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Discussion Series

The League of Women Voters of Vermont sponsors a Discussion Series in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library and invites guest speakers to discuss issues that impact our community and share their insights.

2023-24: Election Issues & Democracy

March 13, 2024

Mis- and Dis-Information

Dave Gram, veteran journalist, and M.E. Kabay, Emeritus Professor of Computer Information Systems at Norwich University, discuss misinformation and disinformation and its potential impact on political campaigns. Sky Barsch, CEO of VTDigger moderates the discussion. 

February 14, 2024

Redistricting

Tom Little, former Chair of the Vermont Legislative Apportionment Board (2021-2022), speaks about redistricting in Vermont. His presentation covers Vermont’s state constitution and statutory structure and process for periodic legislative district reapportionment and the roles of the Apportionment Board and General Assembly. Tom focuses on where and how the process generated controversy over the last two cycles. 

January 10, 2024

Civics Education in Schools

Vermont Secretary of State, Sarah Copeland Hanzas, speaks about civics education in Vermont schools. She is joined by Martha Deiss, Global Citizenship Specialist with the Vermont Agency of Education. Tom McKone moderates.

December 13, 2023

Constructive Discourse

Susan Clark, facilitator, educator, author, and Middlesex  Town Moderator, talks about constructive discourse from a local democracy perspective and navigating differences in a time of political division. 

November 8, 2023

Electoral College and National Popular Vote

Tim Jerman, former state representative (Essex Junction) talks about National Popular Vote (NPV), a state-based effort to fix the Electoral College. In 2011, Rep. Jerman worked with Sen. Chris Pearson (Chittenden County) to pass NPV and considered this to be one of the most important bills passed during his tenure. Presentation begins at the 4.45 minute mark.

2022-2023 VIRTUAL DISCUSSION SERIES: IMPACT OF CLIMATE ON VERMONT

​FEBRUARY 8, 2023

CURRENT LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES UPDATE

Moderated by Jared Duval, Executive Director of Energy Action Network, panelists Vermont Senator Andy Perchilik and Representative Gabrielle Stebbens discuss proposed legislative initiatives and the impact of past legislation.

JANUARY 11, 2023

CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Moderator Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale discusses climate change and social justice with Kashka Orlow of the Vermont Climate Council Just Transitions Subcommittee and Judy Dow executive director of Gedakina.

DECEMBER 14, 2022

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE AND ECOLOGY 

Moderated by Tom McKone, retired Executive Director, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, panelists Jillian Liner, Vermont Audubon, Jim Shallow, Nature Conservancy,  Abbie Corse of Corse Farm Dairy and Vermont Climate Council, and Josh Faulkner, UVM and Vermont Climate Council.

NOVEMBER 2022

WHAT CLIMATE CHANGE MEANS TO YOU

The effects of climate change on Vermonters Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux, Vermont State Climatologist, Jared Ulmer, Vermont Department of Health, and Julie Moore, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.
Moderator: Peter Walke, Efficiency Vermont

  • DECEMBER 14, 2022: IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE AND ECOLOGY
    Jillian Liner, Vermont Audubon, Jim Shallow, Nature Conservancy, Abbie Corse of Corse Farm Dairy and Vermont Climate Council, and Josh Faulkner, UVM and Vermont Climate Council
    Moderator: Tom McKone
  • JANUARY 11, 2023: CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
    Judy Dow, Executive Director Gedakina, et al (TBD)
    Moderator: Senator Kesha Ram-Hinsdale
  • FEBRUARY 8, 2023: CURRENT LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES UPDATE
    Looking at proposed legislative initiatives and the impact of past legislation
  • MARCH 8, 2023: WHAT CAN WE DO?
    What can we do individually and as a community? Includes perspectives of the next generation.

2021-2022 Virtual Discussion Series: Racism and Public Health

Three-Part Series, 6:30 TO 8:00 P.M. | FREE. Register at: WWW.KELLOGGHUBBARD.ORG/ADULT-PROGRAM

NOVEMBER 2021

The Connection between Racism and Public Health
Maria Mercedes Avila, UVM College of Medicine

JANUARY 2022

How Does Racism Affect Environmental Health?
Jonathan Rosenbloom, Vermont School of Law
Disparate impact of public policies governing land use, housing, occupational health and industrial development on the health of communities of color.

FEBRUARY 2022

How Is Vermont Responding to the Challenges of Racism and Health?
Anna T. Noonan, President and COO, Central Vermont Medical Center, Monika Ganguly-Kiefner, Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Equity Specialist, Vermont Department of Health, and Kheya Ganguly, Director of Trauma Prevention and Resiliency Development, Vermont Department of Health. Moderator: Tom McKone, retired Executive Director, Kellogg-Hubbard Library.


2020-21 POLICING TO PUBLIC SAFETY

NOVEMBER 2020

HOW THE POLICE GOT MILITARIZED: A GLOBAL STORY

Amit Prakash, Middlebury College.

JANUARY 2021

POLICING AND MENTAL HEALTH

Brian Peete, Montpelier Chief of Police, A.J. Ruben, Disability Rights VT, and Karim Chapman, Vermont Psychiatric Survivors. Moderator: Madeline Motta, League of Women Voters.

FEBRUARY 2021

RACIAL DISPARITIES IN POLICING & JUVENILE JUSTICE

Dr. Stephanie Seguino, University of Vermont, Rebecca Turner, Appellate Attorney; Racial Disparities in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems Advisory Panel, and Sara Grace,  Chittenden County State’s Attorney. Moderator: Anna Saxman, League of Women Voters.

MARCH 2021

POLICING AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Dr. Etan Nasreddin-Longo, Fair & Impartial Policing and Community Affairs for the Vermont State Police and Vermont’s Racial Disparities in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System Advisory Panel. Jay Diaz, ACLU of Vermont, and Robyn Freedner-Maguire, Mental Health First for BTV. Moderator: Tom McCone, Kellogg-Hubbard Library (retired.)

2019-20 CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN VERMONT

OCTOBER 2019

IMPACT OF INCARCERATION: WOMEN, FAMILIES, SOCIETY

To discuss the Impact of Incarceration on Women, Families, and Society. Panelists: Representative Marybeth Redmond, Kassie Tibbott, Community Legal Information Center, Dani Benoit, poet-Life Lines Re-Writing Lives From Inside Out, Ashley Messier, Smart Justice, with moderator Cary Brown, Vermont Commission on Women.

Ashley Messier, Smart Justice, Kassie Tibbott, Community Legal Information Center, Marybeth Redmond, VT House of Representatives. Moderator: Cary Brown, Executive Director, Vermont Commission on Women.

NOVEMBER 2019

PRISON HEALTH CARE 

Emily Tredeau, Defender General’s Office, Dr. Delores Burroughs-Biron, Tina Hagen and Ed Paquin, Disability Rights Vermont, Judy Henkin, Department of Corrections. Moderator: Susan Clark, League of Women Voters.

JANUARY 2020

IMPLICIT BIAS

Bor Yang, Executive Director and Legal Counsel, Vermont Human Rights Commission. Introduction by Xusana Davis, Vermont’s Executive Director of Racial Equity.

FEBRUARY 2020

RACIAL BIAS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Jessica Brown, Chittenden County Public Defender Office, Captain Garry Scott, Vermont State Police, Dr. Stephanie Seguino, University of Vermont. Moderator: Honorable Denise R. Johnson, Vermont Supreme Court, (retired.) 

MARCH 2020 (not recorded)

TRANSITIONING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AFTER INCARCERATION

Chris Barton, Department of Corrections Restorative Justice Program, Stephanie Clark, Vermont Law School Center for Justice Reform, Alfred Mills, Montpelier Community Justice Center.  Moderator: Heather Newcomb, Vermont Works for Women. 

2018-19: CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS? 

SEPTEMBER 2018

ELECTION SECURITY 

Secretary of State Jim Condos.

JANUARY 2019

POWERS OF THE PRESIDENCY

Professors Matthew Dickinson, Middlebury College, Lisa Holmes, University of Vermont,  Peter R. Teachout, Vermont Law School. Moderator: Lyn Blackwell, League of Women Voters.

MARCH 2019

LIBERALISM/CONSERVATISM

Professor Anthony “Jack” Gierzynski, University of Vermont. 

MAY 2019 (not recorded)

SINGLE-ISSUE POLITICS

Professor Robert Boatright, Clark University; National Institute for Civil Discourse.

2107-18: FIRST AMENDMENT, FIVE FREEDOMS

MAY 2017

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org, Jim Sabataso, Rutland Reader, Matthew Byrne, Gravel & Shea, Attorneys at Law. Moderator: Garrett Graff, Journalist and Historian

OCTOBER 2017

A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY

Chloe White, ACLU of Vermont, James Haslam, Rights & Democracy, Tony Facos, Montpelier Police Chief. Moderator: David Gram, Vermont Digger.

JANUARY 2018

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Professor Peter Teachout, Vermont Law School, Lia Ernst ACLU of Vermont, Michael Donahue, Vermont Press Association; New England First Amendment Coalition. Moderator:  David Moats, Rutland Herald.

A lively crowd at the Kellogg-Hubbard library to hear Professor Peter Teachout, Vermont Law School, Lia Ernst ACLU of Vermont, Michael Donahue, Vermont Press Association; New England First Amendment Coalition and Moderator David Moats, Rutland Herald deliberate Freedom of Speech.

MARCH 2018

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT

Rob Boston, Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

JUNE 2018

THE RIGHT TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES

Professor Peter Teachout, Vermont Law School, Paul Gillies , Tarrant, Gillies & Richardson, John L. Franco, Jr., Attorney. Moderator: Cary Brown, Vermont Commission on Women.

2016-17

OCTOBER 2016

NEW IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES: THE VERMONT STORY

Lori Pietropaoli, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Amila Merdzanovic, United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Yacouba Bogre, Association of Africans Living in Vermont, Susan Sussman, Office of Senator Patrick Leahy. Moderator: Representative Kesha Ram.

JANUARY 2017

VERMONT’S HEALTH CARE FUTURE

Susan Barrett, Green Mountain Care Board, Dr. Deb Richter, Vermont Health Care for All, Lindsay DesLauriers, Main Street Alliance of Vermont. Moderator: Representative Tony Klein.

MARCH 2017

PRIVACY, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT IT?

James Duff Lyall, ACLU of Vermont