I recently attended a two-day leadership seminar here in Vermont, and at the end of the two days each of us had to produce a mural describing the current state of our “industry.”  I described the work which Spectrum does and then drew (to the best of my ability!) a stormy, cloudy sky and then explained that organizations like Spectrum have traditionally relied on State and Federal dollars to fund our work, and the outlook for this is not promising at all. I had then written in block letters below: “private donations from individuals, companies and foundations,” and told those in attendance, “this is who we are going to increasingly count on if we are to continue serving young people and families.  We have got to be diligent about telling the story of what we do, who we are helping, and the increasing need.  If we do, I believe people will want to contribute so we can continue.”

After the seminar ended, I checked my emails. One of the first I pulled up stated:

“Dear Mr. Redmond, I represent a company which is opening up its first office in Chittenden County, and when we open up a new office we like to donate to a local nonprofit.  We heard through the Vermont Community Foundation about the worthwhile work being done at Spectrum and would like to make a donation to you.”

I frankly could not believe the timing of this email. It was a powerful reminder that what I told the group was in fact very true, that government dollars may come and go, but in the end it is the generosity of people that will determine Spectrum’s fate, whether that person is responding to a letter we mailed to their home, or someone in charge of a foundation, or the individual who runs a corporation’s giving office.   People want to give to an organization which they view as doing important and effective work, to an organization which is really making a difference.

That, in my opinion, is exactly what Spectrum is and why we will continue in our mission no matter how “stormy” the weather may appear.

This is a note we received today from TLC for Children and Families, a nonprofit agency in Kansas that toured Spectrum recently, they were most interested in our residential programs and drop-in and met with Bryonne Johnson and Cyrus Patten.  You will be happy and proud of our staff and the work they are doing when you read this, really nice to get something like this. 

It was such a pleasure for us to learn about the incredible work being done at Spectrum.  The level of services being provided to some of the most remarkable young adults was truly appreciated.  We were blown away by everybody’s dedication and passion.  The opportunity to meet with you and see first hand the level of services provided has inspired us and given us the confidence to create a better system for kids in Kansas!  Your selflessness, ingenuity, and innovation are unparalleled.  We left feeling humbled, inspired and hungry to better the services to runaway and homeless youth here in Kansas!

Thank you.

“The group has helped me change my life because before I did not know that calling a girl a name was abuse and that wanting to know where she is and what she does were abuse, but now  I do know.   Ever since I started this group and found out about the different kind of abuse.  I knew from then on, I am going to treat every girl I date with respect.”

“This group opened my eyes and helped me realize that there is more to being abusive than just physical, and to make better choices.”

“It helped me realize there is more to life than being abusive, and to be a better person towards others.”

“This group helped me be a more respectful husband and father.”

“The facilitators in my group were excellent, they seemed to really listen and want to help us get through this tough time.”

“I was helped to see my abusive actions, most not unlawful but certainly hurtful) and make changes to alter them.  It also helped me to become accountable for my actions and to think about the impact on others that my actions have caused.”

\”The Importance of Rituals and Routines for Families\”

Click below, this is about our collabortion with Bolton, they are so generous to our kids and mentors:

Burlington Free Press article about Spectrum and Bolton

When you have a job like mine at an organization like Spectrum, it is easy to find yourself spending most of your time and energy in meetings, budget decisions, strategic planning sessions, committees and coalitions.  That’s why I try on a regular basis to do some kind of activity with the young people and families we serve.  They are, after all, what it is all about, why Spectrum is in existence, why I and scores of other staff come in every day and do what we do. 

I like to cook, so that is usually my intention.  My intention is to make a meal once a week, but I have to admit I don’t always hit that mark.  I usually do this in our drop-in center, which serves a free hot lunch and dinner every day of the year to youth ages 14 – 22, with about 30 kids showing up for each meal.  We have an awesome Americorps-Vista worker on staff, Rachel Patrick, who coordinates all this, so I help her out making a meal, but recently I decided to branch out a bit and start cooking dinner for the 9 youth who live in our Single Room Occupancy (the SRO, as we call it) and for the 6 young men who live in our group home, (the Co-Op, as we call that.) 

I was actually at the SRO this past Wednesday night, our case manager there Ray Beaver did the cooking, a seafood stew that was delicious, and the occasion was to celebrate the departure of one of our SRO youth who is leaving after 22 months.  He is moving into his own apartment, and then plans to join the Marines later this Spring.  It was so great to be there with this young man and his eight peers, to celebrate his accomplishment.  This young man said a few words after he opened the gift staff gave him (a toaster!) and talked about the positive impact the staff there had on him during the last two years.  Very moving.  And last night I made a penne pesto with shrimp dish at the Co-Op.  I left with the same kind of feeling, so impressed with the staff, and impressed with the young men there – their positive attitude, the respect they show each other, the affection and admiration they have for the staff. 

Both nights were a powerful reminder about the importance of what we are doing at Spectrum.  Our new mission statement is about “empowering teenagers, young adults, people with a history of violence – and their families – to make and sustain positive changes through prevention, intervention and life skills services.”  I left both places feeling that we are certainly fulfilling that mission.

This person sent us a very generous check for $2,000 with this note:

“In memory of my mother, who died a month ago after living a long life.  She helped provide a happy and healthy home for me.  I wish to help youth that are not as advantaged as I was.”

The New England Federal Credit Union ran the Blankets of Hope campaign this winter, asking people to donate blankets which would then go to organizations like ours which would distribute them to children, adults and families who could use them the most.  They already gave us dozens, and we just found out they are giving us the remaining overflow tomorrow.  Not only that, someone at the credit union convinced the Inn at Essex to do the same, so they will also be bringing blankets over to us.  This is a great help to the hundreds of youth we will see this winter, so many of them can use warm blankets, it seems as soon as they arrive they are out the door, which is of course exactly what we intend.

Thanks New England Federal Credit Union and the Inn at Essex, you folks are the best!

Please click below for the brochure, it is sponsored by the Univ of VT College of Medicine, May 5-6 at the Doubletree Hotel in Burlington.  Our clinical director Annie Ramniceanu is one of the featured speakers, her talk is on Substance Abuse in Adolescence and I promise you it will be excellent.

Register now while spots are still available.

Brochure 2011 – Child Psych for Primary Care

These are remarks made by some of the men who had perpetrated violence against women and went through our program.  They are powerful statements and a testament to the incredible work being done by Spectrum facilitators.

“The group helped open my eyes to a lot of things that we take for granted or nonchalantly could be abuse.”

“The teachers were very helpful and understanding, they did not judge me for what I had done.”

“This group has helped me show more respect for the people closest to me, and they have more respect for me.”

“The group has give me some tools and information to help me be nonviolent, and to show more respect for my partner and my children.”

“I was helped to make this change, that I no longer just think about myself, and that I am no longer like my father.  Women are not my possession, they have equality, and they do not deserve to be treated any less.”

“I want to thank the facilitators who have made me a better person, for stepping back and taking a better look at myself and changing my outlook toward my partner’s needs and equality.”

“I really did learn to respect and behave better thanks to this class.”

“One of the things helpful about the group is to know that there are others in my situation and I’m not going through it alone.”