Vermont Business Magazine The Climate Catalysts Leadership Program is a 6-month experience that provides new and emerging leaders with opportunities to build peer connections, strengthen leadership skills and receive project development support. Since the program’s inception in 2020, nearly 75 Vermonters have participated in this program sparking innovative projects in their hometowns and beyond.
Participants bring a climate project they are interested in developing or that is already in progress. Your focus and project may be part of paid work or something you are doing as an elected/appointed leader or as a volunteer.
Participants will have leadership experience ranging from leading projects in their communities to no experience at all. Although candidates will have an individual project or inspiration for a project, the ability to work with a group is more important than level of experience. There will be four in-person sessions with additional gatherings on Zoom to advance project work, and each participant has the opportunity for regular check-ins with VCRD staff.
Previous Climate Catalysts have included college students, retirees, planning commissioners, farmers, town energy/climate committee members, teachers and more. Interested participants may also choose to focus on a group project. The program is open to high school aged students and up.
There is no cost to participate. VCRD offers participation stipends starting at $200, with the possibility for further support based on each person’s circumstance.
Find out more about the program HERE.
Vermont Council on Rural Development
43 State Street, PO Box 1384 Montpelier, VT 05601
(802) 223-6091 | https://www.vtrural.org