Disclaimer
The Vermont Department of Libraries makes this resource available as a starting point for information on racial and social justice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by authors and members of the organizations listed are not necessarily those of VTLIB. The presence of any individual or organization on this list should not be considered an endorsement by VTLIB.
(Updated 9/24/21)
Vermont Projects and Organizations
- Action and Allyship – An on-ramp towards equity - Published by the State of Vermont, this guide has been adapted and aggregated from public and private sources, and should be considered a starting-off point for people seeking to learn about equity.
- Advancing Racial Equity - Tools and resources for Vermont’s public schools published by the Vermont-NEA Racial Justice Task Force
- City of Burlington - Equity Initiatives
- Education Justice Coalition of Vermont - Curriculum, reading lists, funding information, and other ethnic and social equity resources
- I am a Vermonter - A unique resource for persons of color relocating to Vermont for school, work, or retirement
- Justice For All - Pursue racial justice within Vermont’s criminal justice system and beyond through advocacy, education, and relationship-building
- Lost River Racial Justice - Working Groups carry out our day-to-day organizing and are open to all community members
- Mount Island Press - Vermont-based press and literary magazine dedicated to creating space for rural LGBTQ+ and POC voices
- Peace & Justice Center Racial Justice Program - Seeks to spread awareness about the inequity people of color face in Vermont and to build understanding and collaborations to undo racism.
- RISE! Upper Valley – Facebook - RISE! is a POC, Black and Queer led grassroots organization working diligently against the violently oppressive actions of Police and ICE
- Rutland Area NAACP - The Rutland Area branch of the NAACP is dedicated to the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminating race-based discrimination in Vermont
- Showing Up for Racial Justice - A group that organizes White people to break White silence, confront racism, and dismantle white supremacy. Check out their local chapters:
- The Root Social Justice Center - The Root Social Justice Center is a Vermont-based, POC-led nonprofit organization focused on racial justice organizing, community advocacy, and relationship-building
- State of Vermont Racial and Equity Councils and Commissions 2020 - List created by Xusana Davis, Executive Director of Racial Equity, State of Vermont (PDF)
- Vermont Commission on Women
- Vermont Human Rights Commission - The commission’s mission is to promote full civil and human rights in Vermont.
- Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity - A relationship-oriented training/consulting service with the social mission of making Vermont a desirable destination for all, particularly outdoor enthusiasts, tourists, conventioneers, college students, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists of color
- Vermont Racial Justice Alliance - A POC led organization with focus on mitigating the direct impact of systemic racism and on dismantling its root origins.
- Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) - Fair Housing and Anti-Discrimination Information
- Vermont Housing Finance Agency - Community Housing Profiles in VT
History Resources (Vermont and National)
- Smithsonian Magazine: 158 Resources to Understand Racism in America
- The Case for Reparations - Article in The Atlantic by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Discovering Black Vermont: African American Farmers in Hinesburg, 1790-1890 by Elise Guyette (Lecture at Marlboro College in 2011: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GCGu0AsDgk)
- The Problem of Early Slavery in Vermont, 1777 – 1810 by Harvey Amani Whitfield (Lecture from 2015: Ethan Allen Homestead Enrichment Program - https://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/harvey-amani-whitfield-meaning-slavery-vermont)
- The Clemmons Family Farm - One of the largest African-American-owned historic farms in Vermont and one of the landmarks on the VT African-American Heritage trail, the farm offers opportunities for visitors to celebrate the history, cultures, arts and sciences of the African diaspora.
- The Old Stone House Museum - Chronicles the history of Orleans County through its collections, exhibits, events, and educational programs.
- The Rokeby Museum - Presents a nationally significant Underground Railroad story tucked inside a quintessential Vermont experience.
- Vermont African American Heritage Trail - Explores the stories of Black Vermonters and their profound impact on all aspects of life in Vermont.
- The Vermont Folklife Center - A nationally-known folklife education organization to strengthen the understanding of the cultural and social fabric of Vermont's diverse communities
- Vermont Public Radio's June 19, 2020 broadcast from Brave Little State titled "Remembering Vermont's 19th Century Black Communities"
Booklists and Resources
Children (ages 0-12)
- The Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) collaborated to create Community, Connecting, Cultivating & Constructing Conversations Through Literacy Reading list (Preschool - 8th Grade) (PDF)
- EmbraceRace - A multiracial community of parents, teachers, experts, and other caring adults who support each other to meet the challenges that race poses to our children, families, and communities
- American Indians in Children’s Literature - Publish analyses of children's books, lesson plans, films, and other items related to the topic of American Indians and/or how we this topic is taught in school.
- Black Children’s Books & Authors - This online author directory lists traditional and self-published authors of children’s and young adult literature by Black authors
- The New York Times: These Books Can Help You Explain Racism and Protest to Your Kids
- Coretta Scott King Book Awards - Given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values
Teens (Ages 13-18)
- School Library Journal - Social justice middle-grade booklist
- Teen Librarian Toolbox - Anti-racist Reading List
- 18 YA Books to Diversify Your Kids' Bookshelves and Teach Them to Become Better Allies - POPSUGAR. family
- Social Justice Books for Teens – Young Adult Fiction List - A Project of Teaching for Change that provides teachers and parents with the tools to create schools where students learn to read, write and change the world.
Adults
- Anti-Racism Resources for All Ages - Created by respected librarian Dr. Nicole A. Cooke, this project includes an extensive annotated listing of books, quotes, videos, podcasts, and more for all ages.
- Anti-Racism Resources for White People - Created by writer Alyssa Klein and filmmaker Sarah Sophie Flicker, this list includes articles, podcasts, videos, books, films/TV series, organizations, and links to lists of additional resources.
- Black Caucus American Library Association - Serves as an advocate for the development, promotion, and improvement of library services and resources to the nation’s African American community.
- The National Museum of African American History & Culture’s Talking About Race - Provides “tools and guidance to empower your journey and inspire conversation.” You can explore their resources by topic or role (caregiver, educator, person committed to equity)
- Penguin Randomhouse - Anti-Racist Books and Resources
- Pepperdine University's "Confronting Prejudice: How to Protect Yourself and Others" - Offers data on the prevalence and health effects of prejudice, along with tips on intervening when witnessing an act of prejudice.
- Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources Document created by Anna Stamborski, M. Div Candidate (2022), Nikki Zimmermann, M. Div candidate (2021), Bailie Gregory, M. Div, M.S. Ed. It includes “stages” of anti-racism work, along with suggested questions to consider, resources to consult, and activities to help advance your developing quest to becoming more anti-racist.
- The Schomburg Center's Black Liberation Reading List
Caregivers & Educators
- Anti-Racist Resource Guide for Educators - Created by Hannah Assefa MEd., an educator from Milton, VT, this continually-updated guide provides resources to educators who want to think and learn more about how their teaching can perpetuate misinformation, stereotypes, and educational inequities.
- CommonSense Media Discussion on how to talk to children about racism
- Common Sense Media's How White Parents Can Use Media to Raise Anti-Racist Kids
- Children’s Perception of Race at Different Ages Chart - Accompanying Resources
- Jason Reynolds and Ibram Kendi Keynote Conversation | SLJ Day of Dialog 2020
- African American Literature Book Club - List of 304 NAACP Image Award Winning and Honored Books
- NBC Nightly News for Kids: Episode about Racism and protests
- Raising Race Conscious Children - A resource for talking about race with young children
- Anti-Defamation League - Teaching about Racism, Violence, Inequity and the Criminal Justice System
- Teaching for Change, Social Justice Books
- Learning for Justice - Helping teachers and schools educate children and youth to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people.
- We Need Diverse Books - A grassroots organization of children’s book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry who’s aim is to help produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people.
- The VT Humanities lists a number of books, articles, web resources, and podcasts on topics of race.
- Books on race, racism, and social justice - This list was assembled from suggestions by library staff throughout Vermont.
Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Authors with a Vermont Connection
- Alvarez, Julia - https://www.juliaalvarez.com/
- Bernard, Emily - https://www.emilybernard.com/
- Brace, Jeffrey - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Brace
- Bruchac, Joseph - https://www.strongnations.com/gs/show.php?gs=3&gsd=771
- Chin, Jason - http://jasonchin.net/
- Haynes, Lemuel - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemuel_Haynes
- Kincaid, Jamaica - https://aalbc.com/authors/author.php?author_name=Jamaica+Kincaid
- Magoon, Kekla - https://keklamagoon.com/
- Na, An - https://www.anwriting.com/
- Smith, Bill (Will Thomas) - https://vermontquarterly.wordpress.com/2014/03/17/seeking-will-thomas/
- Woodson, Jacqueline - https://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/
Continuing Education, Self-guided Curricula & Learning Portals
- JSTOR Daily - Institutionalized Racism: A Syllabus
- Abenaki Arts & Education Center - A central place to connect students and teachers with Abenaki history and cultural resources that have been vetted by Abenaki scholars, educators, and culture bearers.
- Vermont Abenaki Artists Association - Connects communities to the history, culture, and art of the Abenaki people.
- Project READY (Redefining Equity and Access for Diverse Youth) is a partnership between universities, libraries, and public schools in North Carolina, and they've created a 27 Module, self-paced, completely free learning continuum.
- The Equity Literacy Institute - Course on Racial Equity and Education
- Race and Antiracism CE Opportunities - Compiled by Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Library Consultant, State Library of Ohio, with content provided by state youth services consultants
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, has launched a free portal, Talking About Race,with resources to help parents, teachers, caregivers, and the general public have conversations about race.
- The Smithsonian’s Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°) - Provides educators and students with new perspectives on Native American history and cultures.
- WebJunction linked to a crowd-sourced collection of continuing education titles for library professionals titled Black Excellence in LIS Syllabus.
Speakers (National and Vermont)
- On the VT Humanities Site
- VHC has three Readings & Discussion series related to their VT Reads book selection The Hate U Give - Each of these discussion series has a number of trained facilitators from VHC who lead the discussions:
- Outright VT Youth Speakers Bureau – Contact them to see if they have any BIPOC youth who would be willing to chat/present: http://www.outrightvt.org/educationoutreach/youth-speakers-bureau/
- The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) Presenters - Randee Eddins - Founder and former Executive Director of the African American Writers Alliance and the co-founder and Arts Administrator for The Poetry Experience. Ranjii Eddins - Rajnii has been performing poetry and engaging diverse audiences for more than 20 years.
- Curtiss Reed from the Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity - https://vermontpartnership.org/
- Kiah Morris, former VT State Representative, author, performer, facilitator, public speaker, activist and advocate
- Rajnii Eddins, VT poet, emcee, teaching artist: https://www.rajniieddins.com/