Vermont Leadership Institute:
Class of 2020 Graduation
On August 29th, we celebrated the VLI journey for the Class of 2020. With only graduates and a few special guests in attendance, the event was livestreamed via Zoom. Xusana Davis, Executive Director of Racial Equity for the State of Vermont, provided the Commencement Address, congratulating the class on completion of a unique learning opportunity that leaves them well prepared to make an impact on the state of Vermont. Xusana noted that leadership takes humility and strength and the ability to name a problem honestly and accurately, acknowledging when things do not go right, and knowing when to step forward and when to step back and defer to other voices. To cap off such a unique year and experience, the Class of 2020 was serenaded with bagpipes and drums, including a performance by graduating associate Molly Stone. Despite the crazy year, it was a privilege to stay the course with the Class of 2020, and we look forward to seeing where the future takes them.
- Al Belluche, Burlington, Burlington Housing Authority
- Sarah Birgé, Middlesex, Montpelier Roxbury School District
- Kirstin Boehm, Burlington, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
- Karen Ciechanowicz, Milton, Champlain Community Services
- Pam Cota, Underhill, State of Vermont
- Elizabeth Cote, Huntington, The University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine
- Morgan Crossman, Hinesburg, Building Bright Futures
- Matt Dalton, Jericho, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont
- Bryan Davis, Burlington, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
- Brent Demers, Hinesburg, City Market
- Elaine Haney, Essex Junction, Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development
- Emma Hansen, Peacham, Thaddeus Stevens School
- Sarah McClain, Lincoln, The Lincoln Standard LLC
- Corrie Miller, Fayston, Friends of the Mad River
- Stephanie Moffett Hynds, Arlington, Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home
- Monique Priestley, Bradford, The Space on Main
- Ashli Roberts, Berlin, The Alchemist
- Debora Rolland, Hinesburg, Rhino Foods Foundation
- Molly Stone, Bradford, Catamount Arts
- Shalini Suryanarayana, Middlesex, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
- Katie Whitney, Northfield, Agency of Human Services
- Jackie Zaun, East Burke, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital
Three sessions in one – coping with a pandemic!
As we adjusted to the new normal, Session 6 became a hybrid session with two Zoom presentations and panels on the economy, a two day in-person session under a tent at Lake Morey in July focused on human services and education, followed by another Zoom panel with current Department of Corrections staff. While the Class of 2020 was unable to tour Southern State Correctional Facility due to COVID, Andy Pallito (VLI ’05) and Martha Maksym (VLI ’02) joined the in-person session to share their perspectives on Vermont’s human services’ systems and two panels on Entering the Criminal Justice System and Community Response to Vulnerable Populations provided further context. In addition, a follow-up panel spearheaded by Kim Bushey (VLI ’15) shed insight into the current Corrections system, particularly the significant disruptions, but also opportunities, that COVID has created. Val Gardner, Sean McMannon (VSLP ’12), Reeva Murphy (VLI ’12) and Yasmine Ziesler (VLI ’07) served as faculty to cover the early ed through post-secondary education systems via round robin sessions before a presentation and discussion from Cyrus Patten on leverage points for creating change amid complex systems.
Session 7 was newly designed with a focus on Innovation and Transformational Leadership. An experienced and diverse team of innovators joined as faculty: Cairn Cross, Marguerite Dibble, Matt Dunne, Tom Evslin, Lisa Groeneveld, Cyrus Patten and Bill Schubart. The session kicked off with an opening panel on the future of Vermont. Moving from thought to action, associates were introduced to the concept of Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and Build/Measure/Learn cycles and were then tasked with designing an MVP with feedback from partners and the full group. The session closed with inspiring stories from current practitioners on how innovation resonates in their work and tools for success. The underlying goal of this new session was to provide further tools and inspiration for associates to lead transformative change both professionally and personally, ultimately resulting in a positive impact in Vermont, by using everything they have learned throughout the VLI experience.