WILL Towne
32 | Spectrum Youth and Family Services | Director of Housing and Operations
Residence: Williston
Career highlight(s): The career highlight I'm most proud of is helping to open and operate a low-barrier shelter for homeless youth. Alongside a great team at Spectrum, we now operate 2 shelters, a longer term housing program, and 2 Drop-In Centers that allow youth to access basic needs.
Community Involvement: My community involvement includes being newly elected Co-Chair of the Chittenden County Homeless Alliance, as well as serving on the board for the Vermont Coalition of Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs.
What motivated you to live and work in Vermont? I was motivated to live and work in Vermont by the community, people, and beauty of our state. I feel lucky to live here and am excited to continue working towards a better future.
Favorite Vermont escape: My favorite Vermont escape is Shelburne Farms. There is nothing better than an early morning walk to the lake in the peace and quiet.
Favorite downtime activity: My favorite downtime activity is golf. I feel it is a perfect activity to recharge my batteries and decompress.
If you had unlimited access to funds, which cause(s) would you support: The cause I would support is making sure everyone has access to housing and healthcare.
What is the one song on your playlist that are you embarrassed to tell your best friend? The song on my playlist I would be embarrassed to tell my best friend is anything Taylor Swift. I'm not actually embarrassed; everyone knows.
How has your job changed since this pandemic? During the pandemic, my job has changed in numerous ways. We expanded our programs rapidly to meet the need of the community, all while needing to be conscious of safety. It was vital to still provide some in person services, such as housing, but operating congregate living in a pandemic was certainly a challenge.