Oct. 20, 2022 - Welcome to Peer Teaching & Learning!
In 2001, the Global Campuses Foundation (GCF) was founded with a vision for disadvantaged populations – primarily persons with disabilities – to access the positive benefits of lifelong, higher education. Through the years, educational programs in Thailand and New England (Vermont and New Hampshire) were created by persons with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities.
In 2021, the Executive Director and Board of Directors unanimously agreed, in the organization's best interest, to create an autonomous nonprofit for the New England programs that would be programmatically, administratively, and financially independent of GCF. The application process took approximately six months, with participants, staff, board directors, and the founders of GCF involved in its creation.
Since July 1st, Peer Teaching & Learning (PTL) has operated as a distinct 501(c)3 nonprofit from GCF. GCF continues its mission in Thailand and elsewhere outside of New England.
The New England campuses – now Peer Teaching & Learning – only changed the name and visual brand. All five staff of the New England programs moved to PTL – Steve, Pam, Jared, Lacy, and Gianessa. This is a group of individuals with over 34 years of combined experience advocating for and facilitating the participant-centered education of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism in Vermont and New Hampshire. Nothing else has changed programmatically, and the decades-long ethos, values, and legacy remain solidly at the heart of everything we do.
We have applied our vibrant new brand to our new website. If you have not already, please browse the other sections of our website. As you receive this communication, we are also launching our newly branded social media sites (Instagram @peerteachingandlearning or https://www.instagram.com/peerteachingandlearning/ and Facebook: Peer Teaching & Learning). We will send out periodic newsletters within the next few weeks.
Why the Change?
In 2021, the participants, staff, Board of Directors, and founders of GCF agreed that it was time to deepen the New England Campuses' connection to their roots by establishing their own nonprofit. Peer Teaching & Learning will weave more of our New England culture and identity into all we do, how we do it, the programmatic approach, and the organization's naming and visual brand identity.
The changes being made represent the maturing, growing, and evolution of the participant-centered approach that has existed for the past 20 years. Not only this, but the new name clearly communicates who we are and what we do!
Taking a Participant-led Approach
The campus participants are the beating heart of the organization, as hopefully, you are already aware. The name change process fully embraces this ethos; participants, together with staff, members of the Board, and GCF founders, formed a task force, consulted with an internationally and domestically known leading brand consultant, and worked with visual branding experts to come up with the final name and visual identity.
We hope you love it as much as we do.
The Value & Impact We Seek
Peer Teaching & Learning believes that the new name and brand will give a modern and professional image and help communicate who we are, what we do, and what we stand for, opening up more opportunities for current and future participants and staff.
The participants involved in the process thoroughly enjoyed themselves. A new energy level has been released that is powering us all forward.
Every campus will design its new campus flag, and celebrations will be planned for the spring of 2023. We hope you will consider joining us for these celebrations in person or virtually.
We look forward to striding ahead together with your much-valued support.
For more information about PTL, take a look at our short Q&A document.
Many thanks,
Steve Tavella, Executive Director
Peer Teaching & Learning
802-424-7717
executivedirector@peerteachingandlearning.org