BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – Parks Place Community Resource Center is pleased to announce the addition of several members to its board of directors: Emily Lisai, Dr. Evan Lowy, Heather Waryas, Janice Berube, and Lama Tomas O’Flaherty, who is currently serving as interim board president. Each brings valuable professional experience, lived perspective, and deep community connections that will help strengthen the organization’s mission of supporting individuals and families throughout the Greater Falls region.
Lisai grew up in the heart of Bellows Falls and now lives in Westminster with her husband, two teenage sons, and their energetic dog. She has been teaching at Westminster Center School since the early 2000s and has long been active in the community through volunteer roles including voter check-in, the PTA, and the Bellows Falls Union High School Booster Club.
Having watched the development of Parks Place and other local organizations while growing up, Lisai said those experiences inspired her to remain in the area as she built her career and raised her family.
“I grew up in a family deeply committed to connectedness,” Lisai said. “From the countless kids and families my mom supported as an educator, to the many who would stop by my Nana’s for a dollar and a snack, or a hot cup of coffee and someone to listen, to the hours my father spent serving on boards or helping veterans get to the VA – I was always shown that every person is unique and a valued member of our community.”
As an educator in the local school district, Lisai said she regularly connects families with community resources and has seen firsthand the impact Parks Place can have on the wellbeing of students and families.
“I’m excited to see the board grow in both numbers and diversity,” Lisai said. “The walk-in supports and friendly faces at Parks Place keep me recommending families to check it out.”
Lowy has lived in Rockingham with his wife and their two sons for the past 10 years. He works as an emergency physician and previously served in the United States Peace Corps in Senegal.
Lowy said he was inspired to join the board because of the vital role Parks Place plays in supporting individuals and families in the community.
“As an emergency physician, I see how many of the medical issues that bring people to the hospital relate to other challenges, such as housing and food insecurity, mental health struggles, and substance use disorders,” Lowy said. “I hope to use that perspective to help strengthen the services provided by Parks Place.”
Lowy also expressed enthusiasm about the organization’s future and its growing impact in the region.
“I’m excited for Parks Place to continue to deepen its partnerships and expand the great work it does as it meets the evolving needs of our community,” he said.
Waryas is returning to the Parks Place board of directors with a deep commitment to the community she has long called home. Heather and her husband, Fred, are lifelong residents of Bellows Falls and have proudly raised their two children in the same community. All four are alumni of Central Elementary School, Bellows Falls Middle School (BFMS), and Bellows Falls Union High School (BFUHS).
Waryas currently serves as the career learning coordinator at BFUHS and BFMS, where she strengthens partnerships between local employers and schools, and helps students explore career opportunities and envision their futures.
Her dedication to the community is rooted in generations of shared experiences and relationships. Waryas is passionate about helping young people succeed and thrive locally by seeing clear and attainable futures for themselves in the Great Falls region.
Janice Berube brings both lived and professional experience in housing and community support to the Parks Place board. She has been connected to the Bellows Falls community for many years through a variety of roles, including serving as a case manager overseeing a transitional house for youth, and as the volunteer coordinator for the local warming shelter. She also helped establish the community diaper bank and previously owned a business in Bellows Falls.
Currently working with Springfield Supported Housing, Berube continues to collaborate with Parks Place through weekly housing support services and by helping connect families with essential resources.
“Having grown up experiencing poverty, I understand firsthand the importance of accessible community support and resources,” Berube said. “My lived experience gives me empathy and a genuine understanding of the barriers many people face.”
Berube said she is excited to see Parks Place continue to grow as a centralized hub where individuals and families can access support from multiple organizations in one welcoming space.
O’Flaherty, a Bellows Falls resident, currently serves as interim president of the Parks Place board of directors. An ordained Buddhist monk, he is deeply committed to serving marginalized communities, including individuals living with substance use disorder and people living with HIV/AIDS.
O’Flaherty volunteers as a spiritual advisor, certified recovery coach, and licensed peer recovery support specialist at Turning Point Recovery Center in Bellows Falls. He is also a member of Bellows Falls Pride, board chair of the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, and serves as treasurer and spiritual representative on the board of Greater Falls Connections. Having witnessed Parks Place’s work in the community for more than a decade, O’Flaherty said he was inspired to become more involved in supporting the organization’s mission.
“As a person in long-term recovery and someone dedicated to community service, I understand the importance of accessible resources and compassionate support systems,” O’Flaherty said. He said he is excited about the future of Parks Place and its continued commitment to serving the community. “The importance of service to our community is especially vital during times of many challenges,” O’Flaherty said.
Jennifer Tolaro-Heidbrink, executive director of Parks Place Community Resource Center, welcomed the new board members and emphasized the importance of community leadership.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and diverse group of leaders joining our board,” Tolaro-Heidbrink said. “Each of these individuals brings unique experiences, perspectives, and a shared commitment to strengthening our community. Their leadership will help Parks Place continue to grow as a welcoming hub where people can access resources, find support, and build connections.”
Parks Place Community Resource Center provides resources, support, and connections to help individuals and families thrive throughout the Greater Falls region. For more information about Parks Place Community Resource Center, visit www.parksplaccevermont.com.