Allison Mindel—1986
BA, MA  
Major Gifts Officer for the Institute for Sustainable Communities

Like most people -- I have many identities.  And many identities in conflict.  I'm Jewish (to some).  Not Jewish (to others).  I was a Texan.  I'm now a Vermonter.  I'm a stay at home mother.  I'm a working mother.  I'm an American.  I've lived as a foreigner.  I'm white with two white kids.  I'm about to adopt a Chinese son.

Our identities -- who we are (and aren't) has a lot to do with how we experience and approach the world.  Taking a moment to try and understand where someone else is coming from before we make assumptions is important.  That's what Camp CommUNITY was for me when I was 16 -- it was a safe space to ask questions of people different from myself.  A space to understand why those differences matter.  A space to set those differences aside and just be teenagers together.  I hope there are camps like this around for my children as they try to learn these same lessons.