Brattleboro, VT – The Windham & Windsor Housing Trust held its Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 25th at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center to report to its membership, elect new board members, and honor the dedication and impact of Putney community member Laura Chapman.
Roughly 100 staff, supporters, residents, funders and friends were in attendance at the annual gathering. New members were elected to the board with equal number of seats in three categories: WWHT residents, Public Service and Community at Large. Newly elected are Adrian Segar, Community at Large, and Resident Member Suzanne Warsaw as well as Ellen Hender, Interim Executive Director at Vital Communities; Caroline Trevarrow, a vocational counselor with HireAbility; and Kaci Viado, the Director of Restorative Justice Programs at Interaction – all Public Service members.
The agenda featured a new homeowner sharing their journey through WWHT’s Shared Equity Program and support, a presentation of WWHT’s placemaking work being integrated into their housing communities, as well as the bestowal of the Community Partnership Award to Interaction, in recognition of their restorative practices and the impact of their work within WWHT’s housing community.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of the distinguished Tom Yahn Housing Leadership Award to community organizer Laura Chapman. The award is given out annually to a community member who demonstrates a long-term commitment to the preservation and development of affordable housing and/or to the lives of those who live in affordable housing.
WWHT Executive Director Elizabeth Bridgewater praised Chapman as a longtime champion of affordable housing, and a key proponent in WWHT’s newest housing development in Putney.
“Throughout each phase of Alice Holway Drive, Laura showed up again and again in support of affordable housing and residents of our properties. And now, new residents are moving in. In community engagement and outreach we look for trusted messengers and local champions. Laura is a shining example of both of these.”
The award itself was introduced by Vermont State Representative Mike Mrowicki .
“The Tom Yahn Community Award celebrates the spirit of Tom Yahn. Anyone who knew Tom saw his dedication to our community, especially our youth, and the cause of affordable Housing. Tom epitomized that community spirit. That Laura Chapman is this year’s recipient is so appropriate as Laura also epitomized that community support of giving to and serving others.
“From her time serving those Vermonters without housing at Groundworks to serving the food insecure at Putney Food Shelf, then to Families First serving and celebrating Vermont’s disabled community to now working for Southeast Vermont Community Action, Laura’s spirit of giving has helped so many, and adds to the quality of life for all of us who live here.
“At a time where we have not just a state and local housing crisis but a national crisis, the new development in Putney – which Laura supported from the beginning – will bring housing to 25 new families. As Vermont’s population is shrinking, and our workforce is lacking for new workers, Laura had the foresight and courage of her convictions to support and maintain support that helps address one of the more pressing problems of this time.”
The 2025 Annual Report can be accessed online at homemattershere.org. The Housing Trust would like to thank Brattleboro Museum Art Center for hosting the evening, and event sponsors Neagley & Chase Construction Company, Brattleboro Savings & Loan, Savings Bank of Walpole, Servpro, and Stevens & Associates, P.C.
WWHT’s mission is to strengthen the communities of southeast Vermont through the development and stewardship of permanently affordable housing and through ongoing support and advocacy for its residents. WWHT builds concrete solutions to the region’s housing challenges, and provides better housing opportunities to more than 1,900 Southeastern Vermonters each year. WWHT is a charter member organization of NeighborWorks America.
