PANDEMIC ALL STAR: MELLISA CAIN

"Enough people know me at this point," Cain, 39, said of her connections to the community. "….a lot of kids know me. So I have no problem just going, 'Hey, you need something?'"

"It takes a commitment to going to them just to check in and see how they're doing, and not going to them because you need something from them," Clavelle said. "She's spent years building up that trust and doing this, which is hard to do."

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OF BURLINGTON (CHCB), ICEBERG CONSULTING, VDH PARTNER TO INCREASE MASK DISTRIBUTION

“No one should have to worry about their safety because they don't have a mask during a pandemic,” Cain commented. “.... I look forward to creating more creative community connections to get resources directly to the people who need them most.”

NEW WEBSITE AIMS TO HELP NONNATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS AMID PANDEMIC

“This is meeting a need which is huge. That gap in services needs to be addressed,” said Cain. “This is an important work. People are trying to live and work for their paychecks. People who have been welcomed into this country and they aren’t getting the services they need. People who do have the resources they need to say ‘Help my neighbor. Help my friend.’”

ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

…..But for Cain, having a place to call home is her biggest concern.

“Let's bring in actual livable housing - lets make landlords accountable,” said Cain who hopes to have more open discussion forums to help those who have questions about housing in the future.

BURLINGTON'S MAWUHI AFRICAN MARKET TO VACATE OLD NORTH END SPACE

“My angle [as an organizer] is always meet the immediate needs of whomever,” Cain said. “And so I thought, Let’s get her money because it’s going to be really expensive to move, to keep the business going. A lot of renters who have been [in the Old North End] for years have lower rents, and when you move your rent goes up.”

NEW COMMUNITY CENTER FOCUSES ON PROGRAMS FOR YOUTHS OF COLOR

"The Youth Center is based on what the youths want," said O.N.E Youth Center director, Mellisa Cain. It will host programming for those ages 14 to 24, specifically youths of color and New Americans. "The point is to give youths something to do, something positive," continued Cain.

AREA DONATIONS OUTFIT NEW AMERICANS FOR A VERMONT WINTER

"I think people are being generous this year because people realize that people need warmth," said project coordinator Mellisa Cain. She put out the call on social media and other channels and collected 10,000 articles of warm clothing. “This is the community coming together to offer a big hug of warmth and to say welcome.”