I don’t know who nominated us, but 36 hours ago I stumbled upon a contest to select the best nonprofit in town in terms of social media use. And there we were, Spectrum. We started tweeting and posting and emailing, and in the end finished on top! This is a great tribute to our development team, which two years ago got ahead of the curve and started pushing our message of hope and nonviolence into the world through social media. They made this happen, and an as-yet-to-be-announced monetary prize is headed our way as well for this honor.

Click here to see the results

Bridget Everts, coordinator of our DropIn Center, accepts 40 mini-burrittos from Andy today.  Many Spectrum youth enjoyed them for dinner tonight!

“I have been a Peer Outreach Worker at the drop-in center on Pearl St. since November of 2010. I may not have had the chance to meet all of you yet, but I wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who is a part of this wonderful agency for making my time here so enjoyable, stimulating and full of great learning opportunities.  My time has been short, but I know that the skills and experiences I have gained here at 177 Pearl St. will stay with me and effect the work I do for the rest of my life. I wish you all the best, and thank you Spectrum.”

Paul was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force. We are very proud of him, he has worked for almost a decade on this issue and has become a leader in the State.

Click here to read about Paul’s appointment

“My son did really well at the Spectrum shelter, it is because of the system the staff have put in place there, it really does work. He is doing beautifully.”

Click here to listen to \"Consequences of the Underage Drinking Party\" on Vermont EditionVermont Edition

We’ve got THIRTY kids getting high school diplomas this June! 25 from our youth development program, three in mentoring, and two who live in our residences.

And we have 15 youth in colleges we expect to return there in September.

Very proud of these kids and our staff who work so hard to help them succeed.

Pictured above are Dee Johnson, mentoring coordinator at Spectrum; Joe Carelli, president of Citizens Bank for NH/VT; myself; Mike Hayes, branch manager for Citizens in South Burlington.

We are so proud of Mike for receiving this award from his bank for the volunteer work he is doing at Spectrum. He has been a mentor to a 12-year-old boy and also taught several of our mentees how to snowboard this winter.

Here is the press release from Citizens describing the award and why they selected Mike:

Citizens Bank today awarded its 2011 Be Inspired Award to Michael Hayes, manager at its South Burlington branch, for his outstanding commitment and dedication to the community. As part of the award, the Citizens Bank Foundation will contribute $2,500 to the charity of Michael’s choice.

“Michael is an extraordinary volunteer and truly enjoys giving back and helping those in need,” said Brigitte Ritchie, vice president of public affairs and community relations for Citizens Bank. “He is dedicated to helping at risk youth and teens, and is a mentor and regular volunteer at Spectrum for Youth and Family Services in downtown Burlington. His “can do” attitude is inspiring not only to the teens he helps support, but also to his colleagues at Citizens Bank.”

Hayes became interested in working with Spectrum when he attended a fundraising dinner called Empty Bowl, to highlight the many programs Spectrum provides for homeless and at risk youth ages 14-21.

The surprise award was presented to Hayes at the Citizens Bank branch in Burlington this morning as part of Colleague Appreciation Week at Citizens Bank.

“Michael began volunteering at Spectrum by being a mentor to one at-risk youth and he has made a significant impact on the life of this young man,” said Mark Redmond, executive director of Spectrum. “Michael regularly meets with this youth to help provide guidance and advice. This isn’t always an easy role, but he is dedicated to being involved and making a difference.”

Spectrum provides emergency shelter, food, clothing, medical services, outreach program, employment and job-skills training, education, life-skills training, mental health and substance abuse counseling, mentoring, violence intervention programs, juvenile justice, and street outreach.

The Be Inspired Award was created in April 2007 by Citizens Financial Group, Inc. to honor volunteers who perform exemplary service in the communities where Citizens does business. Nominations for the Be Inspired Award are made by colleagues. Awards are given out in each state where Citizens has a presence.

“Because volunteerism is so central to the bank’s core values, many of our colleagues seek out and participate in community service programs throughout the state,” said Joe Carelli, president of Citizens Bank. “Citizens is proud to commemorate all of our colleagues’ tremendous contributions through the act of volunteering.”

We are proud to announce the creation of an Advisory Board for Spectrum Youth and Family Services. The following individuals have agreed to serve:

Brian Boardman (Hickok and Boardman Realty)
John Crabbe (Vermont Tent Company)
Sr. Irene Duchesneau (Fanny Allen Hospital)
Barbara Lande (Honey Pot Fund)
Katy Lesser (Healthy Living)
Melinda Moulton (Main Street Landing)
Ernie Pomerleau (Pomerleau Real Estate)
Pat Robins (Symquest)
Michael Schirling (Burlington Police Department)

Rutland Herald
________________________________________
Article published Jun 9, 2011
Tale of forgiveness
By Brent Curtis
STAFF WRITER
Three days after the murder of his friend in 1987, Mark Redmond visited her killer in a New York jail, looking for answers and holding to the principles of his faith.

“I was as furious as anyone else. Virginia was a nun who came from Pennsylvania to work with homeless kids and was one of the most wonderful people I have ever known,” said Redmond, who worked with her at a shelter for homeless youth in the inner city. “But I’m a Catholic and I try to take my faith seriously. I remembered that Jesus said, ‘When I was in prison you visited me’ not, ‘When I was in prison and innocent you visited me.’”

Nineteen-year-old Norberto Torres wasn’t innocent. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life behind bars.

Addicted to crack cocaine and ordered to leave the youth home the day before he killed a nun, Torres seems an unlikely subject for a tale of redemption.

But on June 12, guests at the 21st annual dinner and auction for Rutland Dismas House will get to hear from Redmond and Torres how a relationship that began with a leap of faith ended with forgiveness and, perhaps, redemption.

During the two decades Torres was behind bars, Redmond said, he corresponded with him constantly, was the only person who visited him and organized a network of people — including Sister Virginia’s convent — to help Torres get an education behind bars and secure his release on parole.

It’s an extraordinary tale but one in perfect harmony with the goals of Dismas House, which provides transitional housing and services to inmates preparing to start anew in their communities.

The annual dinner in Rutland will honor retired Central Vermont Public Service Corp. CEO Bob Young and his wife, Vicky, who spent her career working with a number of nonprofit groups.

The event will also include the organization’s biggest fundraiser — a silent auction — and an awards ceremony.

But the story that Redmond and Torres — who are billed as the keynote speakers — plan to tell promises to be the most riveting part of the evening.

At the core of that story is Redmond’s belief that every life is redeemable. He offers up Torres as proof. Released in 2009 after serving more than 20 years behind bars, where he weaned himself from drugs, got an education and served as a model prisoner, Torres now lives in New York City, where he works to help homeless youth.

“He’s become the person he could have become if he never got into crack,” Redmond said. “Our relationship not only changed him, it changed me and the whole network of people who supported him. It’s so easy to label a person as a murderer and write them off entirely. But people change. I believe that.”

Registration at the Dismas House dinner is mandatory, and tickets cannot be purchased at the door. To buy tickets, call Rita McCaffrey at 824-3660.