THE CONFLUENCE PROJECT - A COLLABORATION AROUND WATER

THE CONFLUENCE PROJECT IS AN AMBITIOUS EXPERIMENT IN CREATIVITY PLACE-MAKING THAT DEMONSTRATES AN IN-DEPTH MODEL FOR BRINGING ARTS, YOUTH, COMMUNITY GROUPS, REGIONAL PLANNERS, AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

TO THE CIVIC DIALOGUE TABLE TO TAKE AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF OUR WATERSHEDS.

THE CONFLUENCE PROJECT LINKS VERMONT PERFORMANCE LAB'S ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPEMENT  WORK OF THE WINDHAM REGIONAL COMMISSION. THROUGH PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND INTEGRATED ART-SCIENCE

RESIDENCIES AND CURRICULUM THE CONFLUENCE PROJECT SUPPORT OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS, BUILD UNDERSTANDING  OF OUR LOCAL WATERSHEDS, AND FOSTER  A NEW MODEL FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND  HELP CREATE A DEEPER ENGAGEMENT AROUND

ENVIROMENTAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IN THIS VIDEO THE CHILDREN OF HILLTOP MONTESSORY SCHOOL, WORKING UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF ABENAKI ARTIST AND EDUCATOR JUDY DOW,  PRESENT THE CULMINATION OF THEIR STUDIES AND RESEARCH FOCUSED ON THE WILLIAM STREET SITE KNOWN AS

"SAWDUST ALLEY," WHICH IS AN  8-ACRE PARCEL OF LAND ALONG  THE WHESTONE BROOK, ON WILLIAM STREET, WHICH REMAINS HIGHLY CONTAMINATED BY THE MILL INDUSTRY THAT FUNCIONED THERE FOR MANY YEARS.  THIS LAND IS BEING RESTORED TO A FLOOD

PLAN BY THE VERMONT RIVER OONSERVANCY IN COOPERATION WITH THE TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO.  THE STUDENTS SHARE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO TRANSFORM THE "SAWDUST ALLEY" SITE INTO AN ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL ASSET FOR

THE COMMUNITY.