Supporters cheered and threw confetti as Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti cut the green ribbon on Sept. 8 that officially opened Adam’s House, a new nonprofit grief education center in Shelton, CT.
Mayor Lauretti welcomed Adam’s House to Shelton, saying it filled a void in the city’s diverse community. He said the grief education center at 241 Coram Ave. offers a compassionate service that deserves the community’s support.
“It’s things like this that make a community strong,” he said. “You can accept people, embrace people and help people; something that government doesn’t always do a good job with. I understand both sides of the equation being part of government, yet owning my own business for a number of years.”
Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President William E. Purcell, introduced Adam’s House Founder and Executive Director Allison Wysota, who said she sought to create a special place devoted to providing empathy and support for grieving families and children.
“Grief is hard work. Grief in isolation is even harder,” said Wysota. “Every child and their family coping with a death deserve to be supported by a caring community. We hope Adam’s House will be that place for so many families.”
Founder Allison Wysota also said she is touched and grateful for the warm response to Adam’s House from the Shelton, Weston, Fairfield and other neighboring communities.
Adam’s House celebrates the legacy of Adam Wysota, a beloved husband, Weston Little League Coach and successful Wall Street executive, who died suddenly of a heart attack on May 6, 2012. Instead of allowing bitterness over her loss to consume her, Adam’s wife, Allison, honored her “sweetheart” by making “an amazing place of hope happen,” said Pastor Gaylord Lemke of Black Rock Congregational Church in Fairfield.
Already, families have begun to participate in the Adam’s House intake process, the first step to beginning the eight-week Adam’s House “Healing Hearts” program. In addition, the Adam’s House “Helping Hearts Heal,” Widow’s Support Group meets monthly here with more than 30 members. Future plans call for the group to include widowers.
Adam’s House is offering grieving families and children free weekly programs guided by trained facilitators that help parents, teens and children gain new insights for coping with the loss of parent, grandparent, sibling or friend. Adam’s House has partnered with 15 therapists from Shelton and neighboring communities to help support families before they begin the themed “Healing Hearts” program.
In warm, comfortable meeting rooms, Adam’s House is a place where bereaved parents, teens and children can talk to one another, sharing their experiences of loss.
“When children and their families receive comfort and support from individuals going through similar emotions and challenges, it helps to normalize and validate the chaotic, messy landscape of grief,” said Allison Wysota.
Adam’s House is filled with rooms especially designed to help clients navigate the grief journey. The Miniature Room is lined with shelves of action figures designed to help children and adults more easily discuss their grief. In the Art Room, teens and parents will create art projects that express their grief. In the Lending Library, books, videos and other grief education materials are available for clients’ use.
