Defending Democracy in Vermont: Good for Business and Communities
Join VBSR for this free webinar focused on Defending Democracy in Vermont!
VBSR knows that democracy is good for business. To kick off our 2026 public policy programming, and continuing our conversations from 2025, we are welcoming the following panelists to speak with us about how Vermont is standing up to defend democracy.
- Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas,
- Senator Nader Hashim, Windham District, Chair of Senate Judiciary, Member of Senate Education
- Julio Thompson from the Attorney General’s Office
Just over one year into the second Trump presidency and Vermont decision-makers have doubled down on protecting voting rights, civil liberties, and the constitution. In the face of ongoing pressures from the federal government join us to learn about opportunities for your business to engage in these crucial efforts in the year to come.
We’ll kick off with a panel discussion followed by a Q&A with our experts! Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed.
Meet Your Panel
Sarah L Copeland Hanzas (She/her)
Vermont Secretary of State
Sarah Copeland Hanzas is Vermont’s 39th Secretary of State, elected in November 2022. She has lived, gone to school, and worked in Vermont since 1971 and her life and career have always centered on service. She has been an educator, a youth coach, a small business owner, and a state legislator. During her 18-year legislative career she served as Majority Leader, was Co-Chair of the Climate Solutions Caucus, and was Chair of the House Government Operations Committee. Sarah served on the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures. She is passionate about civics and has made civic education and engagement a major priority for her office. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS). Sarah lives in Bradford with her husband, John. They have three adult children.
Senator Nader Hashim
Windham District, Chair of Senate Judiciary, Member of Senate Education
NADER HASHIM moved to Vermont in 2011 to begin a career with the Vermont State Police after earning his degree from Clark University in Political Science & International Relations. During his time as a trooper, he served in the Brattleboro Barracks and then the Westminster Barracks. Throughout his service, he was a member of the Fair & Impartial Policing Committee and also was a member of the Drug Recognition Expert team. In 2019, Nader ran and served as a state representative for one term on the Judiciary Committee. He currently serves as the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and as a member of the Senate Education Committee. Outside of the legislature, he is a practicing attorney who operates a private law firm focusing largely on criminal law, along with business law and immigration law. His hobbies include writing, music, carpentry, painting, and hiking.
Member of the House of Representatives: 2019–2020.
Member of the Senate: 2023–present.
Julio A. Thompson
Assistant Attorney General, State of Vermont and Co- Director of the Civil Rights Unit
Julio A. Thompson is an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Vermont and Co- Director of the Civil Rights Unit, which enforces Vermont’s laws regarding employment discrimination, fair employment practices, and hate crimes. Julio also represents the State of Vermont in national civil rights and immigration litigation. Julio has been practicing in the areas of employment, labor, and civil rights law since 1991, and spent his first 15 years of practice in Los Angeles before moving to Vermont in 2004.
Meet Your Facilitator
Johanna de Graffenreid
Public Policy Manager, VBSR
de Graffenreid has nearly 20 years of experience as a community organizer, advocate, lobbyist, campaign director, and trainer – including with businesses and economic development entities. She has a dual degree in Political Science and Women’s & Gender Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a master’s degree from Vermont Law and Graduate School.
She has worked on issues ranging from resource extraction to climate justice, the rights of women and girls to rural economic and workforce development. Most recently she managed the Vermont Arts Council’s economic development network, the Vermont Creative Network. Her efforts have taken her across the Southeastern U.S., Gulf Region, Appalachia, New England and the Hudson Valley.
Thank you to our sponsor!
At Gordon's Window Decor, we have been designing, manufacturing, and installing custom window shades since 1986. We are a woman-owned, 2nd Generation family business and we pride ourselves on our creativity and drive to find the RIGHT solutions for our customers’ window treatment needs. EcoSmart Insulating Shades and EcoSmart Roller Shades are our exclusive brands built right here in Williston, Vermont. At Gordon’s, a commitment to domestic manufacturing with a focus on products that save energy is core to who we are. We are so proud to be a sponsor of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility as we believe that businesses have a fundamental responsibility to help build and strengthen the communities that build and strengthen them.
Questions? If so, please contact to Johanna de Graffenreid, Public Policy Manager, at johannad@vbsr.org.
Are you interested in sponsoring this event? Questions? If so, please contact to Jeremy Gerber at jeremyg@vbsr.org