It's visible at the gas pump and the grocery checkout. In December 2021, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) jumped 7 percent, the largest 12-month increase since 1982. Moreover, inflation tends to hurt people at the bottom of the income ladder more than those at the top.
As we begin to navigate the pandemic's long-term impacts on employment, now is the time to promote education and training programs that lead to Vermont's promising jobs. In 2020, the Community Foundation and its partners granted more than $3.4 million to college and career training initiatives, which boosted enrollment at a time when enrollment nationally was in decline and provided a valuable framework for pandemic-era public policy. On June 22nd, 2021, the Community Foundation hosted a short webinar to discuss how grantmakers can support college and career training in ways that drive more equity and resilience in Vermont. Speakers included:
- Dan Smith, President and CEO, Vermont Community Foundation
- Carolyn Weir, Executive Director, J. Warren and Lois McClure Foundation
- Joyce Judy, President, Community College of Vermont
- Mamie Voight, Interim President, Institute for Higher Education Policy and Managing Director, Postsecondary Value Commission
