NEK Day at the Statehouse '24

Friday, January 26th, 9-10:30am | Register→ | Google Calendar event→

Our fifth annual NEK Day at the Statehouse event is shaping up to be our most pressing ever. Though clear of the shadow of Covid-19, the NEK has been racked by two historic floods and ever-rising housing complications. Community building and grassroot action networks have shown themselves to be powerful answers to the problems that are to come. Our future will be defined the same way that our region’s past has; by community organization and regional collaboration.

The NEK Collaborative is a convening organization that acts as a unified voice for the NEK. We listen and talk to individuals and organizations all over the Kingdom to determine what's important to you and what challenges you face. We're committed to promoting civic and civil engagement across our region by connecting NEK residents with our representatives in Montpelier whenever possible. It is at NEK Day at the Statehouse that this work, and your worries, meet together with our political representatives to make sure we are all cooperating, bottom to top, with the region’s interests in mind.

This year, we will be featuring speakers speaking to our five identified areas of priority:

• Housing

• Community Building and Grassroots Networks

• Flood Recovery and Resilience

• Infrastructure- transportation, the creative economy, and broadband

• Workforce Development

Housing

According to North Country Hospital’s Community Health 2021 Needs Assessment, affordable housing and living-wage employment were the Northeast Kingdom’s two most region-defining needs. This has been the case for some time- and is not a new issue for the old residents of the NEK. As with any issue so complex, answers to housing prices, housing affordability, rental rates and houselessness appear and change throughout the years.

Come to NEK Day 2024 ready to share how you or your community have been personally affected by housing or housing related programs in the last few years; as well as ready to hear what regional experts and officials have to say about the issues as a whole.

Community Building & Grassroots Networks

The communities of the Northeast Kingdom can’t be treated just the same as any other. With the most rural and most aged population of Vermont, citizens of the Northeast Kingdom need to look further abroad than their own shoes when making sustainable decisions. In the face of floods and community fragmentation, newly-begun organizations such as Hardwick’s Civic Standard or the NEK Collaborative’s partner NEK Organizing have shown remarkable plasticity and fortitude of response to social tension and climate crises. Volunteers offering manual labor to help regional neighbors recover from flood devastation, as well as assistance in navigating difficult FEMA paperwork, steered the Northeast Kingdom towards a speedy and mediated recovery. The community mobility that NEKO exemplified in 2023 could only be possible where regionally-minded communal sentiment was made to thrive; and the community dinners, dance nights, poetry clubs and fundraisers headed by the likes of the Civic Standard should inspire us to pursue more programs such as those here seen. They have proven themselves to be the shaping forces of our region.

Flood Recovery & Resilience

How can we better prepare for climatological disasters down the road, knowing they are likely to worsen in the coming years? The floods that struck in July, August and December of 2023 are but a sign of things to come. Using federal cash, Vermont has made big investments in new culverts and bridges, flood-proofing buildings, filling in basements, and property buyouts to restore floodplains. It is only through proper communication and collaboration with communities and locals that regional decision makers may be well-guided in future-proofing the Kingdom. Infrastructure and community response readiness must be watched closely and bolstered if our region is to thrive in the coming future. Join us in helping to establish a mutual understanding between the region’s communities and their representatives.

Infrastructure - Transportation, Creative economy and Broadband

With the Northeast Kingdom receiving international recognition for its cuisine and natural beauty in 2023 (see Jasper Hill Farm’s #1 award→ for Best American Cheese at the 2023 World Cheese Championships, or Kingdom Trails’ #2 award→ for the world’s best mountain biking trails), tourism and creative economies are under a new sort of spotlight. Regional transportation, creative marketing and broadband accessibility will all prove definitive of the Northeast Kingdom’s economy in the years to come. Come talk about what’s being done, and what yet needs to be done!

Workforce Development

Workforce development remains a definitive problem in the NEK; making sure that everyone who should work, can work, and can live happily on the wages their work provides. Trained and certified quality labor, accessibility to adult education, and affordable housing remain key components of ensuring that our NEK towns and businesses can stay NEK.

NEK Day at the Statehouse

Date

Virtual Event: Register→ for Zoom link.

This is your chance to connect with legislators and fellow NEKers. Celebrate the region, share priorities, and learn what’s been happening at the state level.

Want to know what to expect? Visit our NEK Day 2022 Recap→ for a taste of what past years have had to offer.

The Presentations of NEK Together 2023

Our warmest thanks to everyone who could attend our 2023 summit, NEK Together. The event was a smash hit. Despite weather warnings of icy conditions, our hardy audience came out in droves to fill the Burke Mountain conference center with good company and warm intents.

Whether you missed this important event, or simply want to go over your notes one more time, we’ve uploaded each of our speaker’s slideshow presentations, below, so that you can be sure you don’t miss a beat. For those interested in a summary of the event as a whole, feel free to check out our NEK Together 2023 report→, which includes information like speaker list and session highlights.

Jennifer Carlo, NEK Collaborative Executive Director

Jennifer Carlo has served as the executive director of the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative since 2021. She opened the conference with a brief presentation on the Collaborative’s mission and programs; she also shared some of the Collaborative’s highlights of 2023. The Collaborative will engage in a strategic planning process in 2024, and Jen invited participants to give input into that process.

Kevin Chu, Vermont Futures Project Executive Director

Kevin Chu is the executive director of the Vermont Futures Project. The question "How can we use data to support the evolution of Vermont's economy towards a thriving future with opportunity for all?" isn’t as simple as it might seem! Major cultural and political factors have parts to play in our understanding of the future of Vermont. In this address, Kevin Chu outlines what Vermont’s best futures need, and gives a detailed understanding from a variety of statistical and cultural perspectives.

Katie Buckley, VT League of Cities and Towns &
Annie McLean, NVDA

Katie Buckley is the director of the Federal Funding Assistance Program at the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, and Annie McLean is the Community and Economic Recovery Specialist at the Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA). Through their presentations, attendees of NEK Together ‘23 learned about opportunities to build municipal capacity by coordinating with other Federal, State, and Local funding sources and collaborating with community and  state leaders.

NEK Broadband

Kitty Ufford-Chase, NEK Broadband’s community relations manager and Erik Townsend, GIS Specialist and Project Manager, presented on the past year’s progress toward the goal of bringing  high-quality broadband to all residents of the NEK. They also shared more about the next steps planned for the year to come.

NEK Together 2023

We're always at our best together- when we join together to find solutions, to plan, and to celebrate what makes our region vibrant and unique. Thanks for joining us.

NEK Together will be Thursday, November 9th, at Burke Mountain Hotel & Conference Center, from 9 AM- 4 PM.

Our theme this year is Building Community and Capacity. We hope you'll gather with other NEK changemakers and leaders on the 9th for a day of learning, collaboration, and fun!

Registration costs $50, with costs-covered options available. Sponsorship provides our generous supporters with a wide range of promotional opportunities- check it out!

Day of The Event - Agenda

9:00 AM Conference Welcome: Jennifer Carlo, Executive Director, NEK Collaborative

The NEK Collaborative is a convening organization that seeks to improve the quality of life for all residents of the NEK through coordinated economic and community development.  Our vision is a strong, vibrant Northeast Kingdom where we all thrive.

Audio Greeting from Senator Peter Welch

9:20 AM Keynote Speaker:  Kevin Chu, Executive Director, Vermont Futures Project

The Vermont Futures Project is developing a statewide economic action plan informed by data and aiming to set bold and attainable goals for Vermont's future.  The plan is built on two fundamental components that define communities: people and places.  In order to strengthen Vermont's economy, scale up impact on sustainability, and make progress on social equity, the Vermont Futures Project is setting a goal to increase our population to 802,000 people and non-seasonal housing stock to 350,000 units by 2035.  Learn how these goals were calculated and share ideas about actions that can be taken at the local and state level toward achieving them.

10:30 AM Breakout Sessions

A: Legislative Forum

Senator Robert Starr (D)
Orleans District
Chair, Senate Agriculture Committee

Representative Michael Marcotte (R)
Orleans/Lamoille District
Chair, House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

Representative Scott Campbell (D)
Caledonia/Essex District
House Committee on Transportation

Representative Terri Lynn Williams
Essex/Caledonia District
House Committee on Education

Join some of our veteran legislators from the NEK Caucus for a conversation about priorities and challenges in Montpelier in the coming session. What are the issues important to NEKers, and what can we anticipate in the coming year?

B: Housing in the NEK and Beyond

Facilitator: Sarah Waring, USDA State Director, Rural Development, VT and NH
Panelists: Kevin Chu, Executive Director, Vermont Futures Project
Shaun Gilpin, Housing Division Director, VT Department of Housing and Community Development
Seth Leonard, Managing Director of Community Development, VT Housing Finance Agency
Dan Ridlehoover, Senior Manager of Project Development, M&S Development LLC
Gus Seelig, Executive Director, VT Housing and Conservation Board

Housing continues to be one of the biggest priorities shared with the Collaborative at  convenings and community meetings. Our panel will bring together several experts in  the field to discuss challenges and solutions.

C: Connections, Collaboration, & Community

Facilitators: Phyllis Ershowsky, Marketing and Communications Specialist, VTSBDC
Sara Munro, Project Coordinator, VTSBDC

Learn about Vermont’s Community Navigator Pilot Program (CNPP) from several members of the network of partners who have joined together to support the growth of small businesses in Vermont to ensure that every small business owner knows about and has access to the services and support available to help you succeed. Connect with one of us to connect with all of us.

D: Facilitation 101

Jenna Koloski and Jessica Savage, Vermont Council on Rural Development

Strong facilitation skills can be a key to successful meetings and community conversations. In this workshop, we will share key facilitation skills and strategies and give participants a chance to try them out. Walk away with strategies you can put to use in your next meeting or convening!

E: NEK Community Builders

Facilitator: Loralee Tester- Building Community in Lyndonville

Emilie Begin-Giddings- Building Community in St. Johnsbury

Steven Isham- Building Community in St. Johnsbury

Andrea Otto- Building Community in St. Johnsbury

Sharon Ellingwood-White- Building Community in Lemington

F: The Future of Public Transportation in the NEK

Caleb Grant, Executive Director, Rural Community Transportation

Cynthia Stuart, Stuart Consulting

Public transportation plays a vital role in fostering livable communities in the rural landscape of Vermont by offering essential transportation solutions accessible to individuals of diverse ages, income levels, and physical capabilities. We invite you to engage in a conversation regarding the existing public transportation services provided in the Northeast Kingdom and our collective aspirations for the future of public transportation in our region.

12:00 PM Lunch/Tabling

1:15 PM Breakout Sessions

A: New Business Development in the NEK

Facilitator:  Jim Kisch, President, Passumpsic Bank
Panelists: Evan Carlson, Whiteout Solution
Janis Raye, Brick Math
Eric Remick, Hardwick Yellow Barn
Alejandra Taylor, Sewn By a Taylor

B: Neighboring in the Kingdom- The NEK Working Communities Challenge and Our Neighbor-to-Neighbor Networks

Facilitator: Kari White, NEK WCC Core Team Member and Director of Community Health Equity, Northern Counties Health Care
Panelists: Juliet Emas, NEK WCC Core Team Member and Director of the St Johnsbury Community Hub
Meghan Wayland, NEK WCC Core Team Member and Lead Organizing, Northeast Kingdom Organizing (NEKO)

Neighbor-to-neighbor networks are a crucial part of the fabric of life in the NEK.  They  connect community members and help build social capital, and provide a way for  individuals to support and help each other during times of need.  There are so many ways to neighbor!  Learn more about the NEK WCC and its work building and sustaining community hubs; about mutual aid and doorknocking and phone trees; and about vibrant community events to bring people together.  Members of the NEK WCC Core Team, Northeast Kingdom Organizing (NEKO), and others will discuss their work and help you get involved.

C: NEK Broadband: An Update and the Plan for the Next Year

Christa Shute, Executive Director, NEK Broadband

Join NEK Broadband to learn about the past year’s progress toward the goal of bringing  high-quality broadband to all residents of the NEK, and hear more about the next steps planned for the year to come.

D: Leveraging Municipal Resources

Katie Buckley, Director, Federal Funding Program, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Annie McLean, Community and Economic Recovery Specialist, Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA)

Learn about opportunities to build municipal capacity by coordinating with other  Federal, State, and Local funding sources and collaborating with community and  state leaders.

E: Downtown Revitalization and Community Building Through the Arts

Facilitator: Jody Fried, Executive Director, Catamount Arts
Panelists: Andy Bouchard, Cross-Border Creative Marketing, Newport/Derby
Maire Folan, UVM Extension, Newport/Derby
Gillian Sewake, Executive Director, Discover St Johnsbury
Molly Stone, Artistic Director, Catamount Arts, and NEK Zone Agent, the Vermont Creative Network, St Johnsbury
Panelist TBD, The Civic Standard, Hardwick

Several communities around the NEK have revitalized their downtowns and built  community through a thriving arts scene.  Come learn how they did it and why the creative economy is a powerful driver of development in the NEK and beyond.

F: Moving Stories

Sha’an Mouliert, The Root Social Justice Center

Stories have been a method of documenting and experiencing the human condition throughout the ages. In this problem-solving workshop, participants will experience a sense of agency and accomplishment through storytelling. They will have the opportunity to creatively explore their strengths, identify their challenges and develop a strategy to overcome obstacles.

2:45 PM A Call to Action

Facilitator: Meghan Wayland, Lead Organizer, and the Members of Northeast Kingdom Organizing (NEKO) 

What have we heard and learned and created today?  Let's generate some ideas and some plans for action in the NEK- together.  We'll process what we've heard today and create some plans and recommendations.  Let's take action!

Day of The Event - Speakers

Andy Bouchard created Borderline Entertainment (BLE), a small music production outfit in Holland with the goal of bringing eclectic original music to the border communities.  BLE got its home at The Barrage, after Andy converted his barn/garage into the DIY venue hosting monthly music shows during the warmer months.  Over the past seven years through The Barrage and a handful of other small local spaces BLE has brought over 80 musical acts to the border communities of Holland and Derby hosting artists from across the world.  Other than BLE Andy works as a Special Educator at North Country Union High School, and serves on the Select Board in Holland where he lives with his family of four going on five.

Representative Scott Campbell (D), of St. Johnsbury, has lived in Vermont for more than 30 years.  His background is in construction, building design, and energy performance modeling.  Scott’s focus as a public servant is on the most effective leverage points to rebuild rural community viability in his hometown and throughout Vermont, both economically and socially.  Vibrant arts, recreation, education, housing, health care, child care, transportation, and technology infrastructure are all vital to the success of businesses and families.  Scott has served in the Vermont House of Representatives since 2019.

Jennifer Carlo has served as the executive director of the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative since 2021. Prior to that, she worked in higher education for more than 25 years, most recently as a vice president for student affairs and dean of students. Jen spent a few years as the dean of students at Goddard in the late 1990s and made the mistake of moving away from Vermont, only to spend many years trying to get back! (She’s here for good now.) To come back to Vermont, she ran off with the circus in 2017 and was the executive director at Circus Smirkus for three years. Jen also serves as an adjunct professor at Carlow University. She’s mildly obsessed with the fiber arts, and as a side gig she owns a yarn store in Waterbury and serves as the president of the Green Mountain Knitting Guild. She has an AB in sociology from Princeton, an MA in education from Goddard and an MBA from Carlow, and a PhD in leadership and change from Antioch University.

Kevin Chu grew up in Vermont and is looking forward to growing old here too. He is the son of immigrants and spent most of his early years living and learning in Burlington. Kevin is a graduate of Middlebury College, where he studied the environment and education while also competing in track and field. Prior to joining the Vermont Futures Project, Kevin worked at the University of Vermont, where he led efforts in recruiting for diversity, academic advising, communications, community engagement and economic development, and strategic planning. He is now the executive director of the Vermont Futures Project, a nonpartisan organization that is working to answer the mission question: "How can we use data to support the evolution of Vermont's economy towards a thriving future with opportunity for all?"

Juliet Emas is currently the Director of the St. Johnsbury Community Hub Project. She grew up in both Caledonia County, Vermont and Philadelphia, PA. She is thrilled to be able to give back to the NEK in her current role. With a master’s in Conflict Resolution and an undergraduate degree in Sociology and communication Studies, Juliet has lived experience as well as academic experience. Her academic studies and research involved studying global and community conflict as well as looking at social support systems, services and representation. She has worked in a variety of environments including two urban public school Systems, healthcare facilities, immigration/refugee resettlement service, victim services and more. In addition, Juliet has lived and worked overseas and has traveled to more than 48 different countries. Juliet’s work, wherever it is, seeks to explore, strengthen and support community stability. She hopes to contribute to the world's future. Community starts here, with each of us, working to shape it together.

Maire Folan is the director of UVM Extension's Community Nutrition Education program, based out of the Newport Extension office. She is on the board of Catamount Arts, Green Mountain Farm to School, and the NEK Young Professionals Network. She is committed to helping her community thrive and loves getting outside in all the seasons. She lives in Holland with her husband Andy, his two kids, and a little one on the way.

Jody Fried is both the Executive Director of Catamount Film & Arts in St. Johnsbury and Director of the Vermont Leadership Institute (VLI) and the Snelling Center for Government. His work as a volunteer in the Northeast Kingdom is extensive, including serving as a Corporator at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, Passumpsic Savings Bank and Lyndon Institute, current member (and past President) of the Board of Directors of the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative, and as the past President of both the Burke Area Chamber of Commerce and the Northeast Kingdom Travel and Tourism Association. He has also served in various statewide leadership roles including as the current Chair of the Vermont Creative Network and as a Governor-appointed member of the Vermont Travel and Recreation Council, as well as having previously served as a founding member of the Vermont Tax Advisory Board. Jody is a graduate of the VLI Class of 2012 and a University of Vermont alum.

Shaun Gilpin

Jim Kisch joined Passumpsic Savings Bank on October 11, 2016 as Chief Executive and President. Prior to joining the Bank, he was Chief Strategy/Information Officer and Co-Founder for Continuity, a leading provider of Regulatory Technology (RegTech) solutions that automate compliance management for financial institutions of all sizes nationwide. Continuity has been a serial winner of the Marcum Tech Top 40 and Inc. 5000 growth awards, and won the 2015 fastest growing tech company in Connecticut. Jim started his career in banking 30 years ago. He held a variety of executive positions in the banking industry for over fourteen years before joining the Minnesota Bankers Association as the president of the association’s Insurance and Service Division and Consulting Group; the association’s wholly owned bank compliance and IT consultancy. Jim serves on the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum Board as Treasurer, as the Vermont Bankers Association’s Second Vice Chairperson, Chairman of the Board of Northeast Home Loan, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital Corporator and Plymouth State University College of Business Advisory Board.

Jenna Koloski has been the Director of Community Engagement and Policy at the Vermont Council on Rural Development since 2015. In that role, she coordinates statewide policy discussions on issues that impact rural communities and facilitates community-level prioritization for the future of Vermont towns. Prior to the work at VCRD, she worked in several Vermont organizations focused on outdoor recreation, community development, and food security. Jenna studied Conservation and Biodiversity at McGill University and holds a master’s degree in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. Jenna serves as the President of the Vermont Community Development Association. She lives with her family in Huntington Vermont.

Seth Leonard serves as the Managing Director of Community Development for the Vermont Housing Finance Agency. In his role Seth directs the Agency’s multi-family rental housing lending, tax credit allocation activities, asset management, compliance, research and community relations.   Prior to joining the Agency in 2019, Seth served at the Vermont and New Hampshire USDA Office of Rural Development, where he served as Housing Program Director.  Previous experience includes work in VHFA’s Single Family Housing department and Opportunities Credit Union. Seth also served as the mayor of the city of Winooski from 2015 through the beginning of 2019, which was preceded by two years as a city councilor.  Seth is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He completed the National Development Council’s Rental Housing Certification Program, and the University of Notre Dame’s Leadership in a Complex Era through the Mendoza Executive Leadership Program. In 2020 Seth was recognized by Vermont Business Magazine as a Rising Star, in acknowledgment of professional and community volunteer contributions for Vermonters under the age of 40. Seth completed the Center for Community Investment’s Fulcrum Fellowship in 2023.

Representative Michael Marcotte (R), Coventry, Orleans County, was born in Newport, Vermont, and has been a resident of Coventry since 1978. He is a businessman/store owner. He was educated at Sacred Heart Graded and High Schools, Newport, Vermont. Memberships and affiliations: Joined the Economic Development Council of Northern Vermont Board of Directors in the spring of 2006; Chairman, Coventry Selectboard; Past DDGER National Elks; Past Exalted Ruler, Newport Elks; Past Chairman, St. Mary of the Sea Parish Council; Member, Gibbons Council Knights of Columbus 3rd Degree; Past Director, Coventry Town Foundation. Completed Council of State Gov. Eastern Leadership Program ELA Fellows; elected to Board of Directors of the Orleans/Essex VNA & Hospice in 2007; Elected President of the Board 2010. He has served in the Vermont House of Representatives since 2005.

Annie McLean is the Community and Economic Recovery Specialist at the Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA). Annie leads NVDA’s Municipal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Assistance and Coordination Program and is responsible for assisting Northeast Kingdom businesses and local governments access COVID-19 recovery resources and other economic development funding. Annie holds a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from California Polytechnic University and has over 10 years of community development experience. She previously served as Planning Director for the Town of Lyndon from 2016 through 2020 and has held various municipal planning positions throughout Vermont in addition to getting her professional start working as a disaster recovery consultant both with FEMA and in the private sector. Annie currently serves on the board of the Vermont Community Development Association (VCDA) and the board of Four Seasons of Early Learning, a non-profit early education organization offering nature-based preschool, infant and toddler care in Greensboro Bend.

Sha’an Mouliert, M.Ed. Originally from New York City, moved to the Northeast Kingdom with her family in 1983. For over 35 years she’s been a consultant, community organizer, educator and artist. In 2015, she received Lyndon State College’s Presidential Medal of Distinction and in 2021, the Rutland NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award. Currently, Sha’an is the coordinator of the I Am Vermont Too,a project of The Root Social Justice Center, as well as, producer and host for I Am Vermont Too TV show. Recently, Sha’an has facilitated Racial Literacy a Healing Practice trainings with several Vermont communities and organizations. She lives in St. Johnsbury.

A software and computing consultant from the private sector, Eric Remick currently serves as the Chair of the Hardwick Selectboard and is a key member of the Hardwick Yellow Barn core project team. He has participated in weekly progress meetings since the core team’s formation in 2018 and has served as an anchor tenant liaison by attending regular design meetings with the project team’s architect and engineers, as well as design consultants for anchor tenants. Familiar with local, state and federal funding sources, he also regularly interfaces with project grant funders and lenders. He is also active on the Hardwick Trails Committee.  He lives in Hardwick, where he has been a sugar maker since 2004.

A desire to tackle complex housing projects and improve rural economies led Dan Ridlehoover to join the M&S Development Team. Dan enjoys advocating for projects and clients and is a building operations junkie. He excels at pulling together the many pieces of a development to drive projects to completion. He holds a BA from University of California, Santa Cruz, and seven years’ experience in corporate retail project management; sourcing, developing, and operating retail stores on a national level. Other experience includes retail operations manager for Newell Brands’ technical apparel division, and the facilities manager for the Brattleboro Co-op.  Dan is also a volunteer for the Dummerston Fire Department.

Jessica Savage joined the Vermont Council on Rural Development staff in 2021 after 15 years in the public sector mainly in the natural resources and recreation management fields. She previously worked for the Vermont Dept. of Forests Parks and Recreation where she led the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) and administered multiple state and federal grant programs. Her current work focuses on community-driven economic development initiatives including the Vermont Working Communities Challenge and Climate Economy programs. She has a Masters in Public Administration with a focus on water quality policy from UVM, is an avid outdoorsperson and a mom to two young children.

Christa Shute is the Executive Director of NEK Broadband. Prior to that, she served as a Staff Attorney for the NH Office of the Consumer Advocate. In that role, Christa worked electric, gas and water cases in front of the NH Public Utility Commission on behalf of residential ratepayers. Christa has two decades of experience in leadership in non-profit, and corporate entities. Her curiosity drives her to understand the complexity and nuance of situations so she can envision how to break through barriers and find win/win solutions. In addition to running her own design and manufacturing businesses, Christa has been the Vice President of Business Development for All Earth Renewables, the Director of Business Development and Financing for the Vermont Telecom Authority, and the Director of Targeted Implementation for Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (Efficiency Vermont). Christa Shute earned her JD, magna cum laude, in 2013 with certificates in Energy Law, Climate Law, and Dispute Resolution.

Senator Robert Starr (D) of Troy, Orleans County, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on December 17, 1942, has lived in Troy since June 3, 1944. He is the president of Starr's United, Inc., d/b/a Starr's Transportation. He was educated in elementary schools in North Troy, Vermont; North Troy High School; and Vermont Technical College, Randolph, Vermont (associate degree in agriculture). Member of: Troy school board; O.E.N.S.U. school board; Troy zoning board and planning commission; Board of Civil Authority; Troy town moderator; North Country High School, moderator; Vermont State College trustee; Vermont Truck and Bus Association, director; Elks Club #2155, Newport; National Conference of State Legislatures. He has served in the Vermont Senate since 2005.

Sarah Waring is a native of Glover, Vermont, and is the USDA Rural Development State Director for Vermont and New Hampshire, appointed by President Biden in January 2022. Sarah most recently worked as Vice President for Grants and Community Investments at the Vermont Community Foundation. Previously, she worked at the Vermont Council on Rural Development, Farm and Wilderness Foundation, and the Sonoran Institute. Waring also worked as the Executive Director at the Center for an Agricultural Economy. In 2020, she served on the Governor's Task Force for Economic Mitigation and Recovery where she supported the development of a toolkit for Municipal Engagement for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Waring resides in central Vermont.

Meghan Wayland (they/them) is the Lead Organizer and Staff Director at Northeast Kingdom Organizing (NEKO). Since 2007, Meghan has worked in food and agriculture, movement building, and art, and they arrived at organizing after stints as a journalist, farmer, cook, and carpenter. They're a founding member of the Center for Grassroots Organizing and are passionate about storytelling, Land Back, and bass fishing.

Representative Terri Williams (R), was born in Concord, VT, and has lived in North Concord and Granby for most of her life.  She graduated from Concord High School, with two years at the St Johnsbury Academy Vocational Program and one year at New Hampshire College studying bookkeeping and business.  For ten-plus years Terri owned and operated Barnie’s Market in Concord.  She has served on the boards of directors for the Lyndon Institute, Fairbanks Federal Credit Union, and Northern Counties Home Health.  In her earlier years, Terri was a coach, athletic director, and 4-H leader.  She has served in the Vermont House of Representatives since 2021.

Convening Schedule 2023

Since the NEK Collaborative’s founding in the 1990s, our goal and purpose has been to forge and support connections across the Kingdom. We use collective advocacy and regionally-coordinated action to address challenges and improve the quality of life of all NEK residents.

Sector convenings are one way we share successes, identify challenges, and solve problems collaboratively. We'll host five convenings this spring, around the following issues:

Outdoor Recreation

The Northeast Kingdom is an incredible place to connect to nature and explore the array of outdoor recreation opportunities available in our region. Outdoor recreation is a backbone of tourism and a powerful economic driver in our region.

This meeting will be held virtually, at 10am on Tuesday, March 14th You do not have to be an expert in this area to attend. All are welcome.

Register→

Community Recreation

In the most rural region of the state, opportunities for community recreation and connection are essential. How can we support these opportunities across the towns and communities of the NEK?

This meeting will be held virtually, at 10am on Tuesday, April 4th You do not have to be an expert in this area to attend. All are welcome.

Register→

Small Business Support

Small businesses are the lifeblood of the NEK economy. How can we best support the businesses, the neighbors, that define our local economies and communities?

This meeting will be held virtually, at 1:30pm on Tuesday, April 4th. You do not have to be an expert in this area to attend. All are welcome.

Register→

Adult Education

There are so many adult education opportunities in the Kingdom! Our first convening on Adult Education on February 28th convinced us we needed another one. Please, join the conversation!

This meeting will be held virtually, at 10am on Tuesday, April 11th You do not have to be an expert in this area to attend. All are welcome.

Register→

Mental Health & Substance Abuse

Mental health challenges and substance misuse are a significant public health problem in the NEK, as they are elsewhere in Vermont. Organizations and individuals throughout the Kingdom provide services and support to those facing these challenges; how can their work be supported?

This meeting will be held virtually, at 10am on Tuesday, April 18th You do not have to be an expert in this area to attend. All are welcome.

Register→

NEK Day at the Statehouse '23 (Virtual)

A father and daughter approach the Montpelier Statehouse. The stride of the father and the joy of his child symbolize, we hope, the optimistic, forward-looking spirit of NEK Day.

Friday, January 27th | Agenda→ | Register→ | Submit topics→ | Google Calendar event→

We love the NEK! We choose to live and work in a region that enjoys stunning natural beauty, close-knit communities, and a vibrant culture.

Loving the NEK means addressing the challenges of the region, and there are many. We are the most rural and economically challenged region of Vermont, and our access to resources is limited compared to other regions.

The NEK Collaborative is a convening organization that acts as a unified voice for the NEK. We listen and talk to individuals and organizations all over the Kingdom to determine what's important to you and what challenges you face. We're committed to promoting civic and civil engagement across our region by connecting NEK residents with our representatives in Montpelier whenever possible.

NEK Day at the Statehouse is your chance to share your thoughts with our NEK Legislative Caucus.  We have identified five policy priorities this year to which NEK leaders will speak:

• Housing

• Workforce Development

• Transportation

• A Thriving Vermont State University with a continued vibrant presence in the NEK

• Mental Health and Substance Misuse

Housing

Housing affordability and availability remain a challenge in the Kingdom, as they are elsewhere in Vermont. Our elected representatives are well aware of this, and we'll share some insights on the challenges and some local solutions as well as hear more about legislative plans. Our featured housing speakers will be Jim Kisch, President and CEO of Passumpsic Bank, and Shawn Tester, CEO of Northern Vermont Regional Hospital

Workforce Development

NEK workers need access to training and development and job opportunities that meet their needs. NEK employers need more workers at all levels of skills and experience, and support in recruiting, developing, and retaining staff. Representative Michael Marcotte, Chair of the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, will discuss his committee's work. Julie Laforce, Co-Owner of Built by Newport, will speak from the perspective of a regional employer.

Transportation

NEK residents need safe, reliable, and affordable transportation options. We'll hear from Caleb Grant, Executive Director of Rural Community Transportation.

Vermont State University in the NEK

Mental health and substance misuse touches every aspect of life in the Kingdom. Joseph Forscher, Chief of Behavioural Health at NEK Human Services, will speak to ongoing efforts to address such problems in the NEK.

Mental Health and Substance Misuse

Retaining a robust higher education institution in the NEK is crucial to the regional economy, as well as the educational and career opportunities of NEK residents. We are encouraged by the plans for Vermont State University and look forward to updates from its VTSU President Dr. Parwinder Grewal.

This region-wide, cross-sector, virtual event is the only one of its kind in the Kingdom, and we hope you will join us!

NEK Day at the Statehouse

Friday, January 27: 12 Noon- 1:30 PM

Virtual Event: Register→ for Zoom link.

Do you see issues in the NEK you want addressed? Submit topics→ for consideration at NEK Day.

This is your chance to connect (virtually this year) with legislators and fellow NEKers to celebrate the region, share priorities, and learn what’s been happening at the state level.

Want to know what to expect? Visit our NEK Day 2022 Recap→ for a taste of what past years have had to offer.

NEK Together 2022

The biggest changes begin with the smallest and most collaborative actions. Thanks for coming.

The event is this Friday, November 11th. Here is a parking map→ of Burke Mountain→.

NEK Together will be the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative’s third region-wide convening, and certainly our most ambitious. These past three years have been historic periods of radical social, infrastructural, and economic change in the Kingdom. Much work has been done toward the priorities identified in our 2020 Recovery Action Plan, and much work remains to be done.

The people, businesses, and organizations of the NEK continue to face challenges like housing, business development, connectivity, and community engagement with energy and resilience. We look forward to convening with all of you to keep moving this work forward.

NEK Together 2022

NEK Together 2022 is an all-day community summit scheduled for Friday, November 11th, in-person at Burke Mountain hotel and conference center. Lunch and refreshments are included!

You can register→ up until the last minute, but only those registered Wednesday, November 9th will receive a custom nametag.

How can we:

1. Build and foster community-based leadership and engagement that brings NEK residents together to achieve goals and solve problems in their communities and in our region?

2. Create and maintain a healthy civic discourse in the NEK, with open lines of communication with our NEK Legislative Caucus and other town and local officials, and opportunities for citizens to exercise their voices and make contributions to policy and initiatives?

3. Convene individuals and organizations (businesses, nonprofits, government entities) to support solutions to challenges in our priority areas of housing, workforce development, and others?

Let’s find out.

NEK Together Full Event Schedule (Agenda→)

9 AM - Conference Welcome

Jennifer Carlo, Northeast Kingdom Collaborative

9:15 AM - Plenary Panel:  Seizing The Moment- Updates from the Recovery Action  Plan and Looking Toward the Future

In 2020, the NEK Collaborative worked with individuals and organizations across the NEK to create our Recovery Action Plan, built around five priorities:  Broadband, Housing, Education, Small Business Support, and Community Vitality.

Much has been accomplished through the collective struggle of the pandemic, and the NEK as a region drew together to address our mutual challenges and support each other through the experience.  We find ourselves now in a singular moment in time, to continue our healing and leverage unprecedented resources and opportunities in new ways toward a bright regional future.

This panel will discuss the progress made on the priorities of the Recovery Action Plan and our next steps into the future.

Facilitator: Sarah Waring, USDA Rural Development State Director, Vermont and New Hampshire

Broadband- Christa Shute, Executive Director, NEK Broadband & Rob Fish, Deputy Director, Vermont Broadband

Housing- Patrick Shattuck, Executive Director, Rural Edge 

Education- Tom Lovett, Retired Headmaster, St. Johnsbury Academy, and  Member, Vermont State Board of Education/Representative from NVU

Small Business Support- David Snedeker, Executive Director, NVDA

Community Vitality- Jody Fried, Executive Director, Catamount Arts

10:45 AM - Breakout Sessions

A Vision for Vermont State University

Dr. Parwinder Grewal, President, Vermont State University

Dr Parwinder Grewal became the inaugural president of Vermont State University in July 2022.  VTSU will combine and build upon the history of Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Technical College.  Pending final approval of NECHE, VTSU will become a single accredited institution on July 1, 2023. The new University is meant to increase the reach of learning opportunities for all learners, fueling Vermont’s economic pipeline, and creating opportunities for learners of all ages.  Join this session to learn more about President Grewal’s vision for what will be the first statewide, hybrid institution in the United States.

Racial Literacy, A Healing Practice

Sha’an Mouliert, The Root Social Justice Center

Until the last few years, you’d hear, “We have made so much progress; I don’t think racism is a problem anymore”. How often have we heard, “I’m not racist”, or “I have Black and Brown friends?”  Most people fail to recognize or act on racial micro-aggressions because the stress of negotiating such conflicts is extremely high due to fears of incompetence, public exposure, and accusation. This introductory workshop will explore the challenges facing people of color living in Vermont. Using cultural humility practices, participants will be introduced to a foundational understanding to develop their racial literacy skills.

Raising Voices:  Learning about Community Organizing

Meghan Wayland, Lead Organizer, Northeast Kingdom Organizing (NEKO)

Framing Challenging Conversations Through the Lens of the Arts

Amy Cunningham, Deputy Director, Vermont Arts Council Jody Fried, Executive Director, Catamount Arts and Film Ryan Newswanger, Director of Programs, Vermont Humanities Council Molly Stone, NEK Zone Agent, Vermont Creative Network

Post-Pandemic Workforce and Business Leadership

Julie Laforce, Owner and Director of Organizational Development, Built by Newport, Abby Long, Executive Director, Kingdom Trail Association, Johnny Lotti, Co-Owner, Cafe Lotti, Steven Wright, President and General Manager, Jay Peak

12:00 PM - Lunch/Tabling/Weaving Project

1:15 PM - Breakout Sessions

NEK Caucus Legislative Forum

Senator Jane Kitchel (D)- Caledonia/Orange District, Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Robert Starr (D)- Essex/Orleans District, Chair, Senate Agriculture Committee, Representative Scott Beck (R)- Caledonia-3, House Committee on Ways and Means, Representative Michael Marcotte (R)- Orleans-2, Chair, House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

Join some of our veteran legislators from the NEK Caucus for a conversation about priorities and challenges in Montpelier in the coming session. What are the issues important to NEKers, and what can we anticipate in the coming year?

Moving Stories

Sha’an Mouliert, The Root Social Justice Center

Stories have been a method of documenting and experiencing the human condition throughout the ages. In this problem-solving workshop, participants will experience a sense of agency and accomplishment through storytelling. They will have the opportunity to creatively explore their strengths, identify their challenges and develop a strategy to overcome obstacles.

Strategies to Address the Housing Challenges in the NEK

Dawn Cross, HomeOwnership Center Director, RuralEdge, Jim Kisch, CEO, President, Passumpsic Bank, Evan Oleson, NEK VT Program Manager, Northern Forest Center, Patrick Shattuck, Executive Director, RuralEdge

Housing is a challenge throughout Vermont, and especially in the NEK. Many organizations in the Kingdom are working on initiatives to increase affordable housing stock and create economic development in our communities.

Creating Community Space- NEK Outdoor Recreation Community Hub

Abby Long, Executive Director, Kingdom Trail Association, Brooke Pierce, Operations Director, Kingdom Trail Association

Learn how Kingdom Trails is putting into action the NEK Collaborative’s Tri-Sector Plan, to enhance economic growth through rural community hubs. We believe that by investing in infrastructure improvements to create outdoor recreation-friendly communities, we can connect outdoor recreation assets to other parts of the economy, including the creative and food sectors. KT will share how their USDA-funded Capacity Study led them to-USDA funded master planning for an NEK Outdoor Recreation Community Hub to elevate economic development, enhance visitor experiences, improve residents’ quality of life, and support the local workforce.  

Get NEKed!  Using Destination Stewardship to Support Economic Opportunity 

Joe Short, Vice President, Northern Forest Center, Facilitator, Gillian Sewake, Director, St. Johnsbury Chamber of Commerce, Pam Sullivan, President and Creative Director, Sullivan Creative, Rick Ufford-Chase, Director, Newport City Downtown Development

What are the benefits of marketing and stewardship on a regional scale?  Recent collaborations have built on the work done in the NEK Collaborative’s 2018 Tri-Sector Report to build regional resources, and help chambers and businesses leverage those resources to help support regional businesses.  How do we collaborate to align messages, attract the right visitors, and multiply our individual efforts?  And how do we sustain these efforts?

ARPA Updates

Annie McLean, Community and Economic Recovery Specialist, Northeastern Vermont Development Association 

The Working Communities Challenge in the NEK

 Juliet Emas, Director, St. Johnsbury Community Hub

2:45 PM - Plenary Workshop:  Equitable Community Engagement

Sue McCormack, Business Development Leader and Co-Founder, The Creative Discourse Group

Transformed people transform organizations.

All of us are seeking ways to create equity, justice, and inclusion in our communities, and we need conversations and tools to do that.  How do we come together and work toward a more equitable culture?