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1990
We participated in Earth Day 1990 events in Burlington and
then led efforts around education and mobilization in response to
the Gulf Crisis. This marked the first time that the PJC began
networking and organizing demonstrations with other local groups
around the state. The Middle East Action Network was created and
eventually joined the Coalition. It remained active until the middle
of 1991.
1991
The PJC provided staff support for the Vermont Coalition to
Save James Bay. This statewide initiative launched a
considerable challenge to the electricity contract between the
Vermont Joint Owners and Hydro-Quebec. During this time, the PJC
also became involved in solidarity work with the Abenaki Nation,
drawing links between all Native people’s efforts to preserve their
land and heritage. Two conferences, a statewide bike-tour, several
Cree and Inuit speaking tours, rallies and demonstrations, and
economic impact studies were organized during this time. Also that
year, the PJC conducted a capital campaign to renovate and move to
our current home at 21 Church St.
1992
The Center began to work on international trade deals such as
GATT and NAFTA. The Vermont Fair Trade Campaign was
subsequently created -- a statewide coalition of over a dozen labor
unions, environmental, farm and social justice groups. This was the
first coalition of its kind created in Vermont. Several projects
were organized including a Fair Trade Conference, a fact sheet
series and farmer and worker solidarity tours. We also
participated in the formation of the Vermont Jobs with Justice
Coalition – a statewide coalition working to improve all
workers’ rights by building solidarity among various interest
groups. Internally, the PJC Board conducted its second long-range
strategic plan. A Media Committee was created out of this process
and began programming the Peace & Justice Review — on public
access Channel 15.
1993
In response to our involvement in two community forums on racism
that were held in the spring of 1993, the PJC decided to make a
commitment to racial justice work in Burlington. We created the
Racial Justice & Equity Project (RJEP) and hired an organizer
to provide the critical advocacy and technical support needed for
people of color in the community. Additional actions and programs
were organized by the Vermont Fair Trade Campaign. We published the
first edition of the Vermont Grassroots Directory – a listing
of activist groups in Vermont.
1994
The PJC’s Board of Directors began meeting regularly on the
issue of growth and the organization’s structure. These sessions
eventually led to the de-coupling of the Coalition of groups from
the physical running of the Center and Store. The RJEP became part
of the Old North End Enterprise Community on two social
strategies. We organized an anti-racism training for community
organizations in the Fall attended by 35 people.
1995
In April, the Center became involved with efforts to oppose the
Republican’s Contract On America. We provided crucial staff
support, facilities, volunteer coordination and resources that
helped make the People’s Conference for Economic Democracy a
huge success. Attended by over 2,500 people, the day was filled
with speakers, a parade led by Bread & Puppet, voter registration
and music.
The RJEP created an anti-racism training
program for non-profit organizations and the City of Burlington.
A newly formed Educational Program Committee at
the PJC created an impressive series of popular education
programs on peace and non-violence. Eighteen courses were
offered in total, including an 8 part series which examined
important peacemakers in history.
A comprehensive restructuring process lasted
throughout the year and culminated in November with a name change
(to the Peace & Justice Center) and a new Board of Directors.
1996
The RJEP conducted 15 anti-racism trainings for the staff
and boards of Burlington based non-profit organizations and City
employees with over 250 people in attendance. We organized a three
day film tour of Conjure Women – a performance based
documentary of 4 African-American women artists who discuss racism
through their work. We also organized a three day training and
speaking tour of Paul Kivel, author of Uprooting Racism: How
White People Can Work for Racial Justice.
Under the new program area of the Vermont
Economic Justice Project (VEJP), we began work on the Vermont
Job Gap Study. We were active with the Interfaith Economic
Justice Coalition and with Vermont Citizens for Clean Elections –
which won campaign finance reform in the state.
Our Popular Education Series offered 13
classes which were attended by over 200 people in total. We
published the second edition of the Vermont Grassroots Directory.
And PJC staff played an active role in forming the Champlain
Initiative – a county-wide healthy communities project.
1997
We published two phases of the Vermont Job Gap Study that
year, testified before committees in the Vermont Legislature; made
presentations about the study’s findings to business associations,
economic and community development organizations, and non-profit and
community groups. We developed a 2-hour popular education workshop
on the study’s findings. Dozens of newspaper articles and radio
talk shows referenced the study.
The RJEP provided anti-racism training to
13 organizations and all City of Burlington employees. We also
conducted a 2-day People’s Institute anti-racism training and a
workplace diversity training. We assisted over 150 people of color
with problems they faced in the community from employment to
transportation to housing. We also conducted and published a
Survey and Review of Harassment Policies in Chittenden County
Schools. Finally, our RJEP Director participated in two days of
testimony held by the US Civil Rights Commission in Vermont on the
state of discrimination and harassment of children of color in
Vermont schools.
Once again we produced two well attended popular
education series on a variety of topics. 1997 also marked the
beginning of our Peace & Justice News special series
on life-long activists in our community.
1998
Our RJEP Director began working with the state’s Attorney
General’s office on ways to strengthen Vermont’s civil rights laws.
We also began work with the Champlain Valley Office of Economic
Opportunity on a Fair Housing Project. The RJEP also began a second
round of half-day anti-racism trainings with City of Burlington
employees.
The PJC remained very involved with the
Champlain Initiative. As a result of our RJEP Director's
involvement on the Steering Committee, the Initiative launched a new
focus – diversity in the schools. At its September stakeholder
meeting, the Initiative brought in Paul Kivel and Rodney Patterson
to facilitate a half-day visioning session. Both men have been used
extensively for other RJEP trainings in the area over the past 3
years.
We published two additional phases of the
Vermont Job Gap Study. We saw the Study’s credibility and use
solidified throughout the state as we conducted more workshops,
presentations and radio talk shows on the study’s findings. We
organized a conference in June which brought together 175 people
from all stakeholder groups to discuss draft policy recommendations
for Phase 4. We also began meeting with Vermont Business
Roundtable, the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and
various state agency personnel to discuss which recommendations we
will be able to collaborate and move forward together on. Finally,
the PJC launched the Vermont Livable Wage Campaign composed
of local livable wage coalitions from around the state. The
Campaign will work to develop a viable worker movement statewide,
capable of winning significant wage and benefit gains into the next
century. As a result of the Study, Burlington and Montpelier passed
a local ordinance setting a minimum wage for permanent city
employees.
1999
In January, we held a major 20th birthday celebration
with over 200 supporters in attendance. We produced an inspiring
video that highlights the Center’s activities and accomplishments
over the last 20 years. A special 20th anniversary fund helped
raise $20,000 and allowed us to hire our first development director.
Our efforts on the livable wage front helped win
a 50cent increase in the minimum wage for 15,000 Vermonters
and a $60,000 appropriation to conduct a summer Legislative
Study on Livable Wages. This additional research will be the
foundation of new legislation aimed at improving the standard of
living of 60,000 Vermonters who work full time and still cannot meet
their basic needs and providing some assistance to Vermont’s small
business community.
The Vermont Livable Wage
Campaign grew in number and strength. As a result of our
increasing network of livable wage campaign members, we turned out
250 folks for a public hearing on the issue held by the Summer
Legislative Study Committee. Over 40 people testified, telling
their story of what it’s like to earn low wages and giving specific
recommendations on how legislators can help.
With the release of the
US Civil Rights Commission report on racial
harassment in Vermont schools, the Racial
Justice & Equity Project was able to expand the public dialogue on
this important issue. We continued to provide one-on-one case
management for people of color who were discriminated against in
some way over the past year. And with the financial support of
Verizon, we’ve developed a new job placement service where we assist
people of color in finding employment within Vermont businesses.
CLICK HERE for 2000 to
2002 |
