The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) is inviting all Vermonters thinking about their community and the future of our state to attend the 2023 Vermont Community Leadership Summit on Tuesday, August 15 at Vermont State University Randolph Campus hosted by the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD). Register now at https://www.vtrural.org/summit/.

Designed in partnership with a diverse planning committee of experts throughout Vermont, the 2023 Vermont Community Leadership Summit agenda is structured to strengthen skills, capacity, and opportunities for the future for dedicated community builders from across the State, along with people from non-profit, business, and government sectors.

The Summit will be structured into three tracks to help guide participants:

  • Skill Up!: Practical skills for community builders including facilitation, communications and decision-making processes
  • Get it Done: Project design, budgeting, community engagement and all the skills you need to take your project/idea to the finish
  • What’s Next? Panels and discussions about Vermont’s future

Speakers and participants will represent the full diversity of Vermont community members and leaders including youth, municipal leaders, community organizers and volunteers, people with lived experience in critical challenges facing our communities, experts and technical assistance providers, regional leaders, and more.

“The Community Leadership Summit is a rejuvenating and forward-looking day that celebrates the great work happening around Vermont at the local and regional level, provides skills and connections to help overcome challenges, and builds connections that help advance projects in towns across the state,” said VCRD Executive Director Brian Lowe. “Our collective success depends on local volunteers and leaders stepping forward to support their towns on projects that matter for the future.”

This will be VCRD’s fourth Community Leadership Summit – each year bringing over 500 attendees to explore new ways to support local leadership and democracy in Vermont.

Planning Committee members included representatives from the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, Community Workshop LLC, the Department of Housing & Conservation, the Office of Racial Equity, the Springfield Area Regional Development Corporation, USDA Rural Development, Town of Bennington, Town of Brandon, Town of Richford, the Vermont Community Broadband Board, the Vermont Community Foundation, the Vermont Energy Education Program, the Vermont Humanities Council, the Vermont Professionals of Color, and VSECU.

Registration is $50 per person, with options available on the registration website for partial or no payment to register, if needed, by using promo code “PARTIAL” (for $25) or “FRIEND” (for no cost) at checkout. This is an event that is meant to be accessible to all without financial barriers. The day includes lunch and a Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Party to close.

The generous event sponsors include The Alchemist, Ben & Jerry’s, Cabot Creamery, Community National Bank, Evernorth, Foley Distributing, Front Porch Forum, Killington Resort, National Life Group Foundation, Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund, Preservation Trust of Vermont, Seventh Generation, UVM Office of Engagement, Union Mutual, Vermont Community Foundation, Vermont Economic Development Authority, Vermont Electric Power Company, and VSECU.

To become a sponsor, reach out to Brian Lowe at [email protected]

Register now at https://www.vtrural.org/summit/

For other questions or more information, please visit our website at https://www.vtrural.org/summit/ or by contacting (802) 223-6091 or [email protected].