This initiative is sponsored in part by Passumpsic Bank & Community National Bank
EVENT SCHEDULE:
9:00 AM Conference Welcome
Abigail Long, Executive Director, Kingdom Trail Association and Board Chair, NEK Collaborative
Jennifer Carlo, Executive Director, NEK Collaborative
The NEK Collaborative is a convening organization that seeks to improve the quality of life for all residents of the NEK through coordinated economic and community development. Our vision is a strong, vibrant Northeast Kingdom where we all thrive.
9:20 AM Keynote Panel: Housing
Jim Kisch, President and CEO, Passumpsic Bank
Linda Ramsdell, Headwaters Community Trust
Dr. Umair Malik, Newport Housing Committee
Mike Morin, Northern Forest Center
Mike Reddy, Northeast Kingdom Organizing (NEKO), HCT, and Wheelock Mountain Farm
10:30 AM Breakout Sessions
A: The Village Trust Initiative in the NEK
Nicole Gratton, Preservation Trust of Vermont
Kaziah Haviland, Vermont Council on Rural Development
Gary Briggs and Tina Breault, Lunenburg
Annie McLean, Greensboro Bend
Nancy Hill and Jane John, The Bend Revitalization Initiative (BRI)
The Village Trust Initiative is a federally-funded partnership of the Preservation Trust of Vermont, Vermont Council on Rural Development, and the Vermont Community Foundation that will support twenty Vermont communities to form a Community Trust and undertake a transformational revitalization project in historic villages. Two of the first seven VTI communities are in the NEK, in Essex and Orleans Counties! Come learn from PTV, VCRD, and these NEK communities about this program and ways to revitalize your community.
B. Flood Recovery and Resilience for the Future
Heather Lindstrom, KURRVE Co-Chair
Misty Grassley, KURRVE Coordinator
Paige Hartsell, KURRVE Executive Committee
Terri Lavely, Northeast Kingdom Human Services
Kingdom United Resilience & Recovery Effort (KURRVE) is a long-term disaster recovery group and collaboration of partners and neighbor-to-neighbor networks serving the NEK. In July 2024 alone, nearly 1,000 primary homeowners registered for FEMA assistance. Approximately 20% of registrants will need long-term recovery assistance, and all our affected neighbors need our support as they recover. Come hear stories of success and the impact of neighbors helping neighbors. How can you and your organization commit to supporting recovery and preparing for events of the future? Let’s have an action-oriented discussion.
C. Racial Literacy, a Healing Practice
Sha’an Mouliert, The Root Social Justice Center
Until the last few years, you’d hear, “We have made so much progress; I don’t think racism is a problem anymore”. How often have we heard, “I’m not racist” or “I have Black and Brown friends? Most people fail to recognize or act on racial micro-aggressions because the stress of negotiating such conflicts is extremely high due to fears of incompetence, public exposure, and accusation. This introductory workshop to explore the challenges facing people of color living in Vermont. Using cultural humility practices, participants will be introduced to a foundational understanding to develop their racial literacy skills.
D. Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap
Abby Long, Executive Director, Kingdom Trail Association and NEK Collaborative Board Chair
Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
As established in Act 183 of 2022, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) embarked on a 2 year, robust public engagement process to identify opportunities to help Vermont chart a path forward to protect the long-term viability of our forest industry – and the many benefits it provides to the state’s environment, economy, and quality of life. The outcome of this process is the Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap which has identified actionable strategies to strengthen, modernize, promote, and protect Vermont’s forest products sector and the broader forest economy, including outdoor recreation.
E. Vermont Healthcare Transformation, Act 167
Tom Frank, CEO, North Country Hospital
Learn more about the recent recommendations about rural healthcare in Vermont and their potential impact on the NEK, the hospital's response, and future plans. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions, express concerns, and learn about future actions to be taken.
12:00 PM Lunch/Tabling
1:15 PM Breakout Sessions
A: Vermont State University- Updates and Looking to the Future
Dr. Nolan Atkins, Provost and Chief Academic Office, Vermont State University
The Vermont State University campuses have been through years of transformation to reimagine the University’s structure and support Vermont’s social and economic needs. In the NEK we continue to advocate for a strong higher education presence in the Kingdom at VTSU-Lyndon and to support that campus in any way we can. VTSU is working on several planning and community engagement processes to imagine the future of their facilities, their programs, and their relationships with the surrounding communities. Come hear updates on what’s going on at VTSU, and bring your questions!
B. Community Hubs
Juliet Emas, Executive Director, St. Johnsbury Community HUB
Angela Rutherford, Barton Hub Rep
Monique Cotnoir, Barton Hub Rep
Kathy Phillips, Barton Hub Rep
Chrissy Billis, Barton Hub Rep
Ally Howell, Food Sovereignty Organizer, the Center for an Agricultural
Join representatives from the St Johnsbury Community Hub and the Barton Hub in a fishbowl-style discussion to learn more about community hubs- how they’re organized, what they do, and how community members can join together to organize and support each other.
C. Seeking Common Ground
Sha’an Mouliert, The Root Social Justice Center
Stories have been a method of documenting and experiencing the human condition through out the ages. In this problem-solving workshop, participants will experience a sense of agency and accomplishment through storytelling. They will have the opportunity to creatively explore their strengths, identify their challenges and develop a strategy to overcome obstacles.
D. Mobilizing for Change: Encouraging Vibrant Community Action
Gillian Sewake, Director, Discover St. Johnsbury
Rick Ufford-Chase, Director, Newport Downtown Development
Join this session to hear stories of success building connections and fostering community vibrancy from two leaders of downtown organizations from the northern and southern ends of the NEK.
E. The Vision of NEK Broadband
Christa Shute, Executive Director
Tonya Ozone, Director of Sales and Marketing
Join NEK Broadband to learn about the progress toward the goal of bringing high-quality broadband to all residents of the NEK, and hear more about the next steps planned for the coming year and the digital equity program you can help with.
2:45 PM A Call to Action-
What have we heard and learned and created today? Let's generate some ideas and some plans for action in the NEK- together. We'll process what we've heard today and create some plans and recommendations. Let's take action!
EVENT SPEAKERS:
Allyson Howell (she/her) is the Food Sovereignty Organizer at the Center for an Agricultural Economy, based in Hardwick. She grew up in Orleans County, has a BFA from Maine College of Art and lives along the Canadian border in Derby Line. She's a leader with Northeast Kingdom Organizing (NEKO) and is passionate about all things food, art making and community building.
Dr. Nolan Atkins is the chief academic officer of Vermont State University. Dr. Atkins previously served as provost of Northern Vermont University and as interim president of Lyndon State College. As a faculty member at Lyndon, Dr. Atkins chaired the nationally recognized Atmospheric Sciences Department. He began teaching at Northern Vermont University, Lyndon in 1997 and was interim dean of academic affairs for eighteen months until serving as president. As an administrator, he has a strong commitment to students, faculty, and staff and is known for his integrity, vision, and data-driven decision-making.
Angela Rutherford, is a member of the Barton Hub community.
Monique Cotnoir, is a member of the Barton Hub community.
Kathy Phillips, is a member of the Barton Hub community.
Chrissy Billis is a member of the Barton Hub community.
Tina Breault has served as the Chair of the Lunenburg Planning Committee since May 2023 and was an integral figure in Lunenburg developing its first ever Municipal Plan. She brings more than 30 years of experience working in the computer and networking industry. She lends support to the Select Board through sourcing and tracking municipal grant opportunities.
Gary Briggs has been a Select Board member in Lunenburg since March 2023. Gary has also been the co-owner of Aunt Sadie’s Candles for the past 26 years. Aunt Sadie’s is one of the leading manufacturers of candles in the US. Gary is a graduate of St. Johnsbury Academy, holds a BA in Business Administration from the University of Vermont and a Masters Degree in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University. Prior to co-founding Aunt Sadie’s, Gary was a consultant with Phillip Morris USA in their telemarketing and event planning department. Before that, Gary served as the National Events Manager for a private healthcare firm and was the Events Coordinator for the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts. Gary joined the Lunenburg Select Board in March 2023 and is passionate about building and revitalizing the community. He lives in a restored 1865 farmhouse with his pup, Jack.
Dr. Jennifer Carlo has served as the executive director of the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative since 2021. Prior to that, she worked in higher education for more than 25 years, most recently as a vice president for student affairs and dean of students. Jen spent a few years as the dean of students at Goddard in the late 1990s and made the mistake of moving away from Vermont, only to spend many years trying to get back! (She’s here for good now.) To come back to Vermont, she ran off with the circus in 2017 and was the executive director at Circus Smirkus for three years. Jen also serves as an adjunct professor at Carlow University. She’s mildly obsessed with the fiber arts, and as a side gig she owns a yarn store in Waterbury and serves as the president of the Green Mountain Knitting Guild. She has an AB in sociology from Princeton, an MA in education from Goddard and an MBA from Carlow, and a PhD in leadership and change from Antioch University.
Juliet Emas is currently the Executive Director of the St. Johnsbury Community HUB Project. She grew up in both Caledonia County, Vermont and Philadelphia, PA. She is thrilled to be able to give back to the NEK in her current role. With a master’s in Conflict Resolution and an undergraduate degree in Sociology and communication Studies, Juliet has lived experience as well as academic experience. Her academic studies and research involved studying global and community conflict as well as looking at social support systems, services and representation. She has worked in a variety of environments including two urban public school systems, healthcare facilities, immigration/refugee resettlement service, victim services and more. In addition, Juliet has lived and worked overseas and has traveled to more than 48 different countries. Juliet’s work, wherever it is, seeks to explore, strengthen and support community stability. She hopes to contribute to the world's future. Community starts here, with each of us, working to shape it together.
Tom Frank is the CEO of North Country Hospital in Newport, and previously served as North Country’s Chief Operating Officer. He has more than 25 years of experience in healthcare leadership positions, including serving as Vice President of Medical Group Operations for Rutland Regional Medical Center between his roles as North Country..
Misty Grassley is an accomplished professional who has made significant contributions to public service in various capacities over the past 25 years. As the KURRVE Coordinator and Community Health Equity Coach for Northern Counties Healthcare since March 2024, she focuses on health equity initiatives and assisting survivors recover from the July 2023/2024 floodings. Her educational background includes a BA in Psychology from Johnson State College. Misty's career has included roles such as Investigative Social Worker for the state of Vermont, Substance Abuse Counselor in the Chittenden County area, and Recovery Coach Coordinator for the Kingdom Recovery Center, showcasing her diverse experience in social services and community health. Residing in Newark, she enjoys life with her husband, three children, and two dogs. Her dedication to supporting her community highlights her commitment to improving the lives of those around her.
Nicole Gratton is the Village Trust Initiative Director at Preservation Trust of Vermont (PTV). The Village Trust Initiative supports Vermont’s smallest communities to create Community Trusts and take on projects of impact in their community’s historic buildings and villages. Before joining PTV in 2023, Nicole worked in municipal and regional planning with NVDA and the Town of Lyndon. Nicole has a Master in Urban Planning degree from McGill University and a Master’s in Education from Lyndon State College. Nicole lives in the Northeast Kingdom with her family. When not thinking about how the built landscape can support community needs, she enjoys all forms of outdoor winter sports, eating and cooking with the seasons, and learning historic handicraft methods with her kids at Old Stone House Museum.
Paige Hartsell is a newly elected At-Large member of the KURRVE Executive Committee and a member/organizer with NEKO where she also serves as President of the Executive Council. She is a long-time student of community organizing and had the honor of learning from leaders in both the National and New York chapters of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival from 2018-2023. Paige has also been active in anti-racism work with the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond out of New Orleans and their Undoing Racism training. Both of these experiences have shaped her view of what is possible when collective care, political education, and understanding our larger systems are at the center of our organizing. A former farm educator and high school teacher to individuals with learning differences, she left teaching in 2019 to pursue a dual MDSW degree from Union Theological Seminary and Hunter College in NYC. Paige spent summers growing up roaming around the fields, farms, and forests of the NEK. She considers this place her home having cultivated life-long relationships with the land and people and moved here permanently in 2023. She is a digital coach on the Economic Equity Team at NEKCA.
Kaziah Haviland, is the Village Trust Initiative Director at Vermont Council on Rural Development. She earned her Masters in Architecture from the University of Texas, Austin, and her BA in Architecture and Italian Studies from Connecticut College. She has worked in the Field of Architecture, Planning and community driven Development for over 15 years. She most recently worked as a Project Manager with Downstreet Housing and Community Development. Prior to this she worked as the Director of Design and Planning at Thunder Valley CDC on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota managing the conception, design and construction of residential and commercial projects. Kaziah’s work has also explored community asset mapping, creative placemaking, and assistance in Planning and Zoning code revision processes.
Nancy Hill and Jane John - The Bend Revitalization Initiative (BRI)- Nancy grew up in Greensboro Bend (the Bend) and serves as Vice President of the BRI. Jane is a longtime resident of the Bend and serves as Treasurer of the BRI. The BRI was created in 2018 to support investment in the Greensboro Bend community, The BRI supports home improvement and new housing stock, the enhancement of the physical appearance of the Bend, increased opportunities for community interaction, and economic development. The BRI is composed of community members interested in revitalizing the Bend and includes longtime residents of the Bend, new residents, business owners, retirees, and young parents.The Bend Revitalization Initiative became a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in February, 2021.
Jim Kisch joined Passumpsic Savings Bank on October 11, 2016 as Chief Executive and President. Prior to joining the Bank, he was Chief Strategy/Information Officer and Co-Founder for Continuity, a leading provider of Regulatory Technology (RegTech) solutions that automate compliance management for financial institutions of all sizes nationwide. Continuity has been a serial winner of the Marcum Tech Top 40 and Inc. 5000 growth awards, and won the 2015 fastest growing tech company in Connecticut. Jim started his career in banking 30 years ago. He held a variety of executive positions in the banking industry for over fourteen years before joining the Minnesota Bankers Association as the president of the association’s Insurance and Service Division and Consulting Group; the association’s wholly owned bank compliance and IT consultancy. Jim serves on the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum Board as Treasurer, as the Vermont Bankers Association’s Second Vice Chairperson, Chairman of the Board of Northeast Home Loan, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital Corporator and Plymouth State University College of Business Advisory Board.
Heather Lindstrom, PhD, has served as the Public Health Services District Director for the Vermont Department of Health in St. Johnsbury since June of 2020. She relocated to Vermont during the COVID-19 pandemic to put her public health skills back into practice after working in academic emergency medicine research and teaching for the prior 8 years. Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Heather graduated with her PhD in Anthropology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, served in the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and as an epidemiologist and public health professional in county and territorial health departments before coming to Vermont. She now calls Barnet home and feels privileged to be part of the community. Heather is the Co-Chair of KURRVE, a member of the NKHS Board of Directors, serves on the St. Johnsbury Community Hub’s Leadership Team and is a Trustee at the Church Street Meetinghouse in Barnet.
Terri Lavely, MS, QMHP obtained her Masters in Management from Granite State College with a concentration in Behavioral Science. Terri has been employed at Northeast Kingdom Human Services Inc (NKHS) since 2004, supporting the mental health needs of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont in a variety of different roles. As Co-chair of NKHS's Zero Suicide team, she supports training around awareness, prevention and postvention and mental wellness. Terri is an active member of The Vermont Suicide Prevention Coalition, VT's 9-8-8 Coalition, The Executive Committee for the Statewide Strategic Plan and serves on many steering committees locally, statewide and nationally to support mental wellness. Currently she supports Training Development and Advancement at NKHS, as well as is the team leader for Starting Over Strong VT, the mental health support to flood survivors. Terri has supported mental health needs of flood survivors in the NEK since the floods of 2023, trained to deliver mental health supports by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Abby Long holds a BA in Public & Community service from Providence College in Rhode Island, as well as an MA in Intercultural Service, Leadership & Management from the School for International Training Graduate Institute in Brattleboro. Abby serves as the Executive Director for the Kingdom Trail Association, where she is motivated by her passion for outdoor recreation and abiding interest in the health and well-being of her community. She envisions a commitment to providing a safe, inspiring trail network to elevate the economic, social, cultural, and environmental vitality of Vermont’s beautiful Northeast Kingdom.
Dr. Umair Malik is the owner and lead physician at Blue Spruce Health in Newport, Vermont, a Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice providing accessible, high-quality healthcare through a straightforward cash pay model. This innovative approach removes insurance barriers, offering affordable primary care services to all, regardless of insurance status. Beyond his practice, Dr. Malik is deeply engaged in community development as a member of the Newport Downtown Development Board and co-chair of the Housing Committee. His efforts on the Housing Committee include collaborating with developers to expand multi-unit housing and creating pathways for local residents to secure individual tenancies. Driven by a commitment to senior care, Dr. Malik is also working to establish an elder care facility that follows a similar affordable, flat-rate model, aiming to support aging in place as an alternative to traditional nursing homes.
Christine McGowan is the director of Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund’s Forest Products Development Program. Her work involves improving supply chain investment opportunities for Vermont’s forest products industry and increasing the value of sustainable forestry in the state. Christine sits on the board of the Vermont Green Building Network and the Northern Vermont Economic Development District and serves as an advisor to the board of the Vermont Wood Works Council. She is an advisor to Vermont State University’s Forest Accelerator Program for forest economy startups and is also a member of the Implementation Steering Committee of the Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation’s Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap, a 10-year plan to improve Vermont’s forest economy. Christine previously served in strategic communication roles for the Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Refuge Association. Before working in conservation, Christine was a political reporter in Washington, DC and a local reporter in Texas. She and her husband live in Stowe and together they own Lamoille Valley Painters, a custom interior/exterior painting company that serves builders, architects and homeowners in the Stowe area.
Annie McLean is the Community and Economic Recovery Specialist at the Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA). Annie leads NVDA’s Municipal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Assistance and Coordination Program and is responsible for assisting Northeast Kingdom businesses and local governments access COVID-19 recovery resources and other economic development funding. Annie holds a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from California Polytechnic University and has over 10 years of community development experience. She previously served as Planning Director for the Town of Lyndon from 2016 through 2020 and has held various municipal planning positions throughout Vermont in addition to getting her professional start working as a disaster recovery consultant both with FEMA and in the private sector. Annie currently serves on the board of the Vermont Community Development Association (VCDA) and the board of Four Seasons of Early Learning, a non-profit early education organization offering nature-based preschool, infant and toddler care in Greensboro Bend.
Mike Morin joined the Northern Forest Center in July of 2024 as VT/NH Program Director to lead and support the Center’s program delivery in northern Vermont and New Hampshire. Mike coordinates work across the Center’s community investment and forest economy teams to develop and implement programs in the region. Prior to the Center, Mike worked as the Northeast Regional Director for the Access Fund where he led climbing access advocacy efforts, managed trail stewardship projects, provided community organizing and non-profit startup assistance, and pursued land conservation acquisitions across New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Mike earned a B.S. in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from the University of Maine just across the Penobscot River from his hometown of Bradley, ME, where he enjoyed a free-range childhood that fostered a strong connection to woods and waters of the Northern Forest. Mike lives in Glen, NH with his wife Amanda which serves as the perfect basecamp for exploring the mountains, woods, and waters of the region.
Sha’an Mouliert, M.Ed. Originally from New York City, moved to the Northeast Kingdom with her family in 1983. For over 35 years she’s been a consultant, community organizer, educator and artist. In 2015, she received Lyndon State College’s Presidential Medal of Distinction and in 2021, the Rutland NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award. Currently, Sha’an is the coordinator of the I Am Vermont Too,a project of The Root Social Justice Center, as well as, producer and host for I Am Vermont Too TV show. Recently, Sha’an has facilitated Racial Literacy a Healing Practice trainings with several Vermont communities and organizations. She lives in St. Johnsbury.
Linda Ramsdell grew up in Craftsbury and founded The Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwick. Linda was also a founding partner of Claire’s Restaurant. After selling both enterprises in 2014, Linda became the bookkeeper for many area businesses and nonprofits, including the Center for an Agricultural Economy and Craftsbury General Store. Through the decades Linda served on a variety of local, statewide and national boards. Linda is currently working to organize Headwaters Community Trust and translating a series of middle grade mysteries featuring a strong young woman cyclist who dreams of representing Norway in the Olympics.
Mike Reddy Originally from the midwest, Mike has been living in Vermont as part of the Wheelock Mountain Farm intentional community and land trust since 2010. For most of that time he has been working with young people in traditional and alternative educational settings–including Hazen Union High School, U-32, and Maplehill School and Community Farm. He has experience in the building trades–renovating old homes and helping cut and raise numerous timberframe structures and stick frame homes. He has also been organizing, formally and informally, to develop meaningful networks of mutual aid, cultivate affordable housing opportunities that don’t replicate the dominant landlord/tenant paradigm and allow residents to build equity, and start the first North American School of Agroecology. He works closely with Northeast Kingdom Organizing, the Headwaters Community Trust, and Rural Vermont to achieve these goals. One of his dreams is to develop a workers’ owned construction coop building affordable cooperatively owned housing in the Northeast Kingdom.
Gillian Sewake grew up in the Northeast Kingdom and was thrilled to return here after a handful of years living in Brooklyn, NY. She is the Director of Discover St. Johnsbury, with the mission to stimulate and promote the vitality of downtown St. Johnsbury's cultural, commercial, and community resources. She is a Vermont Business Magazine Class of 2021 "Rising Star", a graduate of the 2021 NEK Leadership Institute cohort, and a 2020 member of the Vermont Changemakers Table. She is on the board of Kingdom County Productions, a steering committee member of the NEK Young Professionals Network, and is an NEK Welcome Wagon volunteer host. Sewake and her husband live in Peacham Village, and own Whirligig Brewing in downtown St. Johnsbury.
Rick Ufford-Chase has served as the Executive Director of Newport Downtown Development for the past three years. Under his leadership the organization has energized a strong corps of community volunteers to address the most pressing concerns in downtown Newport. Further, NDD has become a trusted partner by the City of Newport, helping to develop the road map that will lead to Newport's long-term economic growth. He is also a Newport resident and a member of Newport City Council. Rick's personal interests are sailing, kayaking, running and cross-country skiing, and managing his family's 100 acre property where his mother grew up in Lowell and where his folks still live.
Interested in having your business or organization featured at the event? Sponsorship opportunities→ are also now available.
