May 31, 2022
May 31, 2022
For many Vermonters, getting ahead in life isn’t simply a matter of hard work. It’s a question of access: to high-quality education, to meaningful job opportunities, to healthy and vital communities. This is the opportunity gap—the divide that leaves many Vermonters struggling to build bright, secure futures no matter how hard they work.
The stage for the opportunity gap is set early, as many Vermont families struggle to find affordable and quality early care and education. It deepens during and after high school in the lack of clear and accessible training and education pathways to Vermont’s promising jobs. During the whole of a young person’s life, it’s magnified by the many obstacles facing families struggling to create a safe and nurturing environment for their kids. And too often, the communities in which these children grow up are struggling themselves, unable to realize their full potential as promising places to live, work, and play.
We are aligning a significant portion of our time, energy, and discretionary resources on efforts to close the opportunity gap so that more Vermonters have access to the opportunities that help people get ahead in life: affordable, high-quality early care and learning; affordable pathways to college and career training; strong resources to support families; and communities that offer hope, connection, and meaning.
So that every Vermonter has a chance to achieve their career goals through access to a postsecondary degree or credential of value.
So that Vermonters live in vibrant communities that offer robust economic and social opportunities and a healthy natural environment.
So that every family in Vermont has access to high-quality, affordable early care and education.
So that youth and families have a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment outside of the school.