City of Burlington's REIB Office

City of Burlington's REIB Office Burlington City Hall Department - Our mission is to safeguard intersectional accessibility, equity, and belonging using the tools of the government.

High temperatures are forecast to be in the 90s with a heat index around 100°F for much of Vermont on Sunday. Keep your ...
06/11/2026

High temperatures are forecast to be in the 90s with a heat index around 100°F for much of Vermont on Sunday. Keep your cool in hot weather!

· Drink more fluids than usual

· Take extra breaks from strenuous activities

· Seek shade and cool indoor locations

· Check in on loved ones and neighbors Find more heat safety tips and a map of indoor cooling sites at the link in our bio.

For Caribbean American Heritage Month, we honor Dame Eugenia Charles, a trailblazing leader who became the first woman t...
06/10/2026

For Caribbean American Heritage Month, we honor Dame Eugenia Charles, a trailblazing leader who became the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of Dominica and one of the most influential political figures in Caribbean history. A lawyer by training and a champion of democratic values, Charles broke barriers in a field where women were often underrepresented, paving the way for future generations of leaders.

Throughout her career, Charles was known for her commitment to justice, accountability, and public service. Her leadership demonstrated the importance of ensuring that all people have a voice in shaping their communities and governments. By challenging traditional expectations and creating opportunities for greater representation in leadership, she helped expand pathways for inclusion and participation.

As we continue working toward racial equity, inclusion and belonging, Eugenia Charles's legacy reminds us that diverse leadership strengthens communities. Her courage, determination, and dedication to serving others continue to inspire efforts to build a more equitable future where people of all backgrounds can contribute, lead, and thrive.

Sources and learn more:
Caricom
The Inner Temple
The New York Times

We are still looking for volunteers for the 6th Annual Juneteenth Celebration. Come help make Juneteenth an unforgettabl...
06/09/2026

We are still looking for volunteers for the 6th Annual Juneteenth Celebration. Come help make Juneteenth an unforgettable day of community, culture, and unity.

We are looking for volunteers for both Thursday, June 18th and Saturday, June 20th. Whether you can lend a hand for the event day or help out with preparation and event set up beforehand, your time and energy make a huge impact. Let's come together to celebrate freedom, honor history, and build a stronger, more inclusive community.

Scan the code or email [email protected] to sign up today. Thank you for being part of what makes this celebration possible!

For Caribbean American Heritage Month, we honor Edward Kamau Brathwaite, the Barbadian poet, historian, and scholar whos...
06/08/2026

For Caribbean American Heritage Month, we honor Edward Kamau Brathwaite, the Barbadian poet, historian, and scholar whose work helped redefine how Caribbean history, culture, and identity are understood around the world. Through poetry rooted in the experiences, languages, and traditions of Caribbean people, Brathwaite challenged colonial narratives and elevated stories that had too often been overlooked or excluded.

Brathwaite believed that language, culture, and history are central to belonging. His writing celebrated the resilience, creativity, and strength of Caribbean communities while exploring the lasting impacts of slavery, colonialism, and displacement. By centering the voices and experiences of people of African descent in the Caribbean, he created space for greater recognition, representation, and understanding.

As we continue working toward racial equity, inclusion, and belonging, Brathwaite's legacy reminds us of the importance of honoring diverse histories and perspectives. His work encourages us to listen to stories that have been marginalized, recognize the richness of cultural identity, and build communities where everyone can see themselves reflected and valued.

Sources and learn more:
Poetry Foundation
Black History Month 2026
The New York Times

June is Caribbean American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich histories, culture, and contributions of Caribbe...
06/08/2026

June is Caribbean American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich histories, culture, and contributions of Caribbean Americans who have helped shape communities across the United States. From art, music, literature, and food to advocacy, public service, science, and education, Caribbean Americans have made lasting impacts that continue to strengthen our society.

This month is also an opportunity to recognize the diverse experiences and identities that make up the Caribbean diaspora. By honoring these stories and perspectives, we deepen our understanding of the many cultures, traditions, and histories that contribute to our collective community.

As we continue our work toward racial equity, inclusion, access, and belonging, Caribbean American Heritage Month reminds us of the importance of celebrating diversity, uplifting underrepresented voices, and creating spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and connected. Join us throughout June as we highlight Caribbean American leaders, changemakers, cultural icons, and history to inspire future generations.

We are still looking for volunteers to help with the 6th annual Juneteenth 2026 celebration for June 18th and 20th, 2026...
06/04/2026

We are still looking for volunteers to help with the 6th annual Juneteenth 2026 celebration for June 18th and 20th, 2026! We would greatly appreciate your help. To express your interest, please complete the REIB Volunteer Registration form if you are interested in joining us.

To express your interest please complete the REIB Volunteer Registration form if you are interested in joining us. You can find the link in our bio.

During Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we honor Mitsuye Endo, a Japanese American ...
06/03/2026

During Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we honor Mitsuye Endo, a Japanese American civil rights advocate whose courage helped challenge one of the most unjust policies in U.S. History. During World War II, Endo was among the more than 120, 000 Japanese Americans forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated in camps. Refusing to accept this injustice, she became the plaintiff in a landmark legal case that questioned the government's authority to detain loyal American citizens without cause.

Endo's case, "Ex parte Endo," reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which unanimously ruled in 1944 that the government could not continue to detain citizens who were acknowledged to be loyal. Although she did not seek public attention, her willingness to stand up against discrimination played a pivotal role in restoring freedom to thousands of Japanese Americans. Her story highlights the importance of due process, equal protection, and the ongoing work of confronting policies rooted in fear, prejudice, and exclusion.

Mistsuye Endo's legacy reminds us that belonging depends on protecting the rights and dignity of all people, especially during times of uncertainty and division. Her quiet determination helped advance civil liberties and serves as a powerful example of how one person's courage can contribute to a more just and inclusive society. Today, her story continues to inspire efforts to uphold equity, challenge discrimination, and ensure that all communities are treated with fairness and respect.

Sources and learn more:
The New York Times
NBC News
Denshō

During Jewish American Heritage Month, we honor Rose Schneiderman - a labor organizer, suffragist, and social justice ad...
06/03/2026

During Jewish American Heritage Month, we honor Rose Schneiderman - a labor organizer, suffragist, and social justice advocate who dedicated her life to improving conditions for working people, especially immigrant women. Born into a Jewish immigrant family, Schneiderman experienced firsthand the economic hardships many workers faced and became a powerful voice for fair wages, safe workplaces, and the right of workers to organize. Her leadership helped bring attention to the struggles of garment workers and other laborers whose contributions were often overlooked.

Schneiderman believed that true equity required both economic justice and political representation. Sher played a key role in labor organizing efforts, including the Uprising of the 20,000, and advocated for workplace reforms following the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Through her career, she worked to ensure that women, immigrants, and working-class communities had a voice in decisions that affected their lives. Her activism reflected a commitment to inclusion, dignity, and the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to work and live in safe, supportive conditions.

Rose Schneiderman's legacy reminds us that belonging is strengthened when communities come together to challenge inequality and advocate for one another. Through organizing, coalition-building, and persistent advocacy, she helped create lasting change for workers across the United States. Her work continues to inspire efforts to build a more equitable society where all people are respected, valued and empowered.

Sources and learn more:
Jewish Women's Archive
American Postal Workers Union
NYU Libraries

Mia Ives-Rublee is a Korean American transracial adoptee, disability justice champion, and policy powerhouse whose life ...
06/02/2026

Mia Ives-Rublee is a Korean American transracial adoptee, disability justice champion, and policy powerhouse whose life and work embody what it truly means to fight for racial equity, inclusion, and belonging. Ives-Rublee learned very early in life how the most marginalized are often ignored — and she turned that lived experience into a lifelong commitment to making sure they never are again. Her story reminds us that advocacy rooted in personal truth is among the most powerful forces for change.

Mia's path to justice has been anything but narrow. Best known for founding the Women's March Disability Caucus, she helped organize the original Women's March on Washington in 2017, one of the first large-scale events to have certified deaf interpreters on stage and pushed for better access to disability community. She has since worked across campaigns, coalitions, and communities, including with the Asian American Advocacy Fund and as a member of President Biden's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Mia holds space for the full complexity of her identity and refuses to let any part of it be erased or sidelined.

At the heart of Mia's vision is the belief that belonging must be built with intention. She urges social workers and advocates to work in solidarity with the most marginalized helping to map out power structures and create measurable, achievable goals. She also stresses that fierce advocacy, particularly for those you love and care about, requires others to hear your needs and that is how change is created. In honoring Mia this AANHPI Heritage Month, we recommit to the work of ensuring every person, across race, disability, and identity is truly seen, heard, and included.

Sources and learn more:
Center for American Progress
New Disabled South
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

This Jewish American Heritage Month, we celebrate poet, critic, and activist Alicia Ostriker - a visionary voice whose w...
06/02/2026

This Jewish American Heritage Month, we celebrate poet, critic, and activist Alicia Ostriker - a visionary voice whose work has long championed equity, dignity, and the radical power of belonging. Born in New York City in 1937, Ostriker's poetry and criticism investigates themes of family, social justice, Jewish identity, and personal growth. Her writing invites all of us, across race, gender, and faith to see ourselves in one another and to reckon honestly with the world we share.

Ostriker's commitment to inclusion runs deeper than words on a page. She sees herself on the line of Whitman, Williams, and Ginsberg and speaks openly of the need to overcome fear of "the stranger." Her midrash workshops and poetry weave together questions of gender, freedom, social class, and belonging that remain urgently alive today. For communities working toward racial equity and healing, her work is a reminder that poetry itself can be an act of repair.

At the heart of Ostriker's vision is "tikkun olam," the Jewish concept of mending the world. She believes that what poetry does is put us in touch with our unspoken, unconscious need to mend the world's brokenness. A two-time National Book Award finalist, former Chancellor of the Academy of American poets, and New York State Poet Laureate (2018-2021), Ostriker has spent her life building bridges across traditions, identities, and generations. Her legacy reminds us that literature is not a passive act: it is the work of seeing, honoring, and belonging to each other.

Sources and learn more:
Poetry Foundation
Poets
Lilith

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