October 26, 2021
Today we remember Mariah McGill, whose life was taken suddenly and much too soon one year ago. Mariah served as a Regional Coordinator for BBF and contributed as a keen leader, advocate, and problem solver in other roles throughout the community. Mariah joined the BBF team in September 2020 and was ebullient with her passion about improving the lives of children and families in Vermont. A year after her passing, we send love to her family, friends and the greater early childhood community who both shared in her inspiration and in the gap left by her death. In her spirit, we carry on to make true and lasting change.
It is with deep sadness that our team at BBF honors the passing of our friend and colleague, Mariah McGill. We are heartbroken to share that on October 26, 2020, while a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk on Route 100 near her home in Waitsfield, Mariah was struck by a car and succumbed to her injuries. We extend our deepest sympathies to Mariah’s family and will support them in any way we can as they grieve the loss of their incredible mother, partner, sister, and daughter.
Mariah was the newest member of the Building Bright Futures family and network of over 300 early childhood partners statewide. She was hired as a Regional Coordinator to support the Lamoille and Central Vermont Regional Councils to identify gaps and develop strategies to improve the well-being of children and their families.
Upon first meeting Mariah, we were impressed by her skills and training, her dedication and kindness, as well as her potential for leadership. We were thrilled when Mariah joined our team and had just begun to integrate her tremendous expertise and passion to our work strengthening the early childhood system in Vermont.
During her time at BBF, Mariah brought a thoughtful approach to learning about the organization and her new role. As the former Director of the Early Childhood Leadership Institute (ECLI) at the Snelling Center for Government, and previously serving as the Assistant Director of the Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy at Northeastern University in Boston, Mariah’s experience allowed her to seamlessly transition into her role, making astute observations and immediately make an impact in the early childhood community statewide. Her legal and research expertise as well as her passion for human rights, brought a new perspective to our work.
Separate from Mariah’s professional career and expertise, our team is grateful to have had the opportunity to learn about the amazing woman Mariah was outside of work through our weekly team wellness check-ins. Her love for her daughter, husband, and extended family was so strong. She shared wonderful stories of family holidays and baking with her daughter, swimming in local swimming holes, and exploring all that Vermont’s beauty has to offer.
Mariah was a brilliant and passionate colleague who will be truly missed by our BBF team and within the early childhood community.
In gratitude,
The Building Bright Futures Team
