Welcome Jesse Brooks, UP's New Getting to 'Y' Program Director

As a non-profit professional, I have had the opportunity to serve my community through public health and advocacy efforts for nearly seven years. I've had the privilege of learning from so many partners including service providers, education professionals, medical providers, parents, and youth. Through collaboration and learning opportunities, I have acquired a deep knowledge of grant management, data collection, evaluation, policy, and community engagement.

Most importantly, I have been a proud parent since 2005; shout out to Reiss, Rory, Eamon, Shawe, and Junie! I live in Ferrisburgh, Vermont with my kids and husband, Jeremy (a teacher at Vergennes Union High School). When we are not busy attending sporting events, theater performances, or parent-teacher conferences, we love to hike, bake, and plan our dream vacation to the Scottish Highlands. Do you hear bagpipes or is that just me?

Speaking of music to my ears, so is being part of the UP For Learning team as the Getting to 'Y' Program Director! I am eager to link arms with my new coworkers and learn how I can apply my experiences and strengths to advance the UP mission.

UP Youth Facilitators Receive

Promising Practices Award from HTI Catalysts!

UP partner HTI Catalysts is a Georgia-based collaborative network of consultants that provides facilitation and professional development that leads to powerful cultural shifts and enhanced communities of accountability. Every year, Catalysts are recognized for their contributions to the network and their gifts. This year, the youth facilitators of Listening 4 Justice (L4J), Addie Lentzner, Isis Bandele-Asante, and Maisie Franke rose up as the perfect recipients of the Promising Practices Award. This one goes out to the Catalysts who demonstrate practices in facilitation and leadership that we can all learn from and that move the group forward. Their contribution to the revisions and creation of an L4J pilot for schools and youth programs was invaluable. As a result of the recognition of their contributions, they have been formally invited to join the HTI network of Catalysts.

In our final session of the 8-week series, Addie shared her story of the work she has been inspired to do to bring the truth about race and racism into Vermont schools at all levels.

We are honored to be working with these amazing change agents who are still in their teens. Because of them, our future is bright!

- Dr. Folami Prescott-Adams, CEO of HTI Catalysts and UP Board Member

Spotlight on Youth Voice & Leadership

An Exciting New Step for Youth Voice in Vermont, with UP's Facilitators Leading the Way

A group of 28 newly appointed young leaders from across the state met on December 13th to convene the first meeting of the Vermont State Youth Council. The full-day session, held at the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier, brought together a diverse group of youth across ages, grades, genders, lived experiences, policy interests, and other characteristics. The Council is charged with providing Governor Phil Scott and state legislators advice and recommendations on policies that impact young Vermonters.

The Vermont State Youth Council was established through Act 109

signed into law in May 2022. UP Youth facilitators led the full day session, supporting this group in leadership development.

Introducing UP's Youth Action Council!

This fall, UP hosted its first youth onboarding retreat, with a goal of building connections between and among youth facilitators and adult staff members, practicing facilitation tools, and empowering others to effect change. From this retreat, UP confirmed that many of the now 65 youth interns working as co-facilitators in partner schools are interested in further developing their skills as leaders. UP Youth Program Specialists Isis Bandele-Asante, Maisie Franke, and Ana Lindert-Boyes designed the retreat and the follow-up meetings to gather input on the future of the Youth Action Council (YAC).

UP Wants to Hear from YOU!

As part of our continued efforts to collaborate and evolve, we'd like to ask for your feedback in this survey about our communications. All responses will be kept anonymous and confidential, and will be used only to improve our outreach. And thank you to those that have already taken the survey. If you have not had a chance, we would love your feedback by January 15th!