VERMONT PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR NETWORK

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. THE FINANCIAL LITERACY SERIES INCLUDED WORKSHOPS RANGING FROM HOUSING FINANCING TO LIFE INSURANCE AND TAX PREPARATION. IN TOTAL THERE WERE 9 VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS, WHICH ATTRACTED 30 INDIVIDUALS. THE THINGS IN BETWEEN VIDEO SERIES INCLUDED ON-DEMAND EDUCATIONAL SHORT- FORM VIDEOS TO CREATE AWARENESS ABOUT NEW RESOURCES PRIMARILY FROM THE STATE OF VERMONT, SUCH AS THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, MYVOTERPAGE.COM, AND NEW SHARED EQUITY HOUSING GUIDELINES. A LEGAL WEBINAR SERIES WAS HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VERMONT LAW AND GRADUATE SCHOOL'S VERMONT SMALL BUSINESS LAW CENTER. THE MONTHLY SERIES SUPPORTED QUESTIONS FROM SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IDENTIFIED FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS SURVEY AND LISTENING SESSIONS CONDUCTED IN 2023. TOPICS RANGED FROM CONTRACT LAW TO DIGITAL PRIVACY. 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 REPORT THAT ANALYZED THE STATEWIDE SURVEY AND FOCUS GROUP DATA ON WHAT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS NEED WAS PUBLISHED. VT POC CONTINUED 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. VT POC HOSTED AND FACILITATED MONTHLY AFFINITY SPACES FOR VERMONT-BASED AMERICORPS MEMBERS TO MEET AND SHARE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. A NEW SERIES TO SUPPORT PHYSICAL WELLNESS WAS CREATED. VTPOC PARTNERED WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES SUCH AS PETRA CLIFFS AND ALIGN CYCLING TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO HEALTHY SPACES. THE ANNUAL VT POC AUGUST KICK BACK EVENT TO CELEBRATE COMMUNITY AND FAMILY WAS ATTENDED BY 150 INDIVIDUALS. THE EVENT INCLUDED A RESOURCE FAIR TO CREATE AWARENESS OF BUSINESSES AND RESOURCES, SUCH AS THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, BURLINGTON ELECTRIC, AND THREE LOCAL BUSINESSES. ONE-ON-ONE DIRECT SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WAS PROVIDED, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS PLANNING, RESOURCE NAVIGATION, AND BUSINESS SCALING. FLOOD RECOVERY SUPPORT WAS OFFERED TO APPROXIMATELY 31 BUSINESS OWNERS FROM OCTOBER THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023.