Strengthening Montpelier’s civic culture, improving our resilience, and supporting a vibrant downtown were the headline topics at the public forum hosted by the Foundation on April 30. From those sessions came countless ideas from Montpelierites for the future of our community which were put through two layers of analysis: to compile a set of cohesive action ideas and to review the overlap with work already happening in Montpelier. The result was a list of potential action ideas split into three categories: 

• Those that are being covered by existing organizations and efforts

• Those under consideration by Montpelier Alive as they consider future priorities

• Those that aren’t being addressed or are ripe for further community action

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This was the starting point for a second community forum hosted on June 4 at the Montpelier High School. Action ideas were reviewed, the framing shifted on some concepts, and new ideas were added. By the end of the forum, participants indicated their preferences and signed up for further action. The following are the four areas that were prioritized:

• Love our rivers, with a focus on improving public access and flood resilience

• Strengthen community by supporting volunteerism

• Support our local food system, with urgency

• Support a new gathering place for teens and young adults through an existing effort named “Clubhouse Commons”

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Next, the Foundation will convene action-planning sessions for the priorities focused on volunteerism, local food, and our rivers. 

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Want to learn more, or join a group to work on one of these topics? Click here to sign up!

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