Overview
The Vermont Community Data Assessment is an initiative led by the Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VT PoC) in partnership with faculty and students from the University of Vermont (UVM). Building on VT PoC’s surveys and research from 2022 and 2024, the project combines community-collected and publicly available data to make BIPOC experiences and contributions in Vermont more visible.
Supported by a grant from the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships, this project responds to a critical moment in Vermont’s growth: Vermont’s demographic shift is happening faster than institutions are adapting. Right now, Vermont policymakers, nonprofits, and private businesses are trying to serve a population they cannot fully see or understand. Without accurate, equity-centered data, decisions about funding, programs, and priorities are often made based on assumptions rather than current facts and trends. The result is that too many BIPOC Vermonters, especially those in rural areas, are left out of the story and the solutions. Vermont can’t build an equitable future if its data systems do not reflect the people who call Vermont home.
By centering lived experiences and integrating community data with broader datasets, the Vermont Community Data Assessment challenges outdated narratives about Vermont and helps ensure that future decisions reflect the people who call this state home. A BIPOC Data Advisory Group, representing both urban and rural communities, will guide the project to ensure that the data reflects lived experiences, informs decision-making, and supports inclusive policy development across the state.
Goals
- Awareness of BIPOC Data Sources: Identify and analyze existing BIPOC data in Vermont to create a clearer picture of the community’s contributions and experiences.
- Broad Data Access: Share VT PoC data through a comprehensive report and an interactive online visualization platform accessible to the public.
- Sustainable Data Collection: Develop a longitudinal data collection and analysis strategy that can be implemented biennially, ensuring continued insights into BIPOC communities.
- Community Engagement: Strengthen participation and leadership of BIPOC Vermonters in data collection and analysis, particularly through the Advisory Group, to ensure culturally grounded and trustworthy results.
Deliverables
- State of BIPOC Data in Vermont Report: A printed and digital report summarizing findings.
- Interactive Data Visualization Webpage: A publicly accessible digital platform that allows users to explore data through charts, maps, and other visualizations.
- Longitudinal Data Collection Strategy: A framework for ongoing data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- BIPOC Data Advisory Group: A community-led advisory group of up to 15 members guiding data interpretation, ensuring cultural integrity, and playing an ongoing role in setting priorities for future data collection work.
