CooperRiis Blog

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

Lisa Schactman, MS, HTM
Life Skills Program Director
bio

Brittany Dean

Brittany Dean, BA
Life Skills Manager and Animal Crew Manager

Collette Featherston

Colette Featherston, BA
Horticulture and Garden Manager
bio

Mike Odle

Mike Odle
Vegetable Farm Manager

Johnathan Cavin

Jonathan Cavin
Garden Support

Allie Thomas

Allie Thomas
Garden Support

Megan Ketchum

Megan Ketchum
Campus Crew Manager

Rita Chavarria

Rita Chavarria
Housekeeping

Paula Mullenax

Paula Mullenax
Housekeeping

Paula Mullenax

Brenda Hall
Housekeeping Support

Creative Arts

Susan DeLamater

Suzanne DeLamater, BA
Creative Arts Manager

Brynn Schmitt

Brynn Schmitt, BFA
Weekend Creative Arts Manager

Chris Blalock

Chris Blalock
Woodshop Manager

Tara Taylor

Tara Taylor
Executive Chef/Life Skills Manager
bio

Emily Annau

Emily Annas
Kitchen Coordinator

Pamela McDougald

Pamela McDougald
Sous Chef

Shaibu Abdulai

Shaibu Abdulai
Sous Chef

Ally Moore

Ally Moore
Chef Support

Deborah Bryom

Deborah Byrom
Breakfast Chef

John Dyer

John Dyer
Dishwasher

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