Match of the Month for June

Marybeth Redmond and Madina

For the month of June, we are so pleased to honor Marybeth Redmond and her mentee, Madina, for match of the month. On June 7th, this pair will celebrate their first anniversary of being matched!

Congratulations!

Several years ago, Marybeth and her husband, Mark (yes, Spectrum’s own Executive Director!), hosted a Somali Bantu refugee family who had just arrived here in the United States. For several weeks, the Redmonds provided a home for the family and showed them a whole new way of living here in the United States. In a short time, the family moved into a home of their own and began a new life here in America. It wasn’t difficult for Marybeth with her warm nature to forge a relationship with all of the children in this family, but with the oldest, there was a special bond. Being the oldest child in her own family, she was aware of the unique position this can put a young girl in. Madina also faced additional challenges as she helped her mother and younger siblings acclimate to a new culture. Marybeth saw the potential to provide her with a stable, supportive, inspiring example of adulthood.
Together, Madina and Marybeth enjoy fun, outdoor activities. They’ve been able to visit many local attractions like the corn maze at Mazza’s, Church Street , and the Champlain Valley Fair (Madina’s personal favorite). They’ve also been bowling together and seen a few shows in the area. Marybeth states Madina “has a positive attitude and a deep desire to learn and understand other people.” Madina loves to remember going to the fair with Marybeth and looks forward to doing so again this year. According to her “that was the best day ever!”

CONGRATULATIONS again on being matched for one year!