NOV 12, 2009
Interrupted Life: Incarcerated Mothers in the United States
About the Exhibit: "Interrupted Life" is a traveling public art installation that examines the lives of incarcerated mothers and their families as well as the policies and politics of incarceration in the . Curated by historian Rickie Solinger, Director of WAKEUP/Arts in New York , this exhibit links eight installations. Works include the "Real Cost of Prisons" comic book project, the San Francisco Photovoice Project, and an installation by CAPACITY, a youth arts program in Columbus, Ohio . The result is a powerful commentary on imprisonment; the emotional impact incarceration has on families; and stigmas generated by incarceration.

Incarcerated women comprise the fastest growing segment of the prison population. Most of these women are mothers. They not only face the challenges of incarceration, but also find their situation complicated by finding interim care for their children. In the process, many incarcerated mothers risk losing their parental rights altogether. When mothers are incarcerated, their children are punished too.

"Women are the fastest growing segment of the prison population; they are typically non-violent, yet are housed in prisons built on a male model, where their needs--and the needs of their children to be in contact with them--are generally overlooked," said Sue Castagnetto, professor in the Women's Studies program at Claremont College in California.

Here in Vermont , over 1,000 women go to prison each year. Over three-quarters of those women are mothers, the overwhelming majority of which are single mothers. Eighty percent of those women are non-violent, and up to 60% of the women who are incarcerated have not committed new crimes – they have violated a technical condition of their community supervision. In 2007 over 2,000 children were affected by their mother’s incarceration and the numbers continue to increase.

When mothers are incarcerated, their children are often left in situations where their needs are misunderstood, where poverty prevails and where they suffer emotional neglect and abuse. They are among the most at-risk, yet least visible, populations of children. They must often leave behind all that is familiar – parents, schools, siblings – not always told the truth about where their parents are and many lose contact with their parent. The stories of these children and their families are the stories of your friends, neighbors, and even your family. The hope for children who have a parent incarcerated in Vermont is that they do not become collateral damage to their parent’s criminal behavior.

Our thanks go out to Casey Family Services, CCTV, Chittenden Bank, Mercy Connections, The Permanent Fund for the Well Being of Vermont Children, Photo Garden, the University of Vermont, Kids-A-Part at Vermont Children's Aid, the Vermont Commission on Women, the Vermont Department of Corrections, Vermont Works for Women, and WAKEUP/Arts for their support of this exhibit.

JUL 11, 2009
39th Annual Antiques & Uniques Festival
Join us in beautiful Craftsbury Common for a great day of meandering among over 100 vendors of antiques, collectibles, jewelry makers, quilters, potters, woodworkers, and many other antiques dealers, craftspeople and artisans.  Visit the legendary bake sale tent and the grill, listen to great live music, and enjoy free children's activities.  Parking benefits the Craftsbury Fire Department and donations are encouraged to support services for children and families.   Please email Cheryl Herrick for more information or to inquire about renting a booth.  A Top Ten Summer Event! More info

Please contact Community Coordinator Colleen Dwyer at 655-0006 or cdwyer@vtcas.org for more information.

Please contact Colleen Dwyer, Community Coordinator, with questions or referrals 655-0006 ext. 117 or cdwyer@vtcas.org.

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  A beloved Vermont summer event featuring over 100 purveyors of antiques, hand-crafted jewelry, furniture, beautiful fiber items, pottery, stoneware, quilts, collectibles and so much more.  Live Celtic music with Trinity.  The Grill Tent and Legendary Bake Sale keep guests fed and happy.  Free face painting is available.  And all on the beautiful Craftsbury Common to benefit services for children and families.  For more information contact Cheryl at 655-0006 or cherrick@vtcas.org.