Register Today!

Registration is open for VCRD’s 6th Community Leadership Summit

August 11, 2025 | 9am-4pm | Vermont State University Randolph

Register | Agenda with Workshop Descriptions

On August 11th, join hundreds of community builders from across the state to gain skills and cultivate connections for a vibrant future. This event is a chance to explore how we can work together to get things done, even when times are tough and resources are limited. Through workshops, panels, group discussions, and networking, participants will gain useful ideas, make connections, and hear inspiring success stories and tips.

The Summit will offer a diverse range of topics tailored to support and connect community builders, such as: supporting our neighbors, improving rural services, keeping volunteers and staff, getting involved in community, strengthening leadership skills, growing the local economy, and more. Attendees can participate in any sessions of interest to them or follow optional Participation Pathways:

  • Community Leadership Skills
  • Arts and Culture: Creating Community, Solving Problems
  • From Idea to Action
  • Navigating Change and Uncertainty

All who care about their community and the future of our state are welcome and encouraged to attend!

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Denise at [email protected].

Financial Sponsors

Platinum

  

 

Community National Bank

EastRise Credit Union

Front Porch Forum

National Life Group

Vermont Community Foundation

Gold

The Alchemist and The Alchemist Foundation

Efficiency Vermont

Killington Resort

Northfield Savings Bank

Passumpsic Bank

UVM Office of Engagement / Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships

Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development

Silver

Evernorth

Greater Burlington Industrial Corp (GBIC)

King Arthur Flour

Lawson’s Finest Liquids

Mascoma Bank

Pomerleau Real Estate

Preservation Trust of Vermont

Rural Development Corporations (RDC’s) of Vermont

Tiny Seed Project

Union Mutual of VT

VELCO

Vermont Arts Council

Vermont Economic Development Authority

Vermont Humanities

Vermont League of Cities & Towns

Vermont State University

Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund

Vermont Treasurer’s Office

Weston and Samson

White + Burke Real Estate Advisors

Outreach Sponsors

We appreciate the support of our outreach sponsors in sharing information about the Summit through their networks!

Action Circles
Agency of Education Field Memo
Alchemist Foundation
Bennington County Regional Commission
Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation
Burlington Community Justice Center
Capstone Community Action
Center for an Agricultural Economy
Center for Women in Enterprise
Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation
Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission
Chamber and Economic
Development of the Rutland Region
Champlain Area NAACP
Common Good VT
CROs
Department of Economic Development
Department of Housing and Community Development
Dept. of Children & Families
Energy Action Network
Essex Westford School District
Governors Institutes of VT
Green Mountain Economic Development
Lake Champlain Chamber (Leadership Champlain & Burlington Young Professionals)
Lake Champlain Islands Economic Development Corporation
Lake Hortonia Community Trust, Sud/Hub Initiative
Lamoille Economic Development Corporation, Lamoille Chamber of Commerce
Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships
Local Motion
Logic Building Systems
Mentor VT
Mount Ascutney Regional Commission
NEK Collaborative
NEK Young Professional Network
NOFA-VT
Northern Forest Center
Office of Racial Equity
Preservation Trust of Vermont
Rutland Regional Planning Commission
Shelburne Farms, VT Farm to School and Early Childhood Network
Slow Democracy
Southern Vermont Young Professionals
Springfield Regional Development Corporation
State Youth Council
The Intervale
the Town of Brandon
the Town of Bridport
TreBar Consulting
Two Rivers – Ottauquechee Regional Commission
United Ways of VT, VT 211
UVM Extension 4-H Program
UVM Urban & Community Forestry Program
VOREC
VT 250th Commission
VT Arts Council / VT Creative Network
VT Association of Conservation Districts
VT Center for Independent Living
VT Chamber of Commerce and VT Futures Project
VT Commission on Women
VT Community Development Association
VT Community Foundation
VT Community Loan Fund
VT Conservation Voters
VT Energy Education Program – Leadership Program
VT Green Building Network
VT Housing Finance Agency
VT Law & Graduate School
VT Leadership Institute at the Snelling Center for Government
VT League of Cities and Towns
VT Libraries Association
VT Natural Resources Council, VT Energy & Climate Action Network, VT Conservation Voters
VT Prosperity Project
VT Racial Justice Alliance
VT School Boards Association
VT Small Business Development Center
VT State Colleges
VT Student Assistance Corportation
VT Sustainable Jobs Fund, VT Farm to Plate Network, and DeltaClimeVT
VT Trails and Greenways Council
VT Works for Women
UP for Learning
Windham Regional Planning Commission

VCRD’s annual Summits convene Vermonters for cooperative goal-setting around key rural priorities and help leaders build skills, share opportunities, and network. We have been hosting a wide variety of Summits since 1999, relating to climate change, Vermont’s working lands, the future of Vermont, the digital economy, and more. Most recently, we’ve hosted a yearly Vermont Community Leadership Summit where hundreds of people come together to engage with each other, make new connections, build skills, talk through challenges, celebrate successes, and think proactively about the future. Find out more about each of our Summits by clicking through the menu on the left. Our most recent Summit – the 5th Vermont Community Leadership Summit – was held in August 2024. See below for a video highlighting that event.