A Preview of “Belonging in Vermont: Giving to create communities for all”

Thank you for joining this Insight Hub event. All registered attendees have received a recording of the webinar and a short summary of key takeaways directly in their inbox. If you did not attend, keep reading for a preview of what was covered, and then watch the recording and download a summary of key takeaways.

In 2020, the Community Foundation re-committed to answering the question, “What role does philanthropy play in creating a sense of belonging for all Vermonters—and specifically—BIPOC Vermonters?” During this one-hour webinar, we will be joined by some of the partners we’ve worked with to discuss how philanthropy can help create a resilient and equitable Vermont for all current and future residents.

Attendees will:

1. Get an update on what the Community Foundation has learned through its Welcoming, Equitable, Anti-Racist Communities work. It’s been just over a year since the five COVID-19 Recovery Initiatives were announced, including the Welcoming Communities work. Since that time, there has been a lot of listening and learning, reflected in the shift from the term “welcoming” to “belonging” in the title of this event. During the webinar, Vice President for Grants and Community Investments Sarah Waring will share detailed takeaways from the last twelve months. We certainly have not become experts, but we’ve had the privilege to engage with some of Vermont’s leading voices on race, power, privilege, and equity, and we’re excited to bring you up to speed on those conversations.

2. Hear from a panel of leaders from across the state on how philanthropy can create a sense of belonging in Vermont’s communities. The majority of the event will be led by a panel of leaders answering the question, “What is the most effective way philanthropy can create belonging in Vermont’s communities?” Sharing their perspectives will be:

• Mia Schultz, President of the Rutland-Area NAACP and Coordinator of the Catalyst Leadership Program at the Rights & Democracy Institute
• Rich Holschuh, Director of The Atowi Project and Spokesperson for the Elnu Abenaki Tribe
• Weiwei Wang, Co-founder and Director of Operations and Development at The Vermont Professionals of Color Network
• Don Turner, Town Manager of Milton, VT and former state representative

3. Join in a dialogue on how charitable Vermonters can advance this work in their own communities. The Insight Hub is all about providing actionable information, and this event is no different. Between the panel discussion and the audience Q+A, attendees will have the opportunity to get first-hand direction on how to bring these lessons back to their own communities and do the necessary work to ensure all neighbors feel like they belong and are set up for success—free of fear, discrimination, or isolation.

Visit the Insight Hub to view additional topics and sign-up for updates.