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Life Skills Program
With the guidance of the Life Skills Program Staff, residents have the opportunity to explore a variety of work and community related activities that are meaningful and necessary to the life of CooperRiis. As both a therapeutic community and as an actual community, the CooperRiis staff-with-resident interaction is integral to our success, as is resident-with-resident interaction. The integration of residents into the work-life of the community is one way of helping them to restore their identity as responsible citizens of the community of which they are a part. In the morning the resident awakens with a sense of purpose knowing that the community needs them, not as a ‘patient’, but as a gardener, a woodworker, an animal caretaker, an artist, a chef, a housekeeper…
Individuals are guided towards roles in a structure that allows them to use their past experiences or gain new skills and training while enhancing their interpersonal and leadership talents, as well as improving their judgment and maturity levels. We also offer tutoring to residents that have not completed their high school education due to illness so they may graduate or obtain their GED.
Partnering with other non-profits in Asheville for Service Learning
Life Skills Team Mill Spring/Tryon Farm Campus
Lisa Schactman, MS, HTM
Life Skills Program Director
Brittany Dean, BA
Life Skills Manager and Animal Crew Manager
Colette Featherston, BA
Horticulture and Garden Manager
Mike Odle
Vegetable Farm Manager
Jonathan Cavin
Garden Support
Allie Thomas
Garden Support
Megan Ketchum
Campus Crew Manager
Rita Chavarria
Housekeeping
Paula Mullenax
Housekeeping
Brenda Hall
Housekeeping Support
Creative Arts
Suzanne DeLamater, BA
Creative Arts Manager
Brynn Schmitt, BFA
Weekend Creative Arts Manager
Chris Blalock
Woodshop Manager
Tara Taylor
Executive Chef/Life Skills Manager
Emily Annas
Kitchen Coordinator
Pamela McDougald
Sous Chef
Shaibu Abdulai
Sous Chef
Ally Moore
Chef
Support
Deborah Byrom
Breakfast Chef
John Dyer
Dishwasher
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