Grantees

After a decade of service, The Arts Bus mission of “empowering joy & authentic self-expression through the arts” finds Vermont’s favorite green bus at the crossroads of limited public art education resources and ever-increasing costs of raising children. The EVER AFTER KIDS Program is based on acceptance of two systemic facts: 1) there will FOREVER be children in AFTER care programs; and 2) quality art education will ALWAYS be limited in school budgets. Through this program, The Arts Bus bridges the opportunity gap by offering programs free of charge to children who otherwise have no other quality art education outside of public schools, working in creative partnerships with libraries, towns, schools, art centers & after-care providers.

This is an expansion of the Twinfield Together Mentoring Program. As of February 2017, TTMP is overseeing 63 one to one mentoring matches across our three programs. Despite this high participation rate, we still have students requesting a mentor. We would like to continue supporting our 18 weekly EW reading pairs, and expand and grow our program to create new Everybody Wins! reading matches for the 2017-2018 school year. We will specifically focus outreach efforts to recruit more male Everybody Wins! mentors.

On the 2022 reading NAEP, only 43% of VT 4th-graders scored proficient or above—& only 19% of children in poverty. Reading well and liking to read are tied to further education, well-paying jobs—and a good life as an adult. Everybody Wins! Vermont helps children love to read by matching them one-on-one with volunteer reading mentors who share books & literacy activities and build friendships weekly at school. Children are exposed to new topics & discussions, enhance self-esteem, and show gains in reading skills, self-esteem, and overall classroom performance. Everybody Wins! Connects children with their communities and citizens with their local schools. One principal: "Everybody Wins! Is our most important connection with our community."

Everybody Wins! Vermont is the state's largest mentoring organization, with over 600 adult volunteers reading one-on-one weekly with children in 22 schools statewide. Mentor pairs meet during lunch time at the school to share books and literacy activities and to build positive relationships. Our Power Lunch program exposes children to topics and discussions they might not have otherwise, enhances children’s self-esteem, and expands their possibilities for academic and life success. Research shows that children who enjoy reading and are surrounded by books at a young age gain an edge in school and life. Everybody Wins! mentors help make sure that more children have that opportunity.

An afterschool program in Randolph, VT

Babywearing enables caregivers to bond with their newborns, manage stress, and care for their baby and themselves. Families worldwide have carried their babies for centuries. But for many families today, babywearing can be expensive - and overwhelming. Carrier options are confusing and complicated; a good quality carrier may cost over a hundred dollars. Many new parents give up after one failed attempt because they lack sustained support and the ability to try different carriers until they find a good fit for their needs. This program breaks down barriers to babywearing via individualized fitting assistance, practical information on how to carry your baby, and access to a variety of carrier types in a supportive, judgment-free environment.

Outright is building a VT where all LGBTQ+ youth have hope, equity, and power. A crucial step is ensuring that they have supportive adults in their lives - starting at home. According to The Trevor Project’s National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, “LGBTQ youth who report having at least one accepting adult were 40% less likely to report a suicide attempt in the past year.” The goal for our family programs (TransParent, Panorama, Gender Creative Kids) is to equip parents and caregivers to be that accepting and supportive adult. They plan to add a new member to their Family Programs team, allowing them to increase participation, expand offerings, reach new regions, and apply new innovative approaches to their work alongside families.

The Boys and Girls Club of Brattleboro (BGCB) is expanding College and Career Support Programming to include new partnerships, offer new components, and serve more youth in our region. Our plans for this programming during the 2024/2025 school year include: 1) Eight College Visit Field Trips 2) Ten College and Career Prep Workshops 3) Afterschool college and career prep tutoring with professional mentors Together, these programs will engage community partners to provide youth with the guidance and encouragement they need to pursue higher education and make informed decisions about their futures. BGCB College and Career Support Programs are operated free of charge with the core purpose of helping youth achieve their potential.