Report on Implementing the Declaration of Inclusion January 2025
To date, 160 towns and cities adopted the Declaration and almost 80% of Vermonters live in municipalities that have adopted it. Curious as to what steps communities are taking toward implementing the Declaration and becoming more welcoming, in 2024 the Declaration of inclusion Initiative, a grassroots group, surveyed the first 100 municipalities that had adopted the Declaration. A robust 50% of those early-adopting municipalities responded clearly showing that these Vermont’s communities have taken actions to make themselves more inclusive places to live, work and play.
- 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.
In many communities, adoption of the Declaration of Inclusion also led to healthy community discussions. In their responses, municipalities often recognize how the work of creating a culture of inclusion and a feeling of belonging must be ongoing.
Providing space to continue those discussions takes a different form in each community. In many, town staff or volunteers have formed committees to study and provide ideas as to how to implement a town’s commitment to the spirit of inclusion with actions and not just words. These committees are planning events, reviewing and recommending changes to language and content in town policies and procedures, and offering educational opportunities.
Several towns began holding Inclusion celebrations and events.
Brattleboro, population 12,110, has a special section on the town website, “Promoting Diversity in Our Community. It states: “The town of Brattleboro believes that by championing diversity, ensuring equitable opportunities, and nurturing an inclusive atmosphere, we can spark innovative ideas, establish meaningful connections, and bring about long-lasting, positive change. We wish to create a community where everyone is not only welcomed but celebrated.” The town hosted its first-ever Juneteenth Celebration in 2023.
Other towns are working on building accessibility, making policies and procedures more relevant, accessible and inclusive, and recognizing that town offices can foster a sense of belonging for citizens in their communities. This can include practicing respectful and positive ways to interact within the community such as the turning on of close captioning at the beginning of all meetings.
Springfield, with a population of 9,062, created an advisory committee made up of sworn officials “to identify all the ways that towns can implement the promises of the Declaration of Inclusion, says Pattrice Jones, a member of the advisory committee. The group is reviewing town policies and procedures, creating an “Equity” assessment tool, and asking residents for input on its employee handbook, town plan, and redesign of the town website. It studied and issued a report about bias at the State Police barracks after an incident in town. The town also distributed the Declaration of Inclusion to all department heads and each year the town selects a particular focus and creates subcommittees to review and report on it.
Colchester, with 17,524 residents, reported having completed Inclusion trainings with all staff. “This past fall and winter…the Parks and Recreation Department…incorporated training on discrimination and micro-aggressions with summer camp counselors and their After-School staff…and made progress on making their spaces more accessible.” Pam Loranger, Colchester Selectboard Chair reported that to “promote age inclusivity and diversity on our Town Boards and Commissions”, the town’s Get Engaged program was advertised at Colchester High School and on social media and as a result “the youth seats on our Boards and Commissions have filled up.” The Colchester Police Department has used inclusion efforts with “recruitment efforts, which involve broadening their reach in advertising on different job sites, specifically targeting an array of diverse applicant pools, including a broad community representation in its hiring panels, as well as their promotion boards, to welcome a variety of viewpoints in these processes.”
The City of South Burlington, population 20,292 included a list of equity and inclusion strategies being implemented by the city. It is a member of the IDEAL VT coalition, and they have held numerous events including a Hair Equity Project, a Juneteenth Celebration, Illuminate Vermont (an artistic event with music and food, Nites Out, library programs, and various senior events and programs. “Coffee with the Councilors” is a regular event to allow community members to meet with City Councilors.
Milton, population 10,735, its Human Resources Director, Town Manager and DEI Director attended an inclusion program offered by Abundant Sun through the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. It also received a recreation grant for DEI programming and to complete two accessible recreation facilities. The town has hosted two consecutive Inclusion Festivals during Vermont’s Inclusion Week.
Work progresses in our smaller towns as well.
Glover, with 1,114 residents has established the Glover Equity Group, created to advise the town on ways to promote Equity as well as to organize events and projects to develop a more welcoming community. It began with “symbolic steps” 3 such as Welcome Baskets and signs, to declare the Town’s intention to make their community inclusive, equitable, just, and home to diverse people. The group also supports and promotes the development of policies and makes recommendations to the Selectboard.
Brandon, 4,129 residents, was involved in the Welcoming and Engaging Communities program and worked on important civic engagement issues relevant to their community. They extended penalties on late payments to support community members with economic challenges, increased local accessibility to the town government by installing an automatic door, and says Town Clerk and Treasurer Sue Gage. “They have been tackling our policies and procedures one by one to better serve the entire community. We will incorporate this work in to all our tasks.”
Fairfax, with 5,014 community members, through its Selectboard resolved “…We acknowledge that becoming an anti-racist community requires ongoing and intentional work. We recognize that this is a time to listen and to learn with a goal of gaining a more complete understanding of the needs of our community. This is a time to create space for and engagement with diverse voices and to be inclusive in meeting community needs. The Selectboard is dedicated to advancing opportunities for education, training and community conversations around race, equity and social justice as we grow, listen, understand and consciously take action to better our community.”
Bethel, with a population of 1,942, has posted the Declaration of Inclusion very prominently on its website and in the town hall, as well as a new chapter to its town plan as the result of grant funding from Two Rivers Ottaquechee Regional Planning Commission. Their Equity & Inclusion committee received two grants for a book group and other “fun activities”. To maximize their strength, they envision hosting a gathering of Committees and towns in Central Vermont who have adopted the Declaration of Inclusion to share their experiences of what works, what are the challenges, and to get to know one another.
Brookline, population 554, has posted the Declaration on its website and in its municipal offices and explained to the community the reasons for adopting the Declaration. It also formed an Inclusion Committee to review town policies, programs, and ordinances for implicit or institutional bias and came up with methods for correcting evidence of bias.
Conclusion
Regrettably, disruptions caused by the pandemic and flooding linger as have homelessness and a dearth of housing. This has limited how much attention some towns have been able to give to implementing the Declaration. These ongoing issues are making it difficult for some municipalities to find room in their budgets and schedules to implement the necessary steps to improved inclusion. We hope that these communities can still find ways to model a vision of inclusion, 4 discover and share skill sets, and engage in outreach to those who may feel they do not belong.
As Vermont communities find ways to implement the guiding values of the Declaration, we believe that Vermont will become more inclusive and attract those who are younger, creative, and are of diverse backgrounds. And this we believe is what our state needs for everyone to grow stronger and thrive.
Additional information on the Vermont Declaration of Inclusion may be found at vtdeclarationofinclusion.org. This website is generously furnished by and maintained by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.
Patricia M. Lancaster, Vermont Declaration of Inclusion Initiative