As
I'm nearing the end of the third week of my VISTA experience on this gorgeous morning in Bennington, it amazes me how quickly time has passed. Recalling all of the
adventures I've had in Vermont so far is almost a challenge! The small ones
like finding the sheriff's department, trying real Vermont Grade A maple syrup
for the first time, and navigating my street that has literally been under
construction since day one (new sidewalks! Yay!) have been pretty entertaining!
Greater adventures like going to scenic Poultney, VT for a VISTA picnic,
traveling up the Bennington Battle Monument, and attending a Chamber of
Commerce Mixer at the Bennington Museum have been a lot of fun as well!
Creating Relationships
This
week, I have been reflecting on the relationships that I have had the opportunity
to create. I am excited to build upon these relationships throughout my year of
service and collaborate with enthusiastic partners to create lasting change. It
has been a challenge to identify how to design projects to be effective and
engaging. I have found some answers and creative ideas by spending time with
incredibly dedicated community members every day.
Whether
they are health care professionals committed to population health and spreading
awareness of poverty-related health issues, educators at district schools
focused on fortifying a partnership between schools and local employers,
artists invigorating the creative economy by producing unique goods, art, or
music, or local business owners coming together to breathe new life into the
Bennington economy, they are passionate about making the community a better place.
Everyone has a vision of what they think the Bennington area should look like,
feel like, and provide in order to be a healthier place to live in, grow up in,
and retire in. Capturing that is part of my assignment.
A
little more about what I am doing this year...
I
am working to strengthen the bridge between the health system and the community.
Within Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), I work in the Community
Health Improvement department. I directly support the initiatives of the
Alliance for Community Transformations (ACT), a community
coalition.
The
primary projects I am working on now are centered on youth empowerment and the
concept of healthy community design. Healthy community design looks to examine
the environment: the availability of healthy foods, sidewalks, recreational
facilities, and how the condition of the environment affects community members’
health. One project uses digital media to amplify the youth voice regarding the
state of the community, whereas the other is a teen leadership group focused on
promoting healthy behavior. More details to follow!
The
Spirit of Vermont
I
am also reflecting on the spirit of Vermont today. I am encouraged by the sense
of state pride that Vermont exhibits, and this week really drove that home for
me. Tuesday, August 28th marked one year since a large portion of the state was
ravaged by Tropical Storm Irene. Vermonters came together after the storm to
rebuild bridges, roads, homes, and businesses. The state has made tremendous
strides, yet there is still a lot of damage that remains. While I am from
out-of-state, I appreciate Vermonters’ stories of overcoming the destruction,
and the commendable progress that has been made one year since disaster struck.
“I am Vermont Strong” emblazons t-shirts and license plates to support recovery
efforts that are still going strong. The sense of community implied by this
statement is truly alive here, and its strength is remarkable.
For
more information on Tropical Storm Irene Recovery in Vermont:
For
more information about Southwestern Vermont Medical Center:
For
more information about Americorps VISTA:
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