Heather for State Representative ~ Franklin-7
For the past 14 years I have been working as an afterschool professional. In my current role as an Afterschool Project Director, I oversee eight afterschool and summer sites and manage manage several funding streams in order to support 1,000 youth per year. I believe in creating environments where youth have agency over their learning and development. It is my belief that it's important to be active in supporting causes we believe in and to help find paths to providing the best lives for those around us. For this reason I have joined several community boards and supported many community projects. Below are some of the ways I have served.


Political Experience
For the past four years I served as the Vice Chair of the Enosburg Falls Village Trustees. I have been on committees to hire our most recent Director of Finance and Village Manager. For my part, I have been working to make municipal business more inclusive, trying to branch out for new ways to reach all of our residents. For this reason, I requested the Village become part of the Vermont Healthy Communities program to bring health equity and community design consultation to our Village, free of charge. I look forward to supporting this project and our community for years to come.
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Besides my experience as a Village Trustee, I also served on the Governor's Task Force for Universal Afterschool Access. As a member of the task force I help create recommendations through an official report as a framework that has been used to expand youth opportunities throughout the state.
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Vermont Youth Project
Since 2019, I have been the community lead for Enosburg and Richford for the VYP, a long-term positive youth development project. Some projects I supported are:
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The Enosburgh Community Center
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New Teen events in the community
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The creation of a Youth Council in Enosburg & Richford. These councils receive grant funds from Vermont Afterschool to undertake projects that have a positive impact on youth lives. Some of these projects include youth events, community games, free movie nights for teens, colors runs, and more.
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Mentored a student to create a proposal to the school board for a garden space in the EFMHS atrium and helped secure funding to support the project
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Developed and sponsored parent/caregiver support groups during the first year of the pandemic
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Helped secure funding for the youth-designed and painted murals on Main Street in Enosburg and Richford
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Supported the new public playground in Enosburg
Most recently, I have been working with community members to start a youth center in Enosburg with the plan to open a second youth center in Richford. The Enosburg Village Trustees have agreed to be the fiscal agent to support grant that are being used to open the Enosburg location while our group completes the process of developing a 501(c)3.
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Check out the media section from the Vermont Afterschool website for examples of more Vermont Youth Project (VYP) work.


Other Work
Beyond my work and time as a Village Trustee, I am also part of therapy dog team with Jasper, my black goldendoodle. Together he and I teach afterschool classes such as Spanish, French, and art to elementary students.
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I have organized community awareness activities to support my son and others with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that impacts various aspects of one's life, including their body's ability inhibit tumor growth.
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Other groups I have been part of:
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I am a member of the Safe Routes to School team at Enosburg Elementary and volunteer to support walk to school days. ​
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I am a member of the Franklin-Grand Isle Prevention Collaborative and the Franklin-Grand Isle Regional Partnership through NCSS. ​
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In 2019 I joined the FGI Bookmobile Board. During my year on the board I helped establish the Bookmobile as a 501(c)3 entity and develop an updated vision for youth and community support through literature. ​
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I am part of the Hazard Mitigation Plan team for the Village of Enosburg Falls.​
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I have been a panelist for the Franklin County Caring Community's Annual Meeting on Youth Mental Health.​
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In 2023 I joined the Vermont Community Foundation as a community partner.