The Lark: Vol 1, Issue 15, May 2022

“I cherish the informal education that I received through the wit and wisdom of both my mother and my grandmother from, as they would say, the school of hard knocks, in West Virginia.”

Lorraine, referred by a friend, joined LLC two years ago. She has enjoyed the Mindfulness and Memoir classes and a few of the single presentations, all of which she enjoyed. She joins a hiking group with many LLC members. She would like to see courses on technology literacy, including developing advanced interactive Zoom presentations and how to use some of iPhone features.

Lorraine resides in Foster, RI, with her husband, one golden retriever, named Sundance, and two koi fish named Torch and Valentine. She has a variety of wild birds that stay for the food. Some of the regulars have names. In the summer she has two snakes Sid and Samantha (Sam) that come for vacation to bask in the sun at the herb garden’s edge. They swim in the lily bog by the koi pond for recreation. Lorraine’s daughter Shannon, son-in-Law Brian, and two teenage grandchildren, Sianna and Dakotah, live in Cumberland.

Lorraine worked with her husband and friends to build their home by taking trees from their land and having boards made at the sawmill. Doors and windows came about through contractors’ outlets auctions. The home and land are on-going projects.

She enjoys her indoor garden of plants and flowers. Her in-home solarium allows her to soak in the hot tub in the winter with a variety of trees, plants, and thirty orchids and look out at the snow- or mud-covered lawn. When the container plants go out in the summer, the room expands into an airy breakfast retreat.

In addition to plants, Lorraine collects pottery, fabric art, oil and watercolor paintings. Her sock monkey and antique toys collections assure she stays connected to the child within. The sock monkeys and toys are reminders of the importance of laughter and play.

Lorraine recently joined a writers group held in Glocester, RI and has long had dreams of writing for children. She has taken a couple of classes toward that goal.

"When I reflect on role models from the past, Maya Angelou’s work of poetry and her life philosophy have been a guiding inspiration."

In addition to Rhode Island Lorraine has resided in three other states, West Virginia, South Carolina, and Arizona. She’s traveled throughout those states and their surrounding areas. Since living in RI, she has spent vacation time in warm climates, in Southeastern and Southwestern US, various parts of Mexico including Cozumel, Tijuana, Nogales. She has followed the sun to Costa Rica, Aruba, St. Thomas, Antigua, Martinique, and Barbados. She also enjoys the cool and snowy weather of Canada, Germany, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, and Ireland.

Lorraine moved to Rhode Island because it has a seasonal climate and traveling to a major city like Boston and NY requires little time.

"I can access the ocean in RI and the mountains of Vermont in a couple of hours. Living in the country in Foster allows me easy access to the amenities of Providence.”

Lorraine first became introduced to RI through an exchange program while in college. She met RI students from the program and showed them around West Virginia, and the students, in turn, invited her to see RI.

“RI was love at first sight.”

Lorraine holds the following degrees and certifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in English Education, West Virginia State College
• Master’s Degree in Counseling with a specialty in Corrections, West Virginia University of Graduate Studies
• Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Hartford
• RI and International Certification in Prevention
• Holds certification in a variety of nationally recognized evidence-based curricula

“The beginning of my post-graduate career was one of fun and adventure. To love and feel purpose in your work is pure joy.”

She began her post graduate career working in community outreach in an alternative-to-incarceration program with a team of young professionals in the inner-city streets of Charleston West Virginia and surrounding areas, areas frequented by teens and gang members. She and her team traveled in a customized, professionally designed, artistically painted graffiti-style van to high-risk areas or “hot spots” identified by the police. The van attracted attention through glitz and loud music blasting from large speakers. It was much like the local ice cream truck, only her team offered free literature, referral, and consultation services. Lorraine stayed in this line of work until moving to RI in 1979.

In RI she began working as the Director of the state runaway and transitional shelter program for teens. The program offered short-term residential and crisis services to homeless teens. The mission was to support teens in reuniting with their families or finding alternative safe living situations. Fast forward – Lorraine spent fifteen years working in an outpatient mental health clinic as a psychotherapist specializing in youth and their families. She split her work at the clinic between treatment and prevention. The prevention services entailed community education, advocacy, and community organization projects.

From clinic work, Lorraine became the recruiter and trainer for Treatment Foster Care. This program served those youth with behavioral health issues for whom traditional foster care services have failed to provide appropriate care. All aspects of marketing and training were required.

She finished her career in her private consultation and training business called Uptyme Prevention Services. She offered workshops, keynote presentations, and motivational speaking in New England and at national conferences. She provided services to community organizations and businesses promoting institutional wellness policies and practices. She also facilitated local and state-wide HIV and substance abuse prevention coalitions.

Lorraine authored a book of poetry totally dedicated to her mother.