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Pride Center of Vermont Announces the Results of Community Mapping Initiative

by | Jun 5, 2026 | General

Findings Highlight Themes Around Building a More Connected Vermont

In late Winter and early Spring 2026, the Pride Center of Vermont (PCVT) commissioned a statewide community mapping exercise to understand the current realities, needs, and aspirations of 2STLGBQIA+ Vermonters and the organizations that serve them during a period of organizational rebuilding and trust repair. Using surveys, affinity groups, regional forums, interviews, and an in-person Community Assembly, this process engaged more than 148 individuals and surfaced a rich, candid picture of queer and trans life in Vermont today. Read more about the findings here: https://canva.link/community-mapping

Core Findings: Thirteen Interconnected Themes

The findings point to a vibrant but fragmented ecosystem, deep unmet needs for connection and coordination, and a strong desire for a renewed PCVT – one that is transparent, modest in scope, and oriented toward supporting rather than centering itself within the statewide ecosystem.

  1. Support networks are personal and informal.
  2. The desire for connection is the strongest unmet need.
  3. Geographic inequity shapes access.
  4. Vermont’s queer ecosystem is rich but fragmented.
  5. Communication is fractured across platforms and generations.
  6. Multiple populations are consistently underserved.
  7. Institutions function as safety nets even when underused.
  8. People want space more than services.
  9. Healthcare navigation is a critical gap.
  10. Basic needs barriers limit participation.
  11. The ecosystem wants coordination, not duplication.
  12. Political advocacy lacks a clear home.
  13. History and intergenerational knowledge are at risk.

To read the full report from The Center for Story & Strategy, please reach out to the Board of Directors at board@pridecentervt.org

What comes next? 

The report provides a foundation for the Center to inform their strategic direction. Already the Board of Directors is undertaking a strategic planning process to reimagine the future of the Pride Center of Vermont as an organization that understands its place within a broader ecosystem and is dedicated to fostering connection, alignment, and shared impact. 

Co-Creating a New Hub for Connection

Based on the findings from the Community Mapping report, the Center is proud to sponsor QueerEra, a project to deploy a region-wide platform for 2STLGBQIA+ events. QueerEra is rooted in the belief that social, environmental and disability justice, and queer liberation are deeply interconnected. 

“We believe radical queer joy, paired with holistic innovation, can become a powerful collective tool for change,” shared Austin G. the project lead, continuing “This partnership reflects a commitment to building community-centered systems that help people find one another, support one another, and imagine new possibilities together.”

Building on the work of the QueerVT social media accounts, the new platform creates a decentralized events calendar, a map of values-aligned places, and an expanded directory for rural and underserved communities to safely find one another, organize, and thrive.

Securing a Home for “SafeSpace” with the Vermont Network 

The report also surfaced a need for stability and long-term planning for SafeSpace, a program that provides comprehensive support services to 2STLGBQIA+ survivors of hate, bias, harassment, discrimination, abuse, intimate partner violence, stalking, trafficking, sexual assault, and other systemic and community harms. SafeSpace operated as a program at the Pride Center of Vermont from 2007 until October 2025, when the Pride Center announced it would pause operations due to critical funding shortfalls. On October 20, 2025, SafeSpace began temporarily operating under the Vermont Network to ensure uninterrupted access for survivors. Based on the findings of this report, the Pride Center of Vermont’s Board of Directors voted to permanently house the SafeSpace Anti-Violence Program at the Vermont Network. Survivors can continue to access support by calling (802) 863-0003 or using the SafeSpace chat line. 

Look out for further updates on these initiatives and projects! You can read more and donate to support the future of the Pride Center at www.pridecentervt.org. With questions, please contact the Board of Directors by email to board@pridecentervt.org. 

Please stay tuned for updates as we progress on these next steps, and stay connected with us for ongoing opportunities to engage and contribute. We value your continued support and welcome your ideas, questions, and involvement as we move forward together. Thank you for your engagement and partnership!