Ariel Brooks is the director of non-degree programs at Marlboro College. Living in Guildford with her husband and daughter, Brooks grew up in small-town New Mexico. Having met her husband in Boston, the two left the city in favor of southern Vermont.
On why Vermont is a good fit for her family
"The types of issues people care about here- GMO labeling, equality for the LGBT community- it feels like there are a lot of people in Vermont, not everybody obviously, but a lot of people are pushing for an ideological ideal that we agree with."
"There's a lot of deliberate attempts to build community among new mothers, to make sure that people feel supported and meet other people with babies. That's been really incredible."
On the community of new mothers
"There's a really strong new moms network in Brattleboro. There's a lot of deliberate attempts to build community among new mothers, to make sure that people feel supported and meet other people with babies. That's been really incredible."
On sustainability
"One tension we feel all the time is the cost of heating a Vermont home. We live in an incredibly beautiful place, but we drive 20 minutes to get to town. In the city, we walked everywhere and took public transportation."
"Especially in someplace like Brattleboro, you strive to buy local. But local is expensive."
On cost of living
"Vermont is not cheap, despite the wages being really low. So everybody here is making less money than they could be making elsewhere. But also the food's expensive, the gas is still really expensive. Especially in someplace like Brattleboro, you strive to buy local. But local is expensive."
