On August 11, 2025, hundreds of community builders from across the state came together with over 95 presenters and panelists to gain skills and build connections. The day included a diverse range of topics designed to support and connect community builders in working together and getting things done, even when times are challenging and resources are limited. There were workshops, panels, networking sessions, and participation pathways for participants to follow: Building Community Leadership and Capacity; Using Arts and Culture to Create Community and Solve Problems; From Idea to Action; and Navigating Change and Uncertainty.
We also presented the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s 2025 Community Leadership Award to Vermont’s Long-Term Recovery Groups, and closed with Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
Here’s a video of the Summit opening which includes the Leadership Award presentation and the keynote by Ferene Paris of All Heart Inspirations:
- Summit Report
- Program (agenda, session descriptions, speakers, and sponsors)
- Speaker Bios
- Participant List
- Photo Album
- Livestream of the Opening Session – provided by ORCA Media
- W3. Facilitation 101 – Zoom session recording
- P6. Developing a Community Trust Organization – Zoom session recording
And here are some slides and resources shared by Summit presenters and panelists:
- W1. Project Management 101: From Vision to Planning – Jenna Lapachinski
- W5. Wastewater Solutions for Rural Communities
- W7. Including Future Leaders: How to Make Space for Youth Leadership – Brianne Smith, Maya Russel, Harmony Devoe
- W10. How to be the Village: Mentoring, Volunteering, Strengthening Communities
- W13. Finding “Both/And” Solutions to Your Community’s Hard Questions – Susan Clark
- P5. Vermont’s Rural Identities and Future Growth
- P13. Building Community Capacity: Nonprofit Collaboration for Greater Impact – from Sarah Henshaw, Leaves of Change
- N2. Networking: BYOI – Connecting with Resource Leaders to Discuss YOUR Idea
- USDA Rural Development:
- Northern Border Regional Commission funding programs:
The VT 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. We present the award to highlight the work of community heroes who epitomize the best spirit of local community service, who are volunteers — not paid employees or elected officials — and whose work has made their community a better place.
2025 Community Leadership Award: Vermont’s Long Term Recovery Groups
The 2025 Vermont Community Leadership Award was presented to Vermont’s Long Term Recovery Groups (LTRGs) at the 6th annual VT Community Leadership Summit on August 11, 2025. 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 uniting communities, coordinating volunteers, sharing critical information, and securing resources to meet the unmet needs of Vermonters rebuilding their lives after disaster.
Vermont’s LTRGs include: Barre Up, Black River Good Neighbor Services (BRGNS), 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), and Upper Valley Strong.
It’s an honor to recognize these amazing organizations for the years of work they have done to support Vermonters impacted by devastating flooding events. Here’s a video recorded by Senator Peter Welch shown at the Summit congratulating the LTRG’s on their award and thanking them for all they are doing for communities across the state.
Platinum
- Community National Bank
- EastRise Credit Union
- Front Porch Forum
- National Life Group
- Vermont Community Foundation
Gold
- 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
- The Alchemist and The Alchemist Foundation
- 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
In Kind
- Ben & Jerry’s
- Cabot Creamery
- ORCA Media
- VANCRO Integrative Interpreting Services
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
- Intervale Center
- 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, and 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 Corporation
- 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