100 Vermont cities and towns adopt a Declaration of Inclusion

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