Episode 59 - Ben Doyle & Aly Richards, The Montpelier Commission for Recovery & Resilience

Today on the podcast we welcome Ben Doyle and Aly Richards, from The Commission for Recovery and Resilience.On July 11th, 2023, intense and widespread rainfall led to catastrophic flooding throughout the State, leaving the entire downtown of the capitol city, Montpelier, underwater.As the flood-waters resided, Paul Costello, the former executive director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, worked with the City of Montpelier, The Montpelier Foundation and Montpelier Alive, to convene a series of community conversations about recovery and the future of Montpelier.The visioning process of those public forums resulted in roughly 20 priorities and the establishment of a new leadership structure to coordinate and advance strategies leading to recovery and resiliency in central Vermont. This is truly democracy in action…"If you want to go fast, go by yourself. If you want to go far, go with everyone". Says Ben Doyle, "We’re really committed to harnessing the intelligence, enthusiasm, commitment and love of this community". Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper Winooski River Watershed of Central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage conversation around resiliency, equity, and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive. Bordertown is hosted by Vic Guadagno.To learn more about The Commission or to make a donation to Central Vermont flood effort please visit Montpelier STRONG. And thanks to Todd Sheaffer and Railroad Earth for providing the music.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email