The Northeast Kingdom Collaborative will hold its annual NEK Day at the Statehouse on January 24, starting at 10:00 a.m. The event, now in its fourth year, will be held virtually for the second time due to the pandemic.
Organizers say the gathering gives residents of the state's most rural and least-funded region a direct line to lawmakers in Montpelier. Jen Carlo, director of the collaborative, said the event is designed to ensure that NEK voices are heard at the state level.
“It’s vital that NEK voices are heard,” Carlo said. “And the use of a virtual platform for this event has increased access for NEK residents who otherwise couldn’t take the day off of work or travel to Montpelier.”
This year, the collaborative is advocating for investments in workforce development, affordable housing, child care, mental health care, and Northern Vermont University. According to the group, NEK residents work some of the longest hours for the lowest average incomes in Vermont, and the housing market is vulnerable to out-of-state buyers pricing out essential workers.
The event will feature remarks from Senator Patrick Leahy, along with breakout sessions where attendees can share their own experiences. Carlo emphasized that the goal is to listen to what rural Vermonters need to thrive.
Registration is free and open to all NEK residents. More information can be found at the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative website.
Originally reported by Newport Dispatch.
Photo: Giuli Canderle via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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