BENNINGTON-The convention hall loomed around me. I was terrified of the fancy suits, the professional small talk, the daunting speeches. Why was I here - at 19 years old - and what did my voice matter?
Then I saw a face in the crowd that brightened my mood: It was my longtime friend, colleague, and mentor Isaac Evans-Frantz. You know that feeling when you're alone and then someone you admire and trust comes up to you to save the day?
That was Isaac, on the day of the Democratic State Convention, where I was running for delegate. Isaac came to my side and acted as my pro bono campaign manager, introducing me to others and boosting my confidence - and helping me win!
As a young person who grew up in the southern part of the state and engaged in local politics, my journey with Isaac starts well before May 2024. I first met him when he was running for Senate. He welcomed young people like me into his campaign with open arms - he allowed us to work on social media and edit content and lend our perspectives in meetings. We felt seen, heard, and respected.
BENNINGTON-I was attending the Governor's Institutes of Vermont Global Issues and Youth Action Institute, an amazing program that works to immerse high school students in social justice. Leading the "Making Laws, Making Change" workshop was Rep. Michelle Bos-Lun, who immediately stood out to me as a compassionate, authentic person...
Addie Lentzner was a Vermont delegate at the Democratic National Convention in August. Among many other accomplishments, she is founder and executive director of the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network, the founder of the End Homelessness VT Coalition, and interim chair of the Bennington Democrats. She is a member of...
For 28 nights, Brenda Siegel and Josh Lisenby slept outside on the State House steps. Lying in sleeping bags in frigid weather, eating food brought to them by volunteers, the two succeeded in their mission to change policy around the General Assistance Motel Program. Because of Brenda and Josh, hundreds of Vermonters experiencing homelessness got access to shelter around the state in the heart of winter. Because of Brenda and Josh, many in our state did not have to sleep...
We are at a turning point in our state. The climate crisis is looming, racism is rampant, inequities are stark, poverty is continuing. We need bold leaders who care deeply enough to make real systemic change before it's too late. As the 2022 elections get closer, it's imperative that we elect leaders who are up to the task here in Vermont. Rep. Michelle Bos-Lun is a leader who is thoughtful, compassionate, hard-working, and dedicated, and I know she is up...
One night in February 2020, a homeless man in Bennington went to sleep under a bridge. He had a voucher to spend the night in a Motel 6 miles down the road, but he didn't have a ride to get there. It was 4 degrees outside. Thierry Heuga died that night. The next day would have been his 58th birthday. I mourned Thierry's shortened life, the disappearance of his laughing eyes and kind heart. I mourned this dire issue in...