BURLINGTON — The Vermont Professionals of Color Network has launched Equity Exchange, a new online portal that connects white allies offering free professional services with BIPOC professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners, and community members across Vermont.
The idea is simple. Someone starting a job search may not know whether their resume is helping or hurting them. Meanwhile, an HR professional who has reviewed hundreds of resumes can quickly offer practical guidance that helps that person show up more confidently and competitively. Now extend that same idea to a BIPOC entrepreneur who needs a stronger website, a nonprofit founder trying to understand the first steps toward 501(c)(3) status, a small business owner who needs help with bookkeeping, or a first-generation homebuyer trying to understand what questions to ask before approaching a lender. BIPOC users can browse the directory, search by service category, and contact allies directly when they find a good fit.
“People ask us all the time how they can support Vermont’s BIPOC community,” said Tino Rutanhira, Co-Executive Director of VT PoC. “Equity Exchange gives people a practical answer. If you have skills, knowledge, relationships, or professional experience, this is a way to put them to use.”
The portal is designed to be simple and relationship-based. VT PoC reviews ally submissions before they are listed, but users and allies communicate directly to determine fit, availability, scope, and next steps.
For BIPOC Vermonters, the tool creates another pathway to support that may otherwise be expensive, hard to find, or difficult to access. For allies, it offers a concrete way to move from good intentions to useful action.
“This is not charity,” Rutanhira said. “It is about sharing power, time, skills, and access in a way that can help people build stronger careers, stronger businesses, and stronger economic futures in Vermont.”
Equity Exchange is now live at: https://www.vtpoc.net/equityx/
