GC Hardwick Reflects on their Fall Term 2011!

Global Campus has been an inspiration in my life. I’ve been coming for five years now and it’s been great. I met a lot of friends. I really enjoy coming to Global Campus and hanging out with all my peers and the staff. I would recommend anyone to come to our Global Campus and learn about our classes. I learned all about the Presidents and the world, which I thought was very interesting. I thought John did a great job teaching that class. I would like to take the time to thank the staff for their hard work, including myself as the activities coordinator. – James, GC Hardwick Participant

I have been coming to Global Campus for a very long time. I am a really nice person. Global Campus is a lot of fun. I had a class on Minute to Win It. It is a TV show and I got some ideas from the show on the computer. It is nice to see different people come to Global Campus. There are about twenty-four people from Global Campus Hardwick. – Amanda, GC Hardwick Participant

As a support worker, I really enjoy Global Campus. It is a wonderful group of people who support and encourage each other. They teach classes that are fun and interesting. They are kind and welcoming to new participants and visitors. I love how teaching builds confidence and learning keeps us young, active and happy. We get out in the community and donated turkeys to the food shelf. These interactions help to get us thinking about our role in the community and how we interact and share ideas. – Dominie, CIS

What I bring to my Global Campus is my smile and my cheery face. I did a lot of classes, like table manners, and also a CPR class this year. I also wrote to the soldiers who were overseas and far away from their families. I did a class about journal writing and about your feelings and what you feel inside. What I like the best is having friends in the Global Campus. I met Olivia and Amanda in our Global Campus for the fist time – Diane, GC Hardwick Participant.

I am Debbie. I like to come to the Global Campus. I like everyone here at Global Campus. Debbie likes all the classes all the time. Debbie had a nice class on the Hardwick Food Pantry this year. Debbie knows a lot about the food pantry. – Debbie, GC Hardwick Participant

Global Campus Hardwick has spent a lot of their term focused on the community and learning more about their surrounding towns. I was very impressed by their curiosity and genuine interest in the culture around them. The group invited community members into their campus, hosting guest speakers from local businesses and organizations such as the Buffalo Mountain Food Coop and Craftsbury Library. This community interest has added a new dimension to the campus and I’m excited to see what else will come from the campus’ increased community involvement. – Amy, Academic Coordinator.

Global Campus Springfield Shares About Their Exciting Fall Term!

Global Campus Springfield had an exciting Fall Term. It included new faculty participants, new subject areas for experienced faculty and a Community Service project that raised money for victims of Tropical Storm Irene. Here are some reflections on the Fall Term from participants:

When I first came to Lincoln Street I was nervous because I did not know anyone. Everyone supported me and now because of Lincoln Street and Global Campus I have met so many people, have learned so much and done so much. I was even talked into teaching a class with Patrick and it was great!

By Bernie

My class was about the NY Yankees. I love them because they are a great team.
By Keegan

I was amazed at the positive response to my classes( Let Love Be The Rule and Red Sox Revisited)!
By Hudson

In my class about President Obama we learned that he was born in Hawaii and I got a copy of his birth certificate.
By Patty

I felt nervous teaching my class because I had never taught anything like that before. I rehearsed with Matt and learned 45 new songs to share-it was awesome!
By George

My class about forklifts went will with the help of my friend Drew at Townline Equipment in Plainfield, NH.
By Chris

I taught a class with Jeff and we had good movies about wrestlers.
By Dennis

My class was about the movie Top Gun. We watched the movie, learned some of the songs and ate popcorn.
By Randy

I think Global Campus is awesome!
By Kyle

It was great to share about the 3 Stooges!
By Nik

It is awesome that everyone gets to choose a topic to teach that they like as it makes them more comfortable. It was also great to see Bernie and Patrick team teaching!
By Bobbijo (LSI support staff).

Global Campus Participant Feature: Olivia Klinke

My name is Olivia Klinke. I have been at Global Campus Hardwick for eight years. I have taught a lot of classes, like about my favorite actor Heath Ledger and The Women’s Rights Movement and a Cooking Class, too. I love coming to this group because it helps bring out all my friends that are here. It is nice to remember some friends we have lost, too, like Aaron and others who have left. I have kept all the information from the classes I have taught in a box in my room.

Olivia is a good person and we have been friends for ten years. She likes to help others when they need it. – Amanda, GC Hardwick Participant

Olivia’s Cooking Class was so much fun. She included everyone and is an excellent cook. Delicious apple crisp! Olivia is always thoughtful and caring, supporting others when needed. – Dominie, CIS

Olivia is one of the longest-standing members of Global Campus Hardwick. Her teaching abilities are extensive and she has a wide range of interests. Over the past few years, Olivia has taught classes on Mexico, the Women’s Movement, her favorite novels and a cooking class. She is often leading the Campus Seminar and has a strong desire to share ideas in a way that gains respect and friendship from her peers. – Amy, Academic Coordinator

GC Chiang Mai Receives Visitors

Our friends Jim and Sheryl Tewksbury, a thousand blessings upon them, founded an organization called Global Campuses Foundation, with campuses in Vermont and Thailand.
We visited the Chiangmai campus with them.

Jim and Sherry

The Global Campus participants are people with various disabilities, who teach one another skills and attitudes that will help them become more confident, self-reliant and effective in the world. The participants determine their own curriculum, based on what they want to learn, and what they have to share. They teach one another skills including English, sewing, music, art, Thai language, craft making, small business management, auto repair, how to be a radio DJ, etc.
More importantly, they strive to raise self awareness and self confidence, focusing on disability rights, accessibility issues and advocacy, and women’s rights.
The curriculum is offered at the GCF campus facility as well as in city venues and outlying rural areas.

Ka and Non, who manage the Chiangmai campus, made us feel very welcome.

Ka and Non

Ka and Geng, the campus photographer made tea for us to enjoy while we watched a PowerPoint presentation Non had put together about their program.

Non displays the Queen’s Trophy, a much esteemed award presented to Global Campus Chiangmai.

Khun Yai is working on starting up a campus in her small rural village.

Khun Yai

Yai’s scooter has been cleverly redesigned to accommodate her wheelchair.

- Kate and Grady, USA

We have our feet planted firmly in mid-air.

On my final afternoon in Chiang Mai (and Thailand’s National Disability Day), I was lucky enough to spend a few sunny hours with Jim & Sheryl Tewksbury, residents of Randolph, Vermont and founders of Global Campuses Foundation. GCF - which runs programs in (you guessed it!) Vermont and Thailand - has made incredible progress in empowering and advocating for persons with differing abilities. They operate based on the philosophy that those they serve should not only participate, but also play an active role as leaders and creators within the organization. In this way, small campus communities form and flourish where they are needed most. The campuses provide a space for both personal and professional growth, where individuals wear many different hats as teachers, learners, and stewards of the program. In Thailand, a country where social discrimination and physical inaccessibility still block many paths for those living with disabilities, GCF’s work has been particularly powerful. A great divide still separates those with and without disabilities, as one recent article in Chiang Mai’s City Life magazine explains:The article goes on to comment:

Though this may lead to people disliking and avoiding disabled persons, it more often creates a charitable, often described as “merciful” attitude towards people with disabilities. [however] an inclusive society can only be achieved when people with disabilities are allowed to define their needs and the ways in which they should be addressed - becoming agents of their own lives rather than ‘objects’ to be taken care of.

Jim & Sheryl have dedicated many years to spreading this message as far and wide as they can. Both former professors, they’ve spent most of their lives afoot, always hopping from one school or home to the next - and currently divide their time between Randolph and Chiang Mai, over 8,000 miles apart. With a laugh that could have been interpreted as self-effacing or simply amused by its own absurdity, Jim told me: “we like to say that we have our feet planted firmly in mid-air.” I laughed along, realizing I had begun to understand exactly what that feels like. Whether or not i’ll follow in Jim & Sheryl’s cross-continental footsteps remains to be seen. For now, i’m happy to have drifted into their airspace, even just for an afternoon. Thanks for everything guys!

- Alex, USA

Donor Profile: Nancy and Steve Edwards

“We are delighted to support GCF because GCF focuses

on what participants CAN do, not what they can’t.”

“Global Campuses Foundation does not abide by the common conception – misconception, really – that people with differing abilities are limited,” GCF donors, Nancy and Steve Edwards told us. “Mainstream thinking is, ‘You are handicapped; we’ll make allowances for you but you can’t do what ‘normal’ people do.’ GCF rejects that completely. Their philosophy is, ‘What interests and motivates you? You can learn more about it. Then you can teach others about it.’”

“You have to see GCF participants in action to truly understand the remarkable work this organization is doing.” That’s how Nancy and Steve feel about the work Global Campuses Foundation does in Vermont and Thailand. They attended a GCF conference a few years ago that changed their perspective forever. Even though they have been supporters of GCF since it was just a concept, they reached a new level of understanding of the Global Campus experience directly from the participants themselves.

“Most notable about the conference, I was struck by the joy the participants had,” Steve remembers. “Adults with differing abilities were front and center through the entire event, engaged at their own levels, educating the very large audience. They had set the bar for themselves very high and they delivered a great experience.” In all their interactions with GCF, the Edwards have come to recognize that there is no “them and us” – rather it is all “us”.

“We attended classes the participants led in breakout sessions at the conference,” says Steve. “As teachers, GCF participants were totally engaged, focused, and completely capable of sharing their knowledge.” For example, one young man gave a well thought out presentation on wildlife with special focus on birds.

It is the philosophies of Global Campuses Foundation that keep Nancy and Steve coming back year after year to support educational experiences, and life transformations, for many participants. They have been challenged to turn their own thinking upside down – to remove borders between people who are much more alike than different – and to question the practice of marginalizing groups of people. Everybody has dreams – everybody has skills.

Nancy is no stranger to educational environments. She has been a Reiki teacher for 17 years and has her own practice. She specializes in “energy work” of various kinds. Nancy’s travels brought her to Global Campus Chiang Mai several years ago, where she became familiar with many participant stories there. Steve is an advertising copywriter and manages his own small advertising agency, doing work internationally. Over the years, he has provided business consulting services to GCF as well.

While the Edwards’ financial contributions have played a part in the growth of Global Campuses, Steve points out that it is really “success that breeds success”. He has seen the concept and philosophies of GCF lead to campus expansion “mushrooming” quite quickly – inspiring more and more campus participants each year.

How will they be sure their support of Global Campuses Foundation’s work carries on? They are happy to share that Global Campuses Foundation is included in their will. Including GCF in your estate plan will ensure the mission is sustained: to support adults with differing abilities to enhance their quality of life as they create, manage and sustain campuses of advance learning. Estate gifts can be made through wills, revocable living trusts, retirement plans or life insurance.

Steve and Nancy’s recommendation to others considering supporting GCF: “When you think about it, every life has been touched by someone with differing abilities.” The work GCF does is very impressive, and you can be assured that every dollar is optimized in the program. Be sure to meet the campus participants directly, as it is not possible to adequately communicate the power, the essence, of the Global Campus experience in words alone.”

To make a donation to GCF, please visit our website at www.globalcampuses.org

To learn more about including GCF in your estate plans, please contact us at info@globalcampuses.org

Global Campus Moretown Fall Term 2011!!!

For many this is their first time attending a Global Campus class. The environment is loose, fun, and full of banter. Many classes consist of throwing celebratory parties with cake and potlucks. For the times when we are not celebrating we start by gathering in a group common area to pass a Talking Stick and share events of the past week. We then proceed into the actual class where faculty from Global Campus get up and teach the rest of us a little something about their hobbies and lifestyles. Classes usually last from 1 - 2:30 so that there is time to fit everything in. Global Campus always welcomes new participants and looks forward to the experience of meeting new people. - By Lee Willsey Potter

I did the best job and I really love it here! - Jennifer Lovelette

Bowling. I explained about what size ball you should use in my class. I liked putting the clay on the oven with my hands. - By Roy Francis

I like Global Campus because I can share about my interests, especially cats! - By Rhonda Komulainen

I did the Race Class last year. I talked about how the cars get fixed and how they get smashed up. Then they get towed with a tow truck. Global Campus is fun! - By Neil Rauh

I love to hang out at Global Campus. - By Matt Hersey

I like it because everyone meets. I like bringing a new match box car to share each week. Friends. - By Curtis James

Global Campus is a nice place! - By Holly Hilton

I liked Finbar's Airplane class. - By Gabriel Teran

GC Randolph Reflects on their Fall Term 2011!

We learned about the Tunbridge Fair from Vicki at the Library. In Edie's Talking Books classes we switched to a new story about a chimpanzee living with a family, it is great! Rick taught us about bowling and we learned the inside of the ball is made of hard plastic. Missy showed us how to set a table with laminated placemat diagrams in her Basic Table Setting class.

The VT state butterfly is the monarch and the tree is a maple. That was from Edie and Vicki's State Symbols class. Dan gave a drumming demonstration and played along with ACDC.

Kathi, Cheryl and Joe taught us about fall leaves and how to make a collage with them. Everyone at MENIG liked Rena and Justin's class on Baseball Bingo. We learned baseball terms like infield, outfield, and innings. Jonathan taught us what VDOTU stands for in his TV show class and we learned more songs in Theme Song Trilogy.

We made a Full Value Contract that says how we should treat each other at our campus and we all signed it. Our theme is Building Community and we made a map of our community with all the connections we have, like where we live and work. We also invited guest speakers from the community to teach at our campus in the Spring Term. It's our campus!

- By Melissa Campbell, Rick Holbrook, Daniel Dunn, Edith Billings, Vicki Uphahm, Raymond, Justin Lumbra, Rena Haevers, Jonathan Fletcher, Lisa Dickinson, Marion Casarico, and Kathi Pratt

Global Campus Shiremont Makes A Meal for the Upper Valley Haven

Global Campus Shiremont, which includes participants from New Hampshire and Vermont, made a dinner of lasagna, salad, bread and desserts at the Adult Shelter on October 28, 2011. We chose the Haven for our Community Service project because they help people in need no matter what their situation is. After the meal was prepared, we shared the fruits of our labor and ate dinner with some of the residents. It felt good to help others who are less fortunate than we are.

Global Campus Shiremont participants

GC Bradford Helps Their Community!

In September, Shawn heard a radio advertisement saying that the Bradford Food Shelf was low and in need of food items. She shared the idea at her campus as part of a discussion about a fall Community Service Project. Our campus liked the idea and created a food drive to help out. We set up a collection box at Upper Valley Services. Robin set up another box at the Bradford Public Library, and Shawn arranged to have one above the Local Buzz. We collected nearly 100 non-perishable food items and delivered them to the food shelf. Valorie reported today that the food shelf is now doing well. Jeannie says our food drive was, "Pretty good!".

- By the Global Campus Bradford Core Group