Vermont Professionals Of Color Network

VT PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR NETWORK (VT POC) EXISTS TO ADVANCE NETWORKING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITS MEMBERS, TO INCREASE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, TO GROW GENERATIONS OF BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) LEADERS TO JOIN THE RANKS OF LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT, AND TO ECONOMICALLY EMPOWER BIPOC ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS IN THE STATE OF VERMONT.

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES NETWORKING EVENTS TO ALL MEMBERS WHO IDENTIFY AS BIPOC TO ENGAGE AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER. THEY ALSO PROVIDE MENTORING AND EDUCATION SESSIONS FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH. AS WELL AS PROVIDING VISIBILITY AND ADVOCACY TO ENSURE BIPOC VOICES ARE HEARD AND INCLUDED IN PLANNING AND POLICY MAKING ACROSS THE STATE. THERE WAS AN INITIATIVE AND MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO ORGANIZE AND PROMOTE BIPOC COVID-19 VACCINE CLINICS WHICH HELPED INCREASE AWARENESS AND THE VACCINATION RATE. THE FINANCIAL LITERACY SERIES INCLUDED WORKSHOPS RANGING FROM PERSONAL FINANCE TO WEALTH MANAGEMENT AND ESTATE PLANNING. IN TOTAL THERE WERE 7 VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS, WHICH ATTRACTED 30 INDIVIDUALS. THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR PILOT PROJECT, FUNDED BY THE US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND LED BY THE VERMONT SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: OUTREACH TO INCREASE AWARENESS BY THE VT POC COMMUNITY OF EXISTING PROGRAMS OFFERED BY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. RESOURCE NAVIGATION FOR BUSINESS OWNERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS FOR THEIR NEEDS. A STATEWIDE SURVEY AND FOCUS GROUPS TO COLLECT DATA ON WHAT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS NEED. A TOTAL OF 500 SURVEY RESPONSES, AND 21 LISTENING SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED. VT POC BEGAN A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE OF VERMONT'S AGENCY OF COMMERCE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS AROUND AWARENESS AND NAVIGATION OF STATEWIDE RESOURCES, AND BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT. A JOB FAIR WAS HOSTED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FLYNN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN BURLINGTON. IT INCLUDED 30 EMPLOYERS FROM ACROSS VERMONT, AND 105 PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES. THIS INCLUDED PRE-EVENT WEBINARS FOR PARTICIPANTS AND EMPLOYERS, AS WELL AS A VALUES WORKSHOP DURING THE EVENT. THE AUGUST KICK BACK EVENT TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF THE 2023 CENTRAL VERMONT FLOODS WAS ATTENDED BY 100 INDIVIDUALS. THE EVENT INCLUDED A RESOURCE FAIR TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES WHO WERE EXPERIENCING LOSS DUE TO THE FLOODS. FLOOD RECOVERY SUPPORT WAS OFFERED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 BUSINESS OWNERS FROM JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023.