Newsletter Vol. 6 No. 5 – May 2026

Posted on May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

NAVIGATION

FROM ABUELA’S HEALING HANDS TO VERMONT TRAILS: CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR VERMONT’S BIPOC COMMUNITY

by Eniel Rolon

Back home in Puerto Rico, healing always started with hands, my abuela rubbing aceite de oliva or that famous Vicks that cured everything. She would use it for sore muscles after a long day, Vicks if I had any kind of sickness or the flu, and even if I had a headache. Here in Vermont, I use those same hands, just with a little more science, to help our community carry less of the daily stressors and old injuries.

We all know that weight we carry. Being BIPOC in Vermont means showing up every day in rooms where we’re often the only one. It means code-switching at work, holding space for our families back home, and still making it to group events so that we can enjoy it with our family. That steady, invisible labor sits in our shoulders, creeps into our necks, and by mid-winter leaves us waking up with headaches that no amount of ibuprofen quite touches. When it stays chronic, the body does what it’s wired to do: it floods with cortisol, keeps us in fight-or-flight, and quietly chips away at the energy we need to keep lifting each other up.

But here’s what many of us don’t hear enough: that tension isn’t just “how life is.” It’s stored in the spine, which houses our entire nervous system. The same nervous system that carries the stress of being the only person of color at the team meeting is the same one that can finally exhale when we get an adjustment. Chiropractic care isn’t about cracking backs for fun, it’s about freeing the pathways so your body can downshift from fight or flight mode to that rest and digest. Studies show regular adjustments lower cortisol levels, decrease or even eliminate headaches, and quiet the physical ache that keeps us from sleeping, moving with our friends and family or having a good time and relaxing. 

And right now? Vermont is giving us the green light. The snow is melting, the black flies haven’t arrived yet, and the trails are calling. This is the month we finally get to go outside again, hiking with the crew from Vermont PoC Outdoors, gardening in our raised beds, or just sitting by the lake without three layers of fleece. But none of that feels good if your lower back locks up halfway up Mount Mansfield or your neck is screaming before you even reach the trailhead. 

That’s why I keep thinking about our cultural memory of touch. So many of us grew up in families where healing wasn’t a solo appointment with a stranger in a white coat. It was hands on skin, shared remedies, and the quiet understanding that the body and the spirit are connected. Chiropractic care is that same tradition, updated for the life we’re building here. It’s preventive care that says you don’t have to wait until the pain is unbearable. You deserve to feel yourself before the next wave of stress hits. 

I see it in the folks who walk into my office every spring. The teacher who’s been grading papers with her shoulders around her ears. The nonprofit director who’s been holding community events while her own headaches go unspoken. The new transplant who left warmer shores and is still figuring out how to breathe in this cold, beautiful state. After a few adjustments they stand a little taller, smile a little wider, and tell me they finally made it to the trail they’d been dreaming about all winter. And get to actually enjoy going for a walk/hike. 

We are the ones who keep showing up, for our jobs, our kids, our circles, our futures. This May, let’s show up for our own bodies too. If your neck has been tight, your headaches have become normal, or you just feel that deep-down exhaustion that no amount of rest seems to fix, book an adjustment. Not because you’re broken, but because you’re carrying more than anyone should have to, and because our community is stronger when each of us is moving freely. 

The trails are open again.

The sun lingers longer each evening, calling us back to the mountains, the lakes, and the long Vermont light.

Reach out. I’m one of us, and my door is open.

I’m Dr. Eniel Rolon, owner of Mahoney Chiropractic Group in Colchester, Vermont. You can book your first adjustment online in just a couple of clicks at mahoneychiropracticgroup.com or call us at 802-655-2664. Our office is at 356 Mountain View Drive, Suite 200, Colchester, VT 05446. Whether you’re ready for that consult or just want to learn more, we’re here, no insurance needed if you don’t have one, and you’ll be treated like family. And we speak Spanish in the office, de necesitarlo. 

About the Author

Dr. Eniel Rolon is a Puerto Rican-born chiropractor practicing in Colchester, Vermont. Passionate about whole-body wellness for Vermont’s BIPOC community, he and his wife along with their team provide modern chiropractic care to help us get back to our lives and step into the seasons stronger.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

news FROM THE NETWORK

Other Resources
50% Off Slope Space Membership for VT PoC Members!	Slope Space is a coworking community at Mountain Green Resort in Killington, Vermont — the only dedicated coworking space at a major East Coast ski resort. We offer flexible workspace solutions for freelancers, remote workers, and small businesses, including hourly drop-ins, shared desks, and dedicated desks, all backed by 1 Gbps business fiber. Check the newsletter in your email for the code!
Burlington REIB Office: Juneteenth 2026 Art Contest	Open to students across Burlington. This year’s theme is: “Freedom: Yesterday’s Legacy, Today’s Promise, Tomorrow’s Hope.”   We invite students in grades K–12 to reflect on what freedom, legacy, and hope mean to them and express their ideas through art. Submissions will be grouped by grade level (K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12). Students can submit a wide range of creative work, including drawings, paintings, mixed media, collages, photography, graphic design, poetry, and spoken word.   Deadline: May 8, 2026 How to submit: Entries can be emailed (reib@burlingtonvt.gov) or dropped off at the REIB Office (131 Church Street, Ste. 209)
Site Hosts Wanted for Public EV Charging Installations	The Vermont Agency of Transportation is looking to connect with property owners interested in hosting a federally funded public EV charging station at their site.
BIPOC Grower Needs Assessment: Farm to School Institutional Markets	This effort is being conducted to guide resource development and programmatic direction for NFSN and partners, ensuring that future farm to school initiatives are grounded in the lived experiences, priorities, and market realities of BIPOC growers.
May 24 Sign Up – BIPOC Pregnancy Support Group Interest Form	A pilot program trying to find interested participants for a May 24 session!
Dawn Land Farm: 2026 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program	Black and Indigenous-owned organic farm in Barre offering weekly vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Weekly on-farm pickup, sliding scale pricing available.
Pride Center of Vermont Community Mapping & Wisdom Gathering Initiative	The Pride Center of Vermont is conducting a Community Mapping & Wisdom Gathering exercise with the intent to better understand the needs, wisdom, and aspirations of 2STLGBQIA+ Vermonters statewide.
Vermont Village School: Burlington Pilot Program Interest Form	Vermont Village School is offering a pilot program based out of Burlington area. This form will inform us of your students’ and families’ needs. The Vermont Village School pilot is an alternative educational space for BIPOC students to engage in liberation-oriented, student-led curriculum designed to encourage self-expression and cultivate learning in a social-oriented and communal classroom setting. The 6-hour Saturday courses are for existing home-schooled students and public school students alike. ANY AGES.
Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission: Shelburne Town Plan Community Survey	Shelburne is updating portions of its 2019 Town Plan, with a focus on housing, economic development, transportation, mobility, the environment, and community wellbeing. Your responses will help shape how Shelburne grows and invests in the future. This survey is anonymous. As a thank-you for your time, you may choose to enter a drawing for one of four $50 gift certificates to a local business.
Community Health Investment Fund Emerging Need Funding Application Fiscal Year 2026	University of Vermont Medical Center seeks to address the top community health priorities by investing in local organizations. Applicants for funding must be non-profit, municipal, or other government organizations. Projects must primarily support community members in UVM Medical Center’s Health Service Area (Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties) and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

EVENTS

Date	Event	Time	Location
May 4	BIPOC Maker Workshop: Carve a Wooden Spoon	5:30 PM – 8:00 PM	Brattleboro
May 5, 19	The Rooted Capoeria Collective: Capoeira Sessions	5:30 PM – 7:30 PM	Brattleboro
May 6	Vermont Womenpreneurs: Biz Buzz Zoom	10:00 AM – 11:00 AM	Virtual
May 6	Spring Soiree: A Networking Event for Vermont Womenpreneurs	5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	Brattleboro
May 7	Legal Services Vermont Open House	4:00 PM – 7:00 PM	Burlington
May 7, 21	BIPOC Writers Group	5:30 PM – 7:30 PM	Brattleboro
May 9, 16, 23, 30	Free Access Health Clinic	8:30 AM – 12:30 PM	South Burlington
May 9, 16, 23, 30	​St. Johnsbury Farmers’ Markets	9:00 AM – 1:00 PM	St. Johnsbury
May 9	Clemmons Farm: African Diaspora Culinary Heritage Bonanza ($$)	11:30 AM – 1:30 PM	Charlotte
May 9	Conscious Homestead’s Opening Harvest Weekend: BIPOC Artist Market	12:00 PM – 4:00 PM	Burlington
May 9	5th Annual Kingman Fest	5:00 PM – 9:00 PM	St. Albans
May 10	Conscious Homestead’s Opening Harvest Weekend: Land Ceremony	11:00 AM – 3:00 PM	Winooski
May 10	The Root Social Justice Center: Soul Food Sunday	1:00 PM – 4:00 PM	Brattleboro
May 12	Vermont Womenpreneurs: Biz Buzz Brattleboro	10:00 AM – 11:00 AM	Brattleboro
May 13	Vermont Womenpreneurs: Biz Buzz Burlington	9:45 AM – 10:45 AM	Burlington
May 13	The Root Social Justice Center: Crepe Night Fundraiser	5:30 PM – 7:30 PM	Dummerston
May 14	36th Annual VBSR Conference ($$, check the newsletter in your email for BIPOC discount code!)	8:00 AM – 6:00 PM	Burlington
May 16	Pentangle+ – PRESENTS: Spike Lee’s BLACKkkKLANSMAN	8:00 PM – 6:00 PM	Woodstock
May 16	Sean Jones at Vermont Jazz Center ($$)	7:30 PM	Brattleboro
May 17, 24	The Root Social Justice Center: Youth & Adult D&D	4:00 PM – 5:30 PM	Brattleboro
May 23	MayFest Arts & Crafts Festival	10:00 AM – 5:00 PM	Bennington
May 26	Networking Event for Local Farmers and Restaurant Professionals	4:00 PM – 6:00 PM	Barre
May 26	Evening Book Group: Brown Girls (Hybrid)	6:00 PM – 7:00 PM	South Burlington
May 30	Family Sheep and Wool Weekend	10:00 AM – 5:00 PM	Woodstock
May 30	Conscious Homestead Moon Circle Series	1:00 PM – 3:00 PM	Montpelier

trainings & professional development

Date	Workshop	Time	Location
All Month	Vermont Joblink: Interview Skills, Career Guidance, Resume Prep, Etc.	Multiple
All Month	FREE Professional Development Workshops for Artists	Multiple
May 4	VSFA Producer Expo	11:00 AM – 3:00 PM	Montpelier
May 6, 20	VtSBDC: Starting Your Own Business	10:00 AM – 11:15 AM	Virtual
May 12	CVOEO: Tenant Skills	5:00 PM – 6:30 PM	Virtual
May 13	CVOEO: Sustaining the Rent	12:00 PM – 1:30 PM	Virtual
May 19	CVOEO: Finding Housing	12:00 PM – 1:00 PM	Virtual
May 19	Sourcing and Selling for the Restaurant Market	4:00 PM – 5:00 PM	Virtual
May 20-27	Caring for Clients, Yourself, and Each Other: Practical De-escalation & Communication Tools for Direct Service Staff ($$)	11:00 AM – 12:15 PM	Virtual
May 21	Free Consult with Kelley Marketing Group	12:00 PM – 1:30 PM	Burlington
May 28	Investing 101: Saving for the Future Beyond the Savings Account ($$)	10:00 AM – 11:15 AM	Virtual

FUNDING & GRANTS

Due Date	Grant	Purpose
November 1	Nonprofit Development and Support Grant Program	Supports projects that strengthen organizational effectiveness and long-term sustainability, helping nonprofits better serve their communities.
Rolling	Green Mountain Home Repair	Offering grants up for home health & safety repairs for income eligible homeowners in the following towns: Andover, Jamaica, Londonderry, Weston, and Windham. Income limits are based on household size.
Rolling	Haymarket People’s Fund: Urgent Response Grants	Up to $5,000 to help grassroots social change organizations respond quickly to unforeseen crises or opportunities that critically affect your organization and constituency. Includes unexpected events, political crises, or organizing opportunities. Grants are NOT to be used for ongoing program work (including expenses the organization should have anticipated), for financial crises, a projected funding shortfall, or because the group missed a funding deadline.
Rolling	Nonprofit Enhanced Rebate	For eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits to purchase qualifying equipment or complete a custom project.
Rolling	Vermont Humanities Rapid Response Grants	Quick turn-around small grants for humanities-focused community projects. Awards up to $1,000.
Rolling	Grassroots Fund: Seed Grants	Support for community groups who represent a broad range of voices in their community and who are not being reached by other funders.
Rolling	New England Presenter Travel Fund	Supports travel costs associated with researching artistic work that may eventually be presented in New England.
Rolling	Community Action Team	Offers general or project support within the broad guidelines and funding provided by the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation.
Rolling	USDA Small Business Cost Share Program	Businesses with fewer than 50 employees and gross profit under $1,000,000 are eligible.
Rolling	Social Equity: Vermont Cannabis Control Board	Individuals determined to meet social equity status by the Vermont Cannabis Control Board may be eligible.

NEWS