Committees, Commissions, and Task Forces
Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Council Committee
The Mission of the Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee is to promote Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging using the tools of municipal government to advocate for the Office of the REIB, and to support the goals of REIB across all departments of the City of Burlington and our community partners via intentional community engagement and policy creation.
The Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Council Committee typically meets on the third Tuesday of each month. The Committee is chaired by Councilor Dieng and members include Councilor Grant, Councilor Traverse, and the Director of the REIB office.
Advisory Committee on Accessibility
Official Notice of City ADA Compliance and Designation
The City recognizes that communities excel when all citizens are able to fully participate in all aspects of community life. In 2012, the City Council created an Advisory Committee on Accessibility for the purpose of assisting and advising the Mayor, City Council, and City departments on ways to increase opportunities for people with disabilities and meet the needs of people with disabilities by encouraging full and equal participation in all aspects of life. This includes the identification and removal of architectural, procedural, programmatic, attitudinal and communication barriers, and strong advocacy for policies, programs and services that meet the needs of people with disabilities.
Reorganization of Accessibility Committee into Accessibility Working Group
In recent years, the Committee worked to identify a specific focus to drive its efforts. Without a clear mission, it remained unclear which Departments should staff the meeting, and what specific projects or initiatives Committee members should address. To remedy both challenges, the Marketplace Department contracted with a consultant on the advice of VCIL to help clarify the Committee’s goals in 2016.
Pursuant to the consultant’s recommendations, the City determined that the best structure for the Accessibility Committee would be as a working group focused specifically on ensuring accessibility in the downtown as the City works on multiple projects in this and the coming construction seasons. The REIB Office has taken the lead on managing the committee’s monthly meetings, with support from the Department of Public Works and Parks, Recreation & Waterfront and Clerk/Treasurer’s Office on an as-needed basis.
Youth Safety Task Force
Established in late 2022, the Youth Violence Task Force is a collaborative initiative comprising various City of Burlington departments and agencies, including the Mayor’s Office, Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, the Burlington Police Department, the Criminal Justice Center, King Street Center, Boys & Girls Club, among others. The Task Force convenes regularly to develop unified strategies aimed at preventing youth violence.
With a primary emphasis on prevention and intervention, the Task Force directs its efforts toward addressing the needs of youth aged 11-22, with a central focus on equity within the context of the judicial system. In its pursuit of these objectives, the Task Force draws inspiration from analogous municipal programs addressing similar issues and leverages both federal and local data points to inform its strategic decisions and recommendations to the Burlington City Council.
Reparations Task Force
The City of Burlington Reparations Task Force was established following the adoption of the “Resolution to Establish Task Force to Study a Proposal for Reparations and to Consider a City Apology for the Institution of Slavery” by the City Council on August 10, 2020. According to the resolution, the Reparations Task Force’s responsibilities include studying and proposing reparations for African Americans in Burlington due to both historical slavery and subsequent discrimination. This includes economic, political, educational, and social discrimination and the lingering effects of these injustices. The Task Force is also tasked with educating the public about its findings and recommending appropriate remedies. Additionally, The Task Force is to collect relevant historical and contemporary data related to slavery, discrimination, and government support of these practices. It will examine the role of federal, state, and local governments, including Vermont and the City of Burlington, in supporting slavery and discriminatory laws. The resolution also calls for the Task Force to consider international standards for reparations and remedies for historical injustices and the possibility of a formal city apology for its role in supporting slavery and discrimination1. The Task Force consisted of members and representatives from the Mayor’s Office, the City Council, the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, the Vermont Human Rights Commission, and the Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Office.
