Fellowship Place announces our 2016 Birgitta Johnson Campership Fund contest winners!

The Birgitta Johnson Campership Fund awards camp scholarships annually to Fellowship members who wish to attend Camp CONNRI, an adult retreat and vacation center operated by the Salvation Army located on over 250 acres overlooking a lake in eastern Connecticut. The campership fund was established in 2015, in memory of longtime supporter and former President of Fellowship Place’s Board of Directors, Birgitta Johnson.

The 2016 awards were announced in March. Winning entries included Best Art Project, Best Essay, and Best Overall Winner. Congratulations to Ray D. & David F. for best essay, Pat C. for best art project, and Mary M. for best overall winner. To enter, Fellowship members were asked to submit an application along with a 1-page essay or a piece of artwork expressing why they would like to go to Camp CONNRI. A panel made up of Fellowship Place Board members judged the entries.

Best essay

 

 

Best art 

 

 

 

 

Pictured from left to right in photo 1 are Fellowship Place Board member Sue Cohen, essay winner Ray D., Fellowship Place Executive Director, Mary A. Guerrera, essay winner David F., and Fellowship Place Board member Ruth Sachs. Pictured from left to right in photo 2 are Fellowship Place Executive Director, Mary A. Guerrera, and best art project winner Pat C.

 

Fellowship Place Panel Discussion: Barriers of Finding Employment when you have a Criminal Record

Fellowship Place hosted a panel discussion on Tuesday March 29, to discuss the barriers of finding employment when you have a criminal record, and strategies for overcoming those barriers. About 125 people attended and contributed to the discussion, which included employment rights, resources available to ex-offenders, as well as how to discuss a criminal record with an employer.  The panel was moderated by Clifton Graves, Project Fresh Start, City of New Haven. Panel members included:

  • Timothy Lyles, Employer, Regional Sales Manager, Avagrow International
  • Trevor Johnson, Certificate of Employability Coordinator and Adult Probation Regional Manager
  • Dwight Dickerson, Owner, Tri-Cord, LLC
  • Two individuals with a criminal record, who are stably employed
  • Kirk Lowry, Legal Director, Connecticut Legal Rights Project

     

    Empl Crim Hx Panel Discussion3

    From left to right: Kirk Lowry, Novem Alston, Dwight Dickerson, Trevor Johnson, Timothy Lyles, and Clifton Graves. 

Watch Video: “Recovery Is Crocheting”, Featuring a Fellowship Place Client

Liz, a Fellowship Place client, shares her very personal account of how learning to crochet has helped her stay focused on her road to recovery. Video produced by Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) with support from the CMHC Foundation.

Revovery is Crocheting from Connecticut Mental Health Center on Vimeo.

Watch Video: Recovery Through Music Featuring a Fellowship Place Client

Shenette Lopez, a participant in both Fellowship’s Young Adult Group and Expressive Arts Program, shares her very personal account of the important role music plays in her recovery from mental illness. Video produced by Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) with support from the CMHC Foundation.

Successful Highlights from Fellowship Place’s Career Development Program this Past Quarter

Congratulations to the following Fellowship Place Clients who secured employment this past quarter with support from the agency’s Career Development staff:

Michelle W. and Karen B. started jobs as Event Planners for Advanced Marketing Solutions in Orange, CT.

Melissa P. started a job as a Food Service Worker at Whitson’s Food Service in New Haven, CT.

Johvanni C. started a job as a Cashier at Shoprite in New Haven, CT.

Elizabeth S. started a job as a Cashier at Burlington Coat Factory in Orange, CT.

100% (17) of individuals in Fellowship Place’s Supported Education program who attended a Fall school term, successfully completed their terms.

A total of 18 individuals participated in New Haven Adult Education GED classes hosted at Fellowship Place for the Fall term; 7 of which were from New Haven community and 11 were active Fellowship Place members.

Awards won by Fellowship Place staff & members as part of neighbor Montessori School on Edgewood’s 6th Annual Valentine Chocolate Festival.

Congratulations to Ken Grimes & Peter Gaffney of Fellowship Place’s Expressive Arts Program. Ken’s artwork was chosen as the theme for the Festival’s T-Shirts, and Peter’s artwork for a poster auctioned off during the event’s silent auction. Congratulations to Fellowship Place’s Chef Alan Thayer, Carolyn Miller, and the Food Service Interns for their award winning recipe “Fellowship Place’s Dream Chocolate Truffle” with Salted Almonds and Organic Coconut.

Choc Festival Graphic2