Social Justice

Service Rendered: Straight Talk Vermont - Elaine Wang 08/12/2022

Host Bruce Wilson interviews Elaine Wang, City Manager of Winooski.

Congressman Peter Welch: Roundtable Discussion on Burn Pits and the Honoring Our PACT Act 08/11/2022

From the Office of Peter Welch:

Rep. Welch hosts a roundtable discussion to reflect on the passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act. Rep. Welch will speak with veterans and family members personally impacted by burn pit exposure about the importance of this long awaited legislation.

Abolish Slavery VT Launch 2.0 08/11/2022

From VIA and VTRJA:

After the Primary elections are over VIA and our partner Vermont Racial Justice Alliance are gearing up our Prop 2 campaign to abolish slavery, no exceptions.

This virtual event features a research report reminding us of the history of the Vermont constitution and slavery, testimonies from those who have pledged to vote in favor of Prop 2, and inspiration to motivate you to see this through to the finish line in November!

The Juxtaposition: Walk In Power 08/11/2022

From the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

A program about issues affecting Black Folks and Black Folks effecting change.

The struggles and advances of Black folks throughout our national history of slavery and its current legacy have infused in our DNA an indisputable resilience. Realizing the untapped power that exists in us is a life altering awakening. It is liberating, exhilarating and infectious. It is our challenge to walk in this power and cultivate it in others. We’re joined today by a community member who walks in power.

Guests: Rajnii Eddins, Spoken Word Poet/Emcee and Teaching Artist; Christine Hughes, Director of the Richard Kemp Center

Originally from Seattle Washington, Spoken Word Poet/Emcee and Teaching Artist Rajnii Eddins has been engaging diverse community audiences for over 27 years. He was the youngest member of the Afrikan American Writers Alliance at age 11 and has been actively sharing with youth and community in Vermont since 2010.

Christine co-founded Uncommon Alliance, the first grassroots, local effort to initiate race data collection with the local police department. She is the Principal of New SeasonsVT and the Director of CALEOVT. She served as the first Chair of the Racial Disparities in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System Advisory Panel. Christine also created a Workforce Development program at the Burlington CJC as a contractor for the state for 12 years. Most recently she served as Senior Employment Consultant for Hireability and VABIR over the past four years.

VCRD - Demographic Change in Vermont: Excerpt from Xusana Davis 08/10/2022

From VCRD:

Over 450 local leaders working to improve life in their communities attend the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s 3rd VT Community Leadership Summit.

An excerpt from Xusana Davis's presentation and breakout group on demographic change in Vermont.

Vermont Community Leadership Summit 2022 08/10/2022

From the Vermont Council on Rural Development:

Over 450 local leaders working to improve life in their communities attend the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s 3rd VT Community Leadership Summit.

Conference includes:
Parwinder Grewal, President, Vermont State University
Julie Moore, VCRD Board Chair
Brian Lowe, VCRD Executive Director
Rajnii Eddins, Poet, Emcee & Teaching Artist
Community Spark Stories
Presentation of VCRD Leadership Awards

Why Nagasaki? with Marc Estrin 08/09/2022

From the organizers:

Marc is the author of "Insect Dreams: The Half Life of Gregor Samsa." The book is Marc's variation of the life of Gregor Samsa, Kafka's cockroach-turned-human. In Marc's tale, Gregor circulates a petition among its nuclear scientists to call off the Manhattan Project...

Come hear WHAT HAPPENS and add your thoughts… it adds to the probable "why" of Nagasaki.

WILPF Conversation with Prison Reform Activists from Vermont and Beyond 08/08/2022

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom holds a special session on ending mass incarceration and the death penalty with a focus on prison reform in Vermont.

More info: wilpf.org

Congressman Peter Welch: Reproductive Rights Roundtable 08/05/2022

From the Office of Peter Welch:

Rep. Welch joins abortion care providers from Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, UVM Medical Center, and a representative from Medical Students for Choice to learn how Vermont providers are preparing for an influx of patients from other states seeking abortion care in Vermont, following the recent Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The group discusses actions Congress is taking to codify reproductive rights nationwide.

Vermont Language Justice Project - VLJP: Professional Licensing Through the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation - Swahili 08/03/2022

VLJP presents information on how to gain professional licensing through the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation

For more info on the VLJP: vtlanguagejustice.org

To view all VLJP videos: youtube.com/channel/UC3zjPpeFnXqvESr1y3d4DvQ

Featured Story

CCTV Center for Media & Democracy Participates in Democracy Day

CCTV Center for Media and Democracy on September 13 at 1 p.m. hosts a panel of local community thought leaders on the state of local democracy and their experiences navigating the policital system and working for social and political change. Participating panelists include: Sandy Baird, activist and lawyer; CD Mattison, DNC delegate and political campaigner; Ali Dieng, Former Burlington City Councilor and New American Leader; Pelin Kohn, VT League of Women Voters. This program and the articles below are part of U.S. Democracy Day, a nationwide collaborative on Sept. 15, the International Day of Democracy, in which news organizations cover how democracy works and the threats it faces. To learn more, visit usdemocracyday.org.