Farmer on Site Program thrives on Laraway’s organic soil

George Swanson, our Land Steward, has been busy with the Farmer On Site

initiative at Laraway School. George coordinates with classroom teachers,

facilitating learning opportunities for our students on our land.

“Farmer On Site is such a meaningful part of our program! For some of our

students it is the first opportunity they've had to grow their own food.

Creating healthy eating habits can be challenging. When students grow their

own produce they’re more willing to try new things. I've seen students try new

fruits and vegetables. They also get really excited about bringing items from

the garden home along with classroom recipes to make with their families.

We've made spinach "sunshine" smoothies, salsa, refrigerator pickles, no bake

maple oatmeal cookies, mini apple pies, blueberry crumble, pesto, and much

more! We've even grown our own popping corn!”

Sarah Gazo, Elementary Program and Summer Program Coordinator

June 2018

Board Members

Sarah Squirrell, President

Anne Smith, Vice Pres.

John Connell, Secretary

Ellen Hill

Matt Hill

Mary Moulton

Emma Marvin

Greg Stefanski, M.Ed.

Executive Director

From Greg’s Desk...My Friend

As spring showers and sun return,

it’s wonderful to watch plants and

trees come back to life, displaying

their bright, beautiful colors. Lawns

radiate green, speckled with bright

yellow dandelions. A lush, beautiful

lawn is a lawn needing to be cut.

My hopes for another summer

with the used mower I bought a few

years ago were dashed with one

phone call from Leo’s Small Engines;

I’m back to Craig’s List, again. I found

a mower meeting my specs and price

range, making a connection with

Demo. He kept referring to me as “my

friend” in his East European accent. I

silently wondered, “Why is he calling

we this?” while thinking, “I don’t even

know this guy-this is kind of strange.”

At the same time, I noticed the

comfort I felt each time he referred to

me as “my friend.” I picked up the

lawn mower and had a wonderful

conversation with Demo about his

work on lawn mowers, his surviving a

heart attack, and how much he loves

his grandchildren.

Because I listened to my heart

instead of my head, I now have a lawn

mower and, more importantly, a new

friend. There is pain in the world that

can feel out of our control. Meeting

Demo reminded me that, even small

gestures, can have powerful effects.

So, my friend, listen to your heart and

let your light and love shine!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

From Greg’s Desk

Farmer on Site Thrives

Thank You to Supporters

Photo Voice Exhibit

Youth Profile

Raffle Winner Announced

Staff Profile

Empowering Youth

Strengthening Families

Building Community

PhotoVoice Exhibit Shows Impact of Substance Abuse

PhotoVoice is a creative endeavor which puts cameras in the

hands of people so they can explore and share their perspectives

on family, health, community, and their futures.

(Source: www.photovoiceworldwide.com).

Laraway, via a grant from Healthy Lamoille Valley, engaged

youth in our foster care program to develop a PhotoVoice exhibit

exploring the impact of substance abuse on our community. The

two participants created images and short narratives depicting

very personal and broader consequences of substance abuse. An

image of a packed lunch asked the question, “I pack my own

lunch. Why don’t you do it?” Another photo zeroed in on trash

generated from tobacco and alcohol products, marring an

otherwise pristine nature area.

Youth participants were required to meet specific milestones

along the way in order to earn a stipend. They attended planning

meetings, took photos, created short narratives, prepared displays

for Town Meeting Day, and co-hosted an Opening Reception at

Laraway’s Gallery Space on April 22nd.

One youth photographer assumed the role of “docent” walking

guests through the exhibit, offering interpretation of the various

images. Seeing her rise to the occasion and interact so politely

and professionally with community members---while addressing

the highly sensitive topic of substance abuse---inspired staff and

visitors alike.

"I am always excited for our PhotoVoice collaboration with

Laraway,” said Jessica Bickford, Coordinator of Healthy Lamoille

Valley. “The students each bring their own perspective into their

photos which create a compelling story in answer to the project's

question. This year's PhotoVoice allows the community to interact

with the impacts of substance abuse in a particularly compelling

way."

The exhibit has moved to Riverbend Market’s Gallery Space, 19

Bridge Street, Morrisville, Vermont, for the month of June.

Image from the exhibit

Page 2 THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS!

Thank you donors!

If your name was

inadvertently

omitted, please

contact

Katherine Stamper KStamper@Laraway.org

802-635-2805 x 106

Individuals

Idoline Duke

Heather Hobart

Betsy Killingbeck

Elm & Jennifer LaPoint

Rick Locke

Judy Pendell & Warren Azano

Terry Starkey

Harold Taylor & Kathaleen

Pelletier

Louise von Weise

Charles & Pam Witherell

Businesses / Organizations

Blue Flame Gas

CIGNA

Hannaford Helps Schools

Hickok & Boardman

High Mowing Organic Seeds

Scheerer Family Foundation

G.W. Tatro Construction

Your Gifts in Action

Have you ever been to a professional

sports event? This is a rite of passage

for many young people.

Dave McAllister, Director of Laraway’s

Substitute Care Therapeutic Foster Care

Program created this experience for two

teenage clients who happen to be huge

basketball fans. Dave tapped into our

Annual Appeal donations to take the

teens to their first-ever professional

game—-a Celtics Game at TD Garden in

Boston. Dave drove down to Beantown

following a full day at the office. The

boys, one of whom plays on his high

school team, were thrilled.

Your gifts matter. Your gifts create

opportunities for the children and youth

we serve. Thank you!

“I’m a real go-getter,” KW said. “I like to get things done. I don’t really care about barriers. I just

want to knock them down. Life itself is all one big barrier. You have to go step by step.”

KW wasn’t always a barrier-breaker. Placed in foster care at 14, she spent three years in a group

home. She engaged in petty theft and used illicit substances. She has since turned her life around.

At 18, KW is on track to graduate from a Vermont public high school and has been accepted to

college for Fall 2018. She plans to study psychology and criminal justice, aided by a National Guard

Scholarship. Her eventual goal is to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as a Profiler.

In the meantime, she juggles college prep courses with two part-time jobs. She writes articles for

her high school newspaper, including a recent one on the Black Lives Matter racial justice movement.

Twelve-hour shifts on weekends are par for the course at one of her present jobs. She transitions to a

new position for summer, one offering a better hourly wage. KW just celebrated six months of sobriety

and has built a positive relationship with her foster parents.

“I love my foster parents,” KW said. “To me, they are much more than ‘foster parents’--- I call

them ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad.’ Family is not only blood. I love working, too. If I wasn’t working, I wouldn’t be

complete. When I come home from work on the weekends, no matter what time it is, my foster parents

will be waiting up for me, to ask about my day, to check in.”

They’ll be waiting up for me. Knowing that someone cares about you…knowing that someone is

paying attention…knowing that someone wants to know how you are doing…these are very powerful

messages for ALL youth, not just those in foster care.

KW expanded her circle of support by joining the youth group at her church. A recent mission

trip to Culpeper, Virginia, found her working on a church renovation project. Her task was to remove

carpeting, including every single, speck of carpet glue from the flooring; it took her nine hours. KW

enjoyed the camaraderie and plentiful “sweet tea” that is a Southern favorite. Even though the drive down

was long—-thirteen hours—-she relished the opportunity to pass through so many states.

Talking about her church in Vermont, KW said, “We don’t have fancy stained-glass windows. We

have us, ourselves, and food that is donated. Feeding the homeless is a big part of our mission.”

What advice does KW have for youth entering foster care? “It

gets better. When you first enter the system, it can really suck, but it

gets so much better when you become comfortable with yourself and

your new environment.”

Reflecting on her experience since arriving at Laraway, KW said,

“I really wanted something different. I just wasn’t sure how to get

there.”

We think KW is figuring it out…step by step.

A Conversation with KW

“Family is not only blood.”

Page 3 June 2018

MISSION

Providing opportunities for children and families to recognize their

individual strengths while supporting them to grow and contribute

within our communities

P.O. Box 621

275 VT Rte. 15 West

Johnson, Vermont 05656

Phone: 802-635-2805

Fax: 802-635-7273

E-mail: admin@laraway.org

www.Laraway.org

Laraway...It’s about the kids

Starting out as a Behavioral

Interventionist, Joseph was

promoted to Case Manager.

He earned his Master’s Degree

in Clinical Mental Health

Counseling at Johnson

State College in May.

“Something I really

appreciate about

working at Laraway is

the group of people I

work with and that there

is room for growth

within the agency.”

Thanks, Joseph!

Joseph Achilles, a

Laraway staffer since 2015,

helps young people in our

program find the strength to

overcome weaknesses and

find their personal

strengths.

“I knew I wanted to enter

a field where I could really

help people. I loved getting

to spend time with kids, one

-on-one, seeing their day to

day improvements. It was

great to see them try new

skills.

Joseph Achilles: Serving kids and families with care

Laraway is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to identifying and building on the strengths of

children and youth with emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges, through

alternative education, therapeutic foster care and public school based behavioral

intervention supports.

Like us on

Facebook