What is more important for a volunteer organization than being the coordinator of all the volunteers? I still remember when Kathie O’Connor came to her very first CVRAN meeting at Trinity Church, and offered to take over this vital role at her very first meeting. Taking on this role meant building on the foundations that …

How do we treat asylum seekers? What problems can we solve? CVRAN joins with others to advocate.  In October 2023, CVRAN hosted a workshop for organizations providing service to refugees and asylum seekers. The text that follows below is an update on activities and advocacy from the VT-NH Asylum Seekers Network. (Read about the original …

A recent article about CVRAN in the Montpelier Bridge talks about CVRAN’s work to provide housing and other needs for refugees and asylum seekers in central Vermont. As journalist Natasha Eckhart Baning notes We … welcome people from around the world for different reasons; because they are refugees or asylum seekers. These families and individuals …

Today we’re continuing to share books recommended by CVRAN members. They are focused on immigration, refugee, and asylum seeker experiences around the world. Hope one catches your interest! Do you have a book that you’ve finished and would be happy to share with someone else? CVRAN will have a book trading table at the January …

However, the housing shortage may make that difficult. Read more about the state’s plans in this recent VT Digger article: Housing crisis could interfere with Vermont efforts to resettle 550 refugees by next fall Gov. Phil Scott, who has advocated for Vermont to accept more refugees, acknowledged that the state’s lack of housing is a major …

Here is the next installment of our book recommendations from fellow CVRAN members. If you have a suggestion for books covering topics related to migration, refugees, and asylum seekers, we’d love to hear it! Non-Fiction The Devil’s Highway – A True Story by Luis Alberto Urrea documents the journey a group of men take to …

On October 25th, 2023, sixteen service providers from Washington, Lamoille, and Chittenden Counties gathered in the Steele Room of the Waterbury Municipal Building. There was an eagerness to discuss the barriers asylum seekers face as they move into our area, to tell stories that make these barriers come more alive, and to wonder about possible …

On October 14th, a potluck was held for the wonderful Hankins family. They have  hosted three asylum seekers over the past three years in a roomy, light-filled apartment over their garage, with a private entrance. Their hosting includes lots of companionship, shared dinners, garden space, and strong relationships among each guest and all five members …

After two disappointing flood- and weather-related cancellations, we were finally able to hold a CVRAN picnic and celebration for new neighbors and their support teams on Saturday, October 7, in partnership with the North Branch Nature Center (NBNC). Heavy rain was predicted for the afternoon, but Mother Nature smiled on us and it held off …