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During the month of April 2003, over 250 citizens participated in one of 20 different
racism study circles held throughout Burlington. These facilitated, small group discussions focused on racism
and white privilege in our community. On May 13, 2003, over 250 people gathered
to hear the priority actions identified by the 20 Study Circles that met
throughout April. The priority actions have been organized into 8 theme
areas: schools; business; housing; media; government and civic
participation; community resource center; community education and awareness; and
celebrations, arts and culture.
Teams have been created to move to action to address racism in these 8 theme
areas. We would like to encourage broad community participation in these
action teams. For an update on what the action teams have been working on,
click here. To see the original action priorities, click on the links
below.
Schools - provide additional cultural
competency training for all school personnel; curriculum changes to reflect the
community's diversity. Click here to view the initial community
action priorities for Burlington schools.
Convener: Lyman Amsden,
Superintendent of Burlington Schools
150 Colchester Avenue
Burlington, VT 05401
864-8461
Business - Cultural diversity trainings
for employees to help improve services to diverse customers.
Click here to
view the initial community action priorities for Burlington businesses.
Convener: Ron
Redmond, Director of the Church Street Marketplace
2 Church Street, Suite 2A
Burlington, VT 05401
865-7254
Housing - lack of affordable housing
citywide, make available more information on housing programs/services for
minorities, educate realtors to avoid "prescreening" of customers and
neighborhoods. Click here to view the initial community action priorities
for housing in Burlington.
Convener: Robert Appel,
Human Rights Commission
135 State Street, Drawer 33
Montpelier, VT 05633-6301
(802)828-2480 or (800) 416-2010
Media - improve community relations through
positive reporting of ethnic, cultural and community events. Click
here to view the initial community action priorities for media groups.
Conversations on Race is available
online.
Convener: Mike
Townsend, Burlington Free Press
191 College Street
Burlington, VT 05401
660-1871
Government and Civic
Participation - Passage of H113 (Enforce anti-discrimination in Vermont
schools), creation of Equity Coordinator position(s) and ombudsman for the City
of Burlington, additional research to provide benchmarks on problem
areas/progress.
Click here to view the initial community action priorities
for government and civic participation.
Convener: Mayor, Bob Kiss
City Hall, Room 34
149 Church Street
Burlington, VT 05401
865-7272
Community Resource Center -
create a central resource to provide access to information and resources on a
broad range of avenues for addressing racism and prejudice in our community.
Click here to view the initial community action priorities for the community
resource center.
Convener: Laura Clemmons
Baird Center
1110 Pine Street
Burlington, VT 05401
Community Education and Awareness - provide
educational opportunities throughout the year through continued/expanded study
circles and discussion groups, public awareness activities and anti racism
trainings.
Click here to view the initial community action priorities for
community education and awareness.
Convener: Gretchen Morse
United Way of Chittenden County
412 Farrell Street, Suite 200
So. Burlington, VT 05403
864-7541
Arts, Celebrations
& Culture - develop a living museum of diversity, set up a
Permanent Trail in downtown Burlington that depicts the history or face
relations, "Acting Against Racism" which is improvisation drama to
raise awareness about racism.
Click here to view the initial community
action priorities for arts and culture. The next meeting will be
held on Monday, January 12, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. in the Firehouse Center for the
Visual Arts, 2nd Floor.
Convener: Doreen Kraft,
Director of City Arts
149 Church Street
Burlington, VT 05401
865-7156
Individual - support and
participate in anti-racism activities and bring an anti-racist perspective to
all activities in which one is involved.
Click here to view the initial community
action priorities for individuals.
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Page last updated
April 07, 2008
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