This year's NEK Day at the Statehouse, normally a day of in-person meetings in Montpelier, will be held virtually on Friday, January 29 starting at noon. The event, hosted by the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative (NEKC), is open to all residents of the region.
Attendees will have the chance to connect with legislators and other community members, share priorities, and hear updates from the state level. The format includes small, interactive groups to facilitate discussion.
“This is our chance to make the case for the Kingdom,” 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.”
The event comes as the NEK continues to face systemic challenges, including the lowest household income and highest high school dropout rate in Vermont, a shrinking population, and the highest median age. Broadband, housing, education, business support, and community vitality are key areas of focus.
The NEKC has been convening weekly regional meetings since the pandemic began and recently updated its NEK Recovery Action Plan, which outlines strategies in those five priority areas. Regional leaders will present specific policy and funding requests to legislators during the event.
“We anticipate this will be the most well-attended NEK Day yet,” said NEKC Communications Director Carey Crozier. “People can just hop onto Zoom during their lunch breaks and show up for the NEK.”
To RSVP and for more information, visit www.nekcollaborative.org/news-1/nek-day-2021.
Originally reported by Newport Dispatch.
Photo: KADM Creations via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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