Volunteer Spotlight on: Wendy Dale Town: Montpelier When did you start volunteering with CVRAN? I’ve been involved with CVRAN since its beginnings about 9 years ago. The volunteer opportunities have changed a lot since that time. What is the most recent volunteer role you have filled? In December of 2021, I was asked to be a …

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, CVRAN helped a Tunisian asylum seeker get out of New York City and move to Vermont. That individual has become a dear friend to CVRAN members and many others, even joining the Board this April. But Ghazi’s really big milestone and celebration came earlier this year, when he …

My name is AnnaRose Jenisch, and I moved to Montpelier in 2013 where I have worked to support and advocate for people with disabilities at The New School of Montpelier, Vermont Center for Independent Living, and as a Shared Living Provider with Upper Valley Services. For the past two and a half years I have …

CVRAN has been actively working to find affordable housing for new refugees and asylum seekers in the Central Vermont area. Renovations on a local home finished recently and CVRAN celebrated with Downstreet at an open house last week. Thank you to all the donors, volunteers, and board members who worked to hard to make this …

If you have come to a CVRAN meeting, you’re familiar with the Just Food Hub. For quite some time now, Sue and John Morris have set up a table of ethically sourced food products at most meetings, making these Equal Exchange items easy for CVRAN members to pick up. When you buy from the Just …

CVRAN’s amazing pro bono lawyer Seth Lipschutz was recognized by the Vermont Bar Association for his many hours of work helping asylum seekers and refugees navigate the legal process. Read all about it in this joint press release from the Vermont Asylum Assistance Program and CVRAN! On April 5th, the Central Vermont Refugee Action Network (CVRAN) …

Why have a CVRAN volunteer spotlight?  The work of CVRAN is inspiring for so many reasons. The resilience and optimism of the refugees and asylum seekers themselves is remarkable, especially considering what most of them have endured. I also find the positivity and generosity of CVRAN volunteers gives me so much joy and hope for …

CVRAN’s 4th March Arts Marathon fundraiser is finishing its first week today. More than 40 artists are taking part this year – might just be a record! You can read more about the March Arts Marathon in this week’s Montpelier Bridge newspaper. With 3 weeks ahead in March, it’s not too late to make a …

What is more important for a volunteer organization than being the coordinator of all the volunteers? I still remember when Kathie O’Connor came to her very first CVRAN meeting at Trinity Church, and offered to take over this vital role at her very first meeting. Taking on this role meant building on the foundations that …

How do we treat asylum seekers? What problems can we solve? CVRAN joins with others to advocate.  In October 2023, CVRAN hosted a workshop for organizations providing service to refugees and asylum seekers. The text that follows below is an update on activities and advocacy from the VT-NH Asylum Seekers Network. (Read about the original …