Find more resources at Vermont 2-1-1
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A program of United Ways of Vermont, 2-1-1 is a free confidential statewide information and referral service operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with language translation available. 2-1-1 offers a comprehensive searchable database of services and trained information and referral specialists offer personalized assistance by telephone any time, and respond to texts and emails Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Got questions about your legal rights? The Vermont Commission on Women's handbook, The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont might provide answers. Chapters include: Adoption, Guardianship and Emancipated Minors; Consumer Protection and Fair Credit; Domestic Relations; Education; Employment Rights; Housing and Property Rights; Immigration; Insurance; Name Changes; Public Accommodations; Public Assistance and Government Benefits; Reproductive Rights; Violence Against Women and Children; and Wills, Probate Court, and Advanced Directives.
Read Vermont Commission on Women's publications on this and other topics.
AALV, Inc.
20 Allen Street, 3rd Floor
Burlington, Vermont 05401
(802) 985-3106
info@aalv-vt.org
aalv-vt.org
The AALV helps new Americans from all parts of the world gain independence in their new communities through a range of integration services. With support from their multicultural, multilingual staff, clients are able to smoothly transition to living and working in Vermont. Programs include: interpreter and translation services, legal services, workforce development, youth development, New Farms for New Americans program, health and behavior programs.
Abenaki | Maquam Bay of Missisquoi
100 Grand Avenue
Swanton, VT 05488
(802) 868-6255 / (802) 868-2559
abenakination.com
In 2015, the Abenaki Tribal Council established the Maquam Bay of Missisquoi (MBM), whose aim was to improve the socio-economic and educational conditions of community members. The MBM (a non-profit organization) became the “social service” arm of the community, while the Tribal Council pursued a political agenda which could lead to formal State and Federal Recognition with appropriate rights, privileges, and dignities.
Abenaki | Nulhegan Band
The mission of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation is to strengthen our government; to build community, and ensure sustainability; to protect customs and traditions; and to revive culture and celebrate heritage while sharing it with those around them N’dakinna (their homeland) is nestled among the lakes, rivers, and forests of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.
Abenaki | Elnu Band
El-Nu is a small Abenaki tribe- or what some might call an Abenaki band, which has taken a different path from the average modern tribe or band. Although you may occasionally see some of them at powwows or doing lectures and demonstrations on Abenaki Culture, they devote most their time to the historical or living history aspects of Wabanaki culture.
Abenaki | Koasek Band
The Koasek Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation trace their origin back over 180 years. The Abenaki Nation has inhabited our land for over 10,000 years. Their homeland is N’dakinna, which incorporates Eastern Canada and what are now known as the New England States. The Ko'asek (pronounced Co'wasuck) Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation, is committed to advancing knowledge and understanding of Native culture in traditional ways regarding their ancient territory.
Abenaki Art Association
The Vermont Abenaki Artists Association embodies the history, culture, and art of the Abenaki people. While many artists and performers preserve and pass down the traditional art of their ancestors, others create contemporary artistic expressions that are informed by tradition.
Advancing Racial Equity in Schools Toolkit
Vermont-NEA Racial Justice Task Force
The Vermont-NEA Racial Justice Task Force was established in 2015 as a response to the National Education Association’s initiative to eradicate institutional racism in our nation’s public schools. The Task Force is composed of representatives of Vermont’s education agencies, legislators and government agency representatives, school employees, parents, and students from around the state. Vermont-NEA’s task force decided that a virtual toolkit, “Advancing Racial Equity Vermont’s Public Schools” would be the best way to reach every school district in the state. The toolkit includes information and resources for staff, administrators, and students. Within the toolkit is a 30-minute instructional film designed for school staff to view at in-service or staff meetings. Other components include: reading lists, for students and adults; links to organizations in Vermont; links to national organizations; and, sections for students, educators, and administrators.
American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont (ACLU-VT)
The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont is dedicated to advancing the civil rights and civil liberties of all Vermonters. Issues they work to advance include criminal justice reform, immigrant's rights, racial justice, police accountability, and police reform.
Black Lives Matter of Greater Burlington
Black Lives Matter of Greater Burlington (BLMGB) is an unofficial chapter of the national and global #BlackLivesMatter movement. Greater Burlington is loosely defined as north to Milton, east to Jericho, south to Richmond, and west to Burlington. Their vision is to see the greater Burlington area transformed into a place where all Black people thrive bodily, socially, and economically. Their mission is to organize poor Black folk and their natural allies, cultivate the peoples’ culture, and model the beloved community in which they want to exist to achieve our collective liberation.
Black Lives Matter Vermont
Black Lives Matter Vermont endeavors to support the strategic eradication of systemic racism in Vermont. Black Lives Matter affirms the lives of Black queer and trans folks, disabled folks, black-undocumented folks, folks with records, women and all Black lives along the gender spectrum. It centers those that have been marginalized within Black liberation movements. It is a tactic to (re)build the Black liberation movement.
Clemmons Family Farm
Charlotte, Vermont
clemmonsfamilyfarm.org
The Farm has a 3 part mission: To preserve the 148 acre historic Clemmons family farm in Vermont as a critical African-American owned land asset and cultural heritage resource. The farm is one of the 0.4% of farms in the US that remain African-American owned land is EQUITY; To empower a growing network of Vermont’s Black artists and culture bearers with opportunities for professional development, advocacy, visibility, network king, paid engagements, collective healing, and a safe haven for creativity that helps them to thrive; To build a loving multicultural community around African-American/African diaspora history, arts and culture.
Community Voices for Immigrant Rights
facebook.com/pg/CVIRBurlington
Community Voices for Immigrant Rights is a grassroots community organization based in Burlington, VT working to fight for immigrant rights in support of and collaboration with immigrant-led groups.
Governor's Workforce Equity & Diversity Council (GWEDC)
(802) 522-6635
humanresources.vermont.gov/labor-relations/equal-opportunity/governors-workforce-equity-and-diversity-council
The Council leads Vermont state government's efforts in the areas of Equal Employment and Diversity by acting as a consultant and advisor to the Commissioner of Human Resources and the Secretary of Administration. The mission of the GWEDC calls for a greater focus on supporting a workplace culture that promotes equitable treatment for all, and one that embraces the true value workplace diversity offers.
I Am a Vermonter
https://www.iamavermonter.org/
IAMAVERMONTER.ORG is a unique resource for persons of color relocating to Vermont for school, work, or retirement.
JAG Productions
jagproductionsvt.com
Based in White River Junction, JAG Productions was formed with the mission to produce classic and contemporary African-American theatre; to serve as an incubator of new work that excites broad intellectual engagement; and thereby, to catalyze compassion, empathy, love, and community through shared understandings of the humankind through the lens of the African-American experience.
In each production they are committed to the following:
Selecting excellent work
Attracting exceptional, diverse actors to the Upper Valley
Engaging and shifting the community
Justice For All
Justice For All’s mission is to pursue racial justice within Vermont’s criminal justice system and beyond through advocacy, education, and relationship-building. Their work focuses on research, community outreach and public policy, all working to dismantle systemic racism in Vermont and beyond.
Lost River Racial Justice
Based in Brattleboro, VT, Lost River Racial Justice is dedicated to small town and rural multiracial organizing to dismantle white-supremacy and transfer power and resources to people of color communities. They are an all-white organizing group and an affiliate of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ).They recognize the important role white folks have in educating our/themselves and taking action to end racism and work towards liberation for all people. Living in a predominantly white community and a predominantly white state it is imperative for us to build relationships within white communities that use our collective power and privilege to support and uplift people of color organizing and people of color communities, voices, and experiences.
Loving Day Vermont
facebook.com/pg/lovingdayvermont
Loving Day Vermont celebrates the legalization of interracial marriage, diversity and community. Loving Day is a global network of events commemorating the anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, the 1967 landmark Supreme Court decision that declared all laws against interracial marriage in the United States unconstitutional. Loving Day's mission is to fight racial prejudice through education and build multicultural community (for more information, please visit www.lovingday.org).
Migrant Justice
Migrant Justice’s mission is to build the voice, capacity, and power of the farmworker community and engage community partners to organize for economic justice and human rights. They gather the farmworker community to discuss and analyze shared problems and to envision collective solutions. Through this ongoing investment in leadership development, members deepen skills in community education and organizing for long-term systemic change. Migrant Justice members have defined community problems as a denial of rights and dignity and have prioritized building a movement to secure fundamental human rights to: 1) Dignified work and quality housing; 2) Freedom of movement and access to transportation; 3) Freedom from discrimination; 4) Access to health care.
UVM Mosaic Center for Students of Color
802-656-3819
uvm.edu/mcsc
The Mosaic Center for Students of Color (MCSC) fully supports the holistic development of African, Latino(a), Asian, Native American, Multiracial and New American students so that as confident students of color they attain their goals for academic achievement, personal growth, identity formation, and cultural development. You will find information on our many programs and activities.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Rutland Area NAACP
naacprutland.org
Champlain Area NAACP
champlainareanaacp.wixsite.com/champlain-area-naacp
Windham Area NAACP
windhamnaacp.org
Founded in 1909 and instrumental in the civil rights movement, NAACP's mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.
Principal objectives of the Association:
To ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all citizens
To achieve equality of rights and eliminate race prejudice among the citizens of the United States
To remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes
To seek enactment and enforcement of federal, state, and local laws securing civil rights
To inform the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination and to seek its elimination
To educate persons as to their constitutional rights and to take all lawful action to secure the exercise thereof, and to take any other lawful action in furtherance of these objectives, consistent with the NAACP's Articles of Incorporation and this Constitution.
Peace and Justice Center’s Racial Justice Program
60 Lake Street, Suite 1C
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 863-2345
The Racial Justice Programs seek to spread awareness about the inequity people of color face in Vermont and to build understanding and collaborations to undo racism. The Programs also focus on helping those who experience white privilege meaningfully engage in racial justice work. They challenge the practices and behaviors that support white supremacy culture while offering support and programming specific to those most harmed by oppression. Educational programs include workshops, discussion groups, films, and other presentations offered to the public around the state. They also partner with groups such as schools, colleges, faith-based institutions, and businesses. They offer infrastructure support groups led by people of color. They have structures in place that lend support to other groups doing racial justice work, especially those lead by POC. This includes free meeting space for these groups, priority promotional support, and reduced or free educational programming. They offer our programs as public events around Vermont.
Racial Equity Alliance of Lamoille
REALamoilleVT
REAL envisions a community that embodies inclusion, equity and justice as values central to our identity. They are committed to building a safe community, where all people experience dignity and respect, and all are welcome with kindness and belonging.
The Root Social Justice Center
28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301
802.451.0509
therootsjc.org
The Root Social Justice Center is a Vermont-based, People of Color-led nonprofit organization focused on racial justice organizing, community advocacy, and relationship-building programming. The Center provides a physically and financially accessible space in Southern Vermont for social justice groups to meet AND is a hub for racial justice organizing. The Root prioritizes People of Color leadership and shifting resources to People of Color-led racial justice work. They operate collectively to sustain a space that strives to be free of oppression, harm, and injustice.
Showing Up for Racial Justice
SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals organizing White people for racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves White people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability. They work to connect people across the country while supporting and collaborating with local and national racial justice organizing efforts. SURJ provides a space to build relationships, skills and political analysis to act for change.
Health Equity Action Team | Vermont Department of Health
108 Cherry St., PO Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402
(802) 863-7344
healthvermont.gov/about-us/our-vision-mission/health-equity
Somali Bantu Community Association of Vermont
325 Main Street, Suite 8
Winooski, VT 05404
(802) 658-2683
somalibantuvermont.org
Provides education and life-skills programs, interpreters, and English tutoring programs.
Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs
(802) 828-3540
vcnaa.vermont.gov
The Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs is charged by law to recognize the historic and cultural contributions of Native Americans in Vermont, to protect and strengthen Native American heritage, and to address needs in state policy, programs, and actions. The Commission provides technical assistance on the application process for state recognition of Native American Indian tribes and reviews the documentation of applicants. The Commission develops policies and programs to benefit Vermont's Native American Indian population.
Education Justice Coalition of Vermont
The Education Justice Coalition of Vermont is a statewide coalition led by a multicultural and multigenerational group including: people of color from various racial and ethnic groups; anti-poverty, disability rights advocates; and LGBTQIA advocates. The coalition includes elders, students, parents, educators, and organizations. They envision collective liberation for all people and a State in which the Indigenous, Black, People of Color, Disability, immigrant, and LGBTQIA peoples can thrive in a culture of belonging that is free of bias, discrimination, and oppression. They promote justice for all students in the Vermont education system through organizing, building community power, and developing and promoting Ethnic studies, Disability studies, Native American Studies, and LGBTQIA curriculum and Pedagogy.
Vermont Human Rights Commission
14-16 Baldwin Street
Montpelier, VT 05633-6301
(802) 828-1625 / 800-416-2010
hrc.vermont.gov
The Vermont Human Rights Commission can help with discrimination in housing, stores, business, offices, schools, government, and state employment. Help is provided through answering questions about civil rights, making referrals, helping people reach agreements, investigating discrimination complaints, and bringing lawsuits. All services are free.
Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity
18 Town Crier Drive
Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 254-2972
vermontpartnership.org/
A division of ALANA Community Organization, the Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity provides assistance, support, and advocacy related to inclusion, diversity, and equity in the public sphere. They work to strengthen inclusive and equitable practices to eliminate prejudice and discrimination of all kinds. Programs and services include:
Cultural Enrichment Programs:
- Engaging students with cultural enrichment programs that helps them understand and practice inclusive and equitable behaviors
- Increasing educator awareness to and skills for teaching more culturally diverse classroom
- Providing individuals considering relocation to Vermont with testimonials of Vermonters of color
- Enhancing human resource department capacity to recruit a more diverse workforce
- Promoting civic engagement by Vermonters of color (Resolve to get involved!)
Vermont African American Heritage Trail
- Promoting cultural tourism
- Establishing Vermont as a desirable destination for tourists, convention goers, college students, entrepreneurs, and recreationalists of color
- Teaching Vermont students and families about Vermont’s African American history
Vermont Vision for a Multicultural Future
- Increasing the number of organizations or agencies that employ inclusive and equitable business practices
Strengthening inclusive and equitable business practices across multiple sectors (law enforcement, media, municipal government, state government, tourism, education, ...)
Vermont Office of Racial Equity and Vermont Racial Equity Advisory Panel
The state's goal is to make equity an intentional part of its work in all sectors. The Racial Equity Advisory Panel and the Office of Racial Equity are charged with carrying out this mandate.
Office of Racial Equity
racialequity.vermont.gov/about-us/executive-director-racial-equity
The Office works with local, state, federal, and non-profit partners to advance equity in all areas of life in Vermont. Staff works with state agencies to identify and address systemic racial disparities, ensure that equity goals and objectives are incorporated throughout the State's operations, and provide strategic and policy guidance on equity issues.
Racial Equity Advisory Panel
racialequity.vermont.gov/advisory-panel
The Racial Equity Advisory Panel works with the Executive Director of Racial Equity to implement reforms, advises the Executive Director to ensure ongoing compliance with the purpose of the legislation, advises the Governor on strategies for remediating systemic racial disparities in statewide systems of government, and reports progress to the Legislature.
Vermont Racial Justice Alliance
Richard Kemp Center, 70 S. Winooski Ave., Unit 240, Burlington, VT 05401
The Vermont Racial Justice Alliance is under the leadership of a people-of-color led Steering Committee and assisted by a network of individuals and organizations across Vermont. They advocate for the implementation of State and local policy with of their collective strength, voice and leadership. They provide a variety of community forums, panels and lectures to enable community members to gain an understanding of the issues and provide input and perspective on important related policies. Their focus is on mitigating the direct impact and dismantling the root (systemic) origins of racism in Vermont. They are placing a priority on policies that generally affect change across a broad spectrum, including housing, education, employment, health services and economic development and the criminal justice system. Their mission is to secure sustainable power, ensure agency and provide security for American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS), while embracing their history and preserving their culture.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by authors and members of the organizations listed are not necessarily those of VCW. The presence of any individual or organization on this list should not be considered an endorsement by VCW.