Kell Arbor Moves into Health & Wellness Director Role at Pride Center of Vermont
Taylor Small transitions to Education Program Manager
BURLINGTON, VT – January 18, 2022 — Pride Center of Vermont, a multi-service community center that celebrates, educates, and advocates with and for LGBTQ+ Vermonters, has announced the promotion of Kell Arbor as Director of Health & Wellness. Arbor was originally hired in 2021 at a coordinator capacity for the health and wellness program.
Arbor will be responsible for leading a team of coordinators to support and sustain programming that addresses LGBTQIA+ health disparities. They will oversee HIV prevention and testing programs, primarily focused on the Centers for Disease Control’s Mpowerment Program (GLAM), referrals and linkage to care with embedded PrEP navigation, the Vermont Diversity Health Project (VDHP), QTPOC Programming (Thrive), Women’s Programming (Glow), and training facilitation.
“Kell’s lived experience, decades-long career promoting public health, and successful stewardship of sex-positive education throughout the Northeast will surely benefit Vermont’s LGBTQ+ communities,” said Mike Bensel, Executive Director. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Kell take on the leadership of this program.”
Arbor was raised in Maine and is a graduate of University of Vermont, a place where they root their gender journey. Arbor also holds an MA in Whole Systems Design and creates spaces that encourage change artistry, participatory dialogue, and pleasure. Prior to joining the Pride Center team, they were the HIV Testing and Education manager at Vermont Cares. As an HIV-positive Vermonter, Arbor is a vocal, visible presence working to uplift marginalized voices and challenge health disparities.
“Our ability to thrive in healthy ways demands that we work the inner core of systems that neglect and negate us. This work is my heart work, as our wellness can only be as liberated as the greater whole,” said Arbor. “I bring that deep heart passion of a harm reduction educator with the creative adaptability of someone who has been in the field for many years.”
Arbor fills a vacancy left by an internal transition for Taylor Small. Small has been with Pride Center of Vermont and the health and wellness program since 2017. Small, an elected state representative, has shifted to Education Program Manager, a role that allows her more flexibility during the legislative session. In her new role, Small will be responsible for updating and revamping the education program and training content, as well as providing trainings across the state.