Glauke Cooijmans was born in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. She studied Health Education and Mental Health Sciences at Maastricht University, NL, and received a post grad Certificate in Healthcare Psychology from University of Amsterdam. Glauke moved to the U.S. in 2007. She has lived with her husband Erik and children Heike (14) and Tijsen (17) in Bennington County since 2019, where they moved from Long Island. Glauke is grateful to be working as a Prevention Coordinator with SVSU at Mount Anthony Union Middle School (MAUMS) which combines her interest in prevention and mental health.
Why are you an ACT Member? Why do you work to support healthy youth?
I am an ACT member to represent the SVSU, particularly MAUMS. As Prevention Coordinator at a school it is important to be connected with other prevention-focused community partners. Meanwhile, I work very closely with Alyssa and Dare co-facilitating the Youth Leadership Group. We are a great team!
I work to support healthy youth because when you are young, the foundation is (can be) created for a healthy life later on. It promotes well-being throughout someone’s whole life span. I love to support youth to grow up with as minimal interference as possible so they have more chances to reach their full potential. I realize some students have a more difficult start than others and especially for those youth I believe we can make a difference since the support from home might not always be there.
What do you love most about living and/or working in Bennington?
Living in such a beautiful, peaceful natural environment with so many outdoor activities at my fingertips: snow shoeing; skiing; cross country skiing; hiking; biking; kayaking. I also enjoy the arts and love the vicinity of the Southern Vermont Arts Center; Hildene Estate and grounds, and Mass MoCA that I just visited for the first time and will definitely go back to for my “city vibe” art needs. My back/front yard in the middle of the green mountains is like a ZOO: I have seen bears; greyhounds; chipmunks; hummingbirds; deer, owl; mice 🙂
Top three songs on your current playlist:
I am a bit busy with a lot of other things and I don’t really have a “playlist,” but when my 14 year old daughter Heike is in the car with me: “Shallow” from Bradley and Lady Gaga and a whole bunch of other Lady Gaga songs that my daughter likes to listen to when I drive her places; to the embarrassment of Heike, I like to sing loud with some of the songs :-). “Spa” music from SiriusXM on the way to and from work, alternated with listening to NPR and CNN.
What are you reading right now?
Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions by Jeffrey Selingo, and De Egel, dat ben ik from Toon Tellegen, a Dutch author: a book with short reflections send to me for my 50th birthday last month from my dear cousin Wineke who is like a sister to me.
What are you doing to support your health and wellness lately?
Limit sugar; eat nuts especially almonds; eat healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner; get at least 10,000 steps a day. In the winter I skied and did snowshoeing. This summer I am going to make time for hikes, bike rides, and kayaking. My parents from the Netherlands will be visiting in two weeks which is very good for me too, and I will be visiting friends and family in Europe this summer.
What does Pride mean to you?
Pride means to me being comfortable in your own skin and being able to love and relate to the ones you are most comfortable with.