To date, 160 towns, home to more than 79% Vermont residents, have adopted the Vermont Declaration of Inclusion (DOI), according to a news release last month. In addition, six other municipalities have adopted a DOI but have used language which differs from the original to such an extent that we were not able to list them with the towns that have adopted it.
Altogether 166 Vermont municipalities have committed to the principals and goals of the Vermont Declaration of Inclusion Initiative, a grassroots group based in Rutland County.
The first phase of the DOI Initiative is ending. By the end of 2024, all 247 municipalities in Vermont will have been contacted. Outreach to the communities that have not adopted the DOI will continue indefinitely.
Phase 2 of the Initiative, finding ways to implement the DOI once adopted, will continue indefinitely as well.
To launch the second phase process, a survey was sent to the first 100 communities that adopted the DOI asking them what they were doing for implementation, and 50% of them responded — a significant number.
Of the 50 communities that responded:
84% have posted the Declaration on their town website.
78% have explained to their residents the reasons for adopting the Declaration.
54% have reviewed town policies, programs and ordinances for implicit or institutional bias.
Many of the communities were excited to share details on what they have been doing to support the DOI.
For instance, in Brandon, penalties for late municipal payments have been postponed for those with economic challenges, and civic engagement is off and running.
“We have been tackling our policies and procedures one by one to better serve the entire community,” said Sue Gage, Brandon town clerk and treasurer. “We will incorporate this work into all of our tasks.”
In Fairfax, the Select Board passed a resolution acknowledging that ongoing and intentional work is needed to be an anti-racist community. “We recognize that this is a time to listen and to learn with a goal of gaining a more complete understanding… This is the time to create space for and engagement with diverse voices and to be inclusive in meeting community needs.”
Colchester has a successful Get Engaged Program “to promote age inclusivity and diversity in town government,” said Pam Loranger, Colchester Select Board chair. It was promoted at its high school and in media and now, “The youth seats on our boards and commissions have filled up.”
The Declaration of Inclusion is a grassroots initiative begun by community members in the Rutland area.
For more information, visit: vtdeclarationofinclusion.org.
