Meeting the Moment Together: Uniting Businesses for Community Impact
Are you a community-minded business, employee, or entrepreneur who wants to make a positive impact—but aren’t sure where to start?
Join us on November 18th for an in-person workshop designed to help you connect with peers, find direction, and gain a sense of agency as you explore how to create meaningful change in your local community.
Hosted by United Way of Northwest Vermont, Hula, and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, this event will enlighten participants on what community engagement can look like, and offer insights into how businesses and individuals can build impactful, long-lasting partnerships with nonprofits.
What to Expect
You will learn from United Way’s program Common Good Vermont which has been convening and supporting Vermont’s nonprofit sector and advising the state on how local nonprofits are being impacted by federal actions and what community members can do to help.
In a time marked by uncertainty and challenge, this workshop will highlight why intentional, community engagement matters. We’ll look at the differences between individual and organizational approaches to engagement, and explore accessible ways to get involved—from volunteering and donating to establishing strategic, long-term partnerships.
Together, we can move from intention to impact.
The event will include a case study panel on an impactful business/nonprofit partnership between Champlain Housing Trust, EastRise Credit Union, and CVOEO. You will learn how these organizations have worked together to enhance and encourage homeownership for households of color through the Homeownership Equity Program.
Thank you to our speakers!
Julie Curtin, Director of Homeownership, Champlain Housing Trust
Julie is Director of Homeownership at Champlain Housing Trust (CHT). She joined CHT in October 2021. She was most recently the Chief Operating Officer and interim Chief Executive Officer of Downstreet Housing and Community Development in Barre and before that was Director of Legal Services at the Vermont Land Trust. She has also worked for Legal Aid of Los Angeles and The Nature Conservancy. Julie is a licensed attorney and practiced real estate and affordable housing law for 15 years, including four years with a boutique firm specializing in low-income housing tax credits and other affordable housing transactions.
Shiferaw Gemeda (He/Him), Associate Director, Office of Racial Equity & Community Inclusion, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity
Shiferaw Gemeda is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP-PMI) with 10+ years of experience managing community-based socio-economic and environmental projects with local and global nonprofit organizations.
Currently, Shiferaw works for Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) as Associate Director of Racial Equity and Community Inclusion, leading Community Ambassadors, managing grants and the Fee-for-Service program by collaborating with internal and external partners to empower New Americans and other underserved communities.
Shiferaw holds an MA in Sustainable Development from SIT Graduate Institute, Vermont. Shiferaw is passionate about building collaborative partnerships and believes in the power of Community engagement to drive social change.
Annie Rogers, Mortgage Sales Manager, EastRise Credit Union
Annie Rogers is a Mortgage Sales Manager with EastRise Credit Union, leading with over two decades of experience and a deep commitment to her community. Over her 22-year tenure at the credit union—including 14 years as a top-producing mortgage loan officer—Annie has earned a reputation for delivering results with integrity, professionalism, and a deep commitment to excellence. A lifelong Vermonter, she is passionate about expanding access to affordable, equitable, and fair housing. Her leadership is driven by a mission to make homeownership more inclusive and attainable for all.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Thank you to United Way of Northwest Vermont for sponsoring this workshop and making it possible for this training to be accessible for free!
United Way of Northwest Vermont brings the community together to do the work no single organization can do alone. A local independent nonprofit proudly serving Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties, we bring local people and resources together to improve lives today and help build a more just tomorrow. We also run our own programs, including Common Good Vermont, the only statewide program dedicated to uniting, strengthening, and advocating for Vermont’s nonprofit sector. We believe real change is possible when nonprofit, public and private sectors work together. From strengthening local resilience to advancing health and financial security, we’re working towards a future where every person in every community can reach their full potential. To learn more, visitwww.unitedwaynwvt.org.
Thank you to Hula for hosting this workshop in their space!
Hula is a technology-driven coworking campus, business incubator, and venture capital fund focused on elevating vermont-based start-ups and entrepreneurs from its fourteen acre parcel along the shores of Lake Champlain.
Who Should Join?
Whether you're a business owner, HR professional, manager, or employee, this workshop offers valuable takeaways for every level of experience. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the issues facing the nonprofits in our Vermont, actionable ideas for getting involved, and a network of like-minded individuals and organizations ready to create lasting impact.
Questions? If so, please contact Molly Rand at mollyr@vbsr.org.