Kim Fountain, Executive Director
Bio to come
Mike Bensel, Health and Wellness Coordinator
Mike is unbelievably excited to be working with RU12? and more specifically with GLAM. He has a strong queer programming background working with Outright Vermont, SafeSpace and serving on the founding board of RU12?. Having a rich history with the RU12? Community Center allows Mike to have a strong connection to the mission and values of the organization. As a queer man committed to social change, he is closely connected to the importance of HIV prevention within our community. Because of the RU12? Community Center’s collaborative culture and commitment to social justice, it has been a longtime personal objective to work toward shared success with such a dedicated team.
Jean-Denis/Jane Couillard, Health and Wellness Coordinator
Jean-Denis (Zhan deh-Nee)/Jane graduated from Juniata College (in central PA) with a Bachelor Degree in Human Sexuality, focusing primarily on LGBTQ and gender studies. They served as an intern at Outright Vermont in 2007, created and presented a sexual education series, and was a leader in their college's queer community. After graduating, Jean-Denis/Jane moved to Portland, OR, becoming active in the local LGBTQ community and volunteering at the Men's Wellness Center of the Cascade AIDS Project in 2009. They joined the RU12? team in 2011 and coordinates HIV prevention programming, trans* programming and kink programming. They coordinate GLAM with Mike, a fun program which helps younger guys who like guys to build community and become more empowered and informed. They also coordinate the 6 Degrees project, where people in the community reach out to those they know and encourage them to get tested for HIV. Jean-Denis/Jane works with the local trans*, gender non-conforming and intersex community to provide resources, support, social opportunities, learning opportunities, and advocacy for health care covereage equality.
Brenda Pitmon, SafeSpace Program Coordinator and Direct Services Advocate
Brenda graduated from UVM in 2007 with a Masters in Social Work. She has been with RU12? since 2006 and specializes in working with LGBTQ survivors of violence. Over the past two years, she has expanded this work to include advocating with and for LGBTQ individuals with disabilities. She is currently the president of the Vermont Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and an adjunct faculty member in the Social Work Department at the University of Vermont. She is also an active member of the National Coalition of Anti Violence Programs and writes the Vermont section of the NCAVP national reports on LGBTQ Domestic Violence and Hate Violence. Prior to moving to Vermont she lived in New York City for 20 years working as an actress performing in Europe and NYC and was a founding member of Synchronicity Theatre Group in SoHo. Brenda is always looking for opportunities to combine social work with artistic expression as a way of creating new dialogues between communities.
Jean Sienkewicz, SafeSpace Program Coordinator
Jean Sienkewicz is an MSW social worker and educator who, prior to working at RU12?, spent the bulk of her professional career working with homeless/marginally housed populations and teaching. She is currently a Lecturer in UVM’s Department of Social Work and an established adjunct instructor for the CCV’s College of Education and Social Sciences.
Jean's current role is with Safespace, RU12?'s social change and social service program working to end physical, sexual, and emotional violence for LGBTQH individuals. She provides support and advocacy to LGBTQH-identified survivors of violence and is also working to create SafeSpace’s Anti-Violence and LGBTQH cultural competency training curricula to provide education for law enforcement personnel; client, staff and volunteers at community resource agencies and programs; students, staff, and instructors on college campuses; and conference attendees.
Jean is also in the process of working collaboratively with RU12? staff to create Lifespan programming that includes social, support and educational events for LGBTQ families (with and without children) and elders.
Board of Directors
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