By Guy Page

The Vermont House yesterday recognized a Rutland County prison-to-society transitional housing volunteer who in January was named by American Mothers as Vermont Mother of the Year.

Terese Black was born and raised in Jackson, Minnesota, as one of 9 children. She graduated from Clark College (now Clark University) in Dubuque, Iowa, after joining the Sisters of the Presentation in Dubuque. 

After 10 years, including a short stint in Bolivia, Terese found motherhood to be a happier calling for herself and moved to Vermont where one of her sisters lived. It was there that she met and married Robert Black. Rob brought his daughter, Kira, to the relationship and a daughter, Rachel and son, Jimmy were added to their family. 

Terese taught for 18 years total before becoming the Director of the Rutland Dismas House in 2004, which offers transitional housing for men and women coming out of prison. After 16 years Terese retired from Dismas and now enjoys volunteering with many local organizations and traveling.

Parenting Philosophy

On theAmerican Mothers website, these thoughts about mothering are attributed to Black:

“I believe parenting is a gift given to us from our loving God who is parent of all parents. Being entrusted with this gift, we are able to both pass on our own wisdom and love all the while trusting and allowing our children to make their own choices and learn from any mistakes they make, being there to rescue them if need be. Parenting is a full time job beginning at conception and lasting one’s entire life, from babyhood through adulthood and on. Parents are called to nurture, guide, and at times punish their children, all in a loving way. 

“Parenting means sitting on the floor playing games, lying on the bed reading books, and driving these kids to and from their activities day in and day out, often to the dismissal of one’s own needs and desires. It is the joy of cheering at the sidelines, bandaging wounds, crying over broken hearts, and whispering “I love you” through thick and thin. 

“Mothering can also go beyond one’s own children but also to those one touches in the activities and organizations they are involved in. To be a mother is one of the greatest gifts one can be given as well as one of the greatest responsibilities to take on.”

Motherhood and Community

Black has been involved in the Rutland Dismas House in various ways since 1991. She writes on the MOY website:

“I have been Board President both locally and with Dismas of Vermont, now being Chair of the Rutland Dismas Council. I have cooked there also since 1991, bringing my students to join me and learn about Dismas for the 12 years I taught in Rutland. I have helped with their fundraising, outreach, and membership as well as supporting my husband who chairs the Maintenance Committee. 

“My children grew up around the table at Dismas and learned to be comfortable with people from all walks of life, including those who have spent time in prison, seeing them as good people who just made some wrong choices. 2) I presently play guitar and lead the folk group at St. Alphonsus Parish in Pittsford, but have also led groups in Iowa, Chicago, Bolivia, and at Christ the King Parish in Rutland. I don’t really play my guitar for any other purposes but find it fills my soul in amazing ways while playing at church. 

“Honestly, my children haven’t continued any connection to church since moving from home, but I know it gave them a background and knowledge of a loving God that they can draw on as they hopefully have their own families or face any crisis. 3) Most recently I have joined the Board of Directors for Rutland Neighbors (formerly Companions In Wholeness), a local day program offering meals and community to those who are homeless or food insecure. I volunteer there weekly as well, mostly working with the clothing donations. 

“I love listening to the conversations of the people who come in and see their kindness to one another in spite of their insecure living situations. What touches me most is their gratitude for the little I do and wishing me a good day as they leave to return to their hotel rooms or tents in the woods amidst rain, heat, cold, and possibility of theft while I return to my safe and comfortable home.”

Vermont’s lawmakers are not unfamiliar with the Mother of the Year program. Rep. Carolyn Branagan of Georgia is a former MOY. Former legislator Marybeth Redmond of Essex won the honor in 2020.  And the mother of Woodstock member Charlie Kimbell also was an honoree.