28 Women Announced for Inclusion in Labor of Love Exhibit
Vermont Works for Women is proud to announce the selection of women to be featured in our 25th anniversary Labor of Love exhibit. They are filmmakers, tattoo artists, heads of colleges, general store clerks, and doctors. They hail from Newport to Vernon. They are young and young-at-heart, well-known and not. The honorees were selected from more than 150 women nominated by friends, colleagues, or their families to be recognized in VWW’s Labor of Love exhibit next fall.
The Labor of Love exhibit is designed in recognition of working women as part of Vermont Works for Women’s upcoming 25th anniversary. VWW Executive Director Tiffany Bluemle said, “One way in which we’ll mark our anniversary is by celebrating individual women who are passionate about their work and are changing lives, whether as a dairy farmer, law enforcement professional or educator. At its best, work connects us to our communities and to colleagues who open our eyes and affirm our efforts. It gives us a sense of purpose. It engages our passion, our intelligence, and our talent.”
VWW was bowled over by the nominees put forward from across Vermont as well as the moxie, professionalism, and inspiration their stories reflect. The quality and quantity of nominations received made the decision-making process extremely difficult for the volunteer selection committee. Bluemle said of those selected, “These honorees were chosen because their work and lives testify to the theme ‘Labor of Love.’ Learning about working women’s tenacity, courage, and creativity throughout the state has been a tremendous source of inspiration. Knowing and sharing these stories will offer role models for everyone.”
LABOR OF LOVE HONOREES
| NAME | HOMETOWN | CAREER |
| Cristina Alicea | Burlington | Vermont Stage Company – Artistic Director/CEO |
| Anne Galloway | East Hardwick | VTDigger.Com – Creator, Writer |
| Lucie DeLaBruere | Colchester | Technology Consultant |
| Carina Driscoll | Burlington | Vermont Woodworking School – Founder |
| Nancy Heydinger | Vernon | Girls on The Run Vermont – Executive Director |
| Tara Kelly | Rutland | Rutland Farm and Food – Executive Director |
| Sandy Lincoln | Rochester | Sandy’s Books and Bakery – Owner |
| Deborah Lisi-Baker | Waterbury | UVM Center on Disability – Manager |
| Lucy Martin | Danby | White’s Fuel Stop – Manager |
| Meredith Martin | East Hardwick | Shady Lady Tattoo Parlor – Owner |
| Ita Meno | Shelburne | City of Burlington – Code Inspector |
| Barbara Murphy | Johnson | Johnson State College – President |
| Bess O’Brien | Barnet | Kingdom County Productions – Filmmaker |
| Nari Penson | Winooski | The Schoolhouse Learning Center – Teacher |
| Diana V. Perez | Montpelier | Women Helping Battered Women – Legal Advocate |
| Mary Powell | South Hero | Green Mountain Power – President |
| Annie Ramniceanu | Waterbury | Spectrum – Clinical Director |
| Jan Ruta | Montpelier | Jan Ruta Electric – Owner/Operator |
| Amanda Sheppard | Middlebury | Therapeutic Riding Instructor |
| Tracy Simon | Chelsea | Orange County Sherriff’s Department – Detective |
| Karen Sokol | Burlington | At Home Physicians – Doctor/Owner |
| Michelle Tarryk | Newport | Northeast Kingdom Learning Services – Executive Director |
| Candace Taylor | Winooski | UVM Women’s Center – Coordinator |
| Marie Tiemann | Essex Junction | UVM Endowment Fund Manager |
| Brenda Torpy | Grand Isle | Champlain Housing Trust |
| Rosina Wallace | Waterbury | Dairy Farmer |
| Hannah Deane Wood | Jericho | Talent Skate Park – Owner |
| Kim Furlong and Carolyn Dicicco |
Woodstock | Barnard General Store – Owners/Managers |
As part of developing the fall exhibit, our honorees will gather on Saturday, May 5th (10 am – 4 pm) at Spaulding High School in Barre where they will be interviewed by a team of high school girls. Their interviews will focus on understanding what work means to each honoree, as well as discerning its particular challenges or opportunities.
The exhibit will feature photos and excerpts of the recorded interviews and will make its first appearance at a special event in Burlington next fall. Plans are to take the exhibit “on the road” after that and share it in a variety of locations around the state in the coming year. Labor of Love is being created in collaboration with the Vermont Folklife Center and made possible by support from the Vermont Women’s Fund and FairPoint Communications. Photographs of the women being honored will be taken by Mary Claire Carroll, of Carroll Photography.
For more information, call StaciAnne Grove at (802) 655-8900, ext. 121 or email sgrove@vtworksforwomen.org.