BRATTLEBORO — Brattleboro Holistic Health Center opened earlier this month with a celebration during the July Gallery Walk. Housed in the former site of Watercourse Way, this health center recently evolved into a worker-owned cooperative.
“This all began several years ago as a group of friends dreaming about a way to combine our practices to offer Brattleboro accessible, holistic health care,” said worker-owner Emily Amanna. “It is really inspiring to see all our individual passions working together to create this Center."
The six worker-owners - Keller Allen, Emily Amanna, Libby Garofalo, Alyssa Holmes, Emma Lee, and Leah Mutz - took over the space at 62 Elliot St. in January 2011 from Tim and Colleen Scott. Each had a practice or health care focus that has been integrated into the health center. The result is not just new modalities, but also a burst of fresh energy.
The worker-owned co-operative is a radical business model which the group feels is imperative to their vision. There is no hierarchy in their workplace, no boss. All decisions are made by consensus, and everyone is equally responsible for, and equally benefitted by the success of the business.
In addition to the traditional offerings of acupuncture, massage, and herbal medicine, the new owners have included integrated mind-body counseling, Tarot, and astrology.
They are putting their own twist on the fully stocked apothecary that greets you as you enter by focusing on locally grown medicines. Amanna and Holmes manage the apothecary, grow herbs on their respective farms and make all the medicine by hand. Practitioners at BHHC are dedicated to making their practice more holistic.
As a result, they will provide information and referrals for a wide variety of health care options as well as healthcare and lifestyle education.
“We are so grateful for the incredible foundation built by Tim and Colleen,” said Libby Garofalo. “With their blessing, we were able to concentrate on building and running a successful co-op. It has also allowed us to develop ways to be more affordable and more accessible to the public."
The owners plan to expand the existing community acupuncture room to accommodate classes and workshops as well as expanding opportunities for affordable community acupuncture. “We see potential for birthing classes, yoga, tai chi, or qigong,” said Garofalo, “We really see this new space as a healing and educational resource for the whole Brattleboro community."
For more information, contact Amanna at 802-251-0888 or brattleboroholistichealth@gmail.com.