Weekly Email Update 3.8.21
“What is clear is that the way we treat electoral politics, candidates, and (elected officials) from marginalized identities in Vermont is unacceptable."
-Kiah Morris
Politics director for the advocacy group Rights & Democracy and creator of a documentary video project about racism in Vermont
This week's email has an abundance of new items, so we'd like to encourage you to take a few moments and read this email on through to the end, especially if you haven't had the opportunity to fully peruse Windham County's latest offerings in prior weeks. This week, you'll find new events concerning Guilford values mapping, being a BIPOC artist in Vermont, police-free schooling, restorative justice, wild kitchen fare with Missisquoi Abenaki chef Jessee Lawyer, as well as two easily accessible community support opportunities.
Earlier this week, the Associated Press published an article about Black women who are leaders in Vermont and we felt compelled to share it with you in this week's Email. We hope you take a moment to read it. Thank you.
"Black Women Persevere to Lead in Vermont Despite Harassment", Lisa Rathke, Associated Press. Published March 4th, 2021
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HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, MARCH 7TH, 2021
Community Conversations with Representative Emilie Kornheiser
Saturday, March 7th, 2021, Online. 11am.
Please register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtce-grD4rGNxo9FEE3R8zKpRSj_qBTz03 . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Emilie Kornheiser, State Representative for Windham 2-1, invites you to join her weekly office hours: Sundays at 11am. We’ll talk about what’s happening in the legislature and in our town. Open conversation format-- come for the full hour or just stop by for a few minutes to share a particular concern or question.
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HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, MARCH 8th, 2021-SUNDAY, MARCH 14th, 2021
Everyone Eats!
Monday, March 8th, 2021-Thursday, March 11th, 2021 at the C.F Building (80 Flat Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 4pm-6pm. Masks required. PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE EARLY. If you have any questions visit https://www.brattleboro.com/everyoneeats/ or contact Frances Huntley [email protected]. Organizational ordering information is listed under our Free and Nutritious Food in Windham County section further along in this email.
Everyone Eats! is a program which will distribute meals from Brattleboro restaurants to anyone in need who lives in Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Putney, or Vernon, free of charge, through December 11th. There will be 850+ meals/day available Monday through Thursday to serve our community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pick up for individuals will be at the C.F. Church Building at 80 Flat St in Brattleboro and group/institution orders can be picked up at Mama Sezz in West Brattleboro. All meals are available Monday-Thursday between 4pm and 6pm until supplies run out.
If you have extra produce from your garden, there will be a wheelbarrow you can drop it off in on your way out of the pickup site. Participating restaurants will use the donated produce in making more meals.
The meals are free, but if you would like to make a monetary contribution to help make more meals possible for others, it will be gratefully received. The base cost of each meal is $10 but any amount will be appreciated.
Each restaurant will contribute meals two or more days a week. You will receive one individually packaged cold ready-to-eat or heat & serve dinner for each person you request a meal for. Meals will be distributed cold, so if you are driving a distance, delivering to other households, or distributing through your organization, consider bringing a cooler if you can.
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Guilford Community Values Mapping: Community Values Mapping Forum
Tuesday, March 9th, 2021, Online. 6pm-8pm.
Register here: https://www.sevtcommunityvaluesmapping.com/in-person-community-forum
Community Values Mapping is a town-wide engagement effort that lets a community find out more about itself. Its goal is to help identify the places in town that are important to residents for a wide variety of reasons. On a shared map of Guilford, residents highlight different areas and places they use or appreciate. For example, you might highlight a favorite scenic spot, hunting or fishing area, woods trail, historic building, or community gathering spot, among other possibilities. This collected information is later brought together in a series of maps that highlight our town's special places.
Towns all over Vermont have engaged their citizens in shaping the future through Community Values Mapping. The goal of the mapping in Guilford is to bring people together to share and learn more about places we care about, not to add new regulations or ordinances. Ideas generated from values mapping will help inform discussions in the town planning process, identify important areas for future preservation, and provide a collective understanding of our wonderful community.
Participate Anytime on Your Own with This Self-Guided Website:
Wednesday, March 10th, 2021-Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 (this link will not be live until March 10th, 2021.
https://www.sevtcommunityvaluesmapping.com/self-guided-sharing
Can’t make the community forum? We still want to hear from you!
If you can't attend the Community Values Mapping forum on March 9, you can participate here on your own time. Begin by watching the introductory video to learn more about Values Mapping and how to use the mapping tools. Then click the "Begin Sharing Your Ideas" button to map your values.
Share Your Ideas, In-Person, on a Paper Map:
Wednesday, March 10th, 2021-Wednesday, March 24th, 2021
Location: 70 Carpenter Hill Road, Guilford, VT
https://www.sevtcommunityvaluesmapping.com/on-paper
A large map of Guilford will be hung on the kiosk at the Guilford Playscape with pens and instructions for marking your favorite places. Visit any time during the day.
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Marlboro Community Food Share
hosted by the Marlboro Community Center
Thursday, March 11th, 2021, and every Thursday, at the Marlboro Community Center (524 South Road, Marlboro, VT, 05344). 4:30pm-5:30pm.
Every Thursday from 4:30pm-5:30pm the Marlboro Community Center invites you to fill a grocery bag with non-perishables and fresh local produce. No registration or eligibility required. This weekly opportunity is available for anyone who could use an extra bag of groceries or knows someone who does.
Food will be set up in the entry-way to the Marlboro Community Center. For proper social distancing, please enter one person at a time. Bring a grocery bag or use ours. Masks are required. Deliveries will be made through Marlboro Cares for those needing assistance. Please call Marlboro Cares at 802-258-3030 in advance to arrange a delivery.
To donate food:
Leave non-perishable food in the donation box at the Marlboro Post Office. It will be collected on a weekly-basis. (Please note that this box previously supplied the Deerfield Valley Food Pantry, which is now distributing food exclusively from VT Food Pantry)
Gardeners and farmers are welcome to donate produce. Wear masks and wash hands when harvesting and handling food. Fresh produce can be dropped off at the Community Center on Thursday between 1pm and 4pm. (Any leftover produce will be taken to FoodWorks the following morning)
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Guilford Cares Food Pantry
Thursday, March 11th, 2021 (and every Thursday) at Broad Brook Community Center (3490 Guilford Center Road, Guilford, VT, 05301). 5pm-6pm. If you have questions, concerns or would like to donate groceries or monetary gifts please contact Pat Haine 802-257-0626. For additional questions or more information call 802 579 1350 or email [email protected].
The Guilford Cares Food Pantry will continue to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure food security for all our citizens and vulnerable populations. They are well stocked with the staples you need for your family and are following viral guidelines to limit risk.
They ask that shoppers to remain in their car. A volunteer will greet you and give you a "shopping list" for you to mark with the items you would like. Another volunteer will fill your bag and bring it to porch where you will be asked to pick it up. Please bring a bag for the items and a pen to fill out the shopping list. If you have questions, concerns or would like to donate groceries or monetary gifts please contact Pat Haine 257-0626
If you cannot come to the Pantry due to illness or high risk, you can call also call Pat to arrange for food delivery by a volunteer.
We know that supplemental food can make such a big difference in one's budget. That is why we are stocking our shelves for our neighbors. All are welcome to come and take home fresh produce, staples, meat, dairy.
Guilford Cares welcomes anyone in need of supplemental food for themselves or their families.
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Putney Food Shelf
Saturday, March 13th, 2021 (and every Saturday until April 4th, 2021) at 10 Christian Square (Putney, VT, 05346). 9am-11am.
Curbside Open Hours. All are welcome - we just ask you to provide your town of residence and number in household for our data tracking purposes.
Stay in your car, please. Volunteers will take your order and bring out boxes of food, including nonperishable items, fresh produce, paper goods, meat, and dairy products.
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Winter Farmers' Market Online Shop
Saturday, March 13th, 2021 at the C.F. Church Building, 80 Flat Street, Brattleboro ,VT, 05301). For the most up to date info on current market operations or other market information go to www.brattleborowinterfarmersmarket.org, or sign up for our newsletter. Order Monday through Thursday morning for Curbside Pick up from the Brattleboro Winter Farmers' Market.
The Brattleboro Winter Farmers’ Market is home to a diverse mix of market vendors bringing local farm produce, meats, syrup, fresh baked goods, local cheeses, fruits, cider, pickles, preserves, handmade soaps and artisan crafts.
SNAP/EBT customers can turn $10 into $40 each week through January with market match coupons thanks to grants from NOFA-VT, C&S Wholesale Grocers, New England Grassroots Fund, Brattleboro Savings & Loan, and gifts from caring community members.
Due to COVID19 the market is currently NOT open for in-person shopping. However, you can select from a wide variety of farm products, locally produced foods and other goods from over 20 local producers in one convenient place. While the shopping experience is different, you still go home from your curbside pick up with all the same wonderful local goods market customers are used to!
For more information, visit their website at https://www.brattleborowinterfarmersmarket.org
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Community Conversations with Representative Emilie Kornheiser
Saturday, March 13th, 2021, Online. 11am.
Please register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtce-grD4rGNxo9FEE3R8zKpRSj_qBTz03 . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Emilie Kornheiser, State Representative for Windham 2-1, invites you to join her weekly office hours: Sundays at 11am. We’ll talk about what’s happening in the legislature and in our town. Open conversation format-- come for the full hour or just stop by for a few minutes to share a particular concern or question.
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Coffee with Coffey
Sunday, March 7th, 2021, Online. 3pm-4pm.
You can access the Zoom HERE.
The legislative session begins on January 6th and if you live in my district please join me Sundays for "Coffee with Coffey" 3pm-4pm over Zoom. These monthly coffee hours (held on the first Sunday of each month) are as a way to stay connected with the issues and our neighbors. I will share my priorities for the coming session, answer questions and listen to your ideas and concerns. If you cannot make it to a coffee hour please don't hesitate to get in touch by phone or email.
Hope to see you! Be well and take good care,
Sara Coffey
State Representative
Windham-1/Guilford & Vernon
email: [email protected]
home phone: 802-257-0288
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Blues Legacies and Black Feminism: Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holliday by Angela Y. Davis
presented by the Pioneer Valley Project Racial Justice Book Group
Monday, March 8th, 2021,
Monday March 22nd, 2021
Monday April 12th, 2021
Monday, April 26th, 2021, Online. 7pm-8:30pm.
The book group is free for PVP members. We request a $25 donation (or other amount that works for you) from non-members. Please register here: https://forms.gle/ihScrVQ3Ydjh5ZNm6.
We invite you to join this multi-racial and anti-racist, liberty filled space to learn, share and build community. "From one of this country's most important intellectuals comes a brilliant analysis of the blues tradition that examines the careers of three crucial black women blues singers through a feminist lens. Angela Davis provides the historical, social, and political contexts with which to reinterpret the performances and lyrics of Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday as powerful articulations of an alternative consciousness profoundly at odds with mainstream American culture."
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Fukushima 10 Vigil
sponsored by the Safe and Green Campaign http://www.safeandgreencampaign.org
Thursday, March 11th, 2021, Pliny Park (at the intersection of High Street and Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 4:30pm-5:30pm. This will be a Covid safe event; wear a mask, stay socially distant, and bring a poster if you wish. Contact: Leslie Sullivan Sachs, [email protected]
March 11th, 2021 marks ten years since Japan was hit by an earthquake and tsunami, destroying 85,000 homes and businesses. By 2021 the country could have rebuilt but for a disaster that continues today: the meltdown of three nuclear reactors in Fukushima, on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. The reactors were Mark 1 boiling water reactors, the same type and age as Vermont Yankee. In 2014, Vermont Yankee shut down; today, its 900 tons of nuclear waste remains on site, beside the Connecticut River.
We will honor the 130,000 nuclear refugees, and the land, air and water contaminated by radiation which to this day cannot be cleaned up. Please join us.
For information on the current status of Fukushima, read our Voices essay in the Commons: The Catastrophe is Far From Over Look for more essays in the Commons between now and the March 11th vigil. For past Safe & Green Campaign actions marking Fukushima anniversaries, go to: Solidarity with Fukushima, Japan
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Being a BIPOC Artist in Vermont
hosted by Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center and Juniper Creative LLC
Thursday, March 11th, 2021, Online. 7pm.
Free. Pre-registration for this free YouTube event is required: SprucePeakArts.org.
Join us for an important virtual panel discussion exploring the unique challenges faced by BIPOC artists in VT. A panel of 3 artists from across Vermont – Jennifer Herrera Condry of Juniper Creative Arts (Brandon), Will Kasso of Juniper Creative Arts (Brandon), and Harlan Mack of the Vermont Studio Center (Johnson) will join together for a one-hour discussion, followed by a brief Q&A, facilitated by artist/moderator, international muralist, speaker and writer, ISAIAS of San Diego, CA.
Visit: https://www.sprucepeakarts.org/being-a-bipoc-artist-in.../ for complete bios of participants as well as a gallery of their art.
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Vermont Food Bank’s Veggie Van Go Upcoming Schedule
The First and Third Mondays of Every Month in the parking lot across the street from the main entrance to Brattleboro Union High School (131 Fairground Road, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-11:30am.
Veggie Van Go is a program through the Vermont Foodbank that gives out free produce and local food for people to take home.
Monday, March 15th, 2021
Monday, April 5th, 2021
Monday, April 19th, 2021
Monday, May 3rd, 2021
Monday, May 17th, 2021
Monday, June 7th, 2021
Monday, June 21st, 2021
Important information:
- Drive through model- please stay in your vehicles
- If you are walking there: see a Vermont Foodbank associate but please make sure to stay 6 feet back.
- There are no income requirements, registration or paperwork to participate
- You do not need to be present to get food: you may ask someone to pick up on your family's behalf.
For questions, please contact the WSESU VVG Program Coordinator:
Kira Sawyer-Hartigan, WSESU
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT
[email protected]
(802)254-3730
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Youth 4 Change Says NO to School Resource Officers at Brattleboro Union High School: The Campaign Continues!
Tuesday, March 16th, 2021, Online. 6pm-9pm.
The agenda with Zoom link should be posted on Wednesday 3/10 here: https://sites.google.com/wsesu.org/wsesdboard/agenda
Youth 4 Change, a youth activist program of The Root Social Justice Center continues with their campaign to create safer schools by removing School Resource Officers from Brattleboro Union High School.
Y4C and allies made an impact when we spoke at the previous WSESD School Board meeting and now a discussion on SRO’s in the school district has been added to the agenda for the next meeting on Tuesday March 16th starting at 6pm (link info at the end).
Members of Youth 4 Change are in agreement with many of the nation's youth that SRO’s do not make their schools safe, and argue that instead their presence causes direct harm to the youth of this community. That is why Y4C wants all local representatives to know that youth voices matter even when they can’t vote and that they are saying no to SRO’s.
This is a Call To Action to all impacted youth! We want your voices and the voices of the youth in the community to be elevated and heard!
Trynity, a youth leader of Y4C states “There’s such a focus on the misbelief that we need SRO’s to respond to threats such as school shooters, instead of addressing the actual root issues that cause people to act out, or even harm themselves or others. Whether it be mental health related, a stressful/unsafe home life, lack of resources to address any problems, etc. We shouldn’t wait for the worst case scenario when we may be able to help them before. This help doesn’t come in the form of someone with a gun.”
Youth, we encourage you to come speak at the WSESD School Board meeting on the 16th. We understand that some of the most impacted might not feel safe or comfortable with speaking at this event. In an effort to ensure your voice is still heard and your safety is recognized we invite youth to send us your written statements and testimonies to [email protected]. You may share your name or remain anonymous and we’ll happily read them at the meeting on your behalf.
Adult allies please support the youth of this community by sharing with the youth you know and showing up on the 16th to let the WSESD School Board members know that you stand with youth in removing SRO's from their schools!
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From Restorative Justice to Transformative Justice: Foundations of Restorative Justice
co-hosted by Vermont Legal Aid, Outright Vermont, ACLU, Rights and Democracy, the Vermont Human Rights Commission, Root Center for Social Justice, and The Education Justice Coalition of Vermont and various community members
Thursday, March 18th, 2021, Online. 5pm.
Don't forget to pre-register on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZUpcOGopzgjG9UAQ...
In this event we will develop a common understanding to differentiate between punitive justice, restorative justice, and transformative justice. The event will include hands on scenarios to differentiate between practices that are and are not aligned with restorative justice. This event is the first in a series of restorative justice events organized by the Police Out of Schools Coalition.
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Vermont Wild Kitchen with Missisquoi Abenaki Chef Jessee Lawyer
hosted by Rooted in VT
Thursday, March 18th, 2021, Online. 5pm
Join Rooted in Vermont and Vermont Fish and Wildlife in the Vermont Wild Kitchen on Facebook Live! This episode we have a special guest, Missisquoi Abenaki Chef Jessee Lawyer! He will be preparing traditional Abenaki ingredients with a modern twist including deer shank, bear fat, garlic, sumac, and more.
Bring your friends, appetites, and questions and join us in the Vermont Wild Kitchen!
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I Am…2021: Behind Creation: Discussing the Creative Process
Thursday, March 18th 2021, Online. 7pm.
Please register for this event HERE. For more information and to pre-register, visit vermontartscouncil.org/iam2021. Closed captioning will be provided for these events. We invite you to contact us with specific accommodations you need to facilitate your participation in the workshop. We will make every effort to honor your requests when they are made two weeks prior to the event. Contact Michele Bailey, 504/ADA coordinator at [email protected].
Five featured artists take us “behind the scenes” in a discussion of their creative process. Artists will share the good, the bad, the uncomfortable, and more on the journey from conception to completed work.
Nineteen artists from the I am a Vermont Artist series will exhibit work in our new online gallery from Feb. 16 through April 30, and on the third Thursday of each month we will host a Zoom gathering so that audiences can engage with the artists directly.
The virtual exhibit will consist of a group gallery with select work from each featured artist and individual galleries with up to five pieces from an artist.
Part of the Vermont Art Council’s mission is to expand access to the arts for all people, regardless of background. Vermont is not often thought of as a diverse state, but people of every stripe call this place home, and the different experiences they bring make our communities rich and vibrant.
To celebrate Vermont’s diversity and deepen our state’s creative identity, the Council began publishing the I am a Vermont Artist interview series in early 2019. Two years on from the series’ launch, the Council has published over 30 interviews with artists, exploring how their creative expressions reflect their experiences of ethnicity, gender identity, religion, disability, or age—and the group continues to grow.
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Vermont Food Bank Food Drop
hosted by the Putney Foodshelf
Thursday, March 25th, 2021
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021
Thursday, May 27th, 2021
Thursday, June 24th, 2021 at Putney Meadows (17 Carol Brown Way, Putney, VT 05346). 9:30am-10:15am. Everyone is welcome. No questions asked!
The Vermont Foodbank will be bringing food to Putney. There will be lots of produce along with other nonperishable food. The Vermont Foodbank truck will park on the side of the road in the big U (Alice Holway Drive).
Drivers: Shoppers will stay in their cars until called. Until further notice, shoppers can pick up for no more than two households.
Walkers: Stay tuned for instructions.
If you have never participated in this before, volunteers will be available to explain how it works!
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Red Cross Blood Drive at the Winston Prouty Campus
Saturday, March 27th, 2021
Saturday, April 17th, 2021
Saturday, May 22nd, 2021
Saturday, June 26th, 2021
Saturday, July 24th, 2021
Saturday, August 28th, 2021
Saturday, September 25th, 2021
Saturday, October 23rd, 2021
Saturday, November 27th, 2021
Saturday, December 18th, 2021 at the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development (Austine Drive, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 9am-3pm. To help make these events possible by volunteering, please contact Lisa Whitney at [email protected].
Winston Prouty and the American Red Cross are hosting monthly blood drives throughout 2021.The Red Cross has over 135 years of experience providing humanitarian aid including more than 75 years of supplying blood to those in need. Each pint of blood we collect can help save up to three lives and will touch the lives of so many more. What a great way to pay it forward and make an impact on people in our community and across the country.
You can participate by donating blood or by volunteering to help support the event (set-up/clean-up, registration, parking, etc).
Sign up to DONATE blood here:
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=
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Vermont Renew Convergence
Sunday, March 28th, 2021, Online. 1pm-3:30pm.
Register now for access! Register for Vermont Renew Convergence with Mobilize. Accessibility: Closed captioning will be available. Have accessibility questions? Reply to your registration email to confirm your requirements or request more information.
On Sunday, March 28th, The Vermont Renews Coalition is hosting a mass convening for activating, exciting and educating Vermonters on the systematic change work of the VT Renews Campaign. (Think Thrive Agenda on a statewide level)
We're pushing for just, equitable solutions to the many interconnected crises we're facing through the policy framework outlined by Renew New England Alliance ( www.renewnewenglandalliance.org)
Join us to learn about how our work in Vermont in connected to national and regional movements, the 2021 VT Renews legislative priorities, and to connect with fellow activists as we continue to build a movement in Vermont.
The Vermont Renews Coalition consists of Rights & Democracy, Vermont State Labor Council AFL-CIO, 350 VT, Democratic Socialists of America: Champlain Valley, Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, Migrant Justice, Community Action Works, and Justice For All.
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Speaking Up: Histories of American Protest and Activism (Part of the 2021 Virtual Winter Lecture Series)
presented by Historic Deerfield
Sunday, March 28th, 2021 at 3pm
Gain access here: zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4eJ8JhtvSc2UsQkgsZ2M7g. Free, registration is required. This lecture series will be presented live via Zoom webinar. The link to the webinar will be sent to registrants prior to the event. Webinars will be recorded and available to registrants for viewing for two weeks after the live event.
Protest and dissent are an integral part of American political and cultural identity. Join us this winter for three virtual webinars devoted to exploring vibrant, lesser-known histories of American activism including the radical abolition movement of the 19th century, how women of color transformed the women’s suffrage movement, and the raucous electoral politics of the post-Civil War era.
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I Am…2021: The Business of Creativity: Getting Our Work Into the World
Thursday, April 15th, 2021, Online. 7pm. Please register for this event HERE. For more information and to pre-register, visit vermontartscouncil.org/iam2021. Closed captioning will be provided for these events. We invite you to contact us with specific accommodations you need to facilitate your participation in the workshop. We will make every effort to honor your requests when they are made two weeks prior to the event. Contact Michele Bailey, 504/ADA coordinator at [email protected].
Five featured artists discuss how they bring business and strategy to their creativity. Left brain meets right brain in this conversation about the partnership between art and the business of making art.
Nineteen artists from the I am a Vermont Artist series will exhibit work in our new online gallery from Feb. 16 through April 30, and on the third Thursday of each month we will host a Zoom gathering so that audiences can engage with the artists directly.
The virtual exhibit will consist of a group gallery with select work from each featured artist and individual galleries with up to five pieces from an artist.
Part of the Vermont Art Council’s mission is to expand access to the arts for all people, regardless of background. Vermont is not often thought of as a diverse state, but people of every stripe call this place home, and the different experiences they bring make our communities rich and vibrant.
To celebrate Vermont’s diversity and deepen our state’s creative identity, the Council began publishing the I am a Vermont Artist interview series in early 2019. Two years on from the series’ launch, the Council has published over 30 interviews with artists, exploring how their creative expressions reflect their experiences of ethnicity, gender identity, religion, disability, or age—and the group continues to grow.
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COMMUNITY SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES
Lean Left Survey for VT Activists
Lean Left volunteers contributed to some outstanding victories through determined and dedicated work at all levels—local, state, and federal—and as we gear up for another election season, we’re taking stock of our members' experience with Lean Left actions in 2020 and gauging interest in our upcoming efforts in 2021/2022.
Why? Because there are no off years when it comes to building democracy!
Your input on this survey will help us gather information that will inform our 2021/2022 strategy for leveraging the talents and resources of our Vermont community to build a stronger, more just democracy.
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Vermont Prison System Vaccinations
1 minute action to make a difference: Please call Governor Scott at (802) 828 3333 and ask that Prisoners in Vermont's system get vaccinated NOW. These folks are in a congregate system, many have underlying conditions with little to no control over their environment. Save a life today and make the call please. You can also email him HERE.
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LGTBQIA+ Resources via Out in the Open
Out in the Open is offering a lot of resources & virtual spaces for rural LGBTQ folks in this time, friends. We have a Community Care Offers & Asks list, and a list of Rural New England Mutual Aid opportunities, with specific resource links for LGBTQ and QTPOC folks. Out in the Open also has a Slack channel for rural LGBTQ folks to share resources and connect outside of social media. Email [email protected] for more information.
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120 Birge Street Collective
The 120 Birge St. collective is a group of local artist/musician/poets/builders etc that have been sharing a collective art/music space in one of the old Estey buildings. It has been a wild year; Winter is on it's way and although there are so many causes we all need to be giving to in this world, we could definitely use a bit of help to keep our space alive and come out the other side of this all ready to host and promote and foster and keep the lights and heat on! People can donate via Venmo @minions. Thanks for your consideration/support!
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Rise Fund
The RISE fund (Resilience and Independence in State of Emergency) was created to help people with disabilities remain as independent as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since everyone’s situation is unique, the program was designed to be broad and flexible. The fund can only be used for needs that are directly related to the pandemic, and the cost must be reasonable. If you lost your job and now have bills or other needs you can’t pay for, RISE may be able to help. The fund may be used for:
- Computers for telehealth and remote learning.
- Cleaning supplies for staying healthy.
- Utility payments.
- Other equipment and services to mitigate isolation.
You may apply by contacting us using the information below. There are no income requirements and no co-pays. The maximum amount is $2,500. The RISE fund was created with money from CARES Act grants, and the program will end on Sept. 30, 2021, or sooner if all the money is spent.
For more information, contact the RISE Fund: 1-800-639-1522 or [email protected]
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Social Justice Resources
ROOT SOCIAL JUSTICE CENTER MUTUAL AID & SUPPORTIVE NETWORK
The Root Social Justice Center is collecting a list of contacts and resources to help support and assist with the needs of their Root community members. Join if you are in need or are able to help.
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COVID 19 RESOURCES: VERMONT
CURRENT COVID19 CASE INFORMATION as of 12pm, March 5th, 2021
New cases: 126 (15,819 total)
Currently Hospitalized: 26
Hospitalized in ICU: 4
Hospitalized Under Investigation: 0
Deaths: 207
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Covid 19 Pop-Up Testing
Testing is available for all.
If you need testing, there are a variety of options available to you: your primary care provider, pop-up test sites and pharmacies. The Test Site Finder below can help you find other testing near you.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT POP-UP TESTING LOCATIONS
Here are the steps to set up a testing appointment at a pop-up testing site:
- Register to get an account
- Receive an email with your patient ID and use that to confirm your account (check your spam folder if you don't see the email)
- Log in with your patient ID
- Set up an appointment
Register for Pop-Up Testing Here
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NEW COVID 19 VACCINE INFORMATION
New Guidance Expands Gathering Options for Vaccinated People in Vermont
Gov. Phil Scott announced at Friday’s press conference that effective today, people who are vaccinated can gather with other vaccinated individuals at their homes.
Vaccination Eligibility Expands Monday to People Age 55+ with High-Risk Conditions
Starting Monday, March 8, Vermonters ages 55+ with certain high-risk health conditions are eligible for FREE COVID-19 vaccines.
High-risk health conditions include:
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Current cancer
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Chronic kidney disease
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COPD, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis
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Heart disease
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Immunocompromised / Weakened immune system
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Severe obesity (BMI of 40 or more)
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Pregnancy
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Diabetes (Types 1 & 2)
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Disabilities, including chromosomal disorders, intellectual disabilities, and disabilities that affect lung function
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Sickle cell disease
For a detailed list of eligible conditions and to sign-up for your vaccine, visit HealthVermont.gov/MyVaccine. If registering online is not an option, you can make an appointment by calling (855) 722-7878.
Please note: You do NOT need a doctor’s note or proof of a health condition to sign up. The Health Department may use the information you provide to confirm your eligibility, either through medical records or by contacting your provider. The department may also reach out to people who don’t have a provider to offer a connection to care
Vaccination Information for Education and Child Care Systems
The K-12 education community and regulated childcare program staff will receive information on how and when they will be vaccinated, and instructions on how to register, directly from their employers.
Please do not try to make an appointment until you hear from your employer. Appointments will occur over the next few weeks. If you have questions, please contact your school’s COVID-19 coordinator.
New on Healthvermont.gov
It has been almost exactly one year since the first case of COVID-19 was identified in Vermont. Since that time, numerous Health Department staff have been pulled from their regular duties to help respond to the pandemic, including the members of the Data Team who contribute to the Weekly Data Summary. This week’s spotlight showcases some public health issues and data that we would normally be highlighting, including:
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Climate & Health
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Non-COVID Infectious Diseases
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Suicide Prevention & Mental Health
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The Opioid Epidemic & Substance Misuse
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Vermonters with Disabilities
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Diabetes & Heart Disease Prevention
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Free In-Home Covid19 Testing
sponsored by United Way of Windham County
People who are in need of a covid test and do not have transportation should call VT Public Transit at 802-442-0629 or toll free at 1-833-387-7200. VT Transit will contact your provider to confirm and get necessary info. They are using an ambulance service thru VT Department of Health which will do FREE IN-HOME testing and then transport your specimen to a local lab. VT Transit takes initial info and contacts the local EMS and VDH.
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Statewide Mutual Aid
organized by Brenda for Vermont
Localized Mutual Aid has been organized in Brattleboro and Putney and hyper local neighborhoods in Marlboro. If your community does not have mutual aid or you can't find it, please sign up to volunteer or if you are in need of help. All of us will likely be on the side of being able to help and needing help at times. Please don't hesitate to ask for help.
Sign up here if you would like to help your neighbors or are in need of help:https://www.brendaforvermont.com/cms/help-your-neighbor/
The links below will take you directly to the mutual aid forms.
To Volunteer: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkRnbDKtNX_SacVaHWPyIAnsSXDGLsDMZE8vys25nzTgUo5A/viewform
If You Need Help: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfw7gg12KNq6n4s7SDUxf1ghMx-0MD3S0RCWQtxqmPTJQI8QA/viewform
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Online Religious Services
All Souls U.U. Sunday Services
Sunday Mornings at 10am.
To get the current information on an upcoming service or vespers check the All Souls web page at www.ascvt.org.
FREE HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD IN WINDHAM COUNTY
Brigid’s Kitchen, St. Michael’s Church, 47 Walnut Street, Brattleboro 802-254-6800 or 802-558-6072
Grab-and-go lunches and fruit/nuts on Mon, Weds, Thus, and Sat, 11:30am-12:20pm.
Loaves and Fishes, Centre Congregational Church 193 Main Street, Brattleboro (802) 254-4730
Grab-and-go lunches on Tuesdays and Fridays at 12pm.
VT Foodbank and Veggie Van Go will be at Brattleboro Union High School (Fairground Ave, Brattleboro, VT, 05301), in the parking lot, on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, from 10am-11:30am. Drive up, touchless pickup. Walkers welcome, too. Call VT 211 for more information.
Foodworks, the food shelf program of the Groundworks Collaborative https://groundworksvt.org (802) 490-2412, [email protected]
Households in need of food are asked to call or email to coordinate delivery. There is an urgent need for volunteers, and Foodworks has set up protocols to keep staff, volunteers, and clients as safe as possible. Please email us at [email protected] if you are able to help.
Guilford Food Pantry
Every Thursday at the BBCC (3940 Guilford Center Road, Guilford, VT, 05301). 5pm-6pm.
We know that supplemental food can make such a big difference in one's budget. That is why we are stocking our shelves for our neighbors. All are welcome to come and take home fresh produce, staples, meat, dairy. Guilford Cares welcomes anyone in need of supplemental food for themselves or their families.
Everyone Eats! at the C.F Building (80 Flat Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 4pm-6pm. Masks required. PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE EARLY. If you have any questions visit https://www.brattleboro.com/everyoneeats/ or contact Frances Huntley [email protected]. Organizational ordering information is listed under our Free and Nutritious Food in Windham County section further along in this email.
Everyone Eats! is a program which will distribute meals from Brattleboro restaurants to anyone in need who lives in Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Putney, or Vernon, free of charge, Monday-Thursday through June 2021.
Pick up for individuals will be at the C.F. Church Building at 80 Flat St in Brattleboro and group/institution orders can be picked up at Mama Sezz in West Brattleboro. All meals are available Monday-Thursday between 4pm and 6pm until supplies run out.
If you have extra produce from your garden, there will be a wheelbarrow you can drop it off in on your way out of the pickup site. Participating restaurants will use the donated produce in making more meals.
The meals are free, but if you would like to make a monetary contribution to help make more meals possible for others, it will be gratefully received. The base cost of each meal is $10 but any amount will be appreciated.
Each restaurant will contribute meals two or more days a week. You will receive one individually packaged cold ready-to-eat or heat & serve dinner for each person you request a meal for. Meals will be distributed cold, so if you are driving a distance, delivering to other households, or distributing through your organization, consider bringing a cooler if you can.
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Food Discount Programs
Food Resources at Brattleboro Food Coop
Our Shareholder Assistance Grant supports community members who could not otherwise afford to be a Shareholder at the Co-op. It covers $60 of the $80 cost of a Brattleboro Co-op Share. By joining the Co-op and paying the remaining $20 over the course of a year, a community member can enjoy all the benefits of being a Co-op Shareholder and qualify for our 10% Food for All discount. https://www.brattleborofoodcoop.coop/join/become-a-shareholder/shareholder-assistance-grant/
Food for All is our needs-based discount program. It gives eligible Shareholders a 10% discount on all food at the Co-op, with a few exceptions (such as alcohol). Food for All can apply to anyone that fits the criteria - WIC, 3 Squares Vermont, SSI, EBT, referral letter from a local organization. https://www.brattleborofoodcoop.coop/shop/food-for-all-program/
Contact the Shareholder Services department at the Brattleboro Food Co-op for assistance at 802-246-2821 or [email protected]
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Vermont WIC is Responding to Covid 19
We are moving to phone appointments to align with social distancing efforts. If you have opted in to email and text notifications, you will receive important program updates, including information about local office hours and changes in operations. Our website will be kept up-to-date as well. Contact your local office with any questions about breastfeeding, nutrition or shopping. Call 1-800-649-4357 or email [email protected] with any questions about WIC nutrition services and enrollment.
P-EBT (Pandemic EBT) is Available in VT
Many families in Vermont were notified that they would be receiving a food benefit called Pandemic EBT (or P-EBT). P-EBT is loaded on a card and can be used to purchase the groceries at many grocers and farmers markets. If you have school-aged kids, contact your school district to apply for free school meals. If approved, you'll automatically receive P-EBT.
If you’ve already received P-EBT and also participate in WIC, use your WIC benefits first, as WIC benefits do not rollover month-to-month. dcf.vermont.gov/press-releases/P-EBT
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ADDITIONAL COVID 19 RESOURCES CAN BE FOUND AT THEIR PERMANENT HOME ON OUR WEBSITE, HERE: https://www.wecantogether.net/covid19_resources
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RESOURCE FOR WeCAN
Rapid Response Text Alert System
When WeCAN began, Song & Solidarity set up a Rapid Response Text Alert System for WeCAN Groups. Directions for signing up are on WeCAN's website, here: https://www.wecantogether.net/rapid_response. We are grateful to Song and Solidarity for providing this service.
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ONGOING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
Indigo Radio
Sundays at 12pm on Brattleboro Community Radio 107.7FM. To stream live, visit: www.wvew.org
Indigo Radio, deepening understanding and making connections! IndigoRadio is a group of area educators seeking to learn through engaging with others in our community and throughout the world. We will be talking about educational and social issues both globally and locally and connecting them to our lives and Brattleboro community. Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indigoradiowvew/. For archive recordings of past shows: https://soundcloud.com/user-654648353.
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Just a reminder to our group leaders: please get your Spring events in ASAP! Thank you!
Your Friendly WeCAN Admins,
Joanna and Sam
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