From the Desk of Paul Dragon, 11/13/26
At CVOEO, we believe in collaboration and transparency. That’s why every week Executive Director Paul Dragon shares a roundup of updates and initiatives to keep everyone, from our 300+ team members to the broader community we serve, informed and connected. Here’s what’s new this week!
Karibu Celebration Book and New Award Ceremony
Thank you to everyone who helped make the Karibu Cultural Celebration Book Launch and New Hope Award Ceremony a meaningful success. We were delighted to welcome 117 attendees to celebrate the new Karibu Cultural Celebration book, honor the 2026 New Hope Award recipient, and recognize the makers, models, artists, past recipients, sponsors, supporters, and friends who have shaped Karibu’s history.
The event brought our community together through personal stories, photographs, and reflection on the traditions and connections that have made Karibu such a beloved celebration. It was especially powerful to see the lasting impact of this work and the many people who continue to carry its spirit forward.
Thank you to all staff, partners, and participants whose contributions made this gathering possible. Your work helped create an occasion that honored Karibu’s legacy while celebrating the community that sustains it. Deep appreciation to Addie, Lindsay, Sandrine and Virginie!
See the book on our website here: https://www.cvoeo.org/karibu/
New Hope Award Winners
We announced two recipients of the 2026 New Hope Award at the Karibu event. Bernard Mampouya is an English Instructor at Mercy Connections and Urmila Cchetri is a Youth Mentoring Program Staff Member at the Association of Africans Living in Vermont (AALV).
Thank you so much to Sandrine, Jess, Rachel, Lindsay, Shiferaw, Pacifique, and Virginie , as well as our observer, Addie, for helping CVOEO with this selection. Thank you to the Crystal family for sponsoring this wonderful award each year.
Read the full bios of our award recipients here.
Champlain Place Winter Warming Shelter is Officially Opening!
On Monday, November 16th, Champlain Place will open its doors for the winter season. Over the past few weeks, our team has worked tirelessly to prepare our shelter space so we can welcome an additional 24 neighbors in from the cold.
To ensure a smooth transition, we are working directly from our active waitlist and reaching out to individuals throughout this week to schedule intakes and admissions.
Operating a winter shelter during Vermont's cold season is no small feat—it brings long hours, tough challenges, and high demands. Yet, through every hardship, our team shows up with incredible heart, grit, and unwavering dedication, giving their absolute all every single day.
While this work is deeply demanding, it is also our most rewarding. As temperatures drop, Champlain Place becomes a vital, compassionate space where our neighbors can find warmth, safety, and a welcoming community—and that is all thanks to our resilient team and supportive community.
Here is a quote from a proud mom whose children are donating to CVOEO!
“I have two kids and we started a tradition where a portion of their allowance goes to donations at the end of the year. My son looked at all the options and chose CVOEO based on the work you do across causes including food insecurity, housing, winter heating aid, etc. It gave me a way to talk about these important issues with him, and we have kept the donations going. Every year seeing a card addressed to him that we read together and talking about the impact the work and donations make on someone's life, feels like one important way I can help him grow in awareness, compassion, and motivate change in the world he will be a part of as he grows up." - Abby & Wesley from St Albans Town
Head Start Family Connections Program Hosts Successful Semi-Annual Clothing Exchange:
On Friday, November 6, 2026, the Head Start Family Connections Program hosted its Semi-Annual Clothing Exchange, bringing together community members and partners to support local families. All Head Start families were invited to participate, and 35 families came to the event to donate gently used items and select clothing for their households. In addition to family donations, a significant amount of clothing was gathered through the generosity of local organizations and community members. The impact of the exchange extended beyond Head Start families, fostering strong community collaborations. Partners from across the CVOEO network attended to secure clothing for their clients, and participants from both Champlain Place and Foundations were also able to benefit from the event. Remaining items from the exchange will continue to serve our community, as all leftover clothing will be donated to a local food shelf.
A huge thank you goes to Larissa, Head Start Family Support Specialist, who spent months planning, collecting, and organizing donations to make this event a success. We also extend our deep appreciation to the Head Start parent volunteers who worked closely with Larissa to sort and organize the clothing, ensuring a welcoming and seamless experience for everyone. We are grateful for our Head Start teachers, Family Support Specialists, and Home Visitors. Their efforts to spread the word were essential to ensuring such a wonderful turnout. We are so grateful to everyone who donated, volunteered, and participated in making this community-driven event a success.