Community

Mercy Connections, a Chittenden County (Vermont) nonprofit, offers a safe and welcoming place where all are invited to learn, grow, and make positive changes. Mercy Connections’ classes and programs help people identify and achieve their own goals within community support.

The Vermont Community Leadership Training builds the skills, knowledge, and confidence that enables participants to become effective advocates/agents of positive change. Through their participation in the eleven-week program, individuals gain confidence and find their voice to engage in community issues affecting themselves and their families.

From VICII:

In October 2021, the Louis Brandeis Center at the University of Vermont made a complaint against the University alleging that the University was not protecting Jewish students against anti-Semitic discrimination, harassment, and assaults. After an investigation conducted by the University and President Suresh Garimella, the President defended the University against the allegations of anti-Semitism.

These allegations of anti-Semitism did not die. With the Complaint, demands have been made, among others, that “UVM must adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Anti-Semitism.” The Louis Brandeis Center also asked The University of Vermont to issue a statement denouncing anti-Semitism in all its forms and recognizing that Zionism is a key component of Jewish identity for many students at UVM.”

For more information: vicii.org

From VICII:

Join VICII, the Vermont Institute of Community and International Involvement, to discuss the status of the long-awaited project to build the Southern Connector Highway, with Community Leader Steve Goodkind. Steve is a member of the Pine Street Coalition currently involved in litigation about the design of the connector.

The controversial project in progress since the eighties will recommence soon with a new design that will make the Southern connector run along our Lake and end at the low-income and minority neighborhood of the King Street community.

Steve Goodkind is a Civil Engineer and a community activist. He was the Project Director of the Southern Connector under Mayors Bernie Sanders and Peter Clavelle. He served as the Director of Public Works with Mayors Brownell and Weinberger.

For more information: vicii.org

The Ramble is a free, annual event, celebrating the creativity and community of Burlington’s Old North End, held on the last Saturday in July.

The Ramble is a grassroots arts festival celebrating the unequivocally creative culture of The Old North End community, where the most racially and economically diverse population of Vermont densely resides with the highest concentration of Burlington’s working artists.

From Mission Bazaar:

Mission Bazaar hosts live musicians on Saturday, July 30 for the Old North End Ramble. We start with Tom Pearo, who will bestow blessings to help you start your afternoon. At 1:30pm, don’t be fooled by the name Happy Spangler, who will bring you on a roller coaster of emotions as you move your body. Then at 3pm Mickey Western will play his legendary tales of lives lost and found on the dusty trail. Finally, Caudia Maria will make her Burlington debut, 'tis a mystery that will be revealed. Everything subject to change!!! All this with food trucks, a shrimp boil, tarot readings, vendors, ping pong, and so much more.