SerVermont - Foundation for a Resilient Montpelier VISTA

Montpelier was devastated by flooding in 2023 and community members are determined that the next time the rivers rise things will be different. How can Vermont¿s Capital City that lies right on the banks of the Winooski River thrive in the face of an increased threat of hazardous weather? And, how can the community rally together to implement priorities that make the City more resilient and vibrant? Foundation for a Resilient Montpelier (FRM) was formed to help answer these questions. The VISTA Volunteer at the Foundation will make an out-sized contribution to this work through accessible public communication, deep public engagement, and inclusive project implementation.
Foundation for a Resilient Montpelier is an action-oriented organization established to create a healthy and resilient City through facilitating democratic engagement, supporting community-led initiatives, and gathering and distributing resources. Projects range from the hyper-local, organizing of small neighborhood organizations through Montpelier Neighbor Net, to regional watershed-based work to rally surrounding communities together to collaborate on flood resilience projects. Also underway are projects to make the City more resilient through a rivers-edge planning process and creating a path to flood-proof downtown buildings. Foundation for a Resilient Montpelier has a dynamic board made up of some of the best and brightest leaders in the City. A full-time Executive Director guides project design and implementation. The small size of the organization creates tremendous opportunity for a VISTA to provide a diverse array of services across a variety of projects. The learning and experiential opportunities are almost limitless.