Municipalities Representing 60.5% of the Vermont Population
Vermont Business Magazine As of Tuesday, March 7th, 100 Vermont municipalities have adopted a Declaration of Inclusion. The Declaration of Inclusion initiative has been underway since October 2020 and began with the adoption by the Town of Franklin. Adoption efforts are led by Bob Harnish, Al Wakefield, and Norman Cohen, all longtime residents of Rutland County.
“Our vision is for Vermont to become and to continue to be this nation’s leader in promoting and guarding diversity and inclusion, known and respected for its public efforts to welcome all people, with special emphasis on and attention to those groups who have been historically marginalized,” said Bob Harnish. “To accomplish this, we’ve set a goal of having all 247 Vermont municipalities adopt a Declaration of Inclusion.”
Following adoption, each municipality is encouraged to take action to communicate and reinforce the words of the Declaration. A number of implementation ideas are featured on the initiative’s website. To also assist with implementation, the Vermont Office of Racial Equity and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns offer advice and services, many of which are cost-free.
Supporting this initiative are the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, Vermont Interfaith Action, NAACP, and the legislative Social Equity Caucus.
In 2021, Governor Phil Scott issued a proclamation designating the second week of May as Inclusion Week in Vermont.
Additional Resources:
List: Supporting Towns and Cities (As Of 3.7.23)
Read the Declaration of Inclusion
The first 100 towns to adopt a Declaration of Inclusion:
Athens
Bakersfield
Barre City
Bellows Falls
Bennington
Berlin
Bethel
Brandon
Brattleboro
Bristol
Brookline
Burlington
Cambridge
Cavendish
Chester
Chittenden
Clarendon
Colchester
Dorset
Dover
Duxbury
East Montpelier
Essex Junction Village
Fair Haven
Fairfax
Fayston
Franklin
Glover
Grand Isle
Guilford
Hardwick
Hartford
Hartland
Hinesburg
Hyde Park
Isle La Motte
Jamaica
Johnson
Johnson Village
Londonderry
Ludlow
Manchester
Marshfield
Mendon
Middlebury
Middletown Springs
Milton
Moretown
Morristown
Mount Tabor
Newfane
Northfield
Pawlet
Pittsfield
Pittsford
Plainfield
Plymouth
Poultney
Pownal
Proctor
Putney
Randolph
Richmond
Rockingham
Rutland City
Rutland Town
Saxtons River
Sharon
Shelburne
Shrewsbury
South Burlington
South Hero
Springfield
St. Albans City
St. Johnsbury
Stowe
Strafford
Sudbury
Swanton
Thetford
Tinmouth
Underhill
Vergennes
Vernon
Waitsfield
Wallingford
Warren
Washington
Waterbury
West Rutland
West Windsor
Weston
Weybridge
Williamstown
Wilmington
Windsor
Winooski
Wolcott
Woodstock
Woodstock Village
Source: Rutland, VT (March 7, 2023) – Vermont Chamber
