24-Hour Hotline
St. Johnsbury: 802-748-8645
Newport: 802-334-0148
About Umbrella
In 1976, a small group of women called a community-wide meeting to discuss the lack of women’s health services in St. Johnsbury. Umbrella was born from that meeting. While it did not become the women’s health center envisioned by the founding mothers, the organization has addressed a broad range of issues impacting women and families, including violence against women, early care and education for children, and gender equity.
Umbrella’s mission is to cultivate a Northeast Kingdom where all people thrive free from abuse and oppression. We believe that oppression and the systemic abuse of power is at the root of domestic and sexual violence, stalking, teen dating violence, human trafficking, as well as violence related to gender or sexual orientation – which in total we characterize as gender based violence. We seek to embody a world where those who have been disempowered by poverty, discrimination and other obstacles are able to live peaceful, self-directed lives.
Our Values
We embody Community
We know our community. We engage with our organizational partners and residents in order to be responsive to their needs. We cultivate internally in the organization what we want to see externally in our world. We work at creating a healthy community where all voices are heard and valued.
We imagine Social Change
We imagine a world where there is justice and all people are free from oppression and abuse. We work towards changing and challenging the systems and conditions that have maintained inequality. We imagine social change and we work towards it.
We look for Opportunity
We are scrappy and we look towards opportunities to support our clients wherever they may lie. We are innovative and forward looking and think in new ways about old problems.
Leadership Team
Amanda Cochrane, Executive Director
Tracey Doore, Finance Director
Vaunne Masse, Director of Economic Empowerment
Roxie Rivard, Director of Advocacy North
Lisa Avery, Director of Advocacy South
Henekis Stoddard, Director of Social Change
Olivia Plunkett, Director of Innovation
Board Members
Marc Bouchard
Martha Cavanaugh
Ilene Dickinson (Secretary)
Carol Lyon (Treasurer)
Alex MacLean
Susan Mescher
Erin Narey (Chair)
Monica Pineda Hernandez
Jane Pompeo
Liz Prohaska
Drusilla Roessle
Dale Steen
Danielle Sussmann Turo
