Toni Ortner, Sep 4, 2014 GRACE Cares, Inc., founded by Ken Glancola, Zoe Kopp, and T. Namaya, is a nonprofit that runs out of an aromatic kitchen and lively living room right here in Brattleboro. Its mission is to partner with local heroes and communities on small scale developmental projects that empower people to improve their lives. What is amazing is that it does this successfully, thanks to the dedication and passion of its founders, Board of Directors, student volunteers, and the individuals who step up to the plate in the local communities. Although it has international donors, many here in Vermont have not heard of GRACE Cares, Inc. because the donors’ funds are not used for public relations but instead are funneled directly into the local projects that benefit small communities; 92 cents of every dollar goes into projects. Zoe Kopp, President of GRACE Cares, Inc. spends long hours on the phone, Skyping and e mailing volunteers in far flung locations from the Dominican Republic to India. I had the recent opportunity to see her in action. She sat quietly with a notepad and pen, her cat on her lap, bent over the video screen speaking with two student volunteers who have been working in the Dominican Republic and now are assuming new responsibilities as the US Coordinators of Project Hearts in the Dominican Republic non-profit that GRACE Cares helped to found with its local hero Ruben Ottenwalder. Although the Skype call lasted two hours, Zoe’s patience seemed infinite. She asked each student specific questions to ascertain what was happening “on the ground” and listened with empathy until each student finished speaking being careful not to interrupt since frequently the most important thing said is the last. She was interested in how the students were interacting with the local heroine who had stepped up to improve health conditions in the community. Obviously, there is a great difference in culture and manners of communication; however, what was stunning to observe was how persons from such different religious, ethnic, racial and cultural backgrounds can work well together step by step, to achieve a common goal that benefits an entire community. Dr. Kopp who has spent years of experience supervising such projects, instead of being directive or authoritative, calmly and clearly discussed the current circumstance and subtly let the students know the tasks that must be completed and what aspects must be evaluated and reported so the project will move forwards as smoothly as possible; indeed, there was much laughter during the Skype call as Zoe took intensive notes interrupted occasionally by a loud meow as the caw pawed her lap for more attention. Read More ➤
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 15:07:44 +0000
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