2026-2029 Strategic Plan

Overview

The Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VT PoC) was founded in 2019 as a response to a community-wide call for connection and infrastructure to support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) professionals in Vermont. Propelled in 2020 by the national reckoning on racial justice and local conversations about Vermont’s homogeneity and retention challenges, the organization emerged as a hub for connection, visibility, and economic opportunity for BIPOC across the state. A network built from within, we are dedicated to advancing the social and economic prosperity of BIPOC across Vermont.

In 2024, VT PoC engaged Groundswell Change to lead a year-long organizational strategic planning process. The process was designed to create a forward-looking and equity-driven roadmap to guide our next stage of growth. Groundswell brought expertise and structured methodology to help us clarify and align our objectives, and define our strategic focus.

The Prosperity Framework

VT PoC’s next phase of growth relies on our mutual efforts towards prosperity and is powered by three symbiotic focus areas: Social Prosperity, Economic Prosperity, and Organizational Prosperity. These focus areas make up our Prosperity Framework which is grounded in VT PoC’s values of community, growth, leadership, equity, and service. The Prosperity Framework acts as a core thread that binds together the organization’s strategic plan to ensure that prosperity is rooted in care, connection, and collective power.

The Prosperity Framework visualizes the reality that when BIPOC Vermonters feel a sense of belonging and community (Social Prosperity), there is freedom to explore wealth generating opportunities (Economic Prosperity). And when our organization is strong and well-run (Organizational Prosperity), we can accelerate that connection and growth.

Together all three focus areas form a regenerative loop: Social Prosperity fuels economic growth, Economic Prosperity uplifts the community, and Organizational Prosperity feeds and amplifies both.

Defining the Focus Areas

Click on each of the focus areas to learn more:

Social Prosperity

Defining Social Prosperity

The empowerment and collective growth of Vermont’s BIPOC community by:

　• amplifying voices
　• investing in meaningful relationships
　• creating supportive spaces of trust & safety

It is felt by increasing an individual’s sense of community and belonging in Vermont.

How We’ll Get There

Community Connections

　• Signature Events like August Kickback and State of the Network

　• Networking Events like Co-Work & Chill and affinity spaces

Data Informed Storytelling

　• Data Collection and Analysis like the BIPOC Community Survey

Economic Prosperity

Defining Economic Prosperity

Sustained financial and personal wellbeing where growth is possible through:
　• accessible resources
　• shared wealth
　• empowering opportunities

It is felt by the capacity for individuals to pursue their aspirations.

How We’ll Get There

Knowledge Sharing

　• Workshops & Webinars like legal webinars and Lunch with Lenders

　• On Demand Learning like The Things in Between

Business & Professional Support

　• Business and Professional Support like technical assistance

Organizational Prosperity

Defining Organizational Prosperity

Sustaining the integrity of our mission and cultivating a long-lasting and highly impactful organization.

It is felt by the impact of the organization in the community.

How We’ll Get There

Board Development

　• Strategies for board recruitment, retention, and engagement

Organizational Structure

　• Generating organizational documents like procedures and policies

Financial Health

　• Develop sound financial operations and expand revenue streams