Our Story Our Blog Our Ways of Being Our Retreats Connect Our Story Our Blog Our Ways of Being Our Retreats Connect Our Story Our Folks Our Story SCROLL DOWN Our Story Our hope Because we believe that we grow best when in community with others. Valo is a sanctuary where youthful energy shapes group experiences and nurtures self- exploration. Connecting conversations, shared passions, deep reflections, and great fun ignite the youth and guides to explore solitude and collaboration, giving and taking, courage and fear – with intention. Centered in ourselves, we journey outward. why valo? In Finnish, Valo means light. Imagine how, at daybreak, the sun’s golden beams slide over the horizon and find a young pine, bathing it in warmth and energy. Our experience in Valo shines light into each of us—through conversation, community, creating, and reflection. Lit from within, we are learning to see ourselves more fully, and we radiate to the people and world around us. With this light, we’re always growing. Our Roots How might we create a setting for youth to gain self-awareness in a small group? This was the question that a small group of people in our community posed to us in 2012 as they looked for a way to support the development of young people at no cost to the families. We set out to research the question by considering the impactful experiences adults had had as kids. A number of key elements emerged through our exploration, and they form the foundation of our organization today. Youth can experience transformation when they: leave their familiar environment, connect with other teens they don’t know, pursue a common passion, live communally, and gather regularly, over time. With these ideas as our base, in 2013 we formed Valo. We work with schools and by word of mouth to find a small group of high school youth who commit to joining us for monthly weekend retreats. During our time together, we use the arts (music, writing, visual arts), group creating, solo creating time, conversation, reflection, and fantastically fun community living to help each of us gain a deeper understanding of ourselves in the context of a close-knit group. Our Folks SCROLL DOWN Our Folks Three Words We thought it’d be great to describe what Valo means to each of us—in three words that distill the power of what draws us back to our weekend retreats, month after month. Sometimes, the simplest forms of reflection can be the most powerful, helping us make meaning of a group conversation or a transforming experience we've shared. So Ally (in the bandana) filmed our founding members boiling it down. From connection to love to fun, Valo is a trinity of virtue. Dana Anderson Executive director Former English teacher and camp director, Dana Anderson runs Valo with fresh motivation: she’s inspired most when youth feel empowered. Their energy feeds her creativity—from a newfound love of sketching to whipping up chocolate chip cookie dough (in under eight minutes). She’s drawn to early morning light, belly laughter and a good dance party. Victoria Stefanakos A journalist by training who cut her teeth on national political campaigns, Victoria Stefanakos harnesses her skills of observation and curiosity to guide (and learn from) Valo’s wondrous youth in their natural habitats. She’s a late-blooming but avid crafter, fire builder, and sourdough bread baker. - The Valo Blog - CENTERING the power of three Three distinct states of being are home to our thoughts and actions: beginning, doing, and guiding. And it is in, and moving through, these three states that people experience true growth. The challenge is to vary the states we exist in during daily life, so that no matter our age, we can grow. CREATING digging in Cultivating space for presence and habits that foster creativity in our daily lives is life-giving. The first step: Naming what we want to practice. Anything qualifies, if you do it regularly and deliberately—and with compassion when you falter (which you will). CONNECTING the edge of your existence Edges are where real life radiates. They’re the hard conversations we are afraid to enter. The compliment we shy away from giving. The physical challenge we push through. Going to our edges is about strengthening connections with others and ourselves. Deep down, we know: To feel truly alive we must go to these edges. Read more from our blog, kindling Our Ways of Being Robins build their nests, bit by bit, carefully choosing grasses that feel right. As Valo's youth and guides, we did the same thing when we chose how we wanted to be in relation with each other and ourselves. This foundation became our Ways of Being. These Ways live authentically in each of us, and they frame the loving, empowering, and compelling setting in which we're all committed to growing. Learn More Our Retreats Valo's retreats open space in our cluttered schedules and minds to unplug and decompress. One restorative weekend a month, we connect with each other and ourselves. Learning how good it feels to delve into our creative passions, learn new art forms, share meals, adventures and stories, and explore our feelings, builds a practice. With practice, we can take this sense with us wherever we go. Learn More Top Connect with us P.O. Box 222 Freeport, ME 04032 (207) 865-1665 info@valomaine.org