During 2019 and 2020, Vital Communities listened to people from more than 20 communities along the “Route 11 Corridor” – from Springfield, Vermont, to New London, New Hampshire – to hear the themes that felt most important for the region. That gave rise to subcommittees on Marketing and Youth that have continued to meet, as well as projects targeted to that region.
This subcommittee started meeting in July 2020 and has been meeting roughly every other month. Some highlights of our work so far are:
The subcommittee identified these overlapping interests and goals of our five “Dartmouth – Lake Sunapee” regional chambers (Kearsarge, Claremont, Upper Valley, Newport, Lake Sunapee), UNH Cooperative Extension, Sullivan County:
The Chambers of Commerce for those communities joined together to utilize CARES Act funds with which they:
Sullivan County has set aside funds and is working with UNH Extension to build a “Sugar River” Council for ongoing marketing, intending to collaborate with the Chambers.
The subcommittee promoted a TLC (The Local Crowd) crowdfunding program to its networks.
The Youth Subcommittee includes students from Route 11 Corridor middle schools and high schools as well as adults who work with youth. The group meets has met monthly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to discuss topics urgent to youth in their communities, share resources, and launch projects. The Youth Engagement group is drawing in more middle and high school students and adult service providers and educators who want to talk about:
The impact of the pandemic on their lives and education:
LGBTQ+ and BIPOC equity:
Substance misuse and peer pressure; and
How they can work with adults to respond to the challenges and opportunities they see.
