Mercy Connections Inc

MERCY CONNECTIONS' MISSION IS TO PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT LIFE CHANGES THROUGH EDUCATION, MENTORING, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND COMMUNITY.

MERCY CONNECTIONS EXISTS AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE 75-YEAR HISTORY OF TRINITY COLLEGE AND THE SISTERS OF MERCY, WHEN THEY CLOSED THE COLLEGE IN 2000. IT BEGAN IN 2001 TO PRESERVE THE SOCIAL JUSTICE MISSION OF TRINITY COLLEGE AND INCREASE ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE MOST UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS OF VERMONT. MERCY CONNECTIONS' MISSION IS TO PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT LIFE CHANGES THROUGH EDUCATION, MENTORING, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND COMMUNITY. MERCY CONNECTIONS OPERATES THREE WELL- ESTABLISHED, ROBUST PROGRAM AREAS, WHICH SERVE 400 PEOPLE ANNUALLY. THESE INCLUDE: THE WOMEN'S SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM (WSBP) IS A TRAILBLAZER AND LEADER IN PREPARING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS TO LAUNCH AND OPERATE THEIR OWN BUSINESSES. VERMONT JUSTICE AND MENTORING PROGRAM MATCHES TRAINED WOMEN VOLUNTEERS (MENTORS) WITH WOMEN INVOLVED IN THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM (MENTEES) AND PROVIDES RESOURCES, SUPPORT AND SOCIAL CAPITAL TO WOMEN TRYING TO RECLAIM THEIR LIVES AFTER INCARCERATION. EDUCATION & TRANSITION PROGRAMS (E&T) OFFERS A PORTFOLIO OF IN-DEPTH EDUCATION CLASSES, TUTORING, SUPPORT GROUPS AND A WEEKLY COMMUNITY LUNCH FOR WOMEN AND MEN SEEKING A SAFE, WELCOMING PLACE TO WORK ON THEIR GOALS, SENSE OF PURPOSE, AND POSSIBLY MOST IMPORTANTLY, BUILD CONNECTIONS WITH OTHERS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED WITH EVIDENCE-BASED, ADULT EDUCATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE PRACTICES THAT MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND EMPOWER THEM TO MOVE FORWARD. WE WELCOME PEOPLE WHO ARE MARGINALIZED AND OFTEN ISOLATED AND ADHERE TO THE PREMISE THAT EVERY PERSON, REGARDLESS OF LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES, DESERVES DIGNITY, COMPASSION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE PERSONAL ASPIRATIONS WITHIN A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE CREATED TWO NEW PROGRAMS TO RESPOND TO THE BASIC NEEDS OF OUR PARTICIPANTS AND CLOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS: (1) A FOOD SHARE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED A WEEKS WORTH OF FRESH FOOD FOR FAMILIES; AND (2) A PROGRAM FOR RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION AND IN-PERSON CONNECTION THAT WE CALL CURBSIDE CONNECTED. BOTH PROGRAMS WERE DESIGNED TO COMBAT FOOD- INSECURITY THAT WAS RAMPANT WITH OUR PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES ESPECIALLY DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC. CURBSIDE CONNECTIONS ALSO OFFERED OTHER ESSENTIALS LIKE TOILETRIES, CLEANING SUPPLIES, WARM CLOTHING, BOOKS, AND OTHER ACADEMIC MATERIALS, WHICH WE LITERALLY PASSED THROUGH OUR FRONT WINDOWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. CURBSIDE ALSO PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IN-PERSON CONNECTION WITH OUR COMPASSIONATE STAFF.