8:00am ~ Doors open with coffee and pastries*
9:00 ~ Summit Opening with Rajnii Eddins, poet, emcee & teaching artist
9:30 ~ Community Spark Stories: 5 minute stories of inspiration
10:00 ~ Presentation of VCRD’s Community Leadership and Lifetime Achievement Awards
10:30 ~ BREAK
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*The Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VTPoC) is hosting an affinity space open to Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color participating in the Summit. This affinity space will be open throughout the day and will be staffed during lunch and at 4pm. VTPoC will have a welcoming table open from 8-9am. |
Breakout session types:
[S]kills Workshops: leadership training and community engagement techniques and best practices
Action [F]orums: discuss what we should accomplish for the future of VT communities and leadership and how we work together
Community [P]rojects Panels: community leaders describe projects and share tips and techniques
[N]etworking Sessions: connect with leaders to generate new ideas and partnerships
10:45 ~ Breakouts:
S1. VUCA Leadership: Leading through Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity
Come and get reacquainted with the principles of VUCA. Then, learn a framework that disciplines thinking for a pragmatic approach to leading through all four of these aspects with confidence. Based on the latest cognitive research, the A2B Paradigm Shifter equips leaders for inspiring and empowering others to make transformational change in a VUCA rampant world.
S2. Implementing Strategies for Equitable Community Engagement
It’s more important than ever for communities to find equitable, inclusive ways to engage people. And it’s harder than ever to reach people and gain participation. It’s time for communities and leaders to rethink old engagement strategies and add some new tools to the toolbox. From pop-up events to digital platforms, deep dialogue to quick chats, this workshop will share a range of simple tips and creative ideas for engaging a broader cross-section of the community and ensuring equitable opportunities for people to participate in community projects.
S3. Raising Money: Fundraising for Community Projects
An overview of tools, tips, and best practices for fundraising for community-based projects.
F1. Demographic Change in Vermont: Creating Dialogue, Engagement, and Support
Vermont’s population is changing, and we should talk about it! Xusana Davis, the State of Vermont’s Executive Director of Racial Equity will facilitate a forum discussion based on demographic data and how community leaders can learn, grow and change…just like Vermont!
P1. Leading Systems Change at the Regional Scale: The VT Working Communities Challenge
The VT Working Communities Challenge: what is it and why are 62% of Vermont towns part of it? Learn about the Vermont approach to cross-sector leadership addressing complex, interrelated issues facing our workforce.
P2. Developing and Implementing Community-Based Climate Solutions
Our climate solutions are as varied as each community and can drive economic opportunities. Join this panel exploring various frameworks from regional approaches to community scale volunteer driven initiatives.
P3. The Creative Economy in Your Community: Integrating Arts, Humanities, and Economy
Across Vermont, communities are turning to the arts and humanities to build community connection, engagement, and boost their economy. Hear tips, strategies, and reflections from creative economy leaders from across the state on the connection between the arts, civic engagement, and the future vitality of the economy.
N1. Community Leadership and Engagement Speed Networking
Engage with fellow participants in fast paced interaction for a series of one-on-one conversations within an organized structure as a way to build an individual statewide network of leaders. Be sure to bring extra copies of your business card for this workshop!
noon ~ LUNCH
1:00 ~ Breakouts
S5. Freedom & Unity, Continuity & Change: An Introduction to Navigating Vermont’s Polarities
Polarities are seeming opposites that must actually coexist over time, for successful outcomes. And Vermont is full of them. In this interactive workshop, learn to recognize when a polarity is at the root of conflict, and how “both/and” thinking can improve understanding and lead to transformation.
S6. Effective Community Communications and Story-Telling
Stories are a powerful tool to help people connect with each other, develop understanding, share information, advocate for change, or spur people to act. In this skills-building workshop, learn the basics of storytelling for communications: what it looks like, why it is valuable, and how it can promote better connections with and within your community.
F2. Building Bridges: Boosting Civic Engagement and Building Community Connection and Unity
A forum conversation on successes and challenges around civic engagement and community connection and strategies to build connection, unity, and engagement for the future.
F3. Inviting and Engaging New Leadership
A forum conversation on successes and challenges in inviting new leadership and strategies to engage the next generation of community leaders.
P4. Creative Community Place-Making: Events, Pop-ups, Design, and Access
A panel of community leaders will share stories of place-making initiatives and events that have helped to boost community connection, wellness, access, and fun in their communities.
P5. Implementing Local and Regional Housing Solutions
Creative Local, Regional, and Statewide Efforts to Create More Housing Options in Vermont.
P6. Watershed Moment: Accessing Unprecedented Funding Opportunities In Your Community
Local and State Leaders Share Different Approaches to Accessing and Using New Funding Opportunities.
N2. World Cafe: Challenges and Opportunities for Vermont Community Leaders
A series of informal conversations about challenges and opportunities for local leaders and community volunteers today. Participants will move between different topic tables based on interest.
2:30 ~ Breakouts
S7. Having Necessary Community Conversations: Racism in Vermont
Community leaders will gain an understanding about how to approach and sustain conversations about racism and white supremacy cultural norms. Experiences, resources, and practices will be shared for community leaders to explore and pursue in their process to enable necessary community conversations about racism in Vermont.
S8. Sustainable Leadership for the Long Term: Avoiding Burnout and Fostering Delegation and New Leadership
Come and learn a framework for leading in a way that cares for humanity and feeds our souls. Learn the formula for drawing stakeholders’ attention to what moves people to make a shift of perspective, to be compelled to action. And practice a coach approach to developing leaders at all levels and corners of community.
F4. Encouraging Community Cooperation: Connecting Municipal and Community Volunteers for Local Success
A forum conversation discussing successes, challenges, and strategies to best connect and coordinate municipal leadership and community volunteers.
F5. Lessons Learned in COVID Response and Recovery: Where do we go from here?
A forum conversation on how we can proactively identify and apply some of the lessons learned the past two years.
P7. Developing and Reimagining Community Gathering Spaces: Community Centers, Co-Working Spaces, Public Green Space, and More
Community leaders share creative local projects bringing community together in new ways.
P8. Youth Driving Change: Youth-Led Community Initiatives Around the State
The past two years have amplified the need for youth and adults working together in their communities to create systemic change. This session will be facilitated and led by youth from across VT on their experience and perspectives on driving change in their communities.
P9. Please Don’t Go!: Attracting, Supporting, and Retaining New Residents
Learn how state and local leaders are attracting and supporting new residents. With many people considering Vermont as a possible long-term home for many reasons, while still others might not see Vermont as a place to put down roots, towns and leaders can learn about resources and lessons learned from a variety of perspectives from around the state.
N3. BYOI (Bring Your Own Ideas): Connecting with Peers and Resource Leaders
A networking opportunity to share your community project/initiative/idea with peers and resource providers and ask for advice, resources, and strategies to move your idea forward.
4:00 ~ Conclusions and Action
4:15 ~ Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Party!
