Archive for the 'SPECTRUM STAFF' Category

Paul Hochanadel, the Director of Spectrum’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Programs (VIPP), recently graduated from the Vermont Leadership Insitute, the state’s premier leadership development program. This program was created by the Snelling Center for Government in 1995 and consists of eight overnight sessions – a total of eighteen seminar days throughout Vermont. Congrads to Paul and all of the graduates!!

(Photo of all the graduates: Paul is in the bottom row)

Mary Lynne Isham works in St. Alban’s in our Violence Intervention and Prevention Program, and I sent her an email commending her on her recent annual evaluation.  The Dept. of Corrections officials commended her for her excellent work there, and I noted this in my message.  Here is her response back:

Hi Mark,

Thank you very much for your words of appreciation and for taking the extra time to send me the note.  It means a lot to me.  I love the work I do, I love being a part of offering people an opportunity for positive change, and I truly enjoy being present for their struggle.

Warmly,

Mary Lynne

This is from Brian Plisko, he has worked as our weekend drop-in coordinator for the last three years, is now moving to California:

I think by now, most people are aware of the fact that I am transitioning out of this gem of an agency and moving forward in my life to fulfill an exciting new chapter. I wish you all a very blessed spring and summer, with hope that you all feel as thankful and lucky as I have felt working for such a wonderful place with the most incredible people on the planet. Thank you all for this incredible experience.

I am far greater a better man having shared this time and space with you.

In peace,

Brian Plisko

“No worries, this is a stellar organization, this is why I do what I do for it.”

It is people like Jamie that make Spectrum what it is.

It was quite an ordeal making it to D.C. last night for the presentation on Capitol Hill naming Spectrum as Agency of the Year. The National Network for Youth put it on and it was worth the various planes, trains and automobiles (cab actually) I had to take during the winter storm to get there. There were a few hundred people there, youth workers from around the country, including Hawaii, California and Oregon. Very impressive, and several congressmen and women too.

I said that I accept the award on behalf of our incredibly dedicated staff, our volunteers and our board, but also on behalf of the young people whom we serve, that in many respects they are the real heros, most of them having come from backgrounds of abuse, poverty, neglect, abandonment, domestic violence and sexual abuse. “It takes incredible determination, tenacity, and will to come from that and create a life of happiness and meaning,” I said. “This award, it is for them.”

I received this email from one of our staff, he has been here about 4 years and has worked with troubled youth for over 30 years:

“I really mean it when I say that this is the greatest place to do the work I love most.”

“This article is a follow up to one that ran last year about one of our “mentees.” This is an incredibly inspirational family, they have some enormous challenges but face them ALL with dignity, determination and lots of love. I’ve come to really love this family in the years that I’ve worked with them.In addition, Alicia’s mentor—Terri Gerard—will be honored in January as our National Mentoring Month Mentor of the Year. I believe that Alicia will present her with this award.One of the many reasons that I LOVE my job!” -Deanna Cameron, Spectrum’s Volunteer Coordinator

Read her story, it truly is a dream come true.

… “She came home and said, ‘Mom, they’re just like us,’” said Binti Miller, Alicia’s grandmother. “I am happy that she doesn’t treat people as rich or poor, black or white, she just sees them as people. Because that’s what we are, we’re all people, and they’re all kids.”

Sharon Fraser works at our Co-Op residence for boys on Murray St, she had to take time off for medical reasons and many of our staff donated vacation days they had earned so she could still be paid. She gave me permission to print the email she sent to everyone today:

Hello everyone I would like to take a minute and says thanks to all of those who donated time to me while out on medical leave. This came to no surprise the amount of help that I received during this struggle of complicated medical issues. I can not put into words how thankful I am for every thing you all have done. I see how people pull together in this organization and it is an amazing place to be a part of. I truly thank you all very much and am here for any one who needs, again thank you, you folks and co-workers made it possible to go through my surgery and recovery with comfort knowing that I would be okay with time. I could not have done this with out the help.

Thanks so much!!!

Sharon Fraser

I got this from Christine Hayner, an excellent worker here who is going to pursue her MSW at UVM:

I am really going to miss working here, Spectrum is such a wonderful place to work and do work in our community! I have enjoyed working here, leaving was one of the hardest decision I had to make.

Believe me, we will miss Christine, she made a big difference in the lives of many youth and families in this county.

To all Spectrum staff:
As I am about to enter my last week at Spectrum I wanted to send a note out to say goodbye to everyone and to also let you all know how much it has meant for me to work here for the last two years. My time at Spectrum has really made an impact on me that will stay with me for the rest of my lifetime. Both in terms of the work with our clients as well as the collaborations and friendships that I have made with many of you have impacted me greatly. I am on my way to big changes as I leave Vermont, the place that I love and consider home, and move to the Twin Cities in Minnesota. I only hope that I can find an organization to be a part of that comes close to what we all have here at Spectrum. I am not going to make specific mentions here as I have and will continue to do that in person, but please know that I have great respect and admiration for this organization and all of the people that commit their time and energy to the work they are doing. It is a large organization with a lot going on, but a great job has been done to make me feel, and I would imagine others as well, to feel like an important part of the Spectrum family. I feel as though I am leaving a piece of myself here and will be taking a piece of Spectrum with me as I embark on my new journey’s. I am not sure what else to say, so I will leave it that and simply say goodbye and I will miss coming to work here every day.

Take care,

Justin Morgan-Parmett

Program Coordinator

Project Safe Choices: Challenging Young Men’s Violence