Since 2015, Rights & Democracy, along with our sister organization the Rights & Democracy Institute, have worked to create a leadership development and member organizing model for rural communities that can sustain their capacity for collective action. We have put these models into place by building regional chapters led by trained and tested local leaders with a contributing membership base that can sustain a regional organizer. This rural organizing model is crucial to building a sustainable, grassroots political infrastructure that does not rely on the ebb and flow of grant funding.

By strengthening our existing chapters and expanding our chapter organizing in New Hampshire and Vermont, we will create more opportunities for local leadership development. This will support and enable local leaders to take ownership of RAD’s foundational issue work, applying these progressive approaches to their own communities making them more livable and sustainable.

You can get involved today by joining one of the Vermont Regional Chapters listed below. Just reach out to the staff person connected to that Chapter. Don’t see your region listed? Contact Dan and find out how you can get involved with RAD or what it would take to start a chapter in your community.

What does RAD offer to regional chapters?

1. Staff support – Staff and organizational resources, including regular access to a staff regional organizer for support with trainings, organizing, logistics, and strategy

2. Strategy – Support in long-term proactive strategizing around issue and electoral campaigns in your region

3. Bigger picture – Connecting your local organizing to the national movement – Rights & Democracy is a bi-state organization but we are a part of powerful progressive national networks like People’s Action and Center for Popular Democracy.

4. Training – RAD and our national networks provide many opportunities for statewide, regional and national trainings for emerging leaders, as well as coordinating action trips to Washington, DC, and other major cities.

5. Communications – Elevating and drawing turnout to your local work with our larger statewide collective via email blasts, texting & phonebanking resources, social media, live events, and other communications strategies.

6. Legal Infrastructure – Grounding your local chapter’s issue and electoral work in RAD’s legal infrastructure & coalitions.  We are a 501(c)4 with a sister 501(c)3 organization