NAVIGATION
DEFINING PROSPERITY
by Mimi Duong
Happy New Year, VT PoC fam!
This is Mimi, your Outreach & Member Coordinator, delivering a warm greetings from the team as we kick off 2026! We hope you stepped into the new year feeling rested, hydrated, and ready for good things ahead.
Over the past year, our team worked with Groundswell Change to figure out where we’re headed next and how to grow with purpose. Out of that came a new strategic plan that will guide our work for the next three years. Because you’re part of this journey with us, we wanted to give you the simple rundown!
To reintroduce ourselves: VT PoC is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the social and economic prosperity of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community in Vermont. Everything we do is about helping our communities feel rooted, connected, and thriving – yes, even in a state where winter lasts roughly nine years.
Moving forward, our work will center around three focus areas: Social Prosperity, Economic Prosperity, and Organizational Prosperity.
Now, for the good stuff:
These three focus areas make up our Prosperity Framework (shown above) – the backbone of our strategic plan. Our strategic plan is rooted in our core values: community, growth, leadership, equity, and service. The Prosperity Framework is our way of making sure we lift each other up with care, connection, and collective strength.
Here’s how each piece works:
- Social Prosperity is about belonging; feeling like Vermont is a place where BIPOC folks can show up as themselves, be heard, and build strong relationships. If you’ve ever been to our annual August Kickback event or State of the Network and left thinking “wow, I needed that,” you’ve felt Social Prosperity in action. We’ll keep strengthening these spaces, building affinity and safety, and continuing data-informed storytelling using community voices, like we did with the 2025 BIPOC Community Survey and Listening Sessions.
- Economic Prosperity is about financial stability, opportunity, and the freedom to dream a little bigger.When people have access to resources, support, and knowledge, they can build the lives they want (and deserve!). Our first-stop shop supporting business and professionals to find the resources they need, as well as our past legal webinars are examples of this piece of the puzzle. We’re excited to keep offering culturally grounded support that helps folks gain stability, mobility, and know-how.
- Organizational Prosperity is the unglamorous but essential stuff: the part that makes sure the lights stay on, the board stays engaged, and the whole operation doesn’t fall apart. This means increasing visibility, strengthening our board, building out our internal systems, and keeping ourselves financially healthy so we can keep showing up for you.
And here’s the cool part: these three focus areas aren’t separate lanes – it’s a whole ecosystem! They feed and strengthen each other. A thriving community creates room for economic mobility, economic mobility fuels stronger communities, and a healthy organization supports it all. This framework will be our compass for the next few years, keeping us grounded in our mission and helping us build a Vermont where BIPOC folks are connected, supported, and represented in real, meaningful ways.
Our goal is for VT PoC to be the first place our community turns to when looking for support, opportunity, or connection. We offer a lot, but we also know we don’t need to hold every resource ourselves. We want to be the connector, the place that points you to the right door, whether that’s us, another nonprofit, a partner, a business, an agency, or that one friend who somehow… always knows a guy.
Think of us as a network of pipes that carries water from the reservoir to every home – the conduit that helps resources flow where they’re needed most. For BIPOC Vermonters, we’re the first stop shop, the trusted connector, the public asset that keeps things moving.
We’re really excited for what’s ahead, so stay tuned! And if you want to help us grow, please spread the word. Invite your BIPOC friends to become members. Encourage your financially blessed friends to donate. It all makes a difference.
Cheers to another year of building something beautiful together!
About the Author
Born and raised in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, Mimi Duong proudly serves as the Outreach & Member Coordinator for the Vermont Professionals of Color Network. Mimi can be reached at outreach@vtpoc.net.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
This month’s member spotlight is a feature on C Bradford Banks!
C Bradford has been a resident of Vermont for 10 years and is based in Burlington. He works in the finance and insurance sector as a Licensed Insurance Professional with a Wall Street background.
He is also the owner of Elevated Designs, where he specializes in a wide range of personal insurance services, including health, life, long-term care, dental, vision, disability income, and Medicare Advantage and Supplemental plans.
news FROM THE NETWORK
Looking for 2026 Spotlights!
VT PoC is looking to spotlight BIPOC community members in Vermont through our Saturday social media features and monthly newsletter!
Social Media Spotlights: Please email outreach@vtpoc.net or DM us on Instagram!
Don’t Forget to Take Advantage of VT PoC’s Resources!
Looking for new opportunities or ways to get involved?
We offer a variety of resources to support you—personally and professionally!
| Other Resources | |
|---|---|
| Closing January 26: VCRD’s Climate Economy Resilient Communities | VCRD’s Climate Economy Resilient Communities supports three to five communities each year working on local climate action solutions that increase climate resilience, help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy use, and/or strengthen the local climate economy. |
| Community Health Investment Fund Emerging Need Funding Application Fiscal Year 2026 | University of Vermont Medical Center seeks to address the top community health priorities by investing in local organizations. Applicants for funding must be non-profit, municipal, or other government organizations. Projects must primarily support community members in UVM Medical Center’s Health Service Area (Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties) and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. |
| Visiting Teacher-Naturalist Program | Calling all teaching naturalists, ecologists, trackers, nature educators, outdoor accessibility advocates, and more! This program is designed to spotlight the expertise, knowledge, and skills of Black, Indigenous, POC, rural, immigrant, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. This program is designed to help us find experts who can represent identities missing from our current staff, thus broadening the perspectives shared with the NBNC community. |
EVENTS
January 6 — VT PoC Pop-Up: BIPOC Yoga with BYEP
VT PoC will be attending Burlington Yoga Equity Project (BYEP)’s FREE BIPOC Yoga Classes, and we invite you to join us for these healing sessions! These classes are available both in-person and virtually.
The VT PoC staff plan to attend the in-person sessions on the following dates:
Tuesday, January 6, from 5:45 PM to 7:00 PM
Tuesday, February 10, from 5:45 PM to 7:00 PM
Tuesday, March 31, from 5:45 PM to 7:00 PM
January 8 — VT PoC Membership Orientation: Welcome to The Fam!
New to VT PoC? Or maybe you have been following us for a while but still aren’t sure about all of our resources? Join us on the first Thursday of every month for our VT PoC Member Orientation: Welcome to The Fam!
We are excited to connect and help you get the most out of being part of the Fam!
Multiple Dates — VT PoC x Petra Cliffs: BIPOC Indoor Climb 2026
VT PoC is excited to partner with Petra Cliffs again to welcome BIPOC folks to embark on an exhilarating ascent at our BIPOC Indoor Climbing one Sunday each month from 3:30 to 5:30 PM!
Please note there is a sliding scale payment with a suggested donation of $5.
Upcoming Dates:
January 25, 2026
February 22, 2026
March 22, 2026
January 29 — VT PoC Co-Work & Chill: Hula
Join VT PoC for co-working sessions! 😎 Co-Work & Chill is a super informal space for chatting, getting out of the house, co-working, etc. We’ll be at Hula Lakeside in Burlington on Thursday, January 29, from 11:00 to 2:30 pm.
Walk-ins are welcome, but feel free to let us know you’re coming by RSVPing at the link below.
Please note that this is a BIPOC affinity gathering. Thank you ✨
January 30 — VT PoC Community Catch-Up: Board Game Night
Join VT PoC for a Board Game Night at The Boardroom – Board Game Café in Burlington on Friday, January 30, from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM! Come relax, play games, and enjoy some easygoing time with community. ☺️
The Boardroom charges an entry fee of $6 per adult and $3 per child (ages 8 and under), paid directly to the café. Food, snacks, and beverages will also be available for purchase. VT PoC does not cover these costs, so please plan to bring funds!
trainings & professional development
| Date | Workshop | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Month | Vermont Joblink: Interview Skills, Career Guidance, Resume Prep, Etc. | Multiple | |
| All Month | FREE Professional Development Workshops for Artists | Multiple | |
| Jan 6 | CVOEO: Keys to Credit | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Virtual |
| Jan 8 to 15 | CVOEO: Spend SMART | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Virtual |
| Jan 13 | CVOEO: Tenant Skills (in-person) | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | St. Albans |
| Jan 13 | CVOEO: Tenant Skills | 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Virtual |
| Jan 14 | CVOEO: Sustaining the Rent | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Virtual |
| Jan 15 | CVOEO: Finding Housing (in-person) | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | St. Albans |
| Jan 20 | CVOEO: Sustaining the Rent (in-person) | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | St. Albans |
| Jan 20 | CVOEO: Finding Housing | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Virtual |
| Jan 22 | VSBLC: Regulatory Compliance Deep Dive | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Virtual |
| Jan 29 | CVOEO: Steps to Homeownership | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Virtual |
| Feb 3 | 2026 KickStartNEK | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Lyndon |
| Feb 7 | Lunch with Lenders | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Hybrid |
FUNDING & GRANTS
Thank you to everyone who applied for VT PoC’s Community Impact Grant!
Applications are closed—we hope to reopen this opportunity in the future. If you’d like to learn more or contribute, click the link below!
| Due Date | Grant | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 21 | VT Agency of Agriculture: Trade Show Assistance Grant | The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets’ Trade Show Assistance Grants provide Vermont agricultural and forestry businesses with funds to exhibit and sell their Vermont products at trade shows targeting out-of-state buyers. These matching grants can partially offset the expenses associated with exhibiting at trade shows, which provide excellent opportunities to network with wholesale buyers and expand into new domestic and international markets. |
| Rolling | Haymarket People’s Fund: Urgent Response Grants | Up to $5,000 to help grassroots social change organizations respond quickly to unforeseen crises or opportunities that critically affect your organization and constituency. Includes unexpected events, political crises, or organizing opportunities. Grants are NOT to be used for ongoing program work (including expenses the organization should have anticipated), for financial crises, a projected funding shortfall, or because the group missed a funding deadline. |
| Rolling | Nonprofit Enhanced Rebate | For eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits to purchase qualifying equipment or complete a custom project. |
| Rolling | Vermont Humanities Rapid Response Grants | Quick turn-around small grants for humanities-focused community projects. Awards up to $1,000. |
| Rolling | Grassroots Fund: Seed Grants | Support for community groups who represent a broad range of voices in their community and who are not being reached by other funders. |
| Rolling | New England Presenter Travel Fund | Supports travel costs associated with researching artistic work that may eventually be presented in New England. |
| Rolling | Community Action Team | Offers general or project support within the broad guidelines and funding provided by the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation. |
| Rolling | USDA Small Business Cost Share Program | Businesses with fewer than 50 employees and gross profit under $1,000,000 are eligible. |
| Rolling | Social Equity: Vermont Cannabis Control Board | Individuals determined to meet social equity status by the Vermont Cannabis Control Board may be eligible. |
NEWS
Poet and Part-Time Vermonter Major Jackson Pairs Poems With Soup
The former UVM prof and his wife, poet Didi Jackson, teach in Tennessee but write and cook in Vermont, too. Both pursuits feature in a forthcoming anthology.
Mountain Valley Indian Cuisine to Open in South Burlington
The former owners of Winooski’s Mountain Valley Restaurant will serve a familiar Indian and Nepali menu at their new, similarly named eatery on Farrell Street.
