Bereavement leave for Alice

Dear Friends and Family:

This is a request to support beloved Alice (Grendon). Alice has been working since last May, full time at a dance studio while also launching the non-profit wing of it which brings dance into the public schools, senior communities, and provides access to dance for families that cannot afford it. Teaching dance is something that Alice is passionate about and believes very deeply in the healing power of. But it is also hourly, unbenefited work.

This has been a very hard year for Alice – in October Alice learned that Kevin, Alice's estranged biological father had died. This news followed a series of large life changes, including leaving a previous other part time job which financially collapsed right after Alice left. As well as moving the tiny house from one location to another creating many unexpected costs and instability. Alice's new full time schedule at the dance studio has been exhausting and chaotic, and has not left a lot of space to process any of this big change or the complex grief associated with Kevin's passing.

This is a lot and Alice just needs some space to catch their breath. Alice does not have bereavement leave or vacation that could address this and has to take unpaid time off. Alice's boss has been very understanding and compassionate and is helping to find the staff coverage to enable Alice to take a week and half break. Alice's partner, two best friends and mom are teaming up to organize a bereavement fund to make it financially possible to take this unpaid time. We are asking if you can chip in – whatever feels manageable as an act of community and solidarity with a young person in a society that affords few supports to young people or to any of us for grieving?