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With support from the Vermont Community Foundation, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board has convened leaders representing 25 non-profit organizations and state agencies to participate in the VHCB Leadership Project. VHCB’s Leadership Project aims to build and strengthen collaboration among those leading the future of housing and conservation work in Vermont. Four day-long events serve to create a learning community and provide training on topics including social justice, equity, inter-generational communication, the legislative process, and leadership. Two leadership cohorts met over 18 months in 2016-17 and 2018-19.
“We’ve only had one meeting so far, but it’s already clear how enriching it will be to connect with housing and conservation leaders from throughout the state - it’s an incredibly talented group. Learning about each other’s work and the movement’s history will help us all build the energy, relationships, and perspectives we need to keep Vermont in the lead when it comes to sustaining our land and communities, and I’m very grateful to VHCB for the opportunity." -- Kate McCarthy, Sustainable Communities Program Director at the Vermont Natural Resources Council
“Finding the time and resources for meaningful professional development is hard. With VHCB’s help, the Leadership Academy provides housing and conservation professionals with opportunities to build their skillset and grow their professional network.” -- Mike DeBonis, Executive Director, Green Mountain Club
An inaugural group of 20 individuals completed VHCB’s Leadership Project in 2016-2017. In addition to the group activities, VHCB provided mini-grants to encourage collaborative projects featuring innovative new ideas. One mini-grant was awarded to The Trust for Public Lands for a project to provide opportunities for children from affordable housing developments to visit conserved lands and learn about the natural world.
The Trust for Public Lands is using a mini-grant from the VHCB Leadership Program to organize outings to natural areas for children living in affordable housing, like this one to the Barre Town Forest. A second group, led by Mike DeBonis, Executive Director of the Green Mountain Club, designed an on-going Leadership Academy to promote continued connection and information sharing among the initial group of participants
Mike said, “Finding the time and resources for meaningful professional development is hard. With VHCB’s help, the Leadership Academy provides housing and conservation professionals with opportunities to build their skillset and grow their professional network.”
Times Argus Article -6/9/2018
__________________________2018-2019 Participants
Colby Benjamin, Director of Property Management, Addison County Community Trust
Jason Buss, Director of Finance, Green Mountain Club
Megan Chapman, Conservation Project Manager, Upper Valley Land Trust
Nick Charest, Property Manager, Shires Housing
Alli Compagna, RCPP Project Coordinator, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
Allison Dudley, Chief Financial Officer, Downstreet Housing & Community Development
Ginger Gaudette, Property Manager, Windham & Windsor Housing Trust
Gustave Goodwin, Conservation Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy
Bob Heiser, Champlain Valley Regional Director, Vermont Land Trust
Anna Herman, Community Relations Specialist, Champlain Housing Trust
Kerrie Lohr, Public Relations Manager, Lamoille Housing Partnership
Guy Maguire, Programs Director, South Hero Land Trust
Quin Mann, Environmental Officer, ACCD
Kate McCarthy, Sustainable Communities Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council
Lydia Menendez, Assistant Director, Vermont Rivers Conservancy
Brian Pickard, Chief Operating Officer, Rural Edge
Ari Rockland-Miller, Senior Agricultural Development Coordinator, Agency of Agriculture
Lisa Ryan, Field Services Representative, Preservation Trust of Vermont
Eric Schmitt, Vice President of Asset Management, Housing Vermont
Nikitta Seagren, Operations and Occupancy Coordinator, Housing Trust of Rutland County
Shelby Semmes, Vermont/New Hampshire Program Director, Trust for Public Lands
Kate Sudoff, Vermont Department of Forest, Parks & Recreation
RJ Thompson, Executive Director, Vermont Huts Association
Kathryn Titus, Administrator, Cathedral Square Senior Living
Matt Williams, Executive Director, Catamount Trail Association2016-2017 Participants
Liz Genge, Downstreet Housing & Community Development
Leah Sare, Vermont State Housing Authority
Amy Wilson, Shires Housing
Elise Shanbacker, Addison County Community Trust
Laura Wilson, Cathedral Square Corporation
Trisha Ingalls, Rural Edge
Elizabeth Bridgewater, Windham & Windsor Housing Trust
Helen Hong, Twin Pines Housing
Steve Comolli, Downstreet Housing & Community Development
Cara Hansen, Downstreet Housing & Community Development
Miranda Lescaze, Cathedral Square Corporation?
Rob Leuchs, Champlain Housing Trust
Melissa Disorda, Housing Trust of Rutland County
Kate Wanner, Trust for Public Lands
Emily Alger, South Hero Land Trust
Amy Kelsey, Catamount Trail Association
Mike Debonis, Green Mountain Club
Sarah Waring, Center for an Agricultural Economy
Douglas Brown, Upper Valley Land Trust
Jason Berard, Upper Valley Land Trust
Jared Duval, Energy Action Network
Jeremy Hoff, Richmond Land Trust, Lamoille County Habitat for Humanity
Jane Lazorchak, Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife
Sam Smith, Intervale Center
Noah Pollock, Vermont River Conservancy
Caitrin Maloney, Stowe Land Trust
Kristen Sharpless, Stowe Land Trust
Chelsea Bardot Lewis, Vermont Community Foundation
Stephanie Lane, Shires Housing
Samantha Dunn, Housing Vermont
Katie Michels, Vermont Community Foundation
Katherine Sims, Green Mountain Farm to School