(Host)
Vermont is home to a remarkable number of businesses and non profits
doing positive work around the globe. They are exporting Vermont values
and know how and importing a deeper understanding of our rapidly
changing world. Fran Stoddard has been taking note of some of
these innovators that bring the best of Vermont to international
development.
(Stoddard) The Institute for Sustainable
Communities was founded 20 years ago by former Governor Madeleine Kunin,
after a visit to Bulgaria. She saw the need in countries without a
tradition of democracy to learn and create a new way to govern. Vermont
has a lot to offer in helping countries making that transition. She
asked George Hamilton, her policy director at the time, and on that
seminal trip, to lead the newly formed organization.
(Hamilton)
The original goal of the Institute was to help other countries develop
solutions to local problems that last, because coming from a place like
Vermont, where community is so strong a value; where different people
can come together around a common set of problems and solve them
together, was an idea in eastern Europe, that was v. popular. People
wanted to have decentralized decision making. People want the ability to
have a say over their future and the future of their family.
ISC
has now extended its reach and impact to 80 projects in 24 countries,
focusing on helping citizens develop skills to improve the environment
and create sustainable communities. And it still holds the Vermont
vision that created it and the Vermont values that guide it.
(Hamilton)
I think it’s partly the feeling of a sense of responsibility and this
community spirit that we have. People want to be listened to and in
Vermont we have that by nature. You cannot ignore your neighbors, Right?
It’s very close; it’s a very small community and I think that gives you
this idea that you’ve got to respect each other. You’ve got to work
together. And that is not easy in many places in the world where there
is a lot of conflict.
Hamilton and his team organize powerful
partnerships with business, government, and universities committed to
solutions that stand up to the complex threats of climate disruption and
unaccountable institutions.
(Hamilton) Having all those groups
work together is critical… it’s about actually realizing that we all
have a part to play in the solution and if we work together it will be
much more efficient in achieving a solution.
The formula is
simple; bringing people together to listen and learn, identifying
possible pathways for change, and supporting locals as they move toward
creating strong organizations and networks. From Mississippi to Russia ,
Serbia , and China , people are finding a new confidence to solve their
own problems into the future.
Hamilton also recognizes a benefit of international development work for Vermonters.
(Hamilton)
I think we bring back a lot of fresh ideas. From where we work around
the world we can come back and help VT solve diff problems for example
we’re working on Resilient VT. We’ve worked in the Gulf after Katrina,
we worked in Sichuan, China after the earthquake; we’re working several
areas and… we can bring those lessons back to VT to help VT communities.
A growing number of Vermonters are taking on the planet’s thorniest challenges with profound results.