Pathways Vermont Community Center Relocating
Hello Pathways Community,
The Pathways Vermont Community Center is relocating! As of June 6, 2025, we will discontinue in-person services at 279 North Winooski Avenue, Burlington, while we search for a new location that better meets our needs.
This decision follows thoughtful reflection on how to sustain our services and support our community in meaningful, accessible ways. The current building no longer supports our continued operations.
What’s staying the same:
- All virtual peer support groups will continue to meet on Zoom at their regular times.
- One-on-one peer support will still be available by appointment, both in-person (at temporary locations) and via Zoom.
- We’ll offer drop-in hours at temporary locations (TBD) until we secure a permanent space.
- To schedule peer support or join our email list for updates on services, please contact us at [email protected].
We’re actively seeking a new home for the Community Center—one that better serves our mission and the people we support. This is not an ending, but a transition toward something stronger. Thank you for being part of our community.
Please reach out to our Director of Services with questions.
What is Peer Support ?
Peer support is an approach to building relationships that are mutual and genuine. Mutual means that something is only working if it’s working for both/all parties. Genuine means that we are going to show up ready to connect on a human-to-human level as a learner and not an expert. Peer support staff are chosen for their ability to relate and connect with others in part because of their life experience. They are able to relate to distress, marginalization, and oppression because they have been through it.
Peer Support May Be Helpful If Someone:
One-on-One Peer Support
*If you are seeking peer support or connection, please call the Pathways Vermont Support Line at (833) VT – TALKS or attend one of our virtual groups listed at the bottom of this page!
Pathways Vermont’s Community Peer Support program is staffed by individuals who identify as having lived experience with issues such as mental health crises, trauma, substance use, and homelessness. Staff are trained to provide what is referred to as “peer support.” Peer Support is a service delivery distinct from traditional mental health services. The peer approach to services encourages individuals to draw from their own lived experience when connecting with and supporting others. This unique approach to relationships with service recipients has been proven effective in engaging individuals who might otherwise avoid mental health services and in promoting hope, resiliency, and well-being.
We are currently offering flexible individual peer support services, meeting one-on-one with folks in person or remotely. These meetings are held by staff and can be scheduled around an individual’s needs. If you’re interested in connecting for peer support and/or being added to the community newsletter, contact [email protected] or give us a call at 802-777-8691.
Facilitated Groups
We offer weekly facilitated Peer Support Groups via Zoom and In-Person. These groups are open to anyone over the age of 18 and are facilitated by Pathways staff. As a security measure for first-time attendees, we ask that you reach out to us directly to express interest in the group – [email protected] or 802-777-8691. If you would like to schedule a one-on-one peer support meeting with the Community Peer Support staff, please email [email protected]
Disability Peer Support Group: Mondays from 1:15 pm – 2:45 pm EST | Hybrid group: In-person at the Fletcher Free Library’s Pickering Room and on Zoom | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89286917729?pwd=6JRYCEtwA9dQlgpZFLudazkVqKxbTX.1 | The Disability Peer Support Group is a space for mutual support open to anybody who identifies as disabled, differently abled, or has a disability. Whether your disability is visible, invisible, physical, or cognitive, this group is for you!
Hearing Voices Group: Tuesdays 2:30 pm-4 pm EST | Hybrid group: In-person at The Vermont Wellness Collaborative and on Zoom | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87207795733?pwd=SISOzQfDp9cclYLzLjFtTvyAVatM7c.1#success | The Hearing Voices group upholds a fundamental belief that there are many ways to understand the experience of hearing voices and other unusual or extreme experiences. We seek to utilize this alternative approach to coping with emotional distress that is empowering and useful to those with lived experience or mental health challenges, and does not start from the assumption that we have a chronic illness. We are a peer support group that seeks to build mutual understanding about voice-hearing and other phenomena common to having lived experience or mental health challenges. We hope to empower each other through sharing our stories and those strategies and coping skills that have benefited us on our journeys.
Writing Circle: Tuesdays 4:00 pm-5:30 pm EST | Hybrid group: In-person at the Fletcher Free Library’s Fletcher Room and on Zoom | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/601343315 | The Writing Circle is a facilitated space for writing creatively in community with one another. Facilitators choose monthly themes, and folks get time to write and time to share during each meeting.
Anxiety Relief Group: Wednesdays 4:00 pm-5:30 pm EST | Hybrid group: In-person at The Fletcher Free Library’s Fletcher Room and on Zoom | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89850461015 | Anxiety Relief Group is a safe setting for relaxing and exploring your feelings with others through gentle socialization and self-expression, building up what makes you centered and strong.
Community Cooking: Wednesdays 6:00 pm-8:00 pm EST | Hosted at Outright Vermont (241 North Winooski Ave – entrance through the side door up the driveway) | Join Pathways staff and volunteers to cook a yummy meal together. Every week we chop vegetables, chat about our lives, and dance to music. The food we cook is first served to the chefs and volunteers, then to the Pathways Community Center and the Food Not Bombs daily free lunch. No cooking experience is necessary!
Conversations About Suicide: Thursdays 3:45 pm- 4:45 pm EST | In-person at The Wellness Collaborative (125 College St., 3rd Floor) and on Zoom | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87207795733?pwd=SISOzQfDp9cclYLzLjFtTvyAVatM7c.1#success | Conversations About Suicide is a judgment-free and open space to talk about personal experiences of suicidal ideation. The group is facilitated by peer support staff with lived experience of suicidality.
Howard Arts Collective Open Art Studio: Fridays 11:00 am – 1:00 pm | In-person at 140 Mansfield Avenue | Sketching, pastels, paints, coloring books, stamping, collaging, and more! People of all skill levels and experiences are welcome. Demonstrations, instructions, and conversations are always available.
Laughter Yoga: The 1st and 3rd Friday of the month from 4:30 pm-5:30 pm EST | Hybrid group: In-person at 74 Main St in Burlington and on Zoom | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/995144322 | Laughter Yoga was founded in India in 1995 by Dr. Madan Kataria, M.D., and his wife Madhuri, a yoga teacher. It combines gentle yogic breathing techniques with genuine, spontaneous laughter exercises. Dr. Kataria developed Laughter Yoga, inspired by several scientific papers he had read on the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of genuine, spontaneous laughter. Anyone can do this practice; no yoga mat or special clothing is required. Come as you are for a gentle, fun, easy, restorative session.
Mindfulness Meditation: Every 2nd and 4th Friday of each month from 4:30 pm-5:30 pm EST | In-person at 74 Main St in Burlington | We hold an informal session of conversation and some quiet reflection. Bring a poem, song, story, or something else to inspire camaraderie, thoughtfulness, and peace.
Trauma Peer Support Group: Fridays 2:15 pm -3:15 pm EST | Hybrid group: In-person at The Fletcher Free Library’s Fletcher Room and on Zoom | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84562240350?pwd=rXX8UuNSX50m6nBuZwCJLj0GQobrDN.1 | The trauma peer support group is an open space for folks to talk about trauma and its lasting impacts with peers who share lived experiences.
Upcoming Events
Community Peer Support staff aims to create a vibrant community that supports resilience through collective learning, creative exploration, and mutual support. Join us at an upcoming event! Click here to see the current month’s calendar.