For Immediate Release:
October 31, 2018
Contact: Beth Fastiggi
Commissioner - Vermont Department of Human Resources
DHR.CommissionersOffice@vermont.gov
802-828-3491
New State Racial Equity Advisory Panel Appointments Announced
Montpelier, Vt. – Today, the State of Vermont Racial Equity Advisory Panel ("Panel") appointments are announced. The newly created Panel is established as a result of Act 9 passed in the 2018 Special Session and signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 28, 2018.
The five-member Panel consists of appointees by the Senate Committee on Committees, the Speaker of the House, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Governor and Human Rights Commission. One of the first duties of the Panel will be to recommend candidates to the Governor for the Executive Director of Racial Equity – a new position within state Government created under Act 9. The Panel will work with the Executive Director of Racial Equity to implement reforms, advise the Executive Director to ensure ongoing compliance with the purpose of the legislation, advise the Governor on strategies for remediating systemic racial disparities in statewide systems of government and report progress to the legislature. The Panel will be supported by the Agency of Administration and is comprised of the following members:
- Clarence Davis, appointed by Governor Phil Scott
- Superior Judge Nancy Waples appointed by Chief Justice Paul L. Reiber
- Andrea Brett, appointed by Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson
- Stephanie Seguino, PhD, appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees
- Karen Richards, Esq., appointed by the Human Rights Commission
The Panel is scheduled to meet on November 16 at 1:00 pm in room 410 at 133 State Street, Montpelier.