Oxfam Action Corps: Meet Vermont

     Burlington, VT - Driving along the winding Route 89 North, past forest covered mountains, low clouds frosting the tops, the sun's light magnifying all the shades of green from summer leaves, Burlington and Vermont as a whole provided a perfect backdrop for action to protect the Earth and its ability to provide for all of us – especially those who are hungry and poor. 

Brittany Winslow, tabling on Church Street, June 30th, 

2011. Church Street runs through the heart of downtown 

Burlington; Winslow speaks with a pedestrian about the 

GROW Campaign.

     This June the  Burlington Oxfam Action Corps teamed up with a few Oxfam staffers for two packed, energized days to meet with allied organizations, build ideas for the Burlington Corps, and get some roots down in the Vermont earth for the GROW Campaign. We’d like to thank the supportive volunteers and friends of Oxfam that joined us for brainstorming and planning.  We also want to give a huge thanks for the local leaders who gave us time to meet and learn about their stellar work, including: Nancy Lynch, Assistant to the Secretary of State, Jim Condos; Betsy Hardy, Coordinator for Vermont Interfaith Power and Light; Janice Nadworny, Development Director at the Intervale Center; Anna Guyton, activist-at-large and former Manager of Mission and Programs for the Peace and Justice Center; Lisa Long, Development Director for Hunger Free Vermont; and Linda Berlin, Executive Director for the University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture. A delicious food shout-out must go to local Burlington eateries: Stone Soup, Muddy Waters, and American Flatbread. Also, after our full first day, a stop at Ben & Jerry’s Burlington Scoop Shop was a necessity (see photo).

     Other Vermont activities included Burlington Organizer, Brittany Winslow, and Senior Volunteer and Community Organizer, Brian Rawson, tabling to promote GROW during the busy lunch rush on Church Street.  Winslow and Rawson were also back at the Intervale for the kick-off of the first Thursday night Summervale - local food vendors, live music, and completely family friendly. The ‘New Farmers, New Americans’ booth had the best samosas we had ever tasted, a Somalian version of the familiar dish. 

     Two packed days in Vermont were enough not only for the GROW Campaign to spread its roots among the mountains, farms, local food, and genuine people, but also to teach Oxfam America about the passion and pride Vermonters have for their state. Winslow and the Burlington Corps were left with freshly gleaned inspiration, ready to cultivate GROW and take action to end hunger.

Brian Rawson;  Birttany Winslow; and Community Engagement Interns, 

Monica Kacprzyk and Caitlin DiMaina, enjoy tasty flavors of 

Ben & Jerry'sice cream from the Burlington Scoop Shop.