We are a non-profit organization that has been serving Windham County since 1995. In 2006 BAAH was recognized by the Vermont Agency of Human Services “for extraordinary contributions to the well-being of Vermonters.”
We have no paid full-time staff. Our programs are implemented by volunteers: members of the board as well as other organizations with complementary goals.
BOARD MEMBERS
Karli Schrade
President
Since 2017, Karli has been employed by Groundworks Collaborative in a number of roles. Most recently, Karli is currently the Shelter Program Coordinator overseeing program operations for the Groundworks Shelter, Day Shelter, and Seasonal Overflow Shelter. Groundworks is the lead agency for the Windham County South Coordinated Entry Partnership, in which Karli is our local contact. Coordinated Entry is a communitywide partnership comprised of many local community partners with the goal of reducing barriers related to accessing housing supports and services. Karli also serves on the Vermont Coalition To End Homelessness (VCEH) board as a representative for Windham County South. Since childhood, Karli has been very involved in community service opportunities. Outside of work, Karli enjoys nature, kayaking, camping, softball and of course, cats!
Pat Burke
Vice President
Pat has lived in Brattleboro area for the past 26 years, has a Master’s Degree in Counseling and has worked in SEVCA’s Family Services Program for 20 years – 5 providing crisis intervention and housing counseling services, and the last 15 as Program Director. Prior to coming to SEVCA, she worked as a Property Manager for Windham/Windsor Housing Trust. She is committed to working for social justice and has been a member of the BAAH board for the past 17 years.
Lisa Whitney
Treasurer
Lisa has lived in Brattleboro for 10 years, previously residing in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in New York. She is in her seventh as the Director of Operations at the Winston Prouty Center, managing the Winston Prouty Campus and supporting the organizations work to provide quality early education and family support to families in our community. Lisa’s career path has included social work, foster care services, and training of social services staff. She enjoys time with her family, DIY projects, camping, and other outdoor activities.
Lorelei Morrissette
Secretary
Lorelei was born and raised in Putney, VT. She ventured out of town in the early 90’s to live in North Carolina, Indiana, Arizona, and Nevada. She returned here in the early 2000’s to rejoin her family. Lorelei has been working in subsidized housing for the past 15 years, beginning at Windham & Windsor Housing Trust. For the past five years, she has been working at Brattleboro Housing Partnerships in roles focused on coordinating supportive services for residents. Lorelei is dedicated to helping residents maintain their housing and improve their quality of life. During her leisure, she loves spending time with her friends and family, including her four legged ones.
Emma Stewart
Emma joined Windham & Windsor Housing Trust in 2018 for a new position of Housing Support Coordinator with a focus on the start-up and coordination of supportive services at the first Permanent Supportive Housing model in the area, Great River Terrace. Prior to this, she worked for SEVCA in Westminster, VT, providing crisis assistance and advocating for low-income community members in Windham County. During her time at SEVCA, she joined the Greater Falls Warming Shelter Board and worked alongside local community and faith-based organizations in the start-up of a monthly community meal, an area social service team “super group”, The BF Team, and Vermont’s first diaper bank. Prior to moving to Vermont, she worked in NH as a counselor for a residential adolescent substance use treatment center. Emma is a native New Englander with a degree in psychology and art. A recent graduate of Leadership Southeast Vermont, Emma is excited to continue serving in Windham County focusing on building community and providing housing retention support with WWHT. Outside of social services, Emma finds center in riding her motorcycle, writing, painting, and creating music.
Michele Wright
Since 2009, Michele has been employed at Groundworks Collaborative, working to stabilize families who are experiencing homelessness. She brings with her over 20 years of experience working in Brattleboro Social Services. Michele has worked with families struggling with addiction, with youth aging out of the foster care system, and runaway and homeless youth. Michele enjoys the outdoors and everything it offers. Her enthusiasm lies in cycling. Michele enjoys late afternoon rides throughout Vermont and its neighbor States.
Robin Sweetapple
Robin Sweetapple started RR Sweetapple Redevelopment Consulting almost five years ago, where she works on industrial design and redevelopment, focusing on economic development and community resources. Her interests extend to historic preservation, green building, and analyzing buildings and building systems. Robin serves on a variety of boards and committees including the Brownfield Steering Committee for the Windham Regional Commission and the Brattleboro Design Review Committee. Currently, she is President of the Board of Directors for the Bellows Falls Area Development Corporation, a board member for Brattleboro Area Affordable Housing, and a board member for the River Valley Credit Union. Robin has been a member of Rotary for over five years. In addition to her architecture, Robin also holds a BS in Broadcast Journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School and a BA in English Literature from Syracuse University. A lifelong passion for the arts combined with her love for design has produced LP and CD covers for bands including Witch, Dinosaur Jr., and the folk band Feathers.
Tim Callahan
Tim was born and raised in Brattleboro. He left town in the 70’s and returned in 2005 to assist in his parents lives and to reinvent his own. During his time away from town, he spent 32 years as a pharmaceutical biochemist and director of quality assurance for a number of organizations, including Tom’s of Maine, BioDesign International, Deltown Chemurgic, and New Chapter. He has created products for the food, nutritional, dietary supplement, fermentation and medical device industries. In 2012, Tim happily retired from industry and looked for new challenges that might capitalize on his experiences in his previous life. He has now taken up with Windham & Windsor Housing Trust. For 4.5 years, he has led the property management team at WWHT, has enjoyed every collaboration with colleagues within WWHT and at local associated agencies, and celebrates our joint successes in providing affordable housing in Brattleboro and surrounding areas.
Timm Harris
Timm was born in Los Angeles; Timm lived there, in Greece, Texas, and Maryland. He earned his BA at Cal State Northridge and two Master’s degrees at UCLA. After three years in the Peace Corps (Nicaragua), Timm started working in development assistance overseas, with non-profits and USAID. He specialized in strategic planning, project design, monitoring and evaluation, and resource allocation – mainly in the areas of economic growth, education, and democratic governance. He raised his family (four children) in Kenya, Nepal, Nicaragua, Morocco, Mali and Ghana. Upon ‘retirement’ in 2005, Timm and his wife Ursula Nadolny, with sons Yuri and Alec, moved to Guilford. Timm continued to consult overseas on short assignments until he finally did retire in 2015. Timm is on the Boards of BAAH, Youth Services, and SEVCA.
Ruben Garza
Ruben believes that a healthy community is one that delivers on its promise to support, enrich, and provide opportunity to the lives of all its members, regardless of race, gender identity or sexual orientation. He believes that active participation is required by all community members to uphold and protect its shared values. Ruben strives to lead by example; he employs his use of free time volunteering and engaging the community as a board member and supporting local arts and artists.
Ruben moved to Brattleboro, Vermont from Laredo, Texas in 2015. Ruben’s favorite Vermont past times are swimming in the Summer, generally being terrified of winter driving, and leaf peeping in the Autumn. You may catch Ruben walking around the downtown area shopping at his favorite record store, playing basketball in the Parks and Rec league, and attending theatre performances throughout the year.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Annette Cappy
Gary Goodemote
Allen Myrick
Melissa Snow
Byron Stookey
Dave Weaver, in memoriam
