The mission of the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) is to “help Vermont citizens build prosperous and resilient communities through democratic engagement, marshalling resources, and collective action.” VCRD’s long-standing Community Visit program is core to this mission. Many times, communities create a long list of critical actions for the future, but the length of…
The “Sharon Connects” process brings community members together to actively participate in examining issues, decide top priorities and develop action plans for the future of the town. The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) provided the overall structure and neutral facilitation for the first two gatherings. On June 8th, 80 community members came together to…
Here at the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), we’re committed to listening to community members from around the state about the opportunities and challenges they see in their towns and supporting those who step forward to build an even stronger future. It is a critical time to be focused on our small cities and…
All members of the Northfield community are encouraged to attend the final phase of the Northfield: Our Common Future Community Visit, on Tuesday, May 16 at the Northfield Middle/High School at 6:30pm to set action plans to move their three identified priorities forward. All members of the Northfield community are encouraged to attend. In April,…
Residents of the Northwest Region of Vermont are encouraged to attend the upcoming Youth Opportunity Regional Forum on May 23 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together to discuss how we can improve opportunities for youth in our communities. Free pizza and…
The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) is inviting community leaders, volunteers, and partners committed to Vermont to join the inaugural “Community Social” June 13 at the Lake Bomoseen Lodge & Taproom. The event will include a short speaking program with updates on VCRD initiatives and issues vital to towns across Vermont, as well as…
Members of the Northfield community came together Tuesday, April 18 for the second step of the Northfield: Our Common Future community visit process and set four concrete and actionable priorities for the future of the town. All area residents are encouraged to sign up for these task forces online at bit.ly/FutureNorthfield. As part of the…
Residents of the Upper Valley Region of Vermont are encouraged to attend the first Youth Opportunity Regional Forum April 20 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Oxbow High School to join together with fellow community members, businesses, educators, and youth to share successes, challenges, and ideas for the future. Free pizza will be served and childcare will…
The strength of our democracy, the vitality of our economy, and the emotional and physical wellbeing of our population start with our youth and a shared belief in a positive future. In order to build strong communities and realize our vision for a thriving economy, we must work together – youth and adults – to…
Northfield community members are encouraged to participate in the second phase of Northfield: Our Common Future Community Forums to set actionable priorities together for the future of their town. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 18 from 6:30pm to 9pm at the Northfield Middle High School. This event is the second phase of…