Day 1: Placemaking in Practice
Day 1 will explore the role of research in community well-being and placemaking, featuring keynote addresses from national thought leaders.
PARTNERS
IN
PLACE
Summit Overview
Join us at RISE, a summit hosted by UVM that brings research, innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship together to spur change for a better tomorrow.
June 24-25, 2024
Grand Maple Ballroom, Davis Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
In Person / Online
Virtual attendance options available
Why RISE?
In a time of seemingly insurmountable challenges, we must bring together innovative- and forward-thinkers to seed partnerships and collaborations with solutions at the center. RISE was born out of a need to amplify and elevate existing ideas, and foster the development of new ones.
Hosted by UVM, Vermont’s Land Grant University, RISE will highlight efforts to utilize research, innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship to solve problems through partnership and collaboration.
We are bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, problem-solvers, and energized community members to address a myriad of complex challenges. We’ll grapple with how to build flood resilience, strengthen food systems, enhance educational opportunities for learners of all ages, amplify technology solutions for our energy and community systems, and converge on ideas for a sustainable future.
RISE 2024 Agenda
RISE 2024 is a two-day summit to explore and connect around new ideas driving place-based advances in health, prosperity and purpose. The event will include speakers, panels, breakout presentations and networking for in-person and virtual audiences.
More agenda details to be announced.
Welcome and Introductions
UVM President Suresh Garimella and Director of the Leahy Institute of Rural Partnerships Patricia Coates welcome you to RISE 2024.
Panel: Rural Partnerships Institute Consortium Leaders
Speakers:
Glenda Gillaspy, Dean and Director
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Oladiran Fasina, PhD, P.Eng.
Professor and Head
Department of Biosystems Engineering
Auburn University
Patricia Coates, Director
Office of Engagement, Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships
University of Vermont
Facilitated by UVM Vice President for Research and Economic Development Kirk Dombrowski
Keynote: Reimagining Rural
Speaker:
Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development, Center for Sustainable Development, Brookings Institution, Host and Producer, “Reimagining Rural” podcast.
Hopes for RISE 2024
Speakers:
Rose Friedman from the Civic Standard
Morning Break
Panel Discussion: How can a place inspire innovation?
Speakers:
Racheal Floreani, Burlington Bio and UVM Faculty member
Mieko Ozeki, Director, Vermont Womenpreneurs and Radiance Studios, LLC
Monique Priestly, Space on Main, Bradford
Michele Bailey, Vermont Arts Council
Facilitated by Meg Hammond, Executive Director at Generator
UVM ARC and Faculty Research Pitches
Discover the innovations happening at UVM with entrepreneurial pitches from both faculty and students.
Lunch and Learn
Enjoy lunch and two exciting sessions.
DIY Tech Hub with Doug Merrill, Regional Innovation Officer, VGaN Tech Hub
Necomer Nexus with Tino Rutanhira, the Vermont Professionals of Color Network
Placemaking in Three Communities
Speaker:
Dominic Endicott
Author, Knowledge Towns
Reflections on Community and Change
Speakers:
Rose Friedman from the Civic Standard
Panel Discussion: Rural Renewal through Resettlement
Speakers:
Joe Wiah, Ethiopian Community Development Council of VT
Joe Colony, VP for External Engagement, World Learning
Jacob Borgé, Association of Africans Living in Vermont
Facilitated by Ray Cioffi
Reception and Poster Session
A reception to honor Leahy Institute partners.
All RISE participants are welcome and explore a poster session featuring researchers from UVM, Auburn University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Day 2: Placemaking Tools
Day 2 will focus on placemaking for sustainability and feature keynotes from UVM faculty members and researchers.
Leahy Institute Advisory Board Breakfast
Speakers:
Leahy Institute for Rural Partnership Staff
NIFA Leaders
Welcome to Day 2
Speakers:
Rose Friedman from the Civic Standard
Remarks on Planetary Health
Speakers:
Patricia A. Prelock, Ph.D., Provost and Senior Vice President, UVM
Keynote: “Science to Shape the Future of Our Places”
Speaker:
Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics (REE), and USDA’s Chief Scientist.
Morning Break
Presentation: Placemaking Tools
Speakers:
Holly Morehouse, Vermont Community Foundation
Paige Brochu
UVM Spatial Analysis Lab
Kendall Fortney
Vermont Research Open Source Office
Facilitated by Chris Campany, Executive Director, Windham Regional Planning Commission
Lunch and Learn
Enjoy lunch with two exciting sessions.
Who is Vermont for? with Kevin Chu, Executive Director, Vermont Futures Project
Student Engagement for a Resilient Vermont with the Resilient Vermont Network with Emma Spett, Engagement Initiatives Coordinator, Leahy Institute.
2024 Leahy Institute Partnership Award
Speakers: Senator Patrick Leahy (retired), Patricia Coates
Our Place, Our Community School
Speakers:
Bernice Garnett, Ph.D
UVM College of Education and Social Services
Peter Knox
UVM College of Education and Social Services
Afternoon Break
“Partners in Place” UVM’s new seminar and podcast
Speakers:
Martha Caswell, Associate Director of Community and Learning
UVM Institute for Agroecology
Jon Ramsay
Executive Director
Center for an Agricultural Economy
Hardwick, Vermont
Megan Wayland
Staff Director
Northeast Kingdom Organizing
Wrap Up: RISE in the Future
Speakers:
Rose Friedman from the Civic Standard
Powered by the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships
The University of Vermont’s Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships operates alongside the Office of Engagement with the mission to provide engagement opportunities and partnerships with UVM for the benefit of our rural places. The Leahy Institute brings financial and technical assistance, access to UVM research, faculty expertise, student projects and internships, and established UVM startup and engagement programs.
Together, we will collaborate on impactful solutions that drive positive change for Vermont and beyond.
RISE 2023
In 2023, the University of Vermont opened its campus to the region’s business leaders, entrepreneurs, and economic development organizations with the first Research, Innovation, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship (RISE) Summit, introducing an intensive new partnership approach to building a bright and prosperous future for Vermont and the region.
“Bringing the RISE Summit to the UVM campus and New England community is essential to help catalyze our existing resources to support broad rural transformation across our state and region. In planning this event, we recognized that there is no better place than Vermont to bring together leaders for this necessary systemic transformation.”
Kirk Dombrowski Vice President of Research at UVM
“Vermont, like all rural states, faces unique challenges that affect such important issues as transit, economic and workforce development, water quality, food supplies, infrastructure, and broadband connectivity. UVM has long been a key player in the State, forging and expanding partnerships with public and private entities to identify and try to address many of these rural challenges.”
Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont
“The (2023) RISE Summit provided a promising first look into the potential of cooperation and collaboration to make positive change for the betterment of our communities, our state, and our region. By convening so many dynamic thinkers and leaders, this summit created an urgent sense of purpose – fueled by possibility and positivity.”
Suresh Garimella UVM President
“As the state’s flagship and land grant university, UVM can and will serve as a convenor and catalyst to bring together partners to explore and implement solutions to some of the most pressing needs of our region. I’m so proud of the many faculty and staff who came together to support and inform the agenda.”
Cynthia Belleveue Former Dean of UVM’s Continuing Education
Parking Information
If you selected, yes, for a parking permit on your registration form you will receive a follow up email from our Registration coordinator about a week before the Summit with further information. At that time you will receive the UVM parking permit that you will need to print and display on your dashboard while parked on campus. The permit will also include a detailed map locating the UVM parking lot for the Summit as well as the Davis Center, where the Summit will take place. There will also be written driving instructions from Highway I-89 to the parking lot and also from Downtown Burlington to the parking lot.
If you have any questions regarding parking accommodations, please contact us at: Rise@uvm.edu
2024 RISE Summit – Hotel Room Block Information
The following hotels are offering special rates to our RISE 2024 attendees.
Courtyard Burlington Harbor (Marriott)
25 Cherry Street
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 864-4700
Reserve Here
Room Block Cutoff Date: May 31, 2024
Hotel Vermont
41 Cherry Street
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 651-0080
Reserve Here
Room Block Cutoff Date: May 31, 2024