For November, the Leadership Greater Nashua Cohort gathered to learn all about some of the non-profit organizations in and around Nashua. Our day started at Alvirne High School in Hudson, where we learned the history of how the school was named and the fascinating backstory behind the contributions it makes to the community. The school was named after Alfred and Virginia Hills, a prominent family in Hudson who donated land with the intent of having a high school built. It opened in 1950 but was destroyed by a fire in1974 and rebuilt within the year, reopening in 1975. Today, it not only continues to thrive as Hudson’s high school, but it also houses The Palmer Center, Gateways Adult Day Center, The Barnyard Café, and The Farm at Alvirne.
The first non-profit we were able to explore was Gateways Adult Day Center as Allison Nartiff gave us a tour of the space they utilize as well as a brief overview of the services they provide to adults in need of care during their operational hours of 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. It was heartwarming to hear that they involve the students in the programming, allowing them the opportunity to learn more about caring for the elderly population while simultaneously giving the clients exposure to the young minds of our community through fun activities.
We then ventured to a room set with tables and chairs and we embarked on our day of panel discussions and non-profit education. The first panel, moderated by Viktoriya Dribinskaya, was about adult services. We were able to hear from Max Morelli (Director of Program Services for Opportunity Networks, Inc), Kim Shottes (Executive Director for The Plus Company, Inc), and Allison Nartiff (Adult Day Program Manager for Gateways Adult Day Services). In listening to the panelists answer a variety of questions from both Viktoriya and various LGN members. Overall, it seems like the most challenging aspect of the adult service industry is primarily low staffing levels due to the lack of knowledge about the field and the pay. Another challenge they fac is helping the families understand the decline of their loved ones while trying to find resources to assist them through the challenges they may face. It was great to hear about the collaboration between the different agencies, as some may share clients to meet all of clients’ needs, while collaborating to solve some of the challenges they may face as a non-profit organization.
Our next panel discussion was comprised of panelists in the Integrated Care world and was moderated by Jason Tucker. We listened to Vanessa Talasazan (Chief Strategy Officer of Harbor Care), William Belecz (Chief of Operations at Harbor Care), our own Michelle Beeny (Director of Development at Gateways Community Services), and Katelyn Copeland (Senior Director of Children’s Services at Gateways Community Services). Harbor Care dedicates its time to trying to end homelessness by helping clients with healthcare, transitional housing, and veteran services, helping 5,000 people annually. They effectively ended homelessness in Nashua in 2017 and are working with Manchester’s Mayor to help them meet their goal of doing the same by 2026. Gateways serve more than 3,000 people in Greater Nashua, helping create and promote programs to foster growth in those with developmental disabilities. The two biggest challenges both organizations face are funding and the fact that there are too many clients in need of assistance and not nearly enough staff to help them all.
The final panel discussion of the morning discussed Family Supportive Housing and was moderated by Erin Copeland. We had Becky Gagne (Director of Transformational Housing at The Front Door Agency), Hannah Stohler (Executive Director of Marguerite’s Place), Jessica Blanchette (Housing Coordinator of Bridges: Domestic & Sexual Violence Support), and Melissa Johnstone (Director of Family Services of Family Promise of Southern New Hampshire) on the panel, sharing information specific to how they aid in finding housing for those in need in the Greater Nashua area. The challenges they all spoke about were surrounding funding, as there are obstacles to find the funds needed to operate. There are less landlord incentives to take housing vouchers in today’s housing market so they have to get creative with how they find housing for clients, such as setting up roommate situations and/or finding creative ways to incentivize landlords to actually take housing vouchers so that suitable housing can be obtained in a timely manner. I was particularly impressed with a program implemented by Marguerite’s Place where they have their clients pay their full rent, but they put half of it in an escrow account so that when they are ready to find housing after their time with them, they have a healthy amount of money in savings to utilize. Family Promise has their clients save 70% of their disposable income so that they can watch their savings grow. They also have regular meetings with staff to review their finances to provide an element of financial literacy. All these organizations welcome volunteers and mentors to help with their initiatives in providing supportive housing. The statement was made by one of our panelists that family homelessness is invisible homelessness because you cannot live on the street with your children without them being taken away, so you find ways to protect your children at all costs without securing housing due to obstacles outside of your immediate control. It was powerful hearing that, as it was a concept that I had never truly thought of and one that many families struggle with in the Greater Nashua area.
After the three morning panels, we ventured to the Nashua PAL facility, where we settled in for the next two panel discussions. Before we began, we were gifted the opportunity to learn about Nashua PAL from Shaun Nelson (Executive Director of Nashua PAL) and tour the building. They had a variety of rooms set up for the kiddos to spend time in from the learning center, filled with technology and books, to the Create & Learn room where they can craft, dance, and even watch movies. When the kids come to PAL afterschool, the staff help them transition by having them work on homework, a puzzle, or something similar and they debrief on their day with someone who either works or volunteers there. PAL is a program that has been around since 1989 with more than 500 volunteers helping students in the community through support and mentorship. As we walked up the stairs to explore their huge boxing gym on the 3rd floor, I read a quote by Martin Luther King Jr. on the wall that I felt truly encompassed the day: “The time is always right to do what is right”, which is what each one of these non-profit organizations do each and every day.
Written by:
Autumn Banning
SNHH
After a hearty lunch, once again provided by Texas Roadhouse, we settled in for our afternoon panels. We started with a discussion about serving on a non-profit board with Patricia LaFrance, Carol Baldwin, Doreen Manetta, and Brian Law, each of whom shared their extensive cumulative experience of service on various boards over time. The combined experience, frankness, and spirit of service of this panel was impressive, inspirational, and contagious!
Our next panel focused on Youth Services. Where Aletta Brown of Girls, Inc., Ashley Fudala of Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua, Shaun Nelson and Jen Miller of Nashua PAL and Matthew Fentross of Nashua Childrens Home shared the challenges, rewards, history, needs and successes of their respective organizations.
After a brief break and short drive, we arrived at Gateways Autism Center for the remainder of the afternoon. Our first panel was on Food Insecurity. Jane Goodman of the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter, Melissa Baxter of End 68 Hours of hunger, Jon Eriquezzo, and Tiffany Brewster of NH Hunger Solutions, shared how they are serving the ever-expanding population experiencing food insecurity.
Our final panel discussion about Diverse Impact, was comprised of Jennifer Leblanc from the Humane Society, Cecilia Ulibarri of Positive Street Art, Gray Somers of Addiction Recovery Coalition of NH, and Sara Lemley from Adult Learning Center. The members of this panel provided insights into other, sometimes less obvious, ways that Non-Profits are affecting change in our community and communities across the country.
Lastly, Michael Apfelberg of the United Way of Greater Nashua provided us with the closing remarks of the day. He was able to educate about the various roles that the United Way plays for charitable and service goals in the community. Acting as a centralized player that has resources to collect and distribute large donations of equipment, food, water, etc.
These organizations are filling gaping voids in our community, serving the needs of people both seen and unseen. The underserved, underprivileged, and vulnerable members of our society. They are all doing meaningful, challenging, and never-ending work. Work that is only possible through donations, volunteers, and grants for which many are competing. The recurring themes of the day were that the needs continue to grow, there is NEVER enough money, competing for talent with extremely limited budgets is an uphill battle, and helping some, or even one, is worth the work. Non-profit day was a remarkably busy day, packed with information and stories from terrific people who are doing terrific things EVERY DAY! Several of the panel members were LGN alumni and I am honored and humbled to hopefully be following them into service.
Written by:
Jason Tucker
Charles Schwab
