The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) announced the recipient of the Vermont Community Leadership Award at its 2025 Vermont Community Leadership Summit on August 11 at the Vermont State University Randolph Campus where hundreds of community leaders from across the state gathered to share skills, connect, and build a stronger Vermont together.

The Vermont Community Leadership Award is presented each year to celebrate Vermonters who exemplify “dedication, integrity and honorable service to community and to rural Vermont,” and who have had a “transformational” effect on their communities. VCRD presents the award to highlight the work of community heroes who epitomize the best spirit of local community service, who volunteer their time, and who have made their community better.

The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Vermont Community Leadership Award: Vermont’s Long Term Recovery Groups (LTRGs) and the many dedicated volunteers who rose to support their communities during the catastrophic floods of 2023 and 2024. This award was presented yesterday at VCRD’s 6th Community Leadership Summit

Born out of urgent need, the Long Term Recovery Groups united local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, government partners, and businesses to assist flood-impacted individuals and families. These groups have played an essential role in coordinating volunteers, sharing critical information, and securing resources to meet the unmet needs of Vermonters rebuilding their lives after disaster.

“They epitomize the very best of community service,” said Shannon Barsotti, Chair of the Board of Directors of VCRD. “Their action-oriented, collaborative approach reflects the heart of Vermont – people helping people. Through their tireless efforts, they’ve brought hope and support to thousands when it mattered most.”

VCRD is honored to recognize the following Long Term Recovery Groups as recipients of the 2025 Community Leadership Award:

  • Barre Up

  • Community Resilience for the Waterbury Area (CreW)

  • Helping Our People in Emergency Coalition (HOPE)

  • Kingdom United Resilience and Recovery Effort (kuRRve)

  • Lamoille Area Recovery Network (LeARN)

  • Montpelier Disaster Recovery Network (MoDRN)

  • Mountain Town LTRG

  • Recovery After Floods Team (RAFT)

  • Rutland Regional Disaster Committee (RRDC)

  • Upper Valley Strong

  • Black River Good Neighbor Services (BRGNS)

VCRD’s Board and Staff enthusiastically thank Vermont’s LTRGs for their tremendous community leadership and celebrate all of their skills, talents, and dedication.

Past Recipients of the Vermont Community Leadership Award:

  • 2024 – Charlie Hancock, Montgomery
  • 2023 – Vermont Declaration of Inclusion team: Norm Cohen, Bob Harnish, Barbara Noyes Pulling, and Al Wakefield
  • 2022 – Pam Parsons, Richford
  • 2020 – Mike Strait, Island Pond and Des Hertz, Burke Hollow
  • 2019 – Emily McClure, Craftsbury
  • 2018 – Shannon Barsotti, Pownal
  • 2015 – St. Albans Community Leadership: Liz Gamache, Dominic Cloud, Emerson and Suzanne Lynn, Warren Hamm
  • 2013 – Orly Munzing, Strolling of the Heifers, Brattleboro
  • 2012 – Tara Kelley/Mark Foley/Paul Gallo/Mike Smith, Rutland Creative Economy
  • 2010 – Marcia and Al Perry, Richford
  • 2009 – The Center for an Agricultural Economy, Hardwick
  • 2008 – Robert McBride, Richard Ewald, Bellows Falls
  • 2007 – Monica Greene, Alburgh
  • 2006 – Edgar May, Springfield

Past Recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award:

  • 2022 – Brenda Torpy & Sarah Carpenter
  • 2019 – Gus Seelig
  • 2018 – Molly and Hank Lambert
  • 2017 – Paul Bruhn
  • 2016 – Rick Davis
  • 2015 – John Ewing