By VDC staff

“Vermonters for Vermont” Initiative is presenting two opportunities for you to learn about election integrity Thursday and Friday this week.

Excellent speaker/panelists include President Sharon Bemis and Coalition Director Sara Vieira; researcher and author Rob Roper; Rutland Senator Terry Williams; Representatives, Rep. VL Coffin of Weathersfield/Cavendish; Rep. Michael Tagliavia of Orange County; and Ed Wheeler of Middlebury. Gregory Thayer, Principal at V4V, is host and moderator.  

First night is Thursday, April 16, at the Fullerton Inn, On the Green in Chester at 6pm. Your second opportunity is on Friday at noon in Montpelier at the State Capitol in Room 11.

Orphanage scandal display at Police Academy

The Vermont Police Academy will host the Voices of St. Joseph’s Orphanage Exhibition Display from May 7 through May 21, offering the public an opportunity to engage with the stories of former residents of St. Joseph’s Orphanage and the decades-long effort to bring their experiences to light. 

The exhibition will be installed in the main building of the Vermont Police Academy and will be free and open to the public on weekdays from 4:30-6 PM, beginning May 8. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, May 7, from 5-7 PM. The event will include a voluntary walk-through of the exhibit, followed by a facilitated discussion and Q&A with key partners of the restorative inquiry, including a survivor of the orphanage. 

The reception is free to attend, but advance registration is required. Guests may register using this link. The Voices of St. Joseph’s Orphanage project documents the experiences of children who lived at the Burlington institution between 1854 and 1974. 

Through survivor testimony, historical records, and community collaboration, the exhibition highlights both the harm endured by former residents and their ongoing work to promote healing, accountability, and stronger protections for vulnerable children in Vermont. 

“There is significance in hosting the exhibition at the Vermont Police Academy,” said Lisa Ryan, Community Inclusion Director. “It reflects the Vermont Police Academy’s commitment to trauma-informed training and to fostering deeper understanding of the historical contexts that shape modern approaches to child protection and public safety.”