Growing Homes

We know that systemic racism - the legacy of slavery, has created significant wealth disparities and cultural disempowerment among Black Vermonters. Black home ownership in Vermont is only 21.1% (nearly the worst in the nation). Only .2% of farmland in Vermont  is owned by Black folks. The national median wealth of a Black family in the U.S. is 1/13th that of the median wealth of a White family.  We also know that adverse racial disparities exist across, education, employment, health services, economic development, transportation and the justice system and more. Nationally, the Black community comprises approximately 40% of the homeless population, 50% of the prison population, and 45% of children in the foster care system.   Black American adults are 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems, such as major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. These disparities and cultural erasure and appropriation directly and indirectly affect the health and wellness of Black individuals and communities.  Moreover, this threatens economic development, democracy, and the health and wellness of all Vermonters. 

The Richard Kemp centers the needs of the Black community in the work of rectifying historical racial inequity.  We are accomplishing this work by serving as a cultural broker in the expansion of programs and services to marginalized communities where they have historically been ineffective, inefficient or nonexistent.  We are creating new systems that empower Black Vermonters denied equal access to public or private economic and other resources.   The Richard Kemp Center expands programs and services that support Black Vermonters’ wellness, preserve their culture, support their youth and advance racial equity and justice. 

Our programming and services include cultural empowerment activities and programs (presentations, commemorations and celebrations, and arts activities), people support (personal wellness and development, small business support and wealth management), youth programming (including mentoring, homework assistance and STEAM cultivation, and sports), community empowerment (events and activities, spiritual and emotional support, group discussions), and workforce development (client and employer services).  

The Growing Homes Initiative is designed to meet community members with lived racial trauma-informed experience; offer cultural access and community involvement; provide navigation support in the journey towards wellness (economic and otherwise).  Participants will be welcomed into culturally empowering and affinity spaces and offered monthly financial wellness sessions.  They will have access to our Empowerment Coaches and will be offered access to special cultural and financial events as space permits.  Growing Homes is a culturally and economically empowering initiative  that will offer participants the ability to learn, grow, heal and build wealth.  Phase One (six months) of Growing Homes is the first step in the roll-out of  a program targeted at healing and reducing the racial wealth gap, up to and including home and land ownership!