Campaign for Vermont (CFV) founder Bruce Lisman will be hosting three, 90-minute, public forums next week focused on generating discussion and ideas around building a stronger economy in Vermont where everyone is secure and can prosper.
‘We’re hosting these forums primarily to listen to Vermonters who want to share their point of view, the challenges they face and their aspirations for the future of our state,’Lisman said. ‘We also want to learn from the panel of local social service providers, employers and other experts.’
The first forum will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, at the Vermont State Police barracks on Fisher Pond Road in St. Albans. The forum will feature a panel of Franklin County professionals including Jill Berry Bowen, CEO of Northwestern Medical Center, Bill Rowell, Co-owner of Green Mountain Dairy and Annette Hannah, Principal of Champlain Insuring of Vermont. Other expert panelists may also be joining the discussion.
On Wednesday, June 26, a second forum will be held at the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce in Berlin from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Panel members at the event will include Hal Cohen, Executive Director, CVCAC; Josh Fitzhugh, President, Union Mutual of Vermont; Jay Perkins, Vice President of Sales, Pike Industries, Inc.; Brent Tewksbury, Co-owner of F. R. LaFayette Inc.; and Nancy Zorn, Executive Director, Green Mountain United Way.
The final forum of the week will be held on Thursday, June 27 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Franklin Conference Center at Howe Center in Rutland. Panel members will include Christopher Louras, Mayor of Rutland City; Brendan Collins, finance manager for Wilk Paving Inc., owner of Collins Wealth Management and member of the Rutland Development Review Board; James Baker, Chief of Rutland City Police Department; Catherine Nelson, Vice President and General Manager of the Rutland Herald and Times Argus; and Rob Bliss, Assistant Superintendent of Rutland City Public Schools.
The forums will highlight the effectiveness of current policy, as well as the need to support local organizations working to meet the increasing needs of the most vulnerable, Lisman said.
‘My ultimate goal for these forums is to lead a discussion about advancing non-partisan policies that will help us fight poverty and build an economy where no one is left behind and everyone can prosper,’Lisman added. ‘We think it’s important to engage as many Vermonters as possible in this discussion because achieving real results will require real reform.’
The free 90-minute forums will include short presentations by panelists describing their work, the challenges they face and suggestions for moving forward, followed by open public discussion. Refreshments will be provided.
‘This inclusive statewide dialogue is another step toward building a larger, more diverse and independent grassroots coalition to advance much-needed, non-partisan reforms to build an economy where poverty steadily declines, wages steadily rise, and everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’Lisman said.
June 25: 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Vermont State Police barracks, St. Albans
June 26: 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Berlin
June 27: 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Franklin Conference Center at Howe Center, Rutland
Campaign for Vermont to host public forums across state next week
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