Request for Proposals (RFP)
Independent Contractor- Community Organizer
1. Background
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston awarded several grants of $300,000 to collaborative
groups around New England under its Working Communities Challenge (WCC) initiative. The
purpose of the WCC initiative is to build cross-sectoral collaborations to enhance economic
opportunity by advancing equity. The strategy is to look at systems that are in place, strengthen
existing coalitions, and build coalitions where there are none.
Winooski was awarded one of these grants to build economic opportunity for, and elevate, New
American voices through grassroots and community driven efforts. The Winooski WCC fits into
the local vision of equitable access to anything in the city, including services and resources.
The Winooski WCC has had some successes and challenges in the last two years and now
needs a dedicated person or team to re-energize the effort.
2. Scope of Services
The contractor will work with the Winooski Working Communities Challenge (WCC) committee
(known as the “Core Team”) to:
● Work with the community of Winooski to solicit ideas
● Assemble a list of residents for WCC to consult
● Engage the community in program creation and processes
● Recruit new Core Team members from the community
● Co-develop the Core Team structure
● Set priorities and create “Action Teams” to meet those priorities
In all aspects, emphasis is to be placed on historically marginalized voices, especially refugees.
If the contractor, in consultation with the Core Team, determines that a project or projects would
be among the best tools to achieve the outputs above, they may consider projects that address
these inequities as determined by the City of Winooski and Winooski School District joint
2021-2022 Equity Audit:
● Winooski is a diverse city, but that diversity, on its own, has not been sufficient to
create an equitable and inclusive community.
● Silencing of the voices, and lack of representation, of those who are Black,
Indigenous, and/or other People of Color
● Low civic participation among those who are Black, Indigenous, and/or other People
of Color
● Knowledge and tools to advocate for rights as residential tenants
Examples of projects may include, but are not limited to:
● Building connections between Winooski’s subcommunities
● Informing language access to businesses and services
● Intensive, stipended English Language Learning opportunities for adults
● Improve access to better job opportunities or entrepreneurship, for youth and/or
adults
● Support the Winooski Parents and Student Project
3. Timeline
The contract is expected to be November 2023 through April 2024. An extension may be
negotiated. Work time is anticipated to be 10-20 person-hours per week but may also be
negotiated.
4. Qualifications and Evaluation Criteria
The ideal person or team will:
● Be self-directed and take initiative
● Have the ability to collaborate across different cultures
● Have existing connections with Winooski’s historically marginalized voices,
especially refugees
● Have the ability to facilitate volunteers to achieve an outcome
● Have an understanding of multilingual and multicultural communities
The proposal should demonstrate these qualifications through examples.
Those who do not meet the ideal criteria are still encouraged to bid.
5. Submission Instructions
Proposals must use the bid form. Proposals are to be provided in a sealed envelope to Josh
Miller, at 20 Allen St. at the Janet S. Munt Family Room, in person or by mail by October 3rd,
2023. Supplemental materials like additional narrative, write-ups of previous examples, and
testimonials from previous clients, supervisors, or colleagues are allowed but not required. The
amount of supplemental materials is limited to five single-sided pages.
6. Questions
Questions are to be addressed to Josh Miller in writing at josh@thefamilyroomvt.org. Questions
will be shared with the current Core Team.
7. RFP Administration
This Request for Proposal is issued by The Janet S. Munt Family Room (JSM Family
Room) The JSM Family Room reserves the right to terminate, modify or suspend the
process, reject any or all submittals, modify the terms and conditions of this selection
process and/or waive informalities in any submission, all as the best interests of the JSM
Family Room may appear. The administrator for this selection process is responsible for
coordination of the procedures and rules specified in this RFP, managing this process
and all other matters related to this process. The RFP administrator will serve as the
primary intermediary between the proposers, The JSM Family Room, and the members
of the Selection Committee.
The JSM Family Room reserves the right to issue contracts to multiple vendors. The
JSM Family Room will not accept any unsolicited information, in any form whatsoever,
from bidders after the proposal due date.
8. Bid form
Bid form is attached.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BDPOvbNEDnc_JLVBv_BEChqydWNM5pUk/view
The Janet S. Munt Family Room values all members of our community. We seek to create an environment that respects and honors the diversity of individuals and their unique contributions to our mission. Many of our programs serve diverse children and families. The Family Room is dedicated to supporting the effective resolution of diversity, equity, and inclusion concerns. We have a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee. Our DEI community recently held a workshop to build inclusive practices for our staff, and we continue to explore ways to make The Family Room more inclusive.