Anyone who lives in the Northeast Kingdom is invited to attend NEK Day at the Statehouse on Friday, January 29 starting at noon. This year’s event, hosted by the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative (NEKC), will be held virtually due to the pandemic.
The one-hour gathering is intended as a chance for residents to connect with legislators, share priorities, and learn about state-level developments. The program will focus on the NEK Recovery Action Plan, an updated document outlining strategies in five areas: broadband, housing, education, business support, and community vitality.
“It’s unbelievable the way these towns have stepped up to support their neighbors in a time of crisis,” said NEKC Interim Director Tom Lovett. “It proves what many of us who live here already knew: Rural Vermonters are resilient and innovative, they look out for each other.”
Lovett noted that the region still faces disproportionate funding and policies that hamper access to broadband, housing, education, and business support. The three NEK counties have the lowest household income and highest high school dropout rate in Vermont, along with a shrinking population and the state’s highest median age.
State Representative Katherine Sims (Orleans-Caledonia) encouraged participation. “We want to hear from rural Vermonters. We want authentic reflections from the people who live in the places we serve about what’s working and what the gaps are.”
The event will include breakout sessions for small-group discussion. NEKC Communications Director Carey Crozier said, “We anticipate this will be the most well-attended NEK Day yet. People can just hop onto Zoom during their lunch breaks and show up for the NEK.”
Details and RSVP information are available at nekcollaborative.org.
Originally reported by Newport Dispatch.
Photo: Community Archives of Belleville and Hastings County via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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