Wardboro Turns Up event September 17
On Thursday, September 17, all Wardsboro community members are invited to a free community dinner and the opportunity to be an active participant in sharing and developing ideas for the future of Wardsboro.
The “Wardsboro Turns Up” process is a three-month initiative to help the community connect, choose priorities, and take action for the future. During the first meeting, community members will gather to brainstorm ideas for the town’s future. The process continues on Thursday, October 15, when attendees come back together to champion action ideas and choose top priorities. Finally, on Thursday, November 5, community members will build action plans and form local task force groups to implement them with help from experts and resource providers. The process is facilitated by the Community Visit program of the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), a neutral nonprofit organization that has supported community-led processes in over 100 Vermont towns.
Community members are encouraged to join forums on September 17 at the Wardsboro Town Hall and Methodist Church to discuss what is working well, challenges in the community, and opportunities to take action. All are invited and welcome to help shape the future of the town. This includes year-round and seasonal residents, business owners, those that work in town, youth and students, and anyone who cares about Wardsboro. Attendees will be joined by a visiting team of state, regional, federal, and nonprofit leaders who will listen, share reflections, and support the community as they begin this work.
The forum topics for September 17 were chosen by a group of Wardsboro community members. Community members are invited to join any of the following sessions:
- 4:30 to 6 pm – a Schools & Childcare forum and a Businesses & Jobs forum
- 6 to 7 pm – free community dinner with live music
- 7 to 8:30 pm – a Community & Recreation forum and a Housing & Affordability forum
For those unable to attend in person, there will be a separate Zoom forum covering all four forum topics at 7 pm. Community members can also share ideas through an online survey. A link to the login info for the Zoom forum, online survey, and more details about the process can be found at bit.ly/WardsboroTurnsUp.
Childcare will be provided at the library during the forums. If a ride to the event is needed, call Bette Parsons at (802) 896-6202. Interpretation or other accommodations are available by request by contacting Alyssa at alyssa@vtrural.org or call/text (802) 222-6896.
The Wardsboro Selectboard invited the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) to conduct this community visit process. VCRD is a non-partisan nonprofit helping Vermont communities develop capacity for a prosperous and sustainable future. Learn more about VCRD and Community Visit process at https://www.vtrural.org/community-visits/.
For more information go to bit.ly/WardsboroTurnsUp, or contact Alyssa Johnson at VCRD at (802) 222-6896 or alyssa@vtrural.org.
