Aurora Berger (she/her) of Strafford, Vermont, is a queer and disabled artist, writer, and educator. Aurora has a background in disability theory and is an active member of several organizations working toward improved conditions for disabled people. She has a number of published chapters and essays, and has exhibited her artwork nationally and internationally, including the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and the United Nations in New York City.
Krista Coombs (she/her) of Bennington, Vermont grew up in the Berkshires of Massachusetts and has lived in Montana, Seattle, Philadelphia, and multiple towns in Vermont; since 2016, she has resided in Bennington.
Krista practiced as an acupuncturist for 20 years before becoming disabled after a COVID infection, and now works part-time at Vermont Center for Independent Living as a Long COVID Advocate in the Pandemic Equity Department. Krista has served in the NIH RECOVER initiative since its beginning in 2021 as a Caregiver Representative on multiple committees and focuses her efforts on pregnancy and pediatrics. She is the Director of Policy/Programs with COVID-19 Longhaulers Advocacy Project and does Congressional advocacy and outreach.
Dan Coutu (he/him) grew up in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom where he still resides. He is an avid outdoorsman, a long-time scout leader (40+ years), and a hunter education instructor. Living in one of Vermont’s most economically depressed areas really drives home the importance of community and people helping one another. He continues a long family legacy of supporting community for the well-being of all.
He is a Navy veteran, software engineer, and the vice-chair of Vermont’s Commission on Native American Affairs. He is also a board member of Vermont’s Land Access and Opportunity Board that focuses on the creation of equity with regard to access to housing and land.
Lydia Diamond of South Burlington, Vermont's (she/her) advocacy is art. Public perspective is artistic expression of new spoken words. As an advocate of racial, social and equitable justice for women and children first, Lydia, a grandma of seven, wears many hats in her community. She's been through challenging times and uses her experiences to help others. She has served on the Burlington school board and was a candidate for South Burlington city council. Lydia is part of EmergeVT's 2024 class, where she's honing her leadership skills. She's involved with groups like FreeHerVT, WILPF, and the Vermont Baby Supplies Bank, all working towards social justice and community support.
Brenda Gagne, (she/her) of Highgate Center, Vermont is a citizen of the St Francis/Sokoki Band of Missisquoi Abenaki. As a married, mother of 2 daughters and one step-daughter, Brenda has 3 amazing granddaughters that are her world. She wears many hats in the community as the coordinator of the Abenaki Circle of Courage, Inc. for the last 31 years. She teaches youth from kindergarten to 6th grade and has had volunteers who have been through the program 7th - 12th grades. They teach traditional dance, drumming, singing, flute, arts and crafts, along with traditional foods through the seasons. The school is about generosity, independence, mastery and belonging.
Brenda is also president of the PAC (parent advisory committee) that over sees Title VI Indian education. Brenda is the chief of Missisquoi, the largest tribe in Vermont. In her free time, Brenda loves spending time with her girls and traveling.
Mary Gerisch (she/her) of Bennington, Vermont is a Lakota woman who lives in Bennington, Vermont. She is currently serving as Housing Chair on the Rutland NAACP Board and a Board member of the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. She is active in the State Continuum of Care Board as a Bennington Representative. In the past she has served on various Boards of Directors including Vermont Worker’s Center, Rights and Democracy, Turning Point Center, and Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless.
Mary has been a health care, housing and human rights advocate for many years on a state, national and international level. Mary was the co-chair of the United States Human Rights Network’s Universal Periodic Review task force for Geneva and nationwide advocacy, and also the co-chair for the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in the same arena for the past 10 years.
Matthew LeFluer (he/him) of Alburgh, Vermont is an individual of color with learning differences and skills. Born with neurodiversity, Matthew sees Vermont in a world with a different perspective. Matthew is a person that is friendly and kind who you get to know easily and comfortably. Matthew supports diversity, inclusion, acceptance and a sense of belonging throughout his lifestyle and other individual's lifestyle interact with suggestions, ideas and recommendations. With collaboration and cooperation key to our survival moving forward as one community, one state, with kindness, compassion, understanding and acceptance for all who live and contribute here in the Vermont Green Mountain State we all love and call home.
Faye S. Longo (she/they) is a neuro-spicy, Indigenous (Blackfoot), Italian, pansexual, cisgender woman, unpartnered mom of 2, with close proximity to whiteness. She has firsthand lived experiences of generational poverty, trauma, mental illness, addiction/recovery, violence and all the stigma that comes with these intersecting identities. Faye also carries 15 years of professional experience in the nonprofit and social service sectors. She holds a BA in Organizational Psychology, a graduate certificate in nonprofit management and leadership, and is a certified financial coach.
Faye is currently the Director of Organizing and Community Engagement with the VT Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and is earning her Master in Social Work from Boston University. She is a founding member of Vermont's LGBTQIA2S+ Pride & Prosperity Network and the Founder and Key Visionary of Live Dream Lead Inspire, LLC; where she works with individuals, groups, and organizations in identifying, addressing, and overcoming internal symptoms and external systems of oppression. In her spare time, Faye loves to forage, wild craft, and write.
Margaret Powers (she/her) of West Dover, Vermont who goes by her nickname, "Peg." A proud Vermonter by choice married to a lifelong Vermonter; Lyman and Peg are the owners of Lyman 's Specialties, L.L.C., also known as Lyman 's Country Style. This is not her only act. Mother, grandma, wife, daughter, special education educator, retail sales manager, and town treasurer, to name a few.
Throughout her life, Peg has remained steadfast in defending those not seen or heard because of their circumstances, abilities, or beliefs, or how one is attentive to oneself. For the last fifty-seven years Peg has been involved in Native American rights and understanding, sparked by having been married to a Native Alaskan for several years. Listening, seeing, helping give voice; words she lives by.
Winnie Wilkinson (she/her) is a resident of St. Albans, Vermont, located in Franklin County. As a board member of the St. Albans City Advisory Committee which was formed after George Floyd was murdered by a police officer, Winnie believes in peacefully protesting any and all injustices. She is on the Northwestern Medical Center Patient Advisory Board and the Planning Community of St. Albans Juneteenth celebrations. Also, Winnie is one of the founding members of the Venders in Taylor Park, St. Albans.
Winnie's goal in participating as a Committee Member on the VTRC is to be part of the process and help to educate for the positive changes necessary in our communities, welcoming all involvement in the process of the VTRC.
Shanda Williams (she/her) of Montpelier, Vermont is a small business visionary, creator, and owner of SD Communications and Marketing Consulting Group LLC. She is also one of the Assistant Directors of CROs (Community Resilience Organization). Her innovative business venture offers social justice programs, small business consulting, networking events, event facilitation and creation, and talent promotion to conscious-minded businesses, organizations and artists in Vermont and beyond.
Shanda is committed to increasing equity opportunities toward BIPOC homeownership while helping people heal their financial trauma. Shanda produces financial liberation programs and is the creator of the Money Matters: Financial Liberation and Wellness series, for which she was awarded "2023 Innovator of the Year" by the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation. She is also active with An Economy of Our Own as a collaborator and program presenter.
As a changemaker, reparations activist, equity strategist, and BIPOC community advocate, Shanda facilitates and co-organizes the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & People of Color) groups for The Everything Space's My Grandmother’s Hands Study Groups. She is a teaching assistant for The Everything Space’s Growing Resilience: Being Trauma Informed course. Shanda curates BIPOC affinity spaces throughout Vermont and is the founder of the Central Vermont BIPOC Advisory Group.
Shanda is active in both the Vermont Professionals of Color Network and the Vermont ReLeaf Collective, serves on the Hunger Mountain Coop JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) Committee and the Center for Crime Victim Services Advisory Council.