In Their Own Words l Celebrating Vermont Women - The Holly D. Miller Awards l
In Their Own Words...
"In Their Own Words" appears as a regular column in the VWF newsletter. It gives staff from past grantees of the Women's Fund the opportunity to share an inside view on the experiences and impact of their organization's work.Girls Rock the Capitol
by Carmel Quinn, Director of Advocacy,
Girls Scouts of the Green & White Mountains
Girls Rock the Capitol is a unique Legislative Internship program that immerses teenage girls in the democratic process, promotes team building and women's leadership, and provides a forum to discuss ideas and issues that are important to Vermonters. The program incorporates training and experiential learning as the girls work alongside women in leadership roles in Vermont government.... (read full story) pdf
Changing Lives Through Shared Stories
by Jan Steinbauer, Director of Literacy Programs,
Vermont Humanities Council
We learn through both our head and our heart. We learn through experiences - our own and, if a vicarious experience is true and powerfuld enough, through another person's experience shared via the written or spoken word. We learn, and our behavior changes... (read full story) pdf
Mentoring On Mountain Bikes
by Lauren Ober, Mentor, Little Bellas
I am a child magnet. For some reason that I cannot quite figure out, kids stick to me with the strength of Krazy Glue. So when I was asked to be a mentor in the Little Bellas girls’ mountain biking program, I didn’t balk. I knew that if nothing else, I’d have a good time romping around with a bunch of fun girls. But the experience of Little Bellas has proved to be so much more.... (read full story) pdf
Women In Recovery-Hear Us ROAR!
by Sue Mason, Program Director,
Turning Point Recovery Center of Bennington
On any given Monday at 5 pm at the Turning Point Recovery Center in Bennington, the ROAR of at least 16 women can be heard throughout the building—sometimes laughing, sometimes crying but always together in fellowship with their common goal: Recovery. Little did we know when we developed the ROAR (Resources, Opportunity, and Recovery) project that we would exceed our goal. The initial proposal was to provide a weekly support group for women to address and discuss the unique challenges and barriers to recovery from substance abuse... (read full story) pdf
Changing A Child's Life
by Andrea Torello, Director, Mobius-The Mentoring Movement
Since receiving the grant from The Vermont Women’s Fund this spring, I have made two presentations on mentoring daughters of incarcerated women. Both groups were comprised of professional women, about 50 in all. Though I am experienced and felt well-prepared to motivate and engage potential volunteers, I was, in fact, not prepared for the questions these compassionate and intelligent women put forth... (read full story) pdf
Finding Home
by Nora Lovelette, Transitional Living Program Coordinator,
Washington County Youth Service Bureau
Pregnancy and motherhood often result in a combination of excitement, awe, love and ANXIETY. Young women in Washington County Youth Service Bureau’s (YSB) Transitional Living Program (TLP) have all these feelings. However, they must also struggle to meet basic needs such as a home, food, and adequate support from loved ones... (read full story) pdf
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Vermont Women Making Change
At the Women's Fund's annual Celebration of Vermont Women Making Change, a special award - the Holly D. Miller Award - is presented to up to three women or girls whose lives have been deeply touched by participating in a project funded by the VWF. We solicit nominations from our past grantees, asking them to reflect upon their program participants and identify a woman or girl who truly stands out. Someone who utilized the program in a way that not only embodies the core mission of their organization, but whose individual success, large or small, is an inspiring example of what can be achieved when women and girls are given the opportunities and resources they need to lead strong, healthy, empowered lives. Follow the link below to read about some past recipients of this truly unique and inspiring award. And please join us for this year's celebration happening on May 13th at Shelburne Farms!
Vermont Women Making Change - Past Holly D. Miller Award Winners pdf