This commentary is by Sam Donnelly, of Burlington. Donnelly is the executive director of Building Burlington’s Future.
Burlington is more than just a beautiful place. Just like the rest of Vermont, it’s full of neighbors who are always willing to show up for one another — a community that doesn’t look away from hard problems. Burlington is a city where people care deeply and are willing to take action to make it better.
But right now, our city is facing a pivotal moment. Lately, a lot of people in and around Burlington don’t feel as safe as they used to, whether they’re downtown for work, running a small business or spending time with their family.
For some, a sense of public safety in our community is at a historic low. At the same time, we know that some of our neighbors and community members are struggling with issues like substance use, mental health and homelessness.
Today, Burlington residents have seen an increase in those experiencing homelessness, and although our average household income is around $97,000, our poverty rate is roughly 23% — nearly double the national average.
This is not OK, and as Burlingtonians, we must vehemently reject this as our status quo.
Over the past decade as a community organizer, I’ve learned that inclusion is not a spectator sport. Community building and bringing about positive change requires engagement, hard work, trust and a strategy that empowers people. It also takes an incredible amount of empathy for others, even if you disagree with someone.
When I worked for Planned Parenthood on the Reproductive Liberty Amendment campaign, I met a lot of people with whom I passionately disagreed — and many of whom the campaign won over because we took the time to meet voters where they were and took their concerns seriously, never invalidating their views simply because of those disagreements. That is what movement building looks like in practice. So, above everything else, I’ve learned that grassroots organizing can cut through anything.
That’s why earlier this summer, we — former city leaders, local employers, advocates and activists — launched Building Burlington’s Future, a new nonprofit focused on policy change and grassroots advocacy.
Our primary goal: Be the unifying grassroots force that our city desperately needs right now, so we can build a community where everyone has opportunities for long-term success.
Building Burlington’s Future will focus on a shared vision for our city’s future. Here’s our core set of beliefs that will guide our policy and advocacy work:
- We believe in a city that is safe, healthy, inclusive, welcoming and diverse.
- We believe in a city where both long-time and new residents can afford a life here.
- We believe in a city where there is ample housing of all kinds — and for everyone.
- We believe in a city that looks out for everyone and takes action when people are at risk, whether from violence, crisis or neglect.
- We believe in making access to services straightforward, local and timely — so people get what they need, when they need it.
- We believe our city should be a place where no one feels ashamed to ask for help — and where support comes without judgment or stigma.
- We believe in a city that supports its local businesses.
Burlington is facing serious challenges. They are complex but solvable — and they require exactly what we do best: creativity, collaboration, optimism and good old-fashioned hard work. This is the approach Building Burlington’s Future has used in our first few months since launch, and we’re just getting started.
We’ve supported the Peace & Justice Center and Vermont Harm Reduction Advocates to help clean up trash and used needles in downtown Burlington. Soon, Building Burlington’s Future will be introducing a Burlington City Council resolution to secure more permanent funding for this weekly clean-up program.
We’ve offered accessible organizing and advocacy resources to residents in support of City Council resolutions that make sure residents can voice their thoughts directly to our city’s elected officials. Most recently, we supported a City Council resolution that aims to bolster City Hall Park as a shared, public space, which ultimately would make our downtown a safer place for all.
Ensuring residents feel seen and heard as part of the city’s policy-making process is key to our collective success.
We’re supporting the Burlington Police Department in their revamped recruitment efforts because everyone in our city has a stake in bringing high-quality candidates into the force. At the same time, we are backing community-led initiatives, like needle pickup and clean-up crews, practical steps that make shared spaces safer and more welcoming for all, and gives residents a way to get involved.
These early initiatives for Building Burlington’s Future are just the tip of the iceberg. Our main objective is to remove barriers and make it as easy as possible for everyday Burlingtonians — no matter if you’ve lived here your whole life or if you’re just moving in — to have an impact on what’s happening in our city.
I will never stop loving Burlington and I know you feel the same. So what do you say — will you join us?
