Winooski Together: Elevating Community Voices
People standing in a circle writing notes on chart paper titled: “Address Housing Needs”
The City of Winooski engaged The Creative Discourse Group (TCDG) to support city and school leaders in fostering stronger collaboration and deeper community engagement following an equity audit. While the initial goal was to report on progress and spark grassroots action, it quickly became clear that many immigrant and refugee residents—who make up a significant part of the community—had an immediate need to access more information about city efforts and available resources.
In response, TCDG adapted our approach, shifting from action-planning to facilitating direct dialogue between immigrant and refugee residents and city leaders. The Winooski Together events provided space not only for city and school officials to share updates but, more importantly, for residents to voice their concerns and priorities on critical issues such as housing, transportation, and community safety. These events also honored local changemakers through the Winooski Changemaker Awards, celebrating individuals who have demonstrated leadership, commitment to social justice, and innovative problem-solving to improve their community.
People smiling at the camera holding Winooski Changemaker Award certificates
To build on this momentum, we designed a structured process for ongoing engagement between city leaders and immigrant, refugee, and New American residents. This includes a template for monthly meetings, suggested agenda topics based on community-identified priorities, and a framework for ensuring these gatherings remain responsive to evolving community needs. Additionally, we developed a shared resource document linking community priorities with city initiatives and external supports. By strengthening relationships between city leaders and residents, this work ensures that more voices are heard, more perspectives are valued, and more community members are empowered to step forward as leaders in Winooski’s civic life.
