40th Birthday Celebration
Another Way to celebrate 40 years
CONTACT: Ken Russell – 802 503 5068, ken@anotherwayvt.org
Another Way, a peer run drop-in center on Barre Street in Montpelier, is celebrating 40 years of mutual care and support, beginning with a series of events on October 4 at its facility at 125 Barre Street in Montpelier.
At 1 PM there will be a candle lighting, to remember those who have gone before, and to set the mood for the day.
At 2 PM, there will be a community meeting with the Another Way board.
At 3 PM a celebration of art, music and community will begin. It will include a sharing of stories, music, visual arts, and arts and crafts.
At 4:30 here will be a fall dinner with music by Jess O'Brien, a singer-songwriter based in Vermont. Her songs and style reflect elements of folk, country, and blues music. Afterwords there will be a hat-making party and a parade down the bike path on Stone Cutters Way
“This is a really nice moment for Another Way,” says executive director Ken Russell. “We work hard in challenging conditions, so it’s nice to step back and celebrate all that we have done. There are real rewards in this work, having to do with reciprocity between humans that care.” in fact, the event tag line is celebrating 40 years of mutual care and support.
Another Way is a sanctuary for psychiatric survivors, for those seeking an alternative to the traditional mental health care system. We are a crucial place of support on the ground in Montpelier, one that provides an array of programs for people’s well-being. Another Way provides peer support, healing circles, wellness programming, music, art, karaoke, and the Friday community dinner. Another Way enforces a code of conduct to ensure that this be a safe space for all to come here. It is a sanctuary, a place for healing and gentle mutual support.
Long time community member Roxy Smith states, “Another Way is important to me because I was a broken person when I came to Vermont and Another Way saved my life. It helped me change into the person I am today, one who knows that I have value to society and then I went on to help others see what they can be. It's just a sense of community that you belong in the world.”
“For decades Another Way has offered an alternative and supplement to traditional mental health services, using the peer support model. It brings together a large group of varied people with common, often traumatic experiences, allowing them to find community and growth in a way not possible in a one-hour weekly appointment,” says Dawn Little, who has been associated with Another Way for 15 years.
“Another Way is a place where people can go and get support, a place to be with other people who are peers, psychiatric survivors, who go there and look for alternatives to the mental health system,” says Malcolm Sawyer, who’s been involved with Another Way since 1986, “It’s a healing center, a place where you can go and help recover. A place I go to when I am freaking out and people are there to comfort me.”
Seth Collins, who was instrumental in bring about the celebration states, “Another Way provides a safe perch for individuals that are world-weary from flying in too many storms.”
“Another Way has been part of the Montpelier community for 40 years. We help people financially, emotionally, you name it. We’ve been doing our best to help the Montpelier community, individuals, families, parent – you name it – for 40 years,” says Michael Sabourin, current board chair and former director, who has been with Another Way since 2004.
More information on Another Way can be found at anotherwayvt.org. House phone is (802) 229-0920.
