Greetings!

People across Vermont are organizing to address the state's not so hidden racism, and to show solidarity with the BIPOC who have been experiencing it for years. Whether you want to read a book to learn more about the issue, or make a donation to assure that land sovereignty is possible for BIPOC in the state, we've shared a bunch of things that you can do starting right now.

-Kina Thorpe, Educational Program Manager
In This Issue (in order)
  • Supporting QTPOC Beyond Pride Month
  • From the Blog: Susanna Toby of Townshend, Vermont
  • Connecting with and Affirming Other POC
  • Action Highlights: BLM Community Yard Sale, BIPOC Land Sovereignty
Click here to for the quarterly Peace & Justice Center Newsletter
June 24, 2020
Although Pride month is nearing an end, the fight for LGBTQ+ justice continues, and so must the fight for visibility for people of color in the LGBTQ+ community. Here are a few easy things you can do to for the remainder of June and for the remainder of your life:

  • Add some books from this reading list that PJC Intern Moirha Smith put together of 20 Black LGBTQIA books.
  • Listen to your neighbors with podcasts like Brown 'n Out which is all about LGBTQ+ people of color in Vermont.
  • Out in the Open is distributing money to LGBTQ+ folks through a Mutual Aid Fund (click to donate or apply). They are prioritizing those who are QTBIPOC.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, and everyone should strive to do way more than the things on this list. Be sure to stay connected to organizations like LGBTQIA Alliance of Vermont, Pride Center and Outright Vermont for opportunities to learn more and support work uplifting our LGBTQ+ siblings year round, or to access support if you need it.
People are organizing to change the name of Negro Brook. Some think it is fine to name it after a white resident. See one response to this below.

-Elise Guyette; author, historian, and PJC member

We propose to change the name of “Negro Brook” in Townshend to Susanna Toby Brook.

Susanna (1750– 1855) lived in Townshend, sometimes Acton, beginning as early as 1810 for at least 40 years. She died in 1855 at 104 years old. No other black person uncovered by our research lived in the town as long as she, which makes it fitting that the present name of the brook morph into her name. We believe that an old geographic designation that pointed to African descended people’s presence in the town should be replaced by a name that tells an untold story of African Americans in early Vermont. Renaming it something that hides this history would be a missed opportunity to enrich our understanding of diversity in early Vermont and the contributions of people of color to our state and local communities.

The history of Susanna and her husband, James Huzzy (1734– 1822), includes northern enslavement, the substitution of black men for white men in the Revolutionary War, freedom gained, and migration to Vermont to build a family.
-Chuck Brewer, PJC Board Member and
Affinity Group Member

Hi everyone! My name is Chuck Brewer and as a member of the Peace & Justice Center’s Affinity Group, I would like to invite People of Color to attend our monthly group meetings. Human beings, as I am sure you are aware, are social creatures by nature which means those communities constructed via a shared experience then means that we can provide support and encouragement to and for each other. 

As a minority living in Vermont, I am constantly aware of my Black/Other-ness and I am vigilant about how it is perceived and interacted with; this can be very taxing and tiresome existentially. In response, it is my connecting with others via the Affinity Group where I can share this narrative, and others, and have my experiences confirmed and my integrity and value as a human being confirmed. As a Southerner who lives in New England, I do miss having my family around (but only sometimes!); yet, the Affinity Group can be a way for people of color to establish new families where we can still flourish and thrive as a people.

So, follow our newsletter and come join us whenever you can!

Our calendar is being updated. For this enews, please view it on our website . If you know of social justice related events happening, please  email  us events for our c alendar  and enews. Thank you!

Upcoming Events

Toxic Whiteness Discussion Group Wednesday, June 24, 12-1pm and 5:30-6:30 pm, ONLINE. These events are full. Keep an eye out for new events as we add them.

POC Affinity Group Thursday, June 25, 5:30-7pm, ONLINE. This month's POC (People of Color) Affinity Group will focus on recent national events, their impact, and how we can support each other while advocating for change. Most of the meeting will happen in break out groups (black POC and non-black POC), but there will be time spent in full community in the beginning and end. Registration required. FREE
Seeing & Disrupting Racism: A Focus on White Fragility, June 28 and July 1, ONLINE . These events are full. Keep an eye out for new events as we add them.

Fair Trade 101: Global Trade & Racism Sunday, June 27, 2-3pm, ONLINE. Explore the history of global trade: how it has come at the expense of native nations and how the Fair Trade Movement became an alternative -- ensuring producers in the Global South have access to the global market and provided with basic human rights. Click here to register. FREE

White Fragility Four-Part Book Discussion , Wednesdays July 1, 8, 15 and Thursday July 23, 6:30-8pm. This event is full. Keep an eye on out for new events as we add them.

Community Voices for Immigrant Rights Monday, July 6, 6-7:30pm, ONLINE. Join us to amplify local organizing in support of immigrant rights. Click here to register Co-hosted by PJC. FREE

Fair Trade Labels Presentation Thursday, July 9, 11am-12pm, ONLINE. Explore the differences between Fair Trade Certifications, Fair Trade Membership Organizations, and Direct Trade to help us better understand the Fair Trade Movement. Click here to register. Also happening on July 25, 2-3pm . FREE

For more info on these events visit our website or contact 
Looking for BLM Lawn Signs? Click here to fill out our request form and we will let you know when they're available.
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Humanities Council Job Openings

Vermont Humanities is currently hiring for two positions, Community Program Officer and 
Literacy Program Manager. For more information on each position and to apply click here.
Center Hours 
(reached via email or phone)
Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm
  
Store Hours
CLOSED
 
Location
60 Lake Street, Suite 1C
Burlington's Waterfront
(Next to Skinny Pancake)  
Action Highlights:
BLM Community Yard Sale and
BIPOC Land Sovereignty
Community Yard Sale Fundraiser for
Black Lives Matter
A community yard sale/fundraiser for Black Lives Matter is happening this Saturday, June 27, at Pomeroy Park in Burlington from 10am-5pm ! The event is being organized by Mohammed Shariff and Leah Ga.

Donate your new and used items (clothes, games, kitchenware, appliances, small furniture, anything that wants a new owner!). Items will be organized by suggested donation. (White and non-Black folks: donation is strongly suggested. Black folks: donation is at your own discretion). They will start accepting donations at 10am and will open the yard sale for business at 1pm. Donations will continue to be accepted as they come in.

The organizers are also looking for food and drink donations so folks can grab a bite while they shop around.

All cash proceeds will be donated to Black Lives Matter of Greater Burlington , and leftover items will be donated to Goodwill.

Please wear a mask and leave six feet between yourself and others!

If you have questions, want to volunteer, or have donations but cannot bring them to the park on Saturday, you can direct message or ask for the organizers email via the Facebook event. In case of rain, event will be rescheduled, so please follow the FB event for updates.
BIPOC Land and Food Sovereignty Fund
The SUSU Healing Collective, a BIPOC led collective in Brattleboro, is fundraising to purchase land for BIPOC in Vermont. It will include educational programming, land access, farming, CSAs and food access, restorative justice, school programs, and more.

They are working towards a "sustainable, food secure future for our people, we are looking for ways to cultivate food ourselves. A future where Black and brown people in Vermont can come together to live, heal and thrive."

Donate to their fundraiser so they can make a future where "food sovereignty is guaranteed to the next generations of Black and brown people in Vermont." They have a goal to raise $400,000 and have already raised over $67,000 in less than a month!
Peace & Justice Center | 802-863-2345 |  info@pjcvt.org  |  http://www.pjcvt.org
60 Lake St, Ste 1C
Burlington, VT 05401