Women in Vermont who wish to make a lasting impact in the lives of other women are invited to become a mentor in the Vermont Women's Mentoring Program, a restorative reentry project at Mercy Connections. Along with the Department of Corrections and other community partners, the program matches trained volunteer women+ with women+ who are in prison, under supervision in the community or participating in pre-trial services.

Mentors come from all walks of life and are asked to make at least a one-year commitment. They support, coach, and function as new, healthy companions to trauma-affected women facing myriad challenges including the stigma of incarceration, isolation from family, addiction, mental illness, loss of employment, and securing housing.

Mercy Connections provides a 5-week training program–Thursdays, September 22 & 29, and October 6, 13 & 20 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.–and ongoing support, including mentor support group meetings, education on issues that affect the re-entry process, and social events. Pairs of women are carefully matched for a successful experience. Women interested in the training do not need to have prior knowledge of the criminal justice system or mentoring experience to participate.

For more information, please contact Joanne Nelson, Director of Justice and Mentoring, at jnelson@mercyconnections.org or (802) 846-7164, or visit our website, https://mercyconnections.org/