The Vermont Community Foundation is pleased to welcome Britney Lux as its next David Rahr Community Philanthropy Fellow. Britney joins the Community Foundation after graduating from Middlebury College with a major in Geography in May 2021. At Middlebury, Britney participated in PALANA and Women of Color, two organizations that are focused on creating connections and fostering a safe space for BIPOC students. In her free time, she also enjoyed getting cremees with friends, having Posse dinners, and going on a hike for the first time. Britney is a first-generation Guatemalan born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. While growing up in Chicago, she was involved in various indigenous youth organizations which connected her deeply to her family histories and taught her the power of collective action for communal healing.
“After spending the past few years in Middlebury, I knew I wanted to continue learning about the opportunities and barriers facing Vermont communities,” says Lux. “I was drawn to this fellowship because I will continue to learn and make an impact through community engagement and grantmaking. I am excited to not only work towards closing the opportunity gap, but also celebrate the victories and joys of local communities throughout Vermont.”
The David Rahr fellowship is designed for a recent college graduate to gain exposure to the many ways philanthropy can be used to strengthen the economic, civil, social, and cultural fabric of Vermont communities.
“We are thrilled to welcome Britney to our team,” says Sarah Waring, vice president for grants and community investments at the Vermont Community Foundation. “She’s joining us at a vital and important time—our opportunity gap-focused grantmaking was accelerated by the impacts of COVID-19 on Vermont families, and Britney will be a key partner in listening to community need and developing grant rounds. We’re particularly excited about her geography background, due to our data-driven, place-based strategies.”
See recent updates from the Vermont Community Foundation at vermontcf.org/stories.
The Vermont Community Foundation inspires giving and brings people and resources together to make a difference in Vermont. A family of hundreds of funds and foundations, we provide the advice, investment vehicles, and back-office expertise that make it easy for the people who care about Vermont to find and fund the causes they love.
The heart of the Community Foundation’s work is closing the opportunity gap—the divide that leaves too many Vermonters struggling to get ahead, no matter how hard they work. We are aligning our time, energy, and discretionary resources on efforts that provide access to early care and learning, pathways to college and career training, support for youth and families, and community and economic vitality. We envision Vermont at its best—where everyone has the opportunity to build a bright, secure future. Visit vermontcf.org or call 802-388-3355 for more information. For information on our COVID-19 response, visit vtcovid19response.org.