Grantees

In 2021, Mountain Views School District assessed the rising problem of substance abuse among high school students. Their solution is an annual Student Leadership Conference that teaches students to make healthy life choices and identify dysfunction before it triggers substance abuse, violence, or mental health issues. The Conference empowers students with problem-solving and conflict resolution skills. It also develops leadership skills that help students guide peers, teachers, and our district to better communication, equity, diversity, inclusion, and stronger connections. Fifty students attended the first Conference, all from MVSU’s Woodstock school. Demand is soaring, and in 2025 they expect 130 students from 4 high schools to attend.

The Teen Center is a nonprofit located in Middlebury, VT. Our mission is to offer space, programming and resources that support teen development and well-being. We offer after school drop-in, enrichment programs, and summer camp to youth ages 12-18. All programs are free or pay-what-you-can. With this grant, we will create an internship program for youth ages 14-18 who staff identify as 'at-risk' in terms of high school completion and/or employability. Accepted youth will be offered a paid internship which will blend job training, social-emotional learning, and academic support. We will work with them to identify strengths and areas for improvement in a supportive environment, and help them set and achieve academic and employment goals.

The New England Youth Theatre (NEYT) will use this funding to launch our Mentorship Education program. Participants in this program will work with our team of staff and visiting artists to learn discipline-specific skills that are applied in support of our productions throughout the year. Through small group and one-on-one learning environments, young people in our Mentorship Program learn design competencies, team building, and leadership skills that plug into modules such as Costuming, Lighting, and Prop Construction. The young people who move through this program are offered more responsibilities in helping stage NEYT productions and educate their peers to apply the skills they have learned.

The Summer Social Justice Camp fosters youth leadership development and community engagement by providing a platform for youth to plan and facilitate their own day camp. Youth will work with local community partners to learn about social justice issues and related advocacy skills. Focus areas may include: antiracism, youth gun violence, LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, and reproductive freedom. Hosted in four regional locations across Vermont, this new program builds upon the previously existing youth leadership training series by the Education Justice Coalition.

The Sharon Academy (TSA) provides relevant, comprehensive education to rural VT students in grades 7-12, ensuring graduates are equipped to thrive in a constantly changing and increasingly complex world. Adolescents in rural VT need reasons to engage in school and ways to imagine themselves as successful professionals meeting their immense potential. Students will explore real, virtual, online, or simulated work environments through a Work-based Learning Program (WBLP) designed to develop skills and connect academic principles with real-world applications. WBLPs are crucial pathways for post-secondary readiness and are essential to modern learning. Introducing a WBLP at TSA will greatly benefit students.

SafeArt's Youth Empowerment Program focuses on advocacy, education, and fun for youth interested in fostering individual and communal growth. Addressing the critical need for well-being and social justice programming for youth in Vermont, this program combines trauma-informed trainings, healing arts, and play to educate and empower middle and high school aged youth. They work with the young people to identify and address their needs, creating safe spaces for them to share their voice. Through paid positions, summer camps, and year-round afterschool groups, youth develop skills and confidence in themselves and each other.