UVM Office of Engagement and Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships |
“It has been wonderful to have this group of young adults contributing to the community. They are tech-savvy, curious, and bring fresh energy and perspective that has influenced the way we work. At the same time, giving students access to real work experience with nonprofits is a valuable learning opportunity” — Summer Internship Host in Brattleboro
This summer, we are supporting 20 summer interns who are working hard at businesses and non-profit organizations in Brattleboro, Bethel, and Hardwick. The experience is impactful for them, their employers, and their host communities.
We know that community-engaged learning makes a positive difference for student persistence and success. We also know, as witnesses to the interactions between UVM student interns and their host communities, that their impact ripples out into the communities that welcome them in.
P.S. Submit your organization’s news to us at our new link.
Tricia
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Recent Engagement & Partnership Activities |
RISE Summit 2026 Explores "Rural Prosperity" with University and Community Participants |
More than 600 people, including U.S. Representative Becca Balint, attended the 2026 RISE Summit in the Davis Center at the University of Vermont on Tuesday, June 16, to explore rural prosperity.
This was the fourth annual Research, Innovation, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship Summit, conceived and presented by UVM’s Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships, the UVM entity founded in 2023 to bring together the combined resources and expertise of the university to explore solutions to the most pressing needs of rural communities. The institute is named in honor of former United States Senator Patrick Leahy.
Relive RISE 2026.
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UVM’s Leahy Institute Awards Six Grants to Support Community-Engaged Learning Opportunities in Vermont |
The Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships announces its first cohort of the Student Engagement for a Resilient Vermont (SERV) grant, which provides up to $10,000 for faculty and community partners building applied learning opportunities that address challenges in Vermont.
Read more about our first round of SERV partnerships.
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How the 'Vermont Assessment of Assets, Angles and Need' Plans To Empower A Thriving Vermont |
This project develops an easily accessible, living, and interactive “Vermont Analysis of Assets, Angles, and Need” (VAAAN) that summarizes key community needs across Vermont towns. The project is led by UVM Extension, which is partnering with Local Minutes, a platform that gathers all of Vermont's municipal meeting minutes and makes them searchable online. Over the next two years, Extension plans to create a comprehensive, up-to-date, and interactive tool showing what our communities must have to thrive, who’s working to make that happen and how and where people can help fill in the gaps.
Read the full article about VAAAN.
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1 room, 45 minutes, 102 solutions. |
Uncovering a shared map of a sustainable and thriving rural Vermont — and the tools to start building it.
At the 2026 RISE Summit, Game Theory ran an experiment: could a roomful of people, with the help of some digital tools, build a network of solutions together in the time it takes to eat lunch?
This is what they found.
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Upcoming Events and Opportunities
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Practical AI literacy for Vermont Workplaces
What: Employees are trying it. Vendors are selling it. Clients are asking about it. This summit is for those who want a clearer understanding of what AI can do, what it cannot do, and how to make sound decisions about Vermont business leaders, operators, and frontline staff its use at work.
When: July 9, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Where: Hula, 50 Lakeside Ave, Burlington, VT
More details and registration here.
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America’s Seed Fund Summit
What: Every Wednesday this month, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is hosting practical virtual sessions on SBIR and STTR programs, the same programs that have helped thousands of small businesses turn ideas into reality without giving up equity.
When:
July 8 | Protecting Your Innovation
July 15 | Funding and Resources to Support Your Commercialization Journey
July 22 | SBIR Turns 44! 4+ Decades of Impact and Small Business Success
July 29 | Meet the Program Directors
Where: Virtual
Check out the full calendar and register.
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2026 Annual Crops and Soils Field Day: The Demonstration Derby
What: All are welcome! This event is a culmination of the year's research, outreach, and community engagement efforts. Attend workshops and sessions led by industry experts, network with community members, and learn about the latest local agricultural innovations.
When: July 23, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Where: Borderview Research Farm, 487 Line Road, Alburgh, VT 05440
Learn more and register.
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Move, Stay, and Commit
From our partners at the University of Wisconsin-Madison comes a new article on rural livability, and the factors that contribute to high quality of life and subsequently, thriving rural communities.
Read the full article.
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More stories of UVM engagement throughout Vermont |
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Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships and Office of Engagement |
105 Carrigan Drive
Patrick Leahy Building
Burlington, VT 05405
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