working or enjoying time with her family, she loves to run and has a great passion for traveling.

Jackie Borella
Finance/Operations Manager

Jackie has worked at Neighborhood Connections part-time for 3 years, after a 30-year career as the owner of Friends of the Sun in Manchester.  She fills the rest of her work schedule as the Business Manager for The Collaborative.

​A transplant from Long Island, she has lived in Vermont since 1982.  She loves skiing, hiking, and travelling to warmer climates.  She currently lives in Londonderry with her husband, Bob, where they raised Brittany (now a mechanical engineer in Indiana) and Faryn (currently a graduate student in California). 

Retta Murphy
Social Worker

Loretta (Retta) Murphy has recently stepped into the role of full-time Social Worker. Some may know her from her time as a School Counselor at Flood Brook School or as a school clinician at Chester-Andover School. She is also a past Director of Dismas House.

Her primary role here is to provide guidance to individuals and families seeking a wide range of assistance. Retta connects clients to a range of resources within the local and regional communities - coordinating with multiple local partners. In addition, she organizes social connections for seniors and other groups within our cumminities.

MC Schwartz
Program Director

Mary Claire Schwartz has returned after a one-year hiatus to help ramp up programming in The Meeting Place as well as help facilitate communications. She was five years with the agency before her return engagement.

MC schedules and promotes a wide variety of lectures and presentations for the enjoyment of all. In one calendar year over 600 individuals gathered to learn about astronomy, gardening, wildlife, health and nutrition, bridge and mah jong to cite a few examples. 

Founders

Meet Dolores and Gloria

Neighborhood 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
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