Chittenden County, Vermont Celebrate Life - with Gary De Carolis, 17 Jun 2022

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From YouTube: Celebrate Life: Stirling Peebles

Description

From Gary De Carolis:

Five words: Determined, Hard worker, Funny, Researcher, Successful

Stirling Peebles, was a former Think College Vermont student. Stirling was hired at The Center on Disability and Community Inclusion as the Think College Vermont Dissemination Assistant in 2014. In the same year, she became an official member of the National Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE). In 2015, she also became a board member of the Vermont APSE chapter as well. Stirling also works for Green Mountain Self-Advocates. Stirling completed the Human Resource Management Certificate Program at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. She had a 4.0 GPA at Champlain College. Stirling has been recognized by the Vermont Business Magazine as a 2016 Rising Star.

Stirling also serves on the Governor's Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities. In 2019-2020 she was a Self-Advocate Fellow in the University of Vermont Leadership Education and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. In 2019, the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) awarded Stirling the APSE Lois Curtis Award. This award recognizes an individual’s personal achievement in advocating for inclusive, individualized, community-based employment and/or independent living.

6/17/2022

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A

Welcome to another show of celebrate life. My name is gary de carlos, and I'm your host this show is all about capturing the lives of people while they're still vibrant and active in our community. I don't know about you, but I've read too many obituaries where I've said to myself gosh. I wish I had gotten to know that person while they were alive well, this show is all about doing something about that. uh All of our guests are very alive and vibrant in the community living life.

A

The way you would hope one would live life and it's a chance for us all to celebrate their life.

A

I know for sure that everyone has a story to tell, and so this show is all about giving people a chance to tell their story if you are interested in being a guest on my show, please write me at celebrate life: zero 0747 at gmail.com, or if you have a question for one of our guests again so uh send me an email and I'll make sure they get that and respond to you and that email again is celebrate life zero, seven, four, seven at gmail.com!

A

Well, today, I'm honored to have, as my guest sterling peebles welcome sterling great to have you on the show this morning, so sterling um I've gotten to know you a little bit from uh reading some of the things that you've written, yeah and you're quite a great writer. But um why don't you take us back to when you were younger? And- and let's talk about that wonderful life that you have?

A

Where did it all start sterling.

B

We all started in 1982., I'm a person with down syndrome, and I also have a third medical heart and lungs position.

A

Great, and um so you grew up in montpelier- is that right.

B

A

Yep has that been a nice place to grow up in.

B

A

And how how are the schools there when you were younger.

B

A

Right so when you think about your early life, what in growing up with down syndrome? What what was the key ingredient that really made things work for you as a young person.

B

Well being included in school, I also went to the early essential education program, the triple e program.

B

B

First in vermont- and I was.

B

My mom went to the vermont state library.

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I came up here and found every book possible on down syndrome and with childhood intervention, which was its resources, really helped.

C

That's wonderful.

A

Oh yes, wow, so your mom picked that book up read it from cover to cover. I bet.

B

A

I bet she and you could write another book right now.

B

A

So your family played an important role in your life. Sterling um talk to talk to us about that.

B

I have I'm three siblings, I'm a brother that lives in san, diego california, and my sister skye lives in saxons river. There's two hours of here.

A

And tell me about and and your mom and dad love you to pieces is that right.

B

A

How important was that love for you, as a young person,.

B

Well, it helped it helped shaped who I was and who I am.

A

um Yep, okay, so, okay, so you you went to triple e program, early, essential education and, um and you were very included in all of your early classrooms and daycare. I think you mentioned daycare as well that you always you know yeah, and so then you got into elementary school middle school.

A

How were those? How were those years in school? Like did you have friends and things.

B

I had friends I had.

B

My sister, we were in the same grade so.

C

A

Now tell the audience about your relationship with skye your sister.

B

Well, she's also my role model and my hero, and we have a very close relationship.

A

What are the things that you really like about your sister sky.

B

She's fun she's funny and she is a great person to be with so.

A

That's great what if the sky was to talk about you? What would you say about you.

B

um I'm funny sometimes.

B

She's, a a real willing person.

A

That's great that's great now. One thing about you that I picked up um in the little bit that I was able to read is that you have a lot of determination.

A

Where does that? Where does that come from sterling?

A

Let's see, how did you get that determination.

B

Well, I love camping as a child.

B

And adventure trips.

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Cooking hot dogs and a common stove.

B

C

B

And spit out canoeing and a family fishing small boat and kayaking. Oh, I swimming in different places like the ocean, the local pool and at different lakes and going to my family camp, and it smells like rest in me.

A

Nice, so you've had a lot of life experiences growing up. Yes, that's fantastic.

A

So now you're in let's go let's go to high school. How was high school for you.

B

C

B

Well, let's see.

B

High school, I was really disadvantaged.

A

B

B

I wanted to prove that I didn't go to school with my friends and you really wanted to be included in that school scene like.

A

Of course, you wanted to be included and be a part of what's going on.

B

A

B

A

Yep yep and uh were you the mayor of montpelier, high school.

B

um I used to be the class elvis.

A

A

That's great so that you were determined that you were going to be successful in high school. Have friends go to dances, get involved in the school and make it a a good experience? Yes,.

B

A

Yeah, and did it work.

B

A

Fantastic that.

B

Was pretty popular.

A

That's fantastic, that's great and now school didn't end at that point, though, did it.

B

Well, not for me, I let's see well, I was an avid researcher in a computer junkie in high school.

C

B

I used to spend a lot of time in the library reading books about computers and technology.

C

B

I always have been interested in digital and technology literacy.

B

I first became a storyteller as a student in graphic communications and video technology program at the regional location, technical center, which is now known as the central career center.

C

B

In graphic communications, I learned how to do graphic design using adobe illustrator, quick, express in adobe photoshop. I also learned about digital photography. Another thing I learned is that I studied at the technical center was filmmaking wow.

C

B

Years later I did a semester-long internship at boca media. I learned how to use and operate cameras, how to check for white balance and how to use function.

B

A

You might have a show on cctv, someday.

B

I might be available.

B

I have so many books on my bookshelf on top filmmaking screenwriting.

B

A

So that so that interest in filmmaking and media and computer research started in high school and then you got involved at uvm israel as well right.

B

A

How did you get in? How did that come about.

B

Well, I went to well, you know when I was 24. I wanted to go back to college, so I went to ccv.

B

I mean I got ready. I was trying to take a class on dinosaurs or something to take a class uh-huh. I was still, uh I didn't, belong there wow. So I was wondering what I did.

A

So then, so you started at ccb.

B

But I also took some basic foundation classes and that helped me to be a much better right in reading from college.

C

A

And then you went to uvm.

B

A

And how was that experience?

A

C

B

A that's a pretty that's a really positive experience. That's.

A

A and that's we're talking about a pretty uh high academic university here.

B

A

And you were able to handle that curriculum.

B

Yep I was dressing all the college. Different college classes nothing changed, but I was meant to so. I did all the classrooms all the homework same as everyone else. Wow.

A

Wow wow, that's very impressive, um and then you got also involved in some leadership. Education at the medical center.

B

A

What's that tell us a little bit about that sterling.

B

Okay, so it was the leadership, education, neuro, detrimental and related disabilities. Then program.

C

A

Leadership, education and neurodevelopmental and related disabilities wow.

B

Yes, so I took two graduate classes.

B

In cheers, classes.

C

A

I I have a sense that a lot of people think very highly of you.

B

I think I'm not gonna put words to people's heads.

A

Okay, well, let's we'll let that sit right for.

C

A

Now so, you've done a lot for yourself and I and we're getting a good picture of that through school uh college. You've also been an advocate for other people with disabilities. Is that correct.

B

A

How do you do that, and what what what's, what do you say.

B

Let's see well, I ever keep for implement. Firstly, the association of people disappoint implement first absi in the national action. We have a more active chapter.

A

Say that again sterling I didn't get quite get that.

B

uh They have a national absolute in. There is a absolute chapter.

A

Oh okay, so there's a national organization that you work through to advocate on behalf of people with disabilities,.

B

Well just for implement, but I also use the employment claim I have mentioned in.

A

Okay, green mountain advocates.

B

It was, I run by people with disabilities, so I started there in 2006.

B

And I've been having to them. That's it for that job.

B

I did some testimonials in the legislature.

A

B

A few months ago, I do I test my own housing in vermont.

A

So you advocate for uh decent housing for people with disabilities.

B

All different things, like thousands disability rights.

A

Disability rights, yep, yeah, makes sense.

A

Have you ever run into a situation where you were discriminated against?

A

I have not okay. Well, that's that speaks well of vermont. Doesn't it.

B

A

Yes, that's great, uh have you offered trainings or any workshops ever.

B

I've done the workshops at uh I'm, gonna see level at a national level as well. Wow wow workshops, the absolute conferences.

C

B

Local workshops to my dogs.

A

That's fantastic sterling, have you ever, uh I know you're very humble, but uh have you ever had any any awards, given you.

A

B

I knew that was coming.

B

Let's see so back in 2016 I was awarded the vermont bison star award for 40 under 40. wow. That's.

A

B

In 2019 I got this national award from absie cheers and then I in 2017 I won that twitch award citizenship award.

B

For being one of the best advocates, wow um three mountains of advocates.

A

Wow, that's fantastic. I I actually know theresa. We used to.

B

Work again, she's really cool.

A

She is cool, absolutely yeah and she's a legislator. Now, yes, yep, that's wonderful and are you? Are you working at this point.

B

I have two part-time jobs.

C

B

Because I still work for premium advocates.

C

B

And I think college vermont, like uvm wow,.

A

Is it do you actually go to you work in burlington when you're with that job? I.

B

Do during the pandemic, I've been working from home, but I also plan events, so I go up to plan halloween events so.

B

Halloween is my favorite holiday.

B

I also am a photographer in my spare time.

A

Oh I've actually I've seen your photography on facebook a lot because.

B

I have my own photography page.

A

Yes, you have some beautiful sunsets um yeah, you do a beautiful job, I'm I I'm very impressed. Thank you.

B

Thank you because I am also the administrator of the employment corner. I do that's a volunteer job.

A

That's great: is there anything that you haven't done in your life, yet that you would like to do.

B

A

Like maybe go to hollywood and make a movie or something.

B

C

B

I I love to travel.

C

A

Yup, what where would you like to go that you haven't been yet.

B

I've never been to lake william, but I just recently been there, so I can cross that off my list.

A

New jersey.

B

I said really I just I just went I've never been.

A

Okay, gotcha nice.

C

A

So um how about some words of wisdom for the audience? What would.

C

A

Want them to know that you have learned in your life.

B

Well, people with disabilities need to believe in themselves and find opportunities to achieve what they want in life. Let them be capable and also let them find meaningful employment.

A

Yes, no there's a something. I've learned a long time ago that there's two things in life that we all need. One is meaningful work and the other is love.

A

If we've got both of those things in our life, we're going to do pretty darn good if we've got one and not the other we can get by and if we don't have either of those things we're probably not doing well so having meaningful work is a critical piece so having a good life. Absolutely that's a good thing.

A

A

Anything else that you want to talk about here. I know you love to travel. I know you you're, a terrific photographer you've got some great jobs, I'll talk more about your mom and dad what what roles have they played in your life?.

B

Well, they have given me awesome support throughout my life and they've, been for the last 39 years, mm-hmm find people and really want to hang out with them.

A

Yeah so they're like the foundation of everything for you and then let you become the woman that you are.

B

A

That's fantastic, maybe I should have them on the show at some point.

B

That's an excellent idea.

A

Yeah, I think that would be a great idea.

A

um Anything else that you want to talk about this morning.

C

A

Cover everything: is there something we missed.

B

A

What's sky doing these days, what's her what's her job, what's she doing.

B

She's, a full-time parent.

A

She's, a full-time parent yep that is a full-time job, you're, an aunt.

B

A

That's fantastic.

B

Any other questions you have for me.

A

um Who you know, I don't have much many more questions, but I what was your favorite teacher in high school.

B

I had a lot of favorite teachers in high school.

A

Oh good, don't tell me about some of them.

B

B

They helped me become more self-confident.

B

Yep there were a whole bunch of teachers that I I really liked.

A

Yeah so, but the key takeaway is that they they helped. You become self-confident in yourself and what you'd love to do.

B

Help, let me be help me belong.

A

Right help you belong as guy.

B

That's the point.

A

You can't ask for anything better than that nope. No, so when you think about it, you've got a wonderful set of parents. A fantastic sister you've had some great teachers who helped you become all that you want to become you've made friends on your own out. There got a couple great jobs and a wonderful hobby of photography, and it sounds like filmmaking is another thing you'd like you'd like to do.

B

Let's see I I when I was forget about creaminess, I used to do life histories.

A

Really, yes like what I'm doing right here.

B

Yes, but I, but it was um youngest of advocates in different parts of the world.

A

That's amazing, so maybe someday you'll take my my job here.

A

Okay, well, how any last words you want to share with the audience and and we we can uh we'll close the interview.

B

I also have a brother that lives in san diego.

C

A

What's his name.

B

I'm kim kim jim yeah.

A

B

Right, what does.

A

B

He's a hard scientist, wow battery said something.

C

A

Now is: uh do you have an aunt named giovanna peebles.

B

That's my mother.

A

That's your mother! Oh then, actually I know your mother she's a isn't. She a archaeologist. Yes,.

A

Well, actually, I knew your mother about 40 years ago, when I was working for the department of mental health. She helped me find a a cemetery that had been lost, okay well, say hi to mom. For me,.

B

I will all right, she says hello, oh.

A

She's, okay, thank you.