Porter pursues diversity, inclusion

MIDDLEBURY — Porter Medical Center has created a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council to help the county’s hospital create a more just, welcoming and responsive place for people of all colors, nationalities and religions to work and receive health care services. It’s an initiative that started with conversations on the Porter campus a few years ago and has now taken off, joining DEI efforts at all of the University of Vermont Health Network affiliates. Dr. John Brumstead, president and CEO of the U … (read more)

Racism is a public health issue. Black communities and other communities of color have higher rates of newborn death, childhood illness, women dying in pregnancy and childbirth, and shorter lives with higher rates of severe illness. Porter, as a healthcar … (read more)

BRISTOL — The Black Lives Matter flag that flew at Mount Abraham Union Middle/High School for 30 days last November and December will be re-raised on Friday, Feb. 12 — this time indefinitely. The move, which has support from the Mount Abraham Unified Scho … (read more)

I read in the Addison Independent that some students from Mt. Abraham Union High School were uncomfortable with their high school flying the Black Lives Matter flag. And that some of those students were “excused” and did not have to physically attend scho … (read more)

I am incredibly disappointed by the discussion around the BLM flag at Mt Abe, and feel compelled to speak up. This is about holding our institutions accountable. This is about taking responsibility for our words and actions. And while it may seem extreme … (read more)

BRISTOL — On Nov. 20, Mount Abraham Union High School students organized a ceremony to raise the Black Lives Matter flag on school grounds, with the understanding that it would stay there for 30 days. After that, the flag would be removed and placed in th … (read more)

BRISTOL — Two years after passing a resolution to do so, Mount Abraham Union High School raised a Black Lives Matter flag this past Friday morning. “Today I want to say that Black lives matter,” said Bristol 10th-grader Brigette Moralez-Giron in a speech … (read more)

A walk through town reveals many signs, like our own, proclaiming that Black Lives Matter. Folks may be searching for other ways to promote racial equality, and to learn about and work to end systemic racism, other than posting signs. One option among man … (read more)

BRISTOL — Students at Mount Abraham Union High School will raise the Black Lives Matter Flag at the school on Nov. 20 in conjunction with multiple ongoing actions to address racism within the community.  “We believe that Mount Abraham needs to put more ef … (read more)

VERGENNES — Rose Archer made it clear she appreciated the fact that dozens of her fellow Vergennes residents had come to the city green several times this summer to hear her speak about the virus of racism that infects this country and her own experience … (read more)

The recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Tony McDade at the hands of police officers have prompted a summer of protests, vigils and demonstrations in cities and small towns across the country. Here in Addison County, many residents put toge … (read more)

VERGENNES — “Relaxation is a privilege. It’s complicity,” Rose Archer told the gathering of about 40 on the Vergennes green this past Saturday afternoon. Archer, a native of Trinidad and Tobago who grew up mostly in Newark, N.J., and is a recent graduate … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — In addition to attending some small-scale rallies around the state, Middlebury College Assistant Professor of Music Matthew Evan Taylor felt like he needed to respond in his own way to the Black Lives Matter protests that have sprung up over … (read more)

In early June, a group of friends and I organized a vigil on the Bristol green to honor the life of George Floyd and raise awareness about police brutality. The aim was to connect people with resources for antiracist self-education and action, and encoura … (read more)

VERGENNES — Vergennes resident Alicia Grangent gets a pat-down search from TSA guards at the Burlington International Airport every time she travels. She receives remarks about how she “might be more comfortable” if she lived in Burlington. She said she i … (read more)