Staff Support
QVS is committed to providing strong staff support for our Fellows. In each QVS city, a local Coordinator works an average of 25 hours per week. Their primary responsibility is to support your experience as a Fellow. This direct support is one of the distinguishing features of our program.
Coordinators will meet with you individually each month. Conversations with your Coordinator are confidential unless there is a concern of harm. Please be real about your questions and concerns so your Coordinator can be present with you where things are real. Coordinators can help you reflect on your experience, find a medical provider or therapist, address equity concerns or connect you with other resources.
Coordinators will be present to the House community. Coordinators will visit the House regularly. By remaining aware of what’s happening in your life together, Coordinators can offer timely help with decision-making and connect you with resources.
Coordinators will facilitate discussions and exercises. Mandatory QVS Days are scheduled for every other Friday. There are also 3 weekend Retreats during the QVS Year. Coordinators oversee the programming content for these QVS events.
Coordinators will support you at your site placement over the course of the year. In the fall, your Coordinator will schedule a meeting with you and your site supervisor to make sure everything is off to a good start. The three of you will gather again for a midyear check-in and a final check-in at the end of the year. Before each of these meetings, your Coordinator will ask about anything you’d like to have addressed at work. Of course, you don’t have to wait for a scheduled check-in to raise a concern with your Coordinator.
Coordinators will help you find local resources. Whether you’re looking for a good place to write in your journal or a good venue for local musicians, your Coordinator can help you navigate the landscape of your city. Your Coordinator can also connect you with local Friends: Looking for someone to organize a hike? Want to borrow an immersion blender? Your Coordinator can help you spread the word among the local Quaker communities.
Please remember that the Local Coordinator position is part time. Your Coordinator may be unavailable during certain hours.
If you have a concern about the way your Coordinator is supporting you, please talk directly to your Coordinator. They want to grow into deeper and more meaningful ways of supporting you. If you need additional support, please contact the Director of Program.
Local Coordinators
Portland Coordinator
Coordinator
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Sophie is the development and outreach manager for QVS. She lives on the California Coast and helps QVS connect with donors and grant opportunities.
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In addition to being our Boston Coordinator, Zenaida Peterson is our Director of Equity and Empowerment.
If you’re participating in QVS as a person with one or more marginalized identities, Zenaida is eager to offer practical support. Are you getting the resources you need to thrive? Do you need someone to advocate for you in the workplace, with your Housemates or in other Quaker circles? Zenaida would be happy to talk with you.
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Greg Stefanski is our Executive Director. Living in Burlington, VT, he works with the QVS Board to oversee all aspects of QVS.
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Haley is an alum of the QVS Program in Philadelphia. Now living in Portland, ME, she oversees the administrative infrastructure of QVS: insurance, contracts, budgets, etc.
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Mike is our Program Director. He lives in Portland, OR. Mike works with Coordinators and Fellow feedback to shape the overall program. He’ll send several feedback forms during the QVS year, and is always happy to hear from you with questions or concerns.
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Ruth works as our Recruitment Coordinator by visiting college campuses, arranging campus visits (like maybe your visit to your alma mater?) and creating relationships with aligned organizations. The continued success of QVS rests on the ability to get the word out to interested folks and Ruth would love to hear your ideas about recruiting future fellows. Please feel free to reach out to Ruth at any time.
