Vermont Racial Justice Alliance

08/05/2026

VRJAs Facebook: Vermont Racial Justice Alliance

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"Get your tickets for the Vermont Commemoration of First African Landing Day 2026" https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vermont-first-african-landing-day-tickets-1993965576716?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

Vermont First African Landing Day will take place on August 22, 2026, at Intervale Center from 12:00 till 5:00 PM in Burlington, Vermont. https://firstafricanlandingvt.org/

The 2026 theme, "Press On," is inspired by the Adinkra symbol Owo Foro Adobe—a timeless call to steadfastness, prudence, diligence, and the courage to accomplish the impossible.

Join the community for food, music, dancing, speakers, exhibits, drumming and a youth “Hang-out” area. All are welcome to attend.






First African Landing Vermont
Intervale Center
Richard Kemp Center
The Rutland Area NAACP
City of Burlington's REIB Office
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington Vermont
Human Rights Commission, Vermont
Food Not Bombs Burlington
People's Kitchen
NOFA-VT
Vermont Interfaith Action
Peace & Justice Center
Liberation Ecosystem
Migrant Justice / Justicia Migrante
The Root Social Justice Center
Hampton History Museum
Project 1619 Inc.
400 Years of African American History Commission

An annual commemoration of the1619 arrival of the first Black folks to enter the English colonies on the 250 Anniversary of the U.S.

07/30/2026

Help with the 8th consecutive First African Landing Day; Community Voices on Health and Wellness - https://mailchi.mp/vtracialjusticealliance.org/first-african-landing-2026-launch-6430012

07/30/2026

First African Landing Day
https://firstafricanlandingvt.org/

Tickets
https://FALDVT.eventbrite.com

The 1619 Traveling Exhibit will open at the Richard Kemp Center on August 1st at 6:30 PM.

https://firstafricanlandingvt.org/1619-arrival-of-the-first-africans-traveling-exhibit-2022/

City of Burlington's REIB Office Vermont Professionals of Color Network The Rutland Area NAACP Project 1619 Inc. Hampton History Museum Richard Kemp Center Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture UVM Black Student Union UVM Larner College of Medicine Intercultural Excellence The Root Social Justice Center Abolish Slavery National Network Faith in Action UVM Medical Center - 1 South Prospect Street University of Vermont United Way of Northwest Vermont AALV.Inc.

07/21/2026

Freedom and Justice

The Truth and Justice Series is a year-long journey that explores the profound importance of truth in confronting our shared history, including the enduring legacy of slavery and systemic injustice, and the urgency of creating justice where it has been absent.

The Truth and Justice Series meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at the Richard Kemp Center. Each session includes thought-provoking discussion, reflection, and practical guidance on applying the principles of truth and justice in personal, community, and societal contexts.

This month, Rev. Mark Hughes’ Truth and Justice Series lecture, “What to the Descendant of Slavery is the 250th Anniversary of the United States,” examines the meaning of America’s 250th anniversary through the lens of slavery, Reconstruction, civil rights, and democratic retreat. It reflects on how this nation has repeatedly proclaimed freedom while failing to secure justice, equal protection, and real democracy for the descendants of slavery. The lecture also connects that national history to the present moment and to Vermont’s unfinished civil-rights work, calling for truth, accountability, and stronger protections against systemic injustice

All are welcome.

Truth demands accountability. Justice requires intentionality.

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8HH3ZuGRRFCjMF3FPsbP2w


Join us every 4rd Tuesday!
Tuesday 21 July, 2026
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Richard Kemp Center







City of Burlington's REIB Office The Rutland Area NAACP Howard Center King Street Center Ben & Jerry's Burton CVOEO Richard Kemp Center Vermont Workers' Center Vermont Growers Association First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington Vermont Human Rights Commission, Vermont Food Not Bombs Burlington Peace & Justice Center 350 Burlington, VT Vermont Professionals of Color Network The Root Social Justice Center People's Kitchen Vermont Environmental Justice Network NOFA-VT Vermont Interfaith Action Faith in Action Migrant Justice / Justicia Migrante Abolish Slavery National Network NewEngland Ncobra

07/05/2026

Save the Date

The Vermont Commemoration of First African Landing Day will be August 22, 2026 at Intervale Center!

Theme: Press On

Here is the Volunteer Sign-up and Tabling request
https://forms.gle/VybhxFw3MzvB98ch8

See Governor Scott's proclamation here: https://bit.ly/4fiCviy





Intervale Center
Richard Kemp Center
Vermont Professionals of Color Network
The Root Social Justice Center The Rutland Area NAACP
City of Burlington's REIB Office Vermont Workers' Center
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington Vermont
Human Rights Commission, Vermont
Food Not Bombs Burlington
People's Kitchen
NOFA-VT
Vermont Interfaith Action
Faith in Action
Peace & Justice Center
Migrant Justice Justicia Migrante
Rural Vermont
Liberation Ecosystem
Vermont Council on Rural Development
Greater Burlington YMCA
First African Landing Vermont
Hampton History Museum
Project 1619 Inc.
400 Years of African American History Commission

06/23/2026

TONIGHT

Truth and Justice Series

The Truth and Justice Series is a year-long journey that explores the profound importance of truth in confronting our shared history, including the enduring legacy of slavery and systemic injustice, and the urgency of creating justice where it has been absent.

The Truth and Justice Series will meet on the 4th Tuesday of each month, from 5:30 till 7:30 PM at the Richard Kemp Center. Each session will include thought-provoking discussions, opportunities for reflection, and practical guidance on applying the principles of truth and justice in personal, community, and societal contexts.

This month: “The Thing About The 4th of July”

What does the 4th of July mean in a nation that has declared freedom while repeatedly denying democracy, equal protection, and justice to so many? This session will examine the truth about America’s highest ideals, its brief democratic breakthroughs, and the repeated backlash that has stripped freedom of substance. From slavery and Reconstruction to Jim Crow, the civil rights movement, today’s attacks on voting rights, equal protection, and civil-rights enforcement, we will wrestle with the question: what are we really celebrating, and what work remains undone?

All are welcome.

Truth demands accountability. Justice requires intentionality.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8HH3ZuGRRFCjMF3FPsbP2w
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.







City of Burlington's REIB Office The Rutland Area NAACP Howard Center King Street Center Ben & Jerry's Burton CVOEO Richard Kemp Center Vermont Workers' Center Vermont Growers Association First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington Vermont Human Rights Commission, Vermont Food Not Bombs Burlington Peace & Justice Center 350 Burlington, VT Vermont Professionals of Color Network The Root Social Justice Center People's Kitchen Vermont Environmental Justice Network NOFA-VT Vermont Interfaith Action Faith in Action Abolish Slavery National Network NewEngland Ncobra Migrant Justice / Justicia Migrante

06/04/2026

Community Discussions on Health and Wellness

Centering the Safety, Health, and Wellness of Black People

Open and ongoing community dialogue is essential to building a comprehensive and effective alternative to the harmful narratives and failed policies that continue to impact our communities. These policies contribute to inequity, undermine public safety, and disproportionately harm Black residents.

A recently released Burlington Police Department report found that Black residents accounted for a disproportionately high share of arrests and use-of-force incidents relative to their share of overall police interactions. These findings raise serious concerns about the continued impact of policing practices on Burlington's Black community and underscore the need for honest community conversation, accountability, and solutions.

Join us for a community discussion focused on the health, safety, and wellness of Black people in Burlington and throughout Vermont.

When: Saturday, 6 June
First Saturday of Every Month
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: Richard Kemp Center

Together, we will examine the realities facing our community, share experiences, discuss alternatives, and explore pathways toward justice, healing, and true public health and wellness.

All are welcome

The Rutland Area NAACP
ACLU-Vermont
The Root Social Justice Center
Disability Rights Vermont
MadFreedom Advocates
Outright Vermont
Peace & Justice Center
350 Burlington, VT
Food Not Bombs Burlington
Vermont Workers' Center
Burlington Community Justice Center
People's Kitchen
Human Rights Commission, Vermont
City of Burlington's REIB Office
Richard Kemp Center
Vermonters for Justice in Palestine

05/20/2026

Raise Up Justice
A Movement to Reclaim Democracy
Organizing Meeting

Thursday 21 May, 2026
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Richard Kemp Center
Join us every 3rd Thursday!

Did you know that this regime has eliminated all federal civil rights enforcement as we have known them? On April 29th the US Supreme Court passed a decision that rendered the Voting Rights Act of 1965 useless.

Without civil rights there can be no democracy! We have learned that civil rights, policies and programs to redress the harm caused by our history of slavery, Jim Crow and segregation are necessary if we are to have any hope for multiracial democracy. Assertions that they are zero sum policies that cause harm to white men are only intended to divide this nation and better enable the most powerful to gain absolute power.

Today's civil rights movement must be a movement that teaches the truth about our national history. This movement pedagogy must be one which insists that the legacy of slavery (systemic racism) is inextricably bound to civil rights and that civil rights epitomize democracy. The civil rights movement of today must be a movement that creates and maintains systems of protection, aid and and support in local communities. This movement must hold state and local officials accountable and insist that they use their power to protect and defend the people they serve.

The objectives of this movement include:

Education on the legacy of slavery, its relationship to civil rights and how they undergird our democracy

Community Resilience - Mutual aid, social, economic, spiritual, emotional and legal support

Anti-racist & anti-oppression programs; Civil rights, racial justice and disparate impact policies, and effective Oversight of Law Enforcement at State/municipal and Organizational levels.

Remote users can register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pcOqrqjgoEt2RKp3ga2M--Y4UKZscYcus

Agenda:
Welcome (5 minutes)
Intros (10 minutes)
Civil Rights Updates (15 Minutes)
A Multi-racial Democracy (30 minutes)
Mutual Aid and Community Resilience Updates and Discussion (20) Minutes
Demands - Shield Vermont and other initiative (30 minutes)
Next Steps (10 minutes)

Sign on the the Movement here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEjnhvXVrzVqAsU42-E37IWozT2G-NuBw5I-NrJ4yEXaz_jg/viewform?usp=header

https://raiseupjusticevt.org/

Find our Executive Order Analysis HERE:
https://vtracialjusticealliance.org/eo-data-dashboards/

Shield Vermont

The legislature has completed work on the Equal Protection Constitutional Amendment (PR.4). We’ll discuss what happens next in our demands update.

City of Burlington's REIB Office The Rutland Area NAACP Howard Center King Street Center Ben & Jerry's Burton CVOEO Richard Kemp Center Vermont Workers' Center Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Vermont Growers Association First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington Vermont Human Rights Commission, Vermont Food Not Bombs Burlington Peace & Justice Center 350 Burlington, VT Vermont Professionals of Color Network The Root Social Justice Center Vermont Poor People's Campaign: National Call For Moral Revival People's Kitchen Vermont Environmental Justice Network NOFA-VT Vermont Interfaith Action Faith in Action