This August, our Director of Grantmaking, Lauren Wool, headed to the Upper Valley and was able to meet with nonprofit leaders, grantees, and other New Hampshire funders. A visit with Peggy O’Neil and Betsy Kohl at WISE was both a history lesson and a snapshot of the current environment they are facing. She learned that New Hampshire Women’s Foundation grant dollars helped WISE to launch their volunteer program nearly 20 years ago, which has since grown to more than 100 community members strong, helping to staff their 24 hour crisis line and support survivors in court. As Peggy describes it, every time a community member connects with WISE and engages as a volunteer, there is one more person working toward creating real and lasting change to end gender-based violence. Given the housing shortage in the region and statewide, it was notable to hear about the staff and board leadership’s dedicated focus on solutions. They continually expand and renovate their facilities to better serve those in need of WISE programming and next steps toward safety and stability.
Next stop, Spark! Community Center, a 2024 Grantee, funded for their Women’s Group. In addition to meeting with Afrille Degoma, Executive Director, she got to meet the ubiquitous John Fenley, Founder and current Community Outreach Coordinator whose vision of creating a safe and welcoming space for people with disabilities has been realized. Afrille and John talked about centering the programming and activities around the participants and following the energy of the Women’s Group, specifically to support their interest in topics of relevance and meaning in their lives. Visiting with Afrille and John was a healthy dose of sunshine, hearing them talk about the many thriving programs happening currently alongside many ideas and aspirations.
The next day, she joined a convening of several New Hampshire Funders who met at Hypertherm in Lebanon. Following a presentation by New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute’s Gene Martin on the state budget, colleagues met in small groups to discuss advocacy, grantmaking, and partnerships to explore what funders could do together at this moment in time.
Lastly, a visit to TLC Family Resource Center, centrally located in downtown Lebanon, was a great chance to talk with Alysse Lizotte, Executive Director, and members of her staff. The center was quiet that day but is usually bustling with activities for people dropping in for resource navigation or any number of weekly peer recovery support groups. Lauren learned more about TLC’s many family support programs, including the New Moms Support group (Claremont location), supported by Women’s Foundation funding. In addition, a new Women in Recovery support group has been launched in the Lebanon location and is quickly becoming meaningful and engaging for participants.
New Hampshire’s Upper Valley is bountiful with natural beauty but could also be characterized by a rich history of strong leaders who have built vibrant communities. We cannot wait to return for our next road trip!
