Front Porch Forum (FPF) is continuing its growth trajectory with two new hires. This staff expansion comes in the wake of many milestones, including record-setting member counts, forum postings and advertiser activity; major software developments, design improvements, and new features; and awards, accolades, and speaking invitations.
New staffers, Chloe Tomlinson, Director of the Community Division, and Ariel Wish, Sales Support Associate, will use their unique roles to fulfill the organization’s mission of helping neighbors connect and build community.
Chloe joins FPF’s leadership team as the Director of the Community Division. She is looking forward to building even more ways for Vermonters to engage in their towns as FPF grows.
“I love learning about what’s sparking discussion in Vermont towns and neighborhoods. At a time when divides are growing across the country, I’m grateful to work with a team that provides essential civic infrastructure and enables neighbors to connect and strengthen their communities.”
Chloe is a strategist with a passion for civic tech and strengthening local democracy. She spent more than six years living and working in East Africa with an organization focused on bringing together families in small towns to design and implement their own collective social impact projects. She also worked with Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign and on social impact campaigns for the United Nations Children's Fund. Now, Chloe lives in an intentional community in southern Addison County, along with 17 chickens and 3 goats, surrounded by neighbors she first connected with on FPF.
Ariel is originally from Waterville, VT, and graduated from Saint Michael’s College in 2020 with a degree in English and creative writing. In her free time, Ariel enjoys horseback riding, kayaking, writing, reading, and spending time outdoors.
Ariel says of her new role supporting FPF advertisers, "I feel extremely fortunate to be doing such meaningful work alongside a passionate and close-knit group of people.”
Front Porch Forum is an award-winning Vermont Public Benefit Corporation. Our mission is to help neighbors connect and build community, leading to more resilient communities. FPF hosts regional networks of online local forums where neighbors, small businesses, nonprofits and municipal officials post about a wide variety of topics. This daily neighborly exchange leads to people feeling more invested in their communities and getting more involved.